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Staffing and Recruiting Agencies

Sell a Staffing Agency

A staffing agency is a recruiting firm built on client relationships and recurring placement flow. WETYR acquires staffing agencies directly and confidentially as an operator-buyer, with no public listing and no broker commission.

By Mark Gabrielli, WETYR Operator. Reviewed for accuracy and last verified July 27, 2026.

Staffing Agencies typically sell for 4-6x EBITDA; niche specialization higher. On $2M - $30M of revenue that usually means $200K - $3M 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.

Staffing Agency selling multiple: 4x to 6x Staffing Agency typical selling multiple 4x to 6x 0x 8x earnings
Basis: 4-6x EBITDA; niche specialization higher. Applied to normalized SDE or EBITDA, not revenue.
4-6x EBITDA
Typical selling range
30-75 days
Direct close
$0
Broker fees on a direct sale

What drives value in staffing agencies

Value comes from transferable earnings, not revenue. Labor-market demand, niche specialization premium, recurring placement flow What lifts the multiple: Client relationships, candidate database, niche specialization, 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 staffing agencies

Private equity platforms and strategic consolidators (Insperity, ASGN, regional roll-ups) are the loud buyers, but they screen hard, move slowly, and re-trade at diligence. WETYR is the operator alternative: we buy staffing agencies to run them, so we move quickly, keep it confidential, and pay a fair, certain number without a marketed auction.

How the three buyer types compare for staffing agencies.
Factor WETYR (operator-buyer) PE platform Individual buyer
Typical offer basis4-6x EBITDAHighest headline numberFinancing-dependent
Time to close30 to 75 days6 to 12 months3 to 9 months
Stays confidentialYes, no public listingCommittee and advisors see itUsually broker-marketed
Fees to you$0, we buy as principalBroker 8 to 12% if listedBroker 8 to 12%
Re-trade risk at diligenceLowHighMedium to high
Who runs it after closeWETYR operates itInstalls their own teamNew owner learns the business

Get a confidential valuation

Tell us a little about your staffing agency. We reply with an indicative value range and whether we are a direct fit, within one business day. No obligation, no listing, nothing public.

Staffing Agency FAQ

What is a staffing agency worth?

Most staffing agencies trade at 4-6x EBITDA; niche specialization 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 $2M - $30M of revenue we typically see $200K - $3M of earnings. Send the numbers and we will give you an indicative range within a day.

How long does it take to sell a staffing agency?

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 staffing agency?

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 staffing agency sell for a higher multiple?

Client relationships, candidate database, niche specialization. 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 staffing agency is worth

Confidential valuation in one business day. No listing, no obligation.

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