Valuation Is More Than a Multiple If you’re a business owner contemplating a sale—whether now or years from now—one question inevitably rises to the surface: “What is my business worth?” In today’s market, the answer is more nuanced than many owners expect. Valuation is not determined by a simple industry multiple or online calculator. It reflects a combination of financial performance, operational maturity, market conditions, buyer appetite, risk profile and future growth po

For many aspiring entrepreneurs, the decision to start a business from scratch or buy an existing one can feel like a choice between freedom and structure. While starting from zero can be exciting, buying an established business often provides a faster, safer, and more strategic path to wealth creation. Understanding why acquisition can make more sense is critical for anyone looking to maximize return on time, capital, and effort. Starting a business requires building everyth

Most business owners associate valuations with selling, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg. In reality, understanding your company’s value touches every major decision — from investment and growth planning to risk management and succession. A valuation isn’t just a number. It’s a diagnostic tool, a strategic roadmap, and a framework for understanding the levers of your business. At its core, a valuation measures both what a business is and what it could become. It forces

Selling your business changes the way you see everything. One day, it’s just another day running your company. The next, every contract, every spreadsheet, every customer relationship feels like it’s on display. And the moment institutional buyers start paying attention, it gets even more intense. At Open View Brokerage, we’ve seen it countless times. Institutional buyers — private equity groups, family offices, strategic acquirers, don’t just look at your revenue or your gro

Selling a business is about timing, positioning, and maximizing value. Owners who wait until fatigue or urgency drives their decision often leave money on the table. The strongest exits happen when performance, market conditions, and personal objectives align — and when the business is optimized to command the highest valuation. The first step to increasing value is operational stability . Buyers pay for predictability, not uncertainty. Ensuring that revenue streams are consi

Buying a business is one of the most complex and high-stakes decisions an entrepreneur or investor can make. Unlike starting a company from scratch, where you control every variable, acquiring an existing business requires seeing clearly into someone else’s operation and understanding risks you can’t immediately change. The first lesson many buyers learn is simple: what looks good on paper isn’t always what’s good in reality. The first thing to notice is financial clarity. Re

Deciding to sell a business is rarely a single moment. It is usually the result of timing, performance, and personal objectives gradually aligning. Many owners wait until they feel exhausted or ready to retire, but the strongest exits typically occur long before urgency enters the equation. The right time to sell is less about emotion and more about positioning. A business commands the highest value when it is performing from a position of strength. Consistent revenue growth,