Editorial policy

Editorial independence

Our content is written to help owners understand their options, including the option not to sell. Commercial relationships do not determine what we publish, what we recommend, or how we describe a provider.

Research standards and source selection

We prefer current, primary sources — such as reports published directly by marketplaces, brokers, and data providers — and we cite the source and period for market figures. We avoid unsupported statistics and do not invent data, examples, or transaction results.

How market statistics and multiples are handled

• We record what each figure is (for example, a median, average, or directional range) and its earnings basis (such as SDE or EBITDA).
• We prefer completed-transaction data where available and distinguish it clearly from asking prices or listing data, which can differ substantially.
• We do not combine figures from different sources or bases into a single "universal" multiple.
• Benchmarks are presented as market context, not as a valuation of any specific business.

The valuation calculator shows its methodology version and the sources behind any range it displays.

Educational content, not professional advice

Our content is educational. We are not brokers, appraisers, accountants, attorneys, or financial advisors, and we do not claim professional credentials, hands-on transaction experience, or brokerage experience. Where topics involve valuation, tax, legal, or financial matters, we qualify them and recommend consulting qualified professionals. See our disclaimer.

Content updates

Market data changes. We review sourced figures periodically and update pages when sources publish new information or when we find material changes.

Corrections

If we identify an error, we correct it. Readers can report errors or source concerns through our contact page.

Commercial relationships and disclosure

We may in the future earn compensation through affiliate or referral links. Such relationships are disclosed on the pages where they appear and described in our affiliate disclosure. Compensated links are marked as sponsored; ordinary source citations are not.

No pay-for-positive-review

We do not accept payment in exchange for positive reviews, favorable rankings, or editorial coverage.