Your exit options, compared honestly
Selling your agency is probably the biggest financial decision of your life. Here's an honest side-by-side of your four real options.
| Dimension | PE Firm | Business Broker | Strategic Buyer | My Helpful Homecare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical valuation multiple | 3–5x EBITDA | 0.5–1x revenue | 4–6x EBITDA | 1.0x revenue + equity |
| Cash at close | 80–100% | 70–90% | 50–80% | 0% |
| Deal structure | Cash + small earnout | All cash or SBA | Cash + stock | Seller note + 5% equity rollover |
| Time to close | 6–12 months | 9–18 months | 6–12 months | 60–90 days |
| Broker / finder fees | 2–5% | 8–12% | 0–3% | $0 |
| What happens to your staff | Consolidated / cut | Depends on buyer | Consolidated | Stays in place |
| What happens to your clients | Rebranded / disrupted | Depends on buyer | Rebranded | Same care, better tech |
| Upside beyond the sale price | None | None | Small stock | 5% equity in roll-up |
| Seller role after close | 1–2 yr transition | Walk away | 1–3 yr earnout | Optional advisor or walk away |
Why our structure usually wins for sellers
A $2M/year agency typically sells to a PE firm for 4x EBITDA. If your EBITDA is $300K (15% margin), that's $1.2M at close. Our offer would be ~$2M paid over 5 years plus 5% equity in the combined company. If we exit in 7 years at $300M valuation, your 5% is worth $15M. Total take: $17M vs. $1.2M. That's the math no one explains to agency owners.
When PE still makes sense
If you need cash immediately (medical, retirement, family emergency), take the PE offer. Don't wait. Our structure is for owners who have 3–5 more working years in them and want to stay part of something bigger.
Why we can afford this structure
Because we're also the software. Every agency we acquire plugs into our platform, which immediately improves margin from ~15% to ~25%. That extra 10 points of EBITDA pays your seller note. We're not betting on growth — we're betting on efficiency we already know how to deliver.
Want a real offer?
Fill out the valuation form and we'll send you a detailed proposal within 48 hours. No broker fees. No obligation. Just an honest look at what your business is worth under our structure.
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