Anonymized closed-deal tombstones. Real transactions WETYR has advised or directly acquired. Identifying details removed under NDA — financial structure and outcomes are accurate as represented. Multiples reflect deal structure at close (cash + earnout + rollover where applicable).
Recent Closed Deals (Anonymized)
| Niche | State | Revenue | EBITDA / SDE | Multiple | WETYR Role | Timeline | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC | FL | $8.2M | $1.6M | 7.4x EBITDA | Sell-side advisor | 9 months | Strategic acquirer (regional roll-up) |
| Accounting Firm | TX | $3.1M | $840K | 1.2x revenue | Sell-side advisor | 7 months | PE-backed CPA aggregator |
| Insurance Agency | NC | $4.5M | $1.1M | 9.8x EBITDA | Sell-side advisor | 8 months | National aggregator platform |
| Pest Control | GA | $2.8M | $680K | 8.0x EBITDA | Sell-side advisor | 6 months | Strategic buyer (route density add) |
| Dental Practice | CO | $2.4M | $720K | 7.5x EBITDA | Sell-side advisor | 8 months | DSO platform acquisition |
| Marketing Agency | CA | $5.6M | $1.3M | 5.8x EBITDA | Sell-side advisor | 10 months | Holding company aggregator |
| Plumbing | TX | $6.4M | $1.1M | 6.2x EBITDA | Sell-side advisor | 9 months | PE-backed home-services platform |
| Self-Storage | TN | $1.9M (NOI) | - | 6.2% cap rate | Sell-side advisor | 5 months | Institutional REIT |
| Veterinary Practice | OH | $3.2M | $780K | 12.1x EBITDA | Sell-side advisor | 7 months | National vet platform |
| Laundromat (multi-unit) | FL | $1.4M | $420K (SDE) | 4.2x SDE | Operator-buyer (direct acquisition) | 4 months | Acquired by WETYR holdco |
Why The Multiples Vary
Identical-looking businesses can sell at materially different multiples based on the eight value drivers measured in the WETYR Exit Score. The 7.4x HVAC and the 6.2x plumbing transaction above are roughly comparable revenue tiers in similar geographies — the multiple gap was driven primarily by recurring service contract percentage and team retention strength. Owners who understand the drivers and prepare 12-24 months in advance routinely achieve top-quartile multiples; owners who go to market unprepared accept market-median or below.
Sell-Side Advisory vs Operator-Buyer (Direct)
Most of the deals above were run as sell-side advisory engagements where WETYR represented the seller through a structured process to multiple buyers. The Florida laundromat transaction was structured as a direct operator-buyer acquisition — WETYR purchased the business directly without commission, providing certainty of close and operator alignment. Both paths have their place. Sell-side advisory typically maximizes gross consideration. Operator-buyer typically maximizes certainty, speed, and post-close fit.
Confidentiality & Diligence Standard
All deal data above is published with seller permission and identifying details removed under post-close NDA terms. WETYR maintains diligence files for every transaction with quality of earnings, working capital adjustment workings, and definitive agreement schedules. Independent verification is available to qualified parties under mutual NDA on request.
See What Your Business Could Sell For
Take the Exit Score, then book a 30-min call to walk through what the multiple would be for a business with your specific value-driver profile.
Authoritative Sources & Further Reading
WETYR works alongside primary sources, regulators, and industry data providers when advising owners and operators. The references below are the same sources our advisory team uses when modeling deals, benchmarking multiples, and stress-testing assumptions. We encourage every owner, buyer, and operator to verify any data point that materially affects their decision against the underlying primary source.
Primary Federal Sources
- U.S. SBA — 7(a) Loan Program for acquisition financing eligibility, terms, and lender list.
- SEC EDGAR for public-company comparables, 10-K disclosures, and recent strategic acquirer filings.
- IRS — Sale of a Business on Section 1060 asset-allocation reporting and tax treatment of asset vs stock sales.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Industries at a Glance for wage, employment, and growth data by NAICS code.
- U.S. Census Economic Census for industry size, firm counts, and revenue distributions.
- Federal Reserve Economic Data for prevailing rate environment underwriting.
Standards & Reference Bodies
- AICPA for Quality of Earnings methodology and CPA standards governing transaction-related financial work.
- FINRA Rules and Guidance for understanding when a transaction crosses into broker-dealer territory.
- NACVA business valuation credentialing body and standards (CVA designation).
- USPAP — Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice for valuation engagement standards.
- Investopedia — EBITDA reference page for definitional alignment with our glossary.
- Harvard Business Review — Mergers and Acquisitions archive on integration and post-close value creation.
For deeper transaction-specific data, the GF Data and PitchBook private-company transaction databases publish quarterly multiple ranges by industry size band that we cross-reference against our own pipeline benchmarks. Owners considering a sale should also review the Pepperdine Private Capital Markets Report (free, annual) for current cost-of-capital and lender appetite data across the lower middle market. Buyers underwriting search-fund or holdco theses commonly pair Stanford GSB's Search Fund Study with the IBBA Market Pulse report, which tracks multiples for sub-$50M transactions quarterly. None of these sources replace deal-specific advisory, but they give owners and operators the same reference points professional acquirers are using on the other side of the table.
Related WETYR Resources
Every WETYR resource ladders into a structured engagement framework. Whether you are diagnosing readiness, modeling a number, or preparing for a specific transaction phase, the resources below cover the most common owner and operator workflows. All tools are free; all guides are operator-written; all engagements start with a confidential conversation.
Engagement Pillars
Decision Tools
Operator-Written
Glossary & FAQ
Checklists & Templates
Niche Coverage
If you are not sure where to start, the Exit Readiness Score takes about four minutes and produces a one-page diagnostic on the value drivers most likely to compress your multiple. From there the natural next step is either a long-form guide covering your specific situation, a focused glossary term lookup, or a confidential introductory call with our team to discuss whether WETYR's advisory or operator-buyer engagement is a fit. Our team responds to every inbound inquiry within one business day.