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Sell by industry

Selling a business by industry

Published medians by industry run from 2.04 times owner earnings for accounting and tax practices to 3.28 for website and e-commerce businesses (BizBuySell, 2021 to 2025). Each of the 11 sector guides says what buyers in the sector pay a premium for, what they discount, and who buys first.

Sectors
11
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The sectors

What do businesses sell for in each industry?

Between 2.04 and 3.28 times owner earnings at the published medians (BizBuySell, 2021 to 2025), and each sector page says what moves a business up or down: what buyers pay a premium for and what they discount, who shows up to buy and in what order, how the sale runs, and the terms to expect.

  1. Home services

    What HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and roofing companies sell for, and how to sell yours for more.

    Typical multiple at sale
    3x to 6x EBITDA
    Who buys
    PE-backed platforms, regional consolidators, owner-operators
    Buyers weigh first
    OdOwner Dependence
    How the sale runs

  2. SaaS

    What subscription software companies sell for, and how to sell yours for more.

    Typical multiple at sale
    3x to 8x ARR
    Who buys
    Strategic acquirers, growth equity, software holding companies
    Buyers weigh first
    RrRecurring Revenue
    How the sale runs

  3. Professional services

    What agencies, consultancies, and advisory firms sell for, and how to sell yours for more.

    Typical multiple at sale
    4x to 7x EBITDA
    Who buys
    Larger firms, PE-backed platforms, holding companies
    Buyers weigh first
    CcCustomer Concentration
    How the sale runs

  4. Manufacturing

    What job shops, contract manufacturers, and niche producers sell for, and how to sell yours for more.

    Typical multiple at sale
    4x to 7x EBITDA
    Who buys
    Strategic acquirers, PE platforms, family offices
    Buyers weigh first
    MdManagement Depth
    How the sale runs

  5. Healthcare practices

    What dental, medical, veterinary, and therapy practices sell for, and how to sell yours for more.

    Typical multiple at sale
    5x to 8x EBITDA
    Who buys
    DSOs and MSOs, PE-backed groups, hospital systems, associates
    Buyers weigh first
    KpKey-Person Risk
    How the sale runs

  6. Construction

    What specialty and general contractors sell for, and how to sell yours for more.

    Typical multiple at sale
    3x to 5x EBITDA
    Who buys
    Regional contractors, PE-backed platforms, employee ownership
    Buyers weigh first
    PdPredictability
    How the sale runs

  7. E-commerce

    What direct-to-consumer and marketplace brands sell for, and how to sell yours for more.

    Typical multiple at sale
    2x to 5x EBITDA
    Who buys
    Brand aggregators, strategic brands, PE-backed groups
    Buyers weigh first
    BrBrand Equity
    How the sale runs

  8. IT services

    What managed service providers and IT consultancies sell for, and how to sell yours for more.

    Typical multiple at sale
    5x to 9x EBITDA
    Who buys
    PE-backed MSP platforms, strategic IT firms, regional consolidators
    Buyers weigh first
    RtRetention
    How the sale runs

  9. Agriculture

    What farms, nurseries, wineries, and agricultural businesses sell for, and how to sell yours for more.

    Who buys
    Farmers, individual investors, strategic buyers, institutions
    Buyers weigh first
    CfClean Financials
    How the sale runs

  10. Health and fitness

    What gyms and fitness studios sell for, and how to sell yours for more.

    Who buys
    Nearby gyms and studios, private equity-backed chains, premium club operators
    How the sale runs

  11. Real estate

    What property management, home inspection, brokerage, title, and appraisal businesses sell for, and how to sell yours for more.

    Who buys
    PE-backed roll-up platforms, larger regional managers, franchise systems, search funders
    Buyers weigh first
    RtRetention
    How the sale runs

Run an agency, a consultancy, an accounting practice, or a managed IT firm?

How buyers price a service business

Sector experience

The sectors the deal team has worked in

A page exists for the sectors that come to FNDRS most often. Members of the deal team have advised on sales in the rest too, including at prior firms; the page follows.

Not on the list? The buyers in your sector are still five kinds of buyer, and the process is the same. A dealmaker can tell you what they are paying now.

Talk to a dealmakerThe M&A process

Who is across the table

Who buys businesses in each sector?

Five kinds of buyer exist in every sector: strategic acquirers, private equity platforms, private equity add-ons, family offices, and individuals or search funds; the sector decides which of them show up first. The process brings more than one of them to the table so the terms are set by competition.

The five buyers in detail

  1. Strategic acquirer

    Wants
    Your customers, product, or territory added to theirs.
    Pays
    Often the highest price when the fit is real, with synergies priced in.

  2. Private equity platform

    Wants
    A durable business to build on with add-on acquisitions.
    Pays
    A market multiple, with rollover equity for a second exit.

  3. Private equity add-on

    Wants
    A bolt-on to a company they already own.
    Pays
    A multiple close to the platform's, with faster diligence.

  4. Family office

    Wants
    Long-term cash flow, often with the founder staying involved.
    Pays
    Patient capital and flexible structure.

  5. Individual or search fund

    Wants
    A business to run themselves.
    Pays
    Bank-financed prices with seller notes common.

Know what your sector sells for before a buyer tells you

The sector pages give the range. The conversation gives the number, and the order of work that moves it.

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