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Trustmark Mergers + Acquisitions
/ Free tool · Business Valuation

What is your business worth?

Get an industry-specific estimate of what your business is worth in under five minutes, built on adjusted earnings rather than a rule of thumb.

Start the calculator → 3 steps · about 5 minutes · 100% confidential
Business Sector Step 1 of 3

What kind of business is it?

Home Services / ContractorsConstructionManufacturingHealthcare / MedicalProfessional & Personal ServicesRestaurant / Food ServiceRetailWholesale / DistributionAutomotive ServicesTransportation & LogisticsTechnology / IT ServicesBeauty & WellnessChildcare & EducationInsurance & Financial ServicesGeneral / Other

Multiples differ substantially by sector, which is why this is the first question rather than an afterthought.

/ Our methodology

Understanding your business valuation.

The calculator uses the Adjusted Earnings method — the same approach a broker uses when pricing a business for market, rather than a multiple of revenue.

01

Calculate Adjusted Earnings

We start by identifying the true cash flow. This isn't just net profit; it includes the owner's salary, depreciation, interest and one-time expenses added back.

02

Apply Industry Multiples

We look at national databases of similar business sales based on similar revenue and earnings.

03

Fine-Tuning

Automated tools provide a baseline range. A final sale price is influenced by intangibles: customer concentration, management depth, and growth trends.

/ How it works

Five minutes, then a range.

1

Tell us about the business

Sector, revenue and earnings. Three short steps, no documents to dig out.

2

Answer a few operating questions

Owner involvement, customer concentration and recurring revenue — the factors that move a multiple.

3

See your range

A value range rather than a single number, because that is how buyers actually think about price.

/ Timing

Is now the right time to sell your business?

You're 3–7 years from wanting to exit

Knowing your number early gives you time to increase value before going to market.

Your business has grown consistently for 2+ years

Buyers pay premiums for demonstrated growth trends and financial stability.

A key employee or partner could run the business

Owner-independence is one of the strongest value drivers in the lower middle market.

Industry multiples are favorable

Multiples shift with economic conditions. Today's market may be more favorable for your sector than next year's.

Not ready to sell yet? Knowing your current valuation is still valuable. It tells you exactly what operational changes will have the biggest impact on the number, while there is still time to make them.

/ Related
Valuation

How Much Is My Business Worth?

SDE, multiples, and what determines the number a buyer will actually pay.
Reference

M&A Terms, Plain English

SDE, EBITDA, multiple, add-back — defined without jargon.
Free tool

Exit Readiness Assessment

A value estimate says what it is worth. This says whether it is ready.
/ FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

Common questions about how the calculator works and what your number actually represents.

Is this a free business valuation calculator?
Yes. It is free, takes about five minutes, and there is no obligation attached to using it.
Does this calculator use SDE or EBITDA?
Both, depending on size. Smaller owner-operated businesses are valued on SDE. Above roughly $1M of earnings the calculator shifts toward EBITDA on a blended basis, because that is how buyers at that size underwrite — they expect to pay a manager to run the business rather than run it themselves.
Is this business valuation calculator based on revenue?
No. Revenue is collected for context, but the valuation is built on adjusted earnings and an industry multiple. Two businesses with identical revenue and different earnings are worth very different amounts.
What financials do I need?
Revenue and earnings for the most recent year, plus a sense of the owner add-backs. You do not need tax returns or statements in front of you to get a useful range.
Why is my range wider than someone else's?
The range widens when there is more uncertainty in the inputs — high customer concentration, heavy owner dependence, or very small earnings. A wide range is the tool being honest rather than the tool being vague.
Is this the same as a formal business valuation?
No. This is an estimate for planning, not an appraisal or a formal opinion of value. It is the right tool for deciding whether to start a conversation, not for a transaction or a legal filing.
How do you determine how much a business is worth?
Adjusted earnings multiplied by an industry multiple, then adjusted for the specifics: customer concentration, management depth, growth trend and how clean the financials are. The methodology section above walks through each step.

This calculator produces an estimate for planning purposes. It is not an appraisal or a formal opinion of value, and it should not be relied on for a transaction, a financing application, or a legal or tax filing. For a considered opinion on a specific business, start a conversation.

/ Start

Find out what it is worth.

Five minutes, no documents to gather, and nothing shared with anyone.

Start the calculator → Talk to Mark instead