Small Business Valuation Experts & Brokers

The most appropriate method depends on your business type and financials. Common approaches include the Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE) multiple—most common for small businesses—asset-based valuation for asset-heavy operations, and market comparables using recent industry sales. Chelsis Financial reviews your income statements, cash flow, balance sheets, and industry benchmarks to determine a defensible, market-aligned asking price.

Most small business sales take between six months and one year from listing to closing, though this varies by industry, deal complexity, and buyer financing. Businesses that are well-prepared—with clean financials, reduced owner dependence, and strong management—tend to sell faster and at better valuations. Chelsis Financial helps you prepare well in advance to shorten this timeline.

Yes. Chelsis Financial offers a complimentary Assessment of Value to all business owners—no fees, no obligations. The assessment reviews your financial statements, market trends, tangible assets, and industry benchmarks to give you a realistic picture of your business's worth before you decide whether to move forward with a sale.

Confidentiality is central to everything we do. We use blind summaries and confidential information memorandums (CIMs) that describe the business without revealing its identity. Prospective buyers sign non-disclosure agreements before receiving sensitive details. All calls, emails, and interactions with Chelsis Financial are held in strict confidence to protect your employees, customers, and business reputation.

To conduct a thorough valuation, we typically review the current year and prior three years of financial statements, including Income/Profit & Loss statements, Cash Flow statements, Balance Sheets, and a Statement of Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE). We also assess tangible assets such as equipment, fixtures, and inventory. A brief confidential call is all it takes to get started.

Yes. Chelsis Financial maintains an active Buyer Registry where prospective acquirers share their acquisition criteria. When a new listing matches a registered buyer's profile, we facilitate an introduction. Our network of over 2,000 businesses across Indiana means buyers gain access to opportunities that rarely appear on public marketplaces, and sellers gain access to a pre-qualified pool of motivated buyers.

Chelsis Financial has facilitated transactions across a wide range of industries including fuel distribution, water purification manufacturing, healthcare testing equipment, IT/MSP services, dental practices, auto services, cell tower services, aerospace manufacturing, metal fabrication, retail, and home improvement businesses. This cross-industry experience allows us to apply relevant comparable sales data and buyer profiles to your specific situation.

Valuation is what your business is worth on paper; deal structure is how you actually receive that value—through cash at closing, seller financing, earnouts, or equity rollovers. Two deals with identical valuations can produce very different real-world outcomes for the seller. Chelsis Financial helps you understand how deal terms, financing arrangements, and representations and warranties shape your true exit outcome.