{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Dataset",
  "@id": "https://yourexitpath.com/data/business-sale-multiples#dataset",
  "name": "Main Street Business Sale Multiples by Industry",
  "description": "SDE and EBITDA multiple ranges (P25-P75) plus median days-to-close and primary buyer type across 22 Main Street industries. Aggregated from public quarterly reports.",
  "url": "https://yourexitpath.com/data/business-sale-multiples",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "datePublished": "2026-09-03",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-03",
  "isAccessibleForFree": true,
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "keywords": [
    "business valuation multiples",
    "SDE multiple",
    "EBITDA multiple",
    "business sale multiples by industry",
    "small business valuation benchmarks",
    "main street M&A"
  ],
  "spatialCoverage": {
    "@type": "Place",
    "name": "United States. Main Street private-target M&A (roughly sub-$5M revenue). Excludes cross-border deals, distressed sales, and public-company acquisitions."
  },
  "temporalCoverage": "2025-01-01/2026-09-30",
  "creator": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Your Exit Path (yourexitpath.com)",
    "url": "https://yourexitpath.com/data"
  },
  "publisher": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Your Exit Path (yourexitpath.com)",
    "url": "https://yourexitpath.com/data"
  },
  "methodology": "Ranges represent typical P25–P75 bands aggregated across public quarterly reports (IBBA Market Pulse, BizBuySell Insight Report) for the 2025–Q3 2026 window in the Main Street sub-$5M-revenue segment. This is a synthesis of publicly-available industry data, not proprietary research. Every row declares which primary sources most directly cover its data via the `sources` field. Multiples assume clean books, three years of accrual-basis financials, and no material owner-dependency concentration.",
  "citation": "Main Street M&A Benchmarks (Your Exit Path, 2026). Retrieved from https://yourexitpath.com/data/business-sale-multiples. Licensed CC BY 4.0.",
  "sources": [
    {
      "key": "ibba",
      "name": "IBBA Market Pulse (quarterly)",
      "publisher": "International Business Brokers Association",
      "url": "https://www.ibba.org/resource-center/industry-research/",
      "description": "Quarterly practitioner survey covering deal activity, multiples, and terms across Main Street and lower-middle-market segments."
    },
    {
      "key": "bizbuysell",
      "name": "BizBuySell Insight Report (quarterly)",
      "publisher": "BizBuySell",
      "url": "https://www.bizbuysell.com/insight-report/",
      "description": "Quarterly report aggregating listing- and closing-data across BizBuySell's marketplace. Covers median sale price, revenue, SDE, cash flow, and days-on-market by industry and geography."
    },
    {
      "key": "aba-deal-point",
      "name": "ABA M&A Committee Deal Point Studies",
      "publisher": "American Bar Association",
      "url": "https://www.americanbar.org/groups/business_law/committees/ma/",
      "description": "Empirical study of legal deal terms (cash-at-close, seller notes, earn-outs, indemnification caps) in private-target M&A transactions."
    },
    {
      "key": "sba-7a",
      "name": "SBA 7(a) Loan Program public data",
      "publisher": "U.S. Small Business Administration",
      "url": "https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/7a-loans",
      "description": "Program data + Standard Operating Procedures for SBA-guaranteed acquisition financing. Public loan-level data on 7(a) volumes by year, size, and NAICS."
    },
    {
      "key": "epi",
      "name": "Exit Planning Institute — State of Owner Readiness",
      "publisher": "Exit Planning Institute",
      "url": "https://exit-planning-institute.org/state-of-owner-readiness/",
      "description": "Longitudinal survey of owner readiness across the pre-exit population — captures prep-quality distribution, planning horizons, and post-close outcomes."
    },
    {
      "key": "axial",
      "name": "Axial Behavioral Index + LMM deal-flow reports",
      "publisher": "Axial",
      "url": "https://www.axial.net/",
      "description": "Deal-flow marketplace covering lower-middle-market processes. Publishes quarterly recap of buyer-side activity by industry."
    },
    {
      "key": "preqin",
      "name": "Preqin private-capital dry-powder data",
      "publisher": "Preqin",
      "url": "https://www.preqin.com/",
      "description": "Publicly-summarized data on private-equity fund overhangs and dry-powder totals — the supply side of the Main Street roll-up market."
    },
    {
      "key": "aicpa",
      "name": "AICPA — Quality of Earnings guidance",
      "publisher": "American Institute of CPAs",
      "url": "https://www.aicpa-cima.com/",
      "description": "Practice guidance on Quality of Earnings scope and methodology for private-target due diligence."
    },
    {
      "key": "value-builder",
      "name": "Value Builder System — 8 drivers of company value",
      "publisher": "Value Builder Software Inc.",
      "url": "https://valuebuildersystem.com/",
      "description": "Third-party framework and dataset covering the eight quantifiable drivers of exit multiple within an industry range."
    }
  ],
  "columns": [
    {
      "name": "slug",
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Machine identifier for the industry row."
    },
    {
      "name": "industry",
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Human-readable industry label."
    },
    {
      "name": "category",
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Broad category grouping."
    },
    {
      "name": "sdeMultipleLow",
      "type": "number",
      "description": "Approximate P25 SDE multiple. Applies to businesses with <$1M in SDE."
    },
    {
      "name": "sdeMultipleHigh",
      "type": "number",
      "description": "Approximate P75 SDE multiple."
    },
    {
      "name": "ebitdaMultipleLow",
      "type": "number",
      "description": "Approximate P25 EBITDA multiple. Applies to businesses with >$1M EBITDA."
    },
    {
      "name": "ebitdaMultipleHigh",
      "type": "number",
      "description": "Approximate P75 EBITDA multiple."
    },
    {
      "name": "daysToCloseLow",
      "type": "integer",
      "description": "Lower bound of the typical days-to-close range, engagement letter to funding wire."
    },
    {
      "name": "daysToCloseHigh",
      "type": "integer",
      "description": "Upper bound of the typical days-to-close range."
    },
    {
      "name": "primaryBuyer",
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Dominant buyer profile for well-run businesses in the vertical."
    },
    {
      "name": "multipleDriver",
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Single strongest driver of top-of-range vs bottom-of-range pricing."
    },
    {
      "name": "sources",
      "type": "string[]",
      "description": "Primary source keys most directly covering this row. Cross-reference `sources` at the top of the payload."
    }
  ],
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  "recordCount": 22,
  "data": [
    {
      "slug": "hvac",
      "industry": "HVAC & plumbing",
      "category": "Home services",
      "sdeMultipleLow": 2.8,
      "sdeMultipleHigh": 4.2,
      "ebitdaMultipleLow": 5,
      "ebitdaMultipleHigh": 8,
      "daysToCloseLow": 180,
      "daysToCloseHigh": 240,
      "primaryBuyer": "PE-backed roll-up platform",
      "multipleDriver": "Recurring maintenance-agreement penetration above ~40% pushes into the top of the range.",
      "sources": [
        "ibba",
        "bizbuysell",
        "axial",
        "preqin"
      ]
    },
    {
      "slug": "electrical",
      "industry": "Electrical services",
      "category": "Home services",
      "sdeMultipleLow": 2.5,
      "sdeMultipleHigh": 3.8,
      "ebitdaMultipleLow": 4.5,
      "ebitdaMultipleHigh": 6.5,
      "daysToCloseLow": 180,
      "daysToCloseHigh": 240,
      "primaryBuyer": "PE-backed roll-up + regional strategic",
      "multipleDriver": "Commercial-contract mix (vs residential-only) and licensed-electrician bench depth.",
      "sources": [
        "ibba",
        "bizbuysell",
        "axial"
      ]
    },
    {
      "slug": "roofing",
      "industry": "Roofing",
      "category": "Home services",
      "sdeMultipleLow": 2.5,
      "sdeMultipleHigh": 3.5,
      "ebitdaMultipleLow": 4.5,
      "ebitdaMultipleHigh": 6,
      "daysToCloseLow": 150,
      "daysToCloseHigh": 210,
      "primaryBuyer": "PE-backed platform + strategic consolidator",
      "multipleDriver": "Insurance-carrier direct-repair relationships + repeat-inspection revenue mix.",
      "sources": [
        "ibba",
        "bizbuysell"
      ]
    },
    {
      "slug": "landscaping",
      "industry": "Landscaping & lawn care",
      "category": "Home services",
      "sdeMultipleLow": 2.2,
      "sdeMultipleHigh": 3.5,
      "ebitdaMultipleLow": 4,
      "ebitdaMultipleHigh": 6,
      "daysToCloseLow": 180,
      "daysToCloseHigh": 240,
      "primaryBuyer": "PE-backed roll-up + regional strategic",
      "multipleDriver": "Commercial-contract mix > 50% pushes multiples up; residential-only clusters lower.",
      "sources": [
        "ibba",
        "bizbuysell",
        "axial"
      ]
    },
    {
      "slug": "pest-control",
      "industry": "Pest control",
      "category": "Home services",
      "sdeMultipleLow": 3.5,
      "sdeMultipleHigh": 5,
      "ebitdaMultipleLow": 6,
      "ebitdaMultipleHigh": 9,
      "daysToCloseLow": 150,
      "daysToCloseHigh": 210,
      "primaryBuyer": "PE-backed pest platform (Rentokil, Terminix, Aptive)",
      "multipleDriver": "Recurring service contract percentage — the highest-multiple home-services vertical.",
      "sources": [
        "ibba",
        "bizbuysell",
        "axial",
        "preqin"
      ]
    },
    {
      "slug": "restoration",
      "industry": "Restoration (water, fire, mold)",
      "category": "Home services",
      "sdeMultipleLow": 3,
      "sdeMultipleHigh": 4.5,
      "ebitdaMultipleLow": 5.5,
      "ebitdaMultipleHigh": 8.5,
      "daysToCloseLow": 180,
      "daysToCloseHigh": 210,
      "primaryBuyer": "Strategic consolidator + PE platform",
      "multipleDriver": "Insurance-carrier TPA panel status materially raises the multiple.",
      "sources": [
        "ibba",
        "bizbuysell",
        "axial"
      ]
    },
    {
      "slug": "commercial-cleaning",
      "industry": "Commercial cleaning / janitorial",
      "category": "Home services",
      "sdeMultipleLow": 2.5,
      "sdeMultipleHigh": 3.5,
      "ebitdaMultipleLow": 4,
      "ebitdaMultipleHigh": 6,
      "daysToCloseLow": 150,
      "daysToCloseHigh": 210,
      "primaryBuyer": "Regional strategic + PE roll-up",
      "multipleDriver": "Contract length + concentration risk of top customers.",
      "sources": [
        "ibba",
        "bizbuysell"
      ]
    },
    {
      "slug": "auto-repair",
      "industry": "Auto repair / service",
      "category": "Automotive",
      "sdeMultipleLow": 2,
      "sdeMultipleHigh": 3,
      "ebitdaMultipleLow": 3.5,
      "ebitdaMultipleHigh": 5,
      "daysToCloseLow": 150,
      "daysToCloseHigh": 210,
      "primaryBuyer": "Individual operator + regional multi-shop group",
      "multipleDriver": "Real-estate ownership significantly changes the enterprise-value calculation.",
      "sources": [
        "ibba",
        "bizbuysell"
      ]
    },
    {
      "slug": "auto-body",
      "industry": "Auto body / collision repair",
      "category": "Automotive",
      "sdeMultipleLow": 2.5,
      "sdeMultipleHigh": 3.5,
      "ebitdaMultipleLow": 4,
      "ebitdaMultipleHigh": 6,
      "daysToCloseLow": 150,
      "daysToCloseHigh": 210,
      "primaryBuyer": "PE-backed MSO consolidator + regional strategic",
      "multipleDriver": "Insurance-carrier DRP status is the primary multiple lever.",
      "sources": [
        "ibba",
        "bizbuysell",
        "axial"
      ]
    },
    {
      "slug": "manufacturing",
      "industry": "Manufacturing (sub-$5M)",
      "category": "Manufacturing / distribution",
      "sdeMultipleLow": 2.5,
      "sdeMultipleHigh": 3.8,
      "ebitdaMultipleLow": 4.5,
      "ebitdaMultipleHigh": 6.5,
      "daysToCloseLow": 210,
      "daysToCloseHigh": 300,
      "primaryBuyer": "Search fund + strategic acquirer",
      "multipleDriver": "Customer concentration < 25% + documented processes are the two biggest multiple movers.",
      "sources": [
        "ibba",
        "bizbuysell",
        "aba-deal-point"
      ]
    },
    {
      "slug": "distribution",
      "industry": "Distribution / wholesale",
      "category": "Manufacturing / distribution",
      "sdeMultipleLow": 2.3,
      "sdeMultipleHigh": 3.5,
      "ebitdaMultipleLow": 4,
      "ebitdaMultipleHigh": 6,
      "daysToCloseLow": 180,
      "daysToCloseHigh": 270,
      "primaryBuyer": "Strategic (upstream or adjacent)",
      "multipleDriver": "Exclusive supplier agreements + working-capital efficiency.",
      "sources": [
        "ibba",
        "bizbuysell"
      ]
    },
    {
      "slug": "restaurant-independent",
      "industry": "Restaurant (independent)",
      "category": "Food service",
      "sdeMultipleLow": 1.5,
      "sdeMultipleHigh": 2.5,
      "ebitdaMultipleLow": 3,
      "ebitdaMultipleHigh": 4.5,
      "daysToCloseLow": 150,
      "daysToCloseHigh": 210,
      "primaryBuyer": "Individual operator + small restaurant group",
      "multipleDriver": "Real-estate ownership + brand recognition; SBA-financed asset sales dominate.",
      "sources": [
        "ibba",
        "bizbuysell",
        "sba-7a"
      ]
    },
    {
      "slug": "restaurant-franchise",
      "industry": "Restaurant (franchise unit)",
      "category": "Food service",
      "sdeMultipleLow": 2,
      "sdeMultipleHigh": 3,
      "ebitdaMultipleLow": 3.5,
      "ebitdaMultipleHigh": 5,
      "daysToCloseLow": 180,
      "daysToCloseHigh": 240,
      "primaryBuyer": "Existing franchisee + multi-unit operator",
      "multipleDriver": "Franchisor consent + territory rights + remaining franchise-term length.",
      "sources": [
        "ibba",
        "bizbuysell"
      ]
    },
    {
      "slug": "retail-independent",
      "industry": "Retail (independent brick-and-mortar)",
      "category": "Retail / e-commerce",
      "sdeMultipleLow": 1.8,
      "sdeMultipleHigh": 2.8,
      "ebitdaMultipleLow": 3,
      "ebitdaMultipleHigh": 4.5,
      "daysToCloseLow": 150,
      "daysToCloseHigh": 210,
      "primaryBuyer": "Individual operator + small local group",
      "multipleDriver": "Lease assignability + inventory turnover + local competitive dynamics.",
      "sources": [
        "ibba",
        "bizbuysell"
      ]
    },
    {
      "slug": "ecommerce",
      "industry": "E-commerce / DTC",
      "category": "Retail / e-commerce",
      "sdeMultipleLow": 2.5,
      "sdeMultipleHigh": 4,
      "ebitdaMultipleLow": 4,
      "ebitdaMultipleHigh": 7,
      "daysToCloseLow": 120,
      "daysToCloseHigh": 180,
      "primaryBuyer": "Aggregator + strategic acquirer",
      "multipleDriver": "Platform concentration risk (single-marketplace dependency) is the biggest discount lever.",
      "sources": [
        "ibba",
        "bizbuysell",
        "axial"
      ]
    },
    {
      "slug": "it-services-msp",
      "industry": "IT services / MSP",
      "category": "Technology",
      "sdeMultipleLow": 3,
      "sdeMultipleHigh": 4.5,
      "ebitdaMultipleLow": 5.5,
      "ebitdaMultipleHigh": 9,
      "daysToCloseLow": 180,
      "daysToCloseHigh": 240,
      "primaryBuyer": "PE-backed MSP platform",
      "multipleDriver": "MRR > 60% of revenue is the single biggest driver of top-of-range pricing.",
      "sources": [
        "ibba",
        "bizbuysell",
        "axial",
        "preqin"
      ]
    },
    {
      "slug": "accounting",
      "industry": "Accounting / bookkeeping",
      "category": "Professional services",
      "sdeMultipleLow": 2.5,
      "sdeMultipleHigh": 3.5,
      "ebitdaMultipleLow": 4.5,
      "ebitdaMultipleHigh": 6.5,
      "daysToCloseLow": 150,
      "daysToCloseHigh": 240,
      "primaryBuyer": "Adjacent firm + PE-backed accounting consolidator",
      "multipleDriver": "Client retention + practice specialization (tax, advisory, forensic) drives ranges.",
      "sources": [
        "ibba",
        "bizbuysell",
        "axial"
      ]
    },
    {
      "slug": "insurance-agency",
      "industry": "Insurance agency (P&C or life/health)",
      "category": "Professional services",
      "sdeMultipleLow": 3,
      "sdeMultipleHigh": 4.5,
      "ebitdaMultipleLow": 6,
      "ebitdaMultipleHigh": 9,
      "daysToCloseLow": 150,
      "daysToCloseHigh": 240,
      "primaryBuyer": "PE-backed insurance broker consolidator",
      "multipleDriver": "Book renewal retention rate — top-decile agencies clear multi-year retention > 92%.",
      "sources": [
        "ibba",
        "bizbuysell",
        "axial",
        "preqin"
      ]
    },
    {
      "slug": "law-firm",
      "industry": "Law firm (small)",
      "category": "Professional services",
      "sdeMultipleLow": 1.5,
      "sdeMultipleHigh": 2.5,
      "ebitdaMultipleLow": 3,
      "ebitdaMultipleHigh": 4.5,
      "daysToCloseLow": 180,
      "daysToCloseHigh": 300,
      "primaryBuyer": "Merger with regional firm + succession-based buyout",
      "multipleDriver": "Individual attorney dependence — highest multiple when work is process-driven vs relationship-driven.",
      "sources": [
        "ibba",
        "bizbuysell"
      ]
    },
    {
      "slug": "marketing-agency",
      "industry": "Marketing / creative agency",
      "category": "Professional services",
      "sdeMultipleLow": 2.5,
      "sdeMultipleHigh": 3.5,
      "ebitdaMultipleLow": 4.5,
      "ebitdaMultipleHigh": 6.5,
      "daysToCloseLow": 180,
      "daysToCloseHigh": 240,
      "primaryBuyer": "Holding company + adjacent-specialty strategic + search fund",
      "multipleDriver": "Recurring retainer revenue mix + client tenure distribution.",
      "sources": [
        "ibba",
        "bizbuysell",
        "axial"
      ]
    },
    {
      "slug": "salon-fitness-personal",
      "industry": "Salon / fitness / personal services",
      "category": "Personal services",
      "sdeMultipleLow": 1.5,
      "sdeMultipleHigh": 2.5,
      "ebitdaMultipleLow": 3,
      "ebitdaMultipleHigh": 4.5,
      "daysToCloseLow": 150,
      "daysToCloseHigh": 210,
      "primaryBuyer": "Individual operator + regional franchise group",
      "multipleDriver": "Owner-operator dependency is the primary discount driver at Main Street scale.",
      "sources": [
        "ibba",
        "bizbuysell"
      ]
    },
    {
      "slug": "medical-dental",
      "industry": "Medical or dental practice",
      "category": "Healthcare",
      "sdeMultipleLow": 2.5,
      "sdeMultipleHigh": 4,
      "ebitdaMultipleLow": 5,
      "ebitdaMultipleHigh": 7,
      "daysToCloseLow": 210,
      "daysToCloseHigh": 300,
      "primaryBuyer": "PE-backed practice-management platform (DSO / MSO)",
      "multipleDriver": "Insurance-provider network status + associate-doctor tenure + state licensing regime.",
      "sources": [
        "ibba",
        "bizbuysell",
        "axial",
        "preqin"
      ]
    }
  ]
}