Business Exit Value Calculator
Estimate your business's enterprise value using industry-standard EBITDA multiples, plus after-tax proceeds accounting for capital gains, state tax, and potential QSBS exemption.
EBITDA multiples by industry
Multiples depend on growth rate, margin, recurring revenue percentage, and market conditions:
| Industry | Typical multiple | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SaaS with >40% growth | 8-15× | Recurring revenue + growth commands premium |
| Professional services (consulting, law) | 5-8× | Owner dependence is discounted |
| Healthcare practices (dental, vet, specialty) | 5-8× | Corporate consolidator demand |
| Manufacturing (specialized) | 4-7× | Asset-heavy, operational complexity |
| E-commerce / DTC brands | 3-6× | Depends on customer concentration + defensibility |
| Restaurants / retail | 3-5× | Lower multiples, harder exits |
QSBS — the $10M federal tax exemption
Section 1202 Qualified Small Business Stock allows exclusion of up to $10M of gain per shareholder per company from federal capital gains tax, if all of these hold:
- Stock issued by a US C-corporation (not LLC, not S-corp)
- Company had gross assets under $50M at time of issuance
- You held the stock at least 5 years before sale
- Stock was original issuance to you (not secondary purchase)
- Company was engaged in a qualified trade or business
For business owners who qualify, this is a massive tax benefit. On a $10M exit with $10K basis, QSBS saves roughly $2.2M in federal tax. Most advisors don't know the rules in detail.
Model your specific exit
Specialist advisor runs the real numbers — including installment sale vs lump sum, state-tax optimization, and charitable-remainder trust strategies for large exits.