Most main-street businesses sell for 1.5 to 2.5 times the owner's true annual earnings (SDE). The table below shows the typical range for each trade, both as a multiple of yearly revenue and as a multiple of seller's discretionary earnings.
Last updated: August 2, 2026
| Business type | Revenue multiple, low | Revenue multiple, high | SDE multiple, low | SDE multiple, high |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hair salon / Barbershop | 0.35x | 0.65x | 1.5x | 2.5x |
| Cleaning service | 0.5x | 0.9x | 1.8x | 2.8x |
| Landscaping / Lawn care | 0.45x | 0.85x | 1.8x | 2.8x |
| Restaurant / Cafe | 0.25x | 0.45x | 1.3x | 2.2x |
| Auto repair / Detailing | 0.4x | 0.75x | 1.7x | 2.6x |
| Retail shop | 0.3x | 0.6x | 1.5x | 2.3x |
| Other service business | 0.35x | 0.7x | 1.5x | 2.5x |
A business is usually priced from the stronger of two answers: a multiple of its yearly revenue, or a multiple of what the owner really earns. If the owner's true earnings are known, the SDE math usually gives the higher and more defensible number. SDE means seller's discretionary earnings: salary, plus profit, plus the personal expenses the business pays for.
These ranges reflect how US main-street businesses are commonly priced when they change hands, drawn from published small-business sale data and the sales we prepare. They are starting ranges, not appraisals. A specific business's documented number comes from its own tax returns. We review this table and update the date above whenever the ranges change.
Want the number for your business? Use the free calculator or get it documented from your tax returns.