What is my auto repair shop worth?

Auto repair shops sell on SDE plus, separately, any real estate. Buyers look at car count, average repair order, technician depth and whether the shop depends on the owner as the lead tech.

Avg SDE multiple

2.85×

Typical range

2.05–3.45×

Avg revenue multiple

0.65×

Median sale price

$430K

BizBuySell industry row: Auto Repair and Service Shops. Range applies the typical quartile spread (0.72×–1.21× of the average, from BizBuySell's HVAC quartiles) because no trade quartiles are published. Source: BizBuySell — Business Valuation Multiples by Industry (businesses sold Q3 2021–Q2 2026).

Value your auto repair shop

Let's estimate what your business is worth. Seven quick questions, no email needed.

Trade: Auto repair ·

Which state is it in?

Worked example

Hypothetical. A 4-bay general repair shop with three techs. The owner writes service and diagnoses the hardest jobs.

Revenue $900,000, owner earnings (SDE) $200,000, 15 years, about 10% recurring, “I work in it part of the time”.
Start at the published 2.85× average.
15 years in business: +0.10×. Long, proven history.
Adjusted multiple 2.95× × $200,000 = $590,000, range $424,000 – $714,000.
Revenue cross-check: $900,000 × 0.65× = $585,000.

What raises the price

High car count and repeat customers
ASE-certified techs who will stay
Fleet accounts
Modern diagnostic equipment and a good lease

What lowers it

Owner is the lead or only master tech
Short or expensive lease
Old lifts and equipment
Reliance on one dealership or insurer

Calculating SDE for a auto repair shop

Start from net profit on your tax return or P&L, then add back:

Owner salary
Personal vehicles run through the shop
Depreciation
One-time equipment repairs

Only add back what a buyer can verify. If there are two working owners, the second owner's salary usually stays as a cost, because a buyer will need to replace that person.

Questions

Is the building included?

Usually not. Real estate is priced separately. BizBuySell's multiples are for the business sale price.

Compare other trades

Trade	Avg SDE multiple	Avg revenue multiple	Median sale price	Basis
Plumbing	2.61×	0.69×	$699,000	Trade row
HVAC	2.83×quartiles 1.99–3.33×	0.60×	$750,000	Trade row
Electrical	2.77×	0.63×	$1,009,000	Trade row
Landscaping	2.49×	0.72×	$449,950	Trade row
Pool service / routes	2.61×	0.83×	—	Sector average (no trade row)
Pest control	2.46×quartiles 1.69–3×	1.01×	$250,000	Trade row
Cleaning	2.25×	0.72×	$281,500	Trade row
Roofing	2.65×	0.59×	$750,500	Sector average (no trade row)
Auto repair	2.85×	0.65×	$430,000	Trade row
Salon / barbershop	2.10×	0.52×	$117,375	Trade row
Other main-street business	2.61×	0.83×	$350,000	General main-street range

Source: BizBuySell, Business Valuation Multiples by Industry, businesses sold Q3 2021–Q2 2026; quartiles from BizBuySell's HVAC and pest-control benchmark pages (sold 2021–2025). Pool and roofing use sector averages; “Other” uses the Service Businesses sector. Retrieved Oct 30, 2026.

Estimates for information only; not an appraisal or an offer. MainStreetKeys is not a business broker. Data retrieved Oct 30, 2026.