馃嚭馃嚫 the United States
The ContractorExit blog
Plain, practical advice on buying and selling trade businesses in the United States - valuation, the sale process, the legal steps and everything in between.
Add-Backs in Business Valuation: What Buyers Will Accept
Add-backs decide how much of your reported profit a buyer actually pays for: the standard list, the gray zone, and the fantasy ones that kill deals.
ContractorExit Editorial Team 路 19 Aug 2026 路 10 min read
SDE vs EBITDA: Which One Buyers Use to Value Your Business
SDE vs EBITDA decides which multiple applies to your sale. Here's the exact crossover point, a worked example, and how to tell which one values your business.
14 Aug 2026 路 9 min read
What Is SDE? Seller's Discretionary Earnings Explained
Seller's discretionary earnings is the number every trade business valuation is built on. Here is the formula, every add-back, and a worked example.
10 Aug 2026 路 10 min read
How Much Is a Pest Control Business Worth in 2026?
How much is a pest control business worth? Quarterly route businesses reach 3x-5x SDE, the highest multiple in home services, on recurring route revenue.
3 Aug 2026 路 12 min read
How Much Is a Cleaning Business Worth in 2026?
How much is a cleaning business worth? Most sell at 2x-3.5x SDE - but the contract is the asset, and commercial agreements push good ones past 4x.
27 Jul 2026 路 12 min read
How Much Is a Roofing Company Worth in 2026?
How much is a roofing company worth? BizBuySell data shows a 2.99x SDE median - storm-chaser shops land near 2x, service-oriented roofers reach 3.5x or above.
20 Jul 2026 路 11 min read
How Much Is a Landscaping Business Worth in 2026?
How much is a landscaping business worth? Most sell for 2x to 3.5x SDE - and the maintenance vs design-build split is the biggest factor moving that number.
13 Jul 2026 路 10 min read
How Much Is an Electrical Business Worth in 2026?
How much is an electrical business worth? Most sell for 2x to 3.5x SDE - and the master electrician license structure is the biggest factor moving that number.
6 Jul 2026 路 11 min read
How Much Is a Plumbing Business Worth in 2026?
How much is a plumbing business worth? Service plumbing with maintenance contracts sells at 2.5x-3.5x SDE, new-construction at 1.5x-2.5x SDE.
29 Jun 2026 路 11 min read
How Much Is an HVAC Business Worth in 2026?
How much is an HVAC business worth? Small shops sell at 2x-3.5x SDE, established firms at 5x-7x EBITDA - the maintenance agreement base drives the gap.
22 Jun 2026 路 11 min read
Blue Collar Business Valuation: How Trades Are Priced
Blue collar business valuation explained: SDE vs EBITDA, typical multiple ranges by trade, and the seven factors that move your final price.
15 Jun 2026 路 17 min read
How to value a trade business (without overthinking it)
Profit multiples, what moves the number up or down, and why recurring revenue is worth more than you think.
2 Jun 2026 路 6 min read
Thinking about selling?
Start with a free valuation - no sign-up needed to see your estimate.
Value my business