Sep 2026
What Your Business Is Actually Worth — And Why It Probably Isn’t What You Think
Most business owners in the emerging and lower middle market have a number in their head. It is usually based on a conversation they had years ago, a multiple they heard someone else received, or simply what they feel the years of work are worth. Rarely is it grounded in what the market will actually pay today. This piece walks through how businesses in the $1M–$30M range are valued, what drives that number up, and what quietly erodes it — and why understanding the difference before you go to market is one of the most important things you can do.