When it's time to sell, sell with clarity and confidence.
Selling a business is one of the most important decisions an owner will make. TradeWell’s clear, hands-on process helps them choose the right path.
Understanding what your business is worth.
Every trades business is unique but the foundation of value is consistent: steady cash flow, reliable operations, and a business that can operate without daily owner oversight. To help owners establish a baseline for their business’s estimated enterprise value, TradeWell offers a free preliminary valuation, including insights into what factors can help increase that value over time.
The primary valuation driver for trades businesses is profitability (or cash flow), as measured by:
Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA), or
Seller’s Discretionary Earnings (SDE), often more accurate for owner-operated trades businesses
Most Main Street trades businesses sell for 2.5x to 4.5x EBITDA or SDE, depending on their size, growth, and risk profile.
Selling with TradeWell.
For most trades owners, selling a business is unfamiliar territory. Between managing crews, customers, and cash flow, it’s hard to find the time to prepare for and navigate a sale. Whether buying a business directly or representing it on the open market, TradeWell’s sales process is designed to protect owner’s time, maximize value, and ensure a successful transition.
1. Valuation
Free, preliminary valuation to establish baseline.
2. Preparation
Strengthen operations and valuation before selling.
3. Positioning
Customized marketing that highlights key strengths.
4. Identification
Define buyer profiles and target list for outreach.
5. Marketing
Direct outreach to TradeWell’s buyer network.
6. Diligence
Secure documents and streamlined review.
7. Negotiation
Structured deal terms that align with your goals.
8. Closing
Smooth handoff that protects people and legacy.
Sell your business to TradeWell Advisors.
For owners seeking certainty, speed, and hand-off to a trusted, local successor, and whose business aligns with TradeWell’s acquisition criteria.
Advantages:
Quick and confidential
No fees, saving you hundreds of thousands
Continuity through local ownership
Trusted, values-aligned buyer
Tradeoffs:
Lower potential price
Limited negotiation flexibility
Sell your business on the open market.
For owners focused on maximizing value through broad marketing efforts and a competitive bidding process.
Advantages:
Offers from multiple buyers
Fully-managed sales process
Experienced negotiators to protect your interest
Tradeoffs:
Less confidentiality
Longer transaction timeline
Success-based fees
“Whether acting as a direct buyer or an advisor, TradeWell’s goal remains the same: To deliver an outcome that reflects your goals, preserves your legacy, and rewards your life’s work.”
— Jeremiah Neal, Founder
Seller FAQs
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TradeWell primarily acquires established landscape maintenance, pest control and irrigation businesses located in the greater Austin area - especially those with recurring or contract-based revenue and strong local reputations.
TradeWell is best suited for businesses with a steady earnings, long-term customer relationships, and a reliable team that’s motivated to continue under new ownership.Typical acquisition criteria include:
Location: Austin, TX and surrounding area
Financial performance: $750K - $1.25M in Seller’s Discretionary Earnings (SDE)
Longevity: Preferably 10+ years in continuous operation
Customer profile: Strong retention, repeat or referral-driven business, and low customer concentration
Team: Established operational structure, including field leadership or management beyond the owner
TradeWell’s goal is to provide owners with a thoughtful, stable transition that honors their legacy and supports sustainable growth under committed local ownership.
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Seller’s Discretionary Earnings, or SDE, represents the total financial benefit the owner(s) receives from the business. The SDE calculation begins with net profit, and adds back:
Owner’s salary and benefits
Non-cash expenses like depreciation and amortization
One-time or non-recurring expenses
Personal or discretionary expenses
SDE helps normalize financials so buyers can understand their true earning potential prior to any new debt payments.
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Valuation multiples for trades businesses are primarily driven by profitability, consistency, and transition risk.
The biggest factors include:
Earnings quality
Owner dependence
Customer or supplier concentration
Operational maturity
Market and growth trends
In general, most Main Street trades businesses sell for 2.5x–4.5x their SDE, depending on their risk factors.
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The best way to increase value is by reducing owner dependency, strengthening operations and maintaining steady (or increasing) cash flow. Key levers include:
Building a team that can operate without daily oversight
Documenting processes and tracking key performance metrics
Expanding recurring or contract-based revenue
Diversifying customer and vendor relationships
Managing debt and equipment efficiently
TradeWell clients often begin with a Value Advisory engagement to help strengthen these areas prior to selling their business.
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For most owner-operated trades businesses, the sale process typically takes six to nine months from initial preparation to closing. The timeline depends on several factors, including financial readiness, deal structure, buyer financing, and how much time the owner can allocate to the sale process.
Businesses with clean financials, stable cash flow, and minimal owner dependency can often move much faster. When TradeWell represents a business, the goal is to manage the process efficiently while protecting confidentiality, minimizing disruptions, and achieving the best outcome.
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TradeWell does not charge any fees when it buys a business directly. The only fees you incur will be those required to transition the business (e.g. accountant, lawyer, realtor, etc.).
Find out what your business is worth.
Start with a free, confidential, no-obligations conversation about your goals and learn more about how TradeWell Advisors can help you sell successfully.