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 broker fees, saving you hundreds of thousands
Continuity through local ownership
Trusted, values-aligned buyer
Tradeoffs:
Lower potential price
Limited negotiation flexibility
Sell on the market with TradeWell as your broker.
For owners focused on maximizing value through broad marketing efforts and a competitive bidding process.
Advantages:
Competitive offers from multiple buyers
Fully-managed sales process
Experienced negotiators to protect your interest
Tradeoffs:
Less confidentiality
Longer transaction timeline
Success-based broker fee
“Whether acting as a buyer or broker, our goal remains the same: To deliver an outcome that reflects your goals, preserves your legacy, and rewards your life’s work.”
— TradeWell Advisors
Seller FAQs
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TradeWell acquires established trades businesses located in the greater Austin area. Ideal candidates are owner-operated companies with a proven track record, a loyal customer base, and a team that’s motivated to continue under new ownership.
Typical acquisition criteria include:
Location: Austin, TX
Financial performance: Steady, or increasing revenue and $500K - $1.5M in SDE
Longevity: At least 10 years in continuous operation
Customer profile: Repeat or referral business and low customer concentration
Team: Experienced team with non-owner leadership in place
TradeWell’s goal is to continue the legacy owners have built while supporting the next phase of growth through local, values-aligned 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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If TradeWell Advisors acts as your broker, fees are based on the Lehman scale, an industry-standard success-based commission structure:
10% on the first $1M of transaction value
8% on the second $1M
6% on the third $1M, and so on
There are no upfront fees and compensation is due only upon a successful closing. If TradeWell purchases a business directly, there are no broker fees, saving owners tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.
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.