INSTRUMENT · V1.0 · EV-DX

Your Multiple Is Not The Number.
The Gap Is The Number.

This instrument estimates the enterprise value of a trade-services business against its institutional ceiling — the multiple a PE acquirer would pay for a systemized, successor-ready version of the same operator. The difference, in dollars, is what Owner-Dependency costs you.

BASIS PE roll-up comps · EBITDA multiple · trade-band adjusted
RUNTIME ~90 seconds
OUTPUT Indicative EV range · current vs. institutional · dollar discount
NOTE Indicative only. This is not a formal valuation or an offer.
INPUTS READY
01 Trade

Multiples vary significantly by operational physics. Pick the closest match.

02 Annual Revenue

Trailing twelve-month top-line.

$5.0M
03 EBITDA Margin

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortization — as a percentage of revenue. Healthy trade operators run 10–25%.

15%
04 Recurring Revenue Share

Share of revenue backed by maintenance agreements, service contracts, or subscription programs.

15%
05 Scale Multiplier Tier

Your diagnostic tier. Don't know it? Run the diagnostic — it takes five minutes.

METHODOLOGY Expand

Multiples are indicative EV/EBITDA ranges drawn from PE roll-up comps in home services and trades M&A — Redwood Services, Apex/Alpine, Rite Way, ServiceTitan transaction data, and Capstone Partners deal commentary. Ranges are adjusted by revenue band (sub-$2M trades discount; platform-scale trades expand) and by recurring-revenue share (contract-backed revenue attracts premium multiples).

The Owner-Dependency Discount is the gap between the institutional ceiling multiple and the multiple an acquirer applies to an owner-dependent operator at the same scale. Tier I (0–39 Scale Multiplier Score) takes a 30–45% multiple discount. Tier II takes 10–25%. Tier III operators trade at or near institutional.

This instrument is indicative. It is not a formal valuation, a fairness opinion, or an offer. Real transactions depend on quality of earnings, customer concentration, technician retention, jurisdiction-specific licensing, and the buyer's strategic thesis. Use this number to understand the shape of the gap, not to price a deal.

THE NUMBER YOU JUST SAW

The gap does not close with a broker. It closes with an install.

Consultants and brokers sell the business you have. We build the business you should have. The dollar difference is why Axiom exists.

Run the diagnostic See installation blueprints