M&A insights for founders

The Commentary.What we’re seeing in lower middle market M&A.

Quick Answer

The Commentary covers real lower middle market M&A trends including sector-specific valuation multiples (tax practices, real estate brokerages, salons, construction firms, and other verticals typically trade at 2x to 4.5x SDE or EBITDA depending on industry), current buyer activity across 76+ active acquirers, and practical deal structures founders encounter. The content focuses on what multiples buyers actually pay in off-market transactions where the buying side covers all fees, helping sellers understand realistic valuations before engaging in the process.

Practical writing on selling a business: what your sector multiples actually look like, who’s buying right now, how rollover equity works in practice, and the deal structures founders should and shouldn’t accept.

M&A Insight

Tax Preparation Business Valuation

How much is your tax practice worth? Use our free calculator and learn the multiples buyers actually pay. 76+ active buyers. No fees. No contract.

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M&A Insight

Real Estate Brokerage Valuation

How much is your real estate brokerage worth? Use our free calculator and learn the EBITDA multiples buyers pay. 76+ active buyers. No fees. No contract.

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M&A Insight

Catering Business Valuation

How much is your catering business worth? Use our free calculator and learn the SDE multiples buyers actually pay. 76+ active buyers. No fees. No contract.

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M&A Insight

Self Storage Valuation

How much is your self storage facility worth? Free calculator + real cap rates and EBITDA multiples buyers pay. 76+ buyers, no fees, no contract.

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M&A Insight

Salon Business Valuation

How much is your salon or barbershop worth? Free valuation calculator + real SDE multiples buyers pay. 76+ active buyers, no fees, no contract.

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M&A Insight

Hotel Business Valuation

How much is your hotel worth? Free valuation calculator + real RevPAR and EBITDA multiples buyers pay. 76+ active buyers, no fees, no contract.

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M&A Insight

Dry Cleaning Valuation

How much is your dry cleaner worth? Free valuation calculator + real SDE multiples buyers pay. 76+ active buyers, no fees, no contract required.

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M&A Insight

Coffee Shop Valuation

How much is your coffee shop worth? Use our free valuation calculator and learn the SDE multiples buyers actually pay. 76+ active buyers, no fees, no contract.

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M&A Insight

Bakery Business Valuation

How much is your bakery worth? Use our free valuation calculator and learn the SDE multiples buyers actually pay. 76+ active buyers, no fees, no contract.

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M&A Insight

Daycare Business Valuation

How much is your daycare worth? Use our free valuation calculator and learn the EBITDA multiples buyers actually pay. 76+ active buyers, no fees, no contract.

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M&A Insight

Construction Company Valuation

How much is your construction company worth? Free valuation calculator and the EBITDA multiples buyers actually pay. 76+ active buyers, no fees, no contract.

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M&A Insight

Consulting Business Valuation

How much is my consulting firm worth? Multiples (1-3x rev / 4-7x EBITDA), bench utilization, services-SaaS hybrid premium. Free calculator, 76+ buyers, no fees.

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M&A Insight

Printing Business Valuation

How much is my printing business worth in 2026? Multiples (0.3-0.8x rev / 4-6x EBITDA), digital vs offset, equipment math. Free calculator, 76+ buyers, no fees.

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M&A Insight

Franchise Business Valuation

How much is my franchise worth? Multi-unit multiples (McDonald’s 5-7x, Anytime 4-6x, Ace 3-5x), royalty, ROFR. Free calculator, 76+ buyers, no fees.

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M&A Insight

Accounting Firm Valuation 2026

How much is my accounting firm worth? Multiples, PE consolidators (Cherry Bekaert, Aprio, Marcum), partner retention. Free calculator, 76+ buyers, no fees.

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M&A Insight

Insurance Agency Business Valuation

Insurance agency valuation 2026: 1.5-3x revenue or 6-10x EBITDA, book retention, Acrisure/Hub/NFP/Patriot, 76+ buyers, free calculator, no fees.

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M&A Insight

Laundromat Business Valuation

Laundromat business valuation 2026: 3-5x SDE or 4-6x EBITDA, real estate value, equipment age, card vs coin, named consolidators, 76+ buyers, free calculator.

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M&A Insight

Locksmith Business Valuation

Locksmith business valuation 2026: 1.5-3x SDE, mobile vs storefront, commercial contracts, ALOA certification, 76+ buyers, free calculator, no fees.

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M&A Insight

Painting Business Valuation

Painting business valuation 2026: 2-3x SDE or 3-5x EBITDA, residential vs commercial mix, HOA contracts, PE rollups, 76+ buyers, free calculator, no fees.

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M&A Insight

Distribution Business Valuation

Industrial distribution business valuation: 0.5-1.5x revenue or 6-9x EBITDA. Free calculator, 76+ active U.S. buyers including Grainger, Fastenal, MSC,…

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M&A Insight

Wholesale Business Valuation

Wholesale business valuation guide: 0.3-0.8x revenue or 5-7x EBITDA. Free calculator, 76+ active U.S. buyers including Watsco, Pool Corp, Beacon, Wesco. No…

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M&A Insight

Trucking Business Valuation

Trucking business valuation guide: 1.5-3x SDE for owner-operator small fleets, 3-5x EBITDA for $5M+ carriers. Free calculator, 76+ active U.S. buyers, no…

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M&A Insight

Ecommerce Business Valuation

Ecommerce business valuation guide: 0.5-1.5x revenue or 3-6x SDE for sub-$5M stores, 4-8x EBITDA for $5M+. Free calculator, 76+ active U.S. buyers, no…

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M&A Insight

SaaS Business Valuation

How much is your SaaS business worth? Free valuation calculator + real ARR multiples buyers pay (3-8x). 76+ active buyers, no fees, no contract required.

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