Distribution Businesses typically sell for 4-7x EBITDA; specialized lines higher. On $3M - $50M of revenue that usually means $300K - $5M of normalized owner earnings. WETYR can make a direct, confidential offer and close in 30 to 75 days, without your business ever going on the open market.
What drives value in distribution businesses
Value comes from transferable earnings, not revenue. Recurring reorders, niche specialization, PE consolidation of fragmented distribution What lifts the multiple: Supplier and customer relationships, inventory, logistics, niche lines, recurring or contracted revenue, low customer concentration, a team that runs without the owner, and clean books. What lowers it: owner dependence, messy financials, and customer concentration over 20 percent.
Who buys distribution businesses
Private equity platforms and strategic consolidators (Industry consolidators, PE platforms) are the loud buyers, but they screen hard, move slowly, and re-trade at diligence. WETYR is the operator alternative: we buy distribution businesses to run them, so we move quickly, keep it confidential, and pay a fair, certain number without a marketed auction.
| Factor | WETYR (operator-buyer) | PE platform | Individual buyer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical offer basis | 4-7x EBITDA | Highest headline number | Financing-dependent |
| Time to close | 30 to 75 days | 6 to 12 months | 3 to 9 months |
| Stays confidential | Yes, no public listing | Committee and advisors see it | Usually broker-marketed |
| Fees to you | $0, we buy as principal | Broker 8 to 12% if listed | Broker 8 to 12% |
| Re-trade risk at diligence | Low | High | Medium to high |
| Who runs it after close | WETYR operates it | Installs their own team | New owner learns the business |
Get a confidential valuation
Tell us a little about your distribution business. We reply with an indicative value range and whether we are a direct fit, within one business day. No obligation, no listing, nothing public.
Distribution Business FAQ
What is a distribution business worth?
Most distribution businesses trade at 4-7x EBITDA; specialized lines higher. The number that matters is your normalized owner earnings (SDE or EBITDA after adding back one-time and owner-specific costs), multiplied by a range set by size, recurring revenue, licensing, and how dependent the business is on you. On roughly $3M - $50M of revenue we typically see $300K - $5M of earnings. Send the numbers and we will give you an indicative range within a day.
How long does it take to sell a distribution business?
A direct sale to WETYR can close in 30 to 75 days because there is no listing, no broker marketing cycle, and no auction. A brokered or PE-marketed process usually runs 6 to 12 months and puts your confidential financials in front of dozens of strangers. Location does not change the mechanics; readiness of your books does.
Do I have to list my business publicly to sell it?
No. That is the single biggest fear owners raise, and the reason many never start. WETYR buys directly and privately. Your staff, customers, and competitors do not find out unless and until you decide to tell them. Nothing goes on BizBuySell, no sign goes up, no teaser circulates.
What does WETYR charge to sell my distribution business?
When we buy directly, you pay us nothing; we are the principal, not a broker taking 8 to 12 percent of your proceeds. When we advise on a sale to a third party, fees are agreed up front and disclosed in writing. Either way you know the economics before anything moves.
What makes a distribution business sell for a higher multiple?
Supplier and customer relationships, inventory, logistics, niche lines. Concretely: recurring or contracted revenue, a team that runs the day-to-day without you, clean books, and current compliance. We tell you honestly which levers are worth pulling before a sale and which are not worth the delay.
Find out what your distribution business is worth
Confidential valuation in one business day. No listing, no obligation.