Business Valuation
Calculator
How much is your business worth? Find out in under 5 minutes.
A professional business appraisal costs $5,000–$50,000. Our free business value calculator uses the same SDE, EBITDA, and revenue multiple methods to estimate what your company is worth — calibrated with real transaction data across 52+ industries. Whether you want to sell your business, plan an exit, or benchmark your small business valuation, get a fair market value estimate instantly — no signup, no cost.
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Professional-Grade Analysis
Three Valuation Methods, One Clear Answer
Most free calculators rely on a single generic formula and produce misleading numbers. Our platform combines three industry-standard valuation approaches (the income approach, the market approach, and earnings-based multiples), each calibrated with industry-specific transaction data. You see exactly how each method arrives at its estimate, so you understand the value drivers behind your fair market value range.
SDE Multiple
Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE) captures the total financial benefit to an owner-operator by adding back the owner's salary, personal expenses, and non-recurring costs to net income. It is the gold standard valuation method for small businesses generating under $5M in annual revenue. Typical SDE multiples range from 1.5x to 4x depending on industry, growth trajectory, and customer concentration. For example, HVAC companies and landscaping businesses are almost always valued on SDE.
EBITDA Multiple
Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) isolates operating profitability by stripping out capital structure, tax jurisdiction, and non-cash accounting charges. It is the standard earnings metric for mid-market mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, and leveraged buyouts. EBITDA multiples typically range from 3x to 12x and reflect how acquirers value companies where a professional management team runs day-to-day operations, including sectors like manufacturing and insurance agencies commonly trade on EBITDA.
Revenue Multiple
Revenue-based valuation applies an industry-specific multiple to your company's top-line revenue, making it essential for businesses where profitability has not yet stabilized. SaaS companies, e-commerce brands, and high-growth startups are commonly valued at 0.5x to 15x annual revenue depending on recurring revenue percentage, gross margins, and year-over-year growth rate. This method is especially useful when comparing your company to recent market transactions and publicly traded comparable companies.
Simple 3-Step Process
How the Business Valuation Calculator Works
Enter Your Business Details
Select your industry from our database of 50+ categories and enter basic financial data: annual revenue, operating expenses, owner compensation, and any add-backs. This information mirrors what a certified valuation analyst would request during a formal appraisal. The entire process takes about two minutes.
We Run Three Valuation Methods
Our engine simultaneously calculates your Seller’s Discretionary Earnings, EBITDA, and revenue multiples using industry-specific transaction data sourced from real completed deals. Each method is further adjusted for risk factors such as customer concentration, revenue trends, recurring revenue mix, and geographic market conditions to arrive at a fair market value range.
Get Your Valuation Range
Receive your estimated business value as a range, from conservative to optimistic, with a detailed breakdown showing exactly how each valuation method arrived at its number. Understand which value drivers (goodwill, recurring revenue, growth rate) increase your multiple and which risk factors discount it, so you can take action to maximize your company's worth before a sale.
Why Valzura
Built for Business Owners, Not Accountants
Professional-grade accuracy with plain-language explanations anyone can understand. Whether you are planning an exit, negotiating a partnership buyout, or applying for SBA financing, our platform gives you the fair market value insights you need.
Multi-Method Comparison
See SDE, EBITDA, and revenue valuations displayed side by side in a single dashboard. Understand which method matters most for your business type. A service business owner will rely on SDE while a private-equity-backed company benchmarks on EBITDA. Comparing all three reveals the full picture of your company's fair market value.
Industry-Specific Data
Valuation multiples calibrated for 52+ industries using completed transaction data from business brokerages and M&A databases. A plumbing company and a SaaS startup sell at very different multiples. see how your sector compares to see the ranges for your sector. No generic one-size-fits-all formulas; every estimate is grounded in real market comparables.
Risk-Adjusted Results
Our valuation engine factors in revenue growth trends, customer concentration risk, recurring revenue percentage, owner dependency, and geographic market conditions. These risk adjustments shift your multiple up or down just as a certified valuation analyst would during a formal business appraisal, producing a more defensible fair market value estimate.
Plain-Language Explanations
Every number in your report comes with a clear, jargon-free explanation of how it was calculated and why it matters. We explain why adding back owner salary to compute SDE increases your valuation and how goodwill, intellectual property, and brand equity contribute to your company's worth beyond tangible assets.
Instant Results
No waiting weeks for a quote and no expensive phone consultations. Enter your financial data into our company valuation tool and receive a comprehensive business valuation estimate in under five minutes. Whether you need a quick sanity check before meeting a business broker or a starting point for SBA loan documentation, you get answers immediately.
100% Free to Start
Get a full multi-method business valuation at no cost, including SDE, EBITDA, and revenue multiple estimates with industry benchmarks. Need more? Our premium plans from $99/mo unlock downloadable PDF reports, sellability scoring, DCF and asset-based valuations, QuickBooks auto-import, exit planning toolkits, and lender-ready SBA documentation. Single reports also available for $199.
Comprehensive Coverage
EBITDA Multiples by Industry
Generic business value calculators apply a single formula regardless of whether you run a landscaping company or a software firm. Our company valuation tool uses industry-specific SDE, EBITDA, and revenue multiples derived from actual completed transactions across 52+business categories, the same market approach data that professional business appraisers and M&A advisors reference.
Trusted Results
What Business Owners Are Saying
I was quoted $8,000 for a formal business appraisal from a certified valuation analyst. Valzura gave me a solid directional estimate in 5 minutes using the SDE multiple method, and it ended up within 10% of the final appraised value. I used the report to negotiate confidently with three potential buyers before investing in the full appraisal.
Michael Torres
HVAC Company Owner, $2.4M Revenue
The multi-method comparison was a game changer for our Series A preparation. I could see exactly why my SaaS company was valued at 8x revenue but only 12x EBITDA. The recurring revenue and 140% net retention rate pushed the revenue multiple higher. It helped me frame the conversation with investors using the metric that best reflected our growth trajectory.
Sarah Chen
SaaS Founder, $1.8M ARR
Plain language, no jargon, and the industry-specific restaurant multiples made me feel confident that the valuation was grounded in real comparable transactions, not just a generic formula. The tool showed me that my goodwill and established catering contracts added meaningful value beyond my physical assets. I used the estimate when negotiating the sale price with a buyer sourced through my business broker.
David Rodriguez
Restaurant Owner, 2 Locations
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
QWhat is the simplest way to value a small business?
The simplest way to value a small business is to multiply the Seller’s Discretionary Earnings (SDE) by an industry-specific multiple, typically ranging from 1.5x to 4x. SDE represents the total financial benefit available to an owner-operator, including salary, perks, and non-recurring expenses added back to net income. This market approach mirrors how business brokers price most Main Street transactions and is the most widely accepted method for companies generating under $5 million in annual revenue. If you’re asking “what is my company worth,” our free valuation tool automates this calculation using real comparable transaction data so you get a defensible fair market value estimate in minutes. For businesses with more complex structures, combining SDE with EBITDA and revenue multiples provides a more comprehensive valuation range.
QHow do you value a company with no profit?
A company with no profit is typically valued using the revenue multiple method, which applies an industry-specific multiplier to the company’s annual or recurring revenue rather than its earnings. This approach is standard for high-growth startups, early-stage SaaS businesses, and e-commerce brands that are reinvesting aggressively into customer acquisition and product development. Revenue multiples for unprofitable companies generally range from 0.5x to 10x depending on growth rate, gross margins, market size, and recurring revenue percentage. Additionally, the asset-based approach can establish a floor value by summing tangible assets (equipment, inventory, receivables) and intangible assets such as intellectual property, brand equity, and goodwill. A discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis may also be used when the business has a credible path to future profitability that can be projected with reasonable confidence.
QHow much does a professional business valuation cost?
A professional business valuation performed by a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) or Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) typically costs between $5,000 and $50,000, depending on the size and complexity of the business. Simple valuations for small owner-operated companies with straightforward financials fall toward the lower end, while complex engagements involving multiple entities, intellectual property, or litigation support can exceed $30,000. The process usually takes two to six weeks and produces a formal opinion of fair market value that holds up in legal proceedings, tax filings, and SBA loan applications. Our online business valuation tool provides a reliable directional estimate at no cost, helping you decide whether investing in a formal certified appraisal is justified. Many business owners use our calculator as a first step before engaging a professional appraiser or M&A advisor.
QWhat is the difference between SDE and EBITDA?
Seller’s Discretionary Earnings (SDE) and EBITDA both measure business profitability, but they serve different buyer profiles and transaction sizes. SDE adds back the owner’s total compensation, personal benefits, and discretionary expenses to net income, representing the full cash flow available to a single owner-operator — making it the standard metric for valuing small businesses sold to individual buyers. EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) strips out capital structure and non-cash charges but does not add back owner compensation, making it the preferred metric for mid-market and private equity transactions where a professional management team replaces the owner. In practice, SDE is typically higher than EBITDA by the amount of the owner’s salary and perks, which is why SDE multiples (1.5x–4x) tend to be lower than EBITDA multiples (3x–12x) for equivalent business values. Our valuation calculator computes both metrics side by side so you can see which framework best applies to your company’s size and ownership structure.
QWhat is the rule of thumb for valuing a business?
The most common rule of thumb is that a small business is worth two to three times its annual Seller’s Discretionary Earnings (SDE), though this varies significantly by industry, size, and growth trajectory. Service businesses such as accounting firms or landscaping companies often sell for 1.5x to 3x SDE, while manufacturing firms with proprietary products may command 3x to 5x EBITDA. Technology and SaaS companies frequently trade on revenue multiples of 3x to 10x or higher, depending on recurring revenue and net retention rates. While rules of thumb provide a useful starting point, a more accurate estimate requires applying industry-specific valuation multiples from actual comparable transactions and adjusting for risk factors such as customer concentration, owner dependency, and revenue stability. Our business valuation calculator goes beyond simple rules of thumb by applying real market data and risk adjustments to produce a defensible fair market value range.
QHow much is a business worth with $1 million in profit?
A business generating $1 million in annual profit (measured as SDE or EBITDA) is typically worth between $2 million and $6 million, depending on the industry, valuation method, and specific risk factors. Using SDE multiples common for owner-operated small businesses, a $1M SDE company might sell for 2x to 4x, yielding a value of $2M to $4M. Using EBITDA multiples typical of mid-market transactions, the same earnings could command 3x to 6x or more, especially in industries with strong recurring revenue, low customer concentration, and favorable growth trends. Factors that push the multiple higher include documented systems and processes, a diversified customer base, intellectual property or proprietary technology, and consistent year-over-year revenue growth. Our valuation tool lets you enter your specific financials and industry to see exactly where a million-dollar-profit business falls on the valuation spectrum.
QWhat are the most commonly used business valuation methods?
The three most commonly used business valuation methods are the income approach, the market approach, and the asset-based approach. The income approach includes SDE multiple analysis (standard for small businesses), EBITDA multiple analysis (standard for mid-market M&A), and discounted cash flow (DCF) modeling, which projects future earnings and discounts them to present value. The market approach values a business by comparing it to similar companies that have recently been sold, using valuation multiples derived from actual transaction data — this is the method most business brokers and M&A advisors rely on. The asset-based approach sums the fair market value of all tangible and intangible assets, including goodwill, and is most relevant for asset-heavy businesses like manufacturing, real estate, or distribution companies. Our calculator focuses on the income and market approaches — specifically SDE, EBITDA, and revenue multiples — because these produce the most accurate estimates for the majority of small and mid-market businesses.
QCan I trust an online business valuation calculator?
An online business valuation calculator provides a reliable directional estimate of your company’s fair market value, but it is not a substitute for a certified appraisal prepared by a credentialed professional such as a CVA or ASA. The accuracy of any calculator depends on the quality of its underlying data and methodology — our tool uses the same SDE, EBITDA, and revenue multiple frameworks that professional appraisers use, calibrated with industry-specific transaction data from real completed deals. Where online tools excel is in speed, accessibility, and cost: you can get a data-driven estimate in minutes at no charge, which is ideal for initial planning, understanding your value drivers, and benchmarking against industry peers. For high-stakes scenarios such as divorce proceedings, estate tax filings, shareholder disputes, or SBA loan applications, a formal written appraisal from an accredited valuation analyst is recommended. Many business owners start with our free valuation estimate and then use it as a baseline when engaging a professional appraiser or M&A advisor for a formal engagement.
What Is Your Business
Really Worth?
Over 10,000 business owners have used our business valuation calculator to understand their company's fair market value. Whether you want to sell your business, plan an exit, negotiate a partnership buyout, or benchmark your small business valuation against industry peers — get a data-driven estimate: free, instant, no signup required. Need a lender-ready business appraisal? Explore professional reports.