Business Valuation & Broker Services

A business with $500,000 in annual sales is typically valued using a multiple of its Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE), not revenue alone. Depending on your industry, profitability, growth trajectory, and owner dependence, valuations commonly range from 1x to 3x SDE. A business generating $100,000 in SDE might be valued between $150,000 and $400,000. Chelsis Financial provides a complimentary Assessment of Value to give you a precise, defensible figure.

Our complimentary Assessment of Value reviews your last three to four years of financial statements — including P&L, cash flow, balance sheets, and seller's discretionary earnings — alongside market trends, industry benchmarks, and comparable sales. We also assess tangible assets such as equipment, fixtures, and inventory. The result is a defensible valuation used for pricing and lender discussions, at no cost to you.

Most business sales take between six months and two years, depending on the industry, business size, deal complexity, and market conditions. Well-prepared businesses with clean financials, reduced owner dependence, and a strong management team tend to sell faster and at higher values. Chelsis Financial works with you in advance of your desired timeline to maximize readiness and reduce time on market.

We use blind summaries and confidential information memorandums (CIMs) that protect your business identity until a buyer is vetted and qualified. All calls and assessments are held in strict confidence. Buyers sign non-disclosure agreements before receiving identifying details. This protects your employees, customers, vendor relationships, and day-to-day operations throughout the entire marketing and sale process.

Chelsis Financial primarily serves business owners in Indiana and Michigan, with a broader reach across the Midwest region. Our buyer registry includes buyers from across Indiana and neighboring states. If you are unsure whether we cover your area, we encourage you to reach out — many transactions are conducted regionally, and our buyer network is extensive.

Valuation establishes a defensible starting point, but deal structure ultimately defines your real exit outcome. Factors like seller financing, earnouts, transition timelines, representations and warranties, and indemnification terms often have a greater impact on your net proceeds than the headline valuation number. Chelsis Financial helps you understand how structure shapes value so you make fully informed decisions.

Start 12 to 24 months before your desired sale date. Key steps include reducing owner dependence by transitioning responsibilities to management, strengthening your financial reporting, building out your leadership team, and addressing customer concentration risks. Chelsis Financial identifies the eight key value drivers for your business and helps you systematically improve each one to achieve the strongest possible sale price.

We have experience across a wide range of industries including IT and MSP businesses, fuel distribution, healthcare equipment, dental practices, auto service, metal fabrication, aerospace manufacturing, home improvement, and retail. Whether you own a small family business or a mid-market company, we tailor our brokerage approach to your specific industry dynamics, buyer profile, and transaction complexity.