Nexus Bridge Market Report · 2026 Edition
2026 NJ Business Sale Prices: What Buyers Are Paying
A plain-English breakdown of current Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE) and EBITDA multiples paid for NJ small businesses in 2026 — by industry, deal size, and financing type. Updated with Q1 2026 transaction data from IBBA, BVR, and publicly reported sales.
How NJ Small Businesses Are Valued
Most Main Street NJ businesses (under ~$1M SDE) are valued as a multiple of Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE) — the owner's total economic benefit including salary, perks, depreciation, and one-time add-backs. Larger businesses ($1M+ SDE) transition to EBITDA multiples, which exclude the owner's salary since buyers are acquiring an operation, not a job.
Typical 2026 NJ ranges:
| Deal Size | Primary Multiple | 2026 Range | Common Buyer Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $250K SDE | SDE × multiple | 1.8× – 2.8× | Individual owner-operators |
| $250K – $500K SDE | SDE × multiple | 2.4× – 3.4× | Individual + search funds |
| $500K – $1M SDE | SDE × multiple | 2.8× – 4.2× | Search funds + strategics |
| $1M – $3M EBITDA | EBITDA × multiple | 3.8× – 5.8× | PE-backed search / strategics |
| $3M+ EBITDA | EBITDA × multiple | 5.5× – 8.5× | PE platforms + family offices |
2026 NJ Multiples by Industry
These ranges reflect actual 2026 NJ transactions with Nexus Bridge's own deal data, IBBA Market Pulse, and published marketplace listings. Higher multiples go to clean financials, transferable customer bases, experienced management, and recurring revenue.
Home Services & Skilled Trades
| Industry | 2026 SDE Multiple | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HVAC | 2.8× – 4.2× | Recurring maintenance contracts push to top of range |
| Plumbing | 2.5× – 3.8× | Commercial client mix premium |
| Electrical | 2.6× – 3.9× | Licensed master electrician retention key |
| Landscaping (commercial) | 2.8× – 4.0× | Snow + landscape combo = strongest |
| Landscaping (residential) | 2.0× – 2.8× | Owner-dependent pushes lower |
| Roofing | 2.5× – 3.5× | Storm-dependent revenue discounted |
| Pest Control | 3.2× – 4.5× | Route density drives valuation |
| Cleaning (commercial) | 2.5× – 3.8× | Contract duration key |
Food & Hospitality
| Industry | 2026 SDE Multiple | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full-service restaurants | 1.8× – 2.8× | Lease terms heavily impact price |
| Quick-service / QSR | 2.2× – 3.4× | Franchise brands trade higher |
| Bars / taverns | 1.8× – 2.6× | Liquor license adds real estate-like value |
| Pizzerias (independent) | 2.0× – 3.0× | Recession-resistant premium |
| Coffee shops | 1.6× – 2.4× | Owner-dependent drags |
| Catering | 2.0× – 3.2× | Corporate client mix matters most |
Healthcare & Professional
| Industry | 2026 Multiple | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dental practices | 65% – 85% of collections | GP vs. specialty changes range |
| Medical practices | 3.5× – 5.5× EBITDA | Private equity active consolidator |
| Med spas | 3.0× – 4.5× SDE | Injector retention critical |
| Physical therapy | 3.0× – 4.5× EBITDA | Medicare mix matters to buyers |
| Veterinary | 6.0× – 10.0× EBITDA | Roll-up market — extremely competitive |
| Accounting / CPA | 0.85× – 1.15× revenue | Client retention the deciding factor |
| Insurance agencies | 2.0× – 3.0× revenue | Renewals commission stream |
Distribution, Logistics & Industrial
| Industry | 2026 Multiple | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| FedEx Ground ISP routes | 1.5× – 2.2× SDE | Territory density + contract status |
| Bread / bakery routes | 12× – 18× weekly sales | Independent operator sales |
| Chip / snack routes | 11× – 16× weekly sales | Brand dependent |
| Trucking (owner-op) | 2.0× – 3.0× SDE | Fleet age + contract mix |
| Specialty distribution | 3.0× – 5.0× EBITDA | Customer concentration risk priced in |
| Light manufacturing | 3.5× – 5.5× EBITDA | Proprietary process = premium |
Auto & Transportation
| Industry | 2026 SDE Multiple | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Auto repair (independent) | 2.2× – 3.4× | Equipment + tech retention matters |
| Collision / body shops | 2.4× – 3.6× | DRP relationships premium |
| Car washes (tunnel) | 5× – 8× EBITDA | Real estate often included |
| Towing | 2.0× – 3.0× | Municipal contracts key |
Retail & Specialty
| Industry | 2026 SDE Multiple | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Specialty retail (established) | 1.8× – 2.8× | Inventory + location dependent |
| Liquor stores | 2.5× – 3.5× | License is largest asset |
| Dry cleaners | 1.6× – 2.4× | Equipment age matters |
| Laundromats | 3.5× – 5.0× cash flow | Real-estate-adjacent valuation |
| Franchise retail | 2.2× – 3.5× | Brand equity, lease terms |
2026 NJ Trends We're Seeing
1. SBA financing is driving more deals. With SBA 7(a) changes in 2024 allowing partial buyouts and easier seller-financed structures, more deals in the $500K – $5M range are closing with 80% SBA + 10% seller financing. This compresses cash-to-seller at close but expands the buyer pool.
2. Search fund activity is up in central NJ. Life sciences, healthcare services, and specialty distribution are seeing significant search-fund interest along the Route 1 corridor and Middlesex County.
3. Home services multiples are holding. Despite broader market softness, well-run HVAC, plumbing, and electrical businesses with clean financials continue to trade at 2024 levels or better because PE roll-ups remain active.
4. Restaurant multiples have compressed. Post-pandemic elevation has faded; 2026 restaurants are trading closer to 2019 ranges, though QSR franchises remain strong.
5. Recurring revenue premium is growing. Maintenance contracts, managed services, subscription models, and SaaS-like revenue mix are commanding 0.5× – 1.0× higher multiples than transactional revenue in the same industry.
What Drives Your Specific Multiple
Get Your Business Valued
The multiples above are ranges — your specific business could fall anywhere within (or outside) depending on its quality, clients, team, and positioning. A Nexus Bridge free confidential valuation gives you a realistic value range based on your actual financials, and lays out what would move you from the lower end to the upper end of the range for your industry.
Ranges above represent Nexus Bridge's analysis of publicly reported 2026 transactions and industry marketplace data (IBBA, BVR, BizBuySell Q1 2026). Every business is different; no valuation should be taken as a guarantee.
