Multiples in 2026 for <$5m TEV / SBA 7a deals

Member resources:

Frequent asked questions:

What is Searchfunder.com?

Searchfunder.com is an online community of searchers, investors, lenders, brokers and other professionals. Over 80% of those involved in searchfunds maintain a Searchfunder account to help them network, hire, and mentor others.

What are the benefits of membership?

In addition to accessing the most active online network of business buyers, Searchfunder licenses research that is simply not cost effective for individuals. Access over 15,000 industry reports and 50,000 transaction financials. You also get monthly credits for contact information for your company sourcing campaign with the option to purchase more at drastically discounted rates. Searchfunder has pre-purchased access from these data providers in order to empower individual buyers and to help searchers level the playing field versus private equity.

Do you have deals?

While we are primarily a buy-side network, we do have hundreds of brokers that regularly post deals to the community.

Can I find an internship on Searchfunder?

Absolutely! We have the industry's largest intern job board. If you are considering a search, the first step is to help another business buyer so you can hit the ground running.

What does it cost?

Searchfunder is a subscription service. We offer flexible monthly, annual and lifetime memberships.

Monthly

$79 / month

Annual

$19 / month

Lifetime

$432 / once

Those who maintain an account with us for over 4 continuous years are permanently added to the community without the need for a membership.

Do I need an MBA to join?

While a large number of our members come from dedicated programs at Harvard Business School, Stanford GSB, Chicago Booth, and other top programs, searching is no longer reserved for the elite. With the current abundance of dry powder in private equity, and an increasing number of business owners reaching retirement age, good deals rarely go unfunded.

Post a question, deal, job, etc...

Make a post...

Complete registration to post.

by a searcher from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
in Charlotte, NC, USA

3h ago

Multiples in 2026 for <$5m TEV / SBA 7a deals

Hi everyone, I am a self-funded searcher with the goal to buy with an SBA 7a. Several businesses I got down to negotiating price - however the multiples were ultimately higher than I was comfortable with. After looking at redacted & the image I found on anther post, it seems like the multiples transactions are going for are higher than I was expecting. For those looking at sub $5m TEV, do these multiples line up with reality? Do I need to recalibrate my expectations? Increase my equity injection to be more competitive? Given the DSCR requirements for an SBA deal, there seem to be fewer levers at my disposal. So I am trying to understand how I should think about an SBA backed deal in today's buying environment. Thanks for your thoughts - Emile redacted

1 Like

56 Views

reply by a searcher 2h ago
from Marymount University in Charlotte, NC, USA

There are two factors here and it's not often talked about. 1. How did you source the deal? Through a public listing from a broker? These are going to be the highest multiples because broker fee is included sometimes 10% or more. This pushes multiples by 0.5X at least. 2. Is it a owner operator or management led? Owner operator at usually 2x to 3x but management led are 4 x to 6x. Sometimes it's actually an owner operator deal but couched as a management led. Be extremely wary of that. 3. Like the previous comment mentioned, a PE that is doing a roll up, can take an owner operator business and handle it as a management led as they have a management team to do that. That's why you are pushed out. They already have a management team to run the business, have customer relationship, have all systems in place. They are just plugging in new customers, new service tech, all finances handled including working capital and can get running on day one. Good luck on your search

reply by a searcher 2h ago
from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Charlotte, NC, USA

Yes I have primarily looked at brokered deals, with a few owner listed businesses. To get away from the brokered pool, I built a db of 10k businesses around Charlotte and have started reaching out to owners directly. I guess this will be the likely route towards success vs the brokered deals