What is my coffee shop worth?

Coffee shops and cafes sell on owner earnings at multiples close to restaurants. The lease, foot traffic and whether the shop runs without the owner behind the counter drive the price.

Avg SDE multiple

2.27×

Typical range

1.63–2.75×

Avg revenue multiple

0.47×

Median sale price

$150K

BizBuySell industry row: Coffee Shops and Cafes. 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 coffee shop

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

Trade: Coffee shop / cafe ·

Which state is it in?

Worked example

Hypothetical. An independent cafe with a manager and eight part-time baristas, six years left on its lease.

Revenue $450,000, owner earnings (SDE) $85,000, 6 years, about 5% recurring, “I manage, my team does the work”.
Start at the published 2.27× average.
Owner involvement: I manage, my team does the work: +0.15×. Buyers pay more when the business runs without the owner.
Recurring revenue under 10%: -0.10×. Almost all revenue must be re-won every year.
Owner earnings $75K–$150K: -0.10×. Below the typical sold main-street business.
Adjusted multiple 2.22× × $85,000 = $189,000, range $136,000 – $229,000.
Revenue cross-check: $450,000 × 0.47× = $212,000.

What raises the price

A long lease in a high-traffic spot
A manager who opens and closes
Wholesale or catering revenue
POS sales that match the tax returns

What lowers it

The owner works the counter every day
A short lease
Old espresso equipment
A new chain store nearby

Calculating SDE for a coffee shop

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

Owner salary
Depreciation on equipment
Interest
One-time remodel costs

Only add back what a buyer can verify. See SDE explained: how to calculate owner earnings and add-backs for a full walkthrough.

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

Does a franchise coffee shop sell for the same multiple?

BizBuySell's row covers coffee shops and cafes generally. Franchise transfer fees and royalties can lower what a buyer pays.

How this estimate works

We start from the published average multiple for businesses in this category that actually sold, adjust it for owner involvement, recurring revenue, track record and size, and apply it to your owner earnings. Read the full valuation methodology, including what we don't do.

Related trades

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
Restaurant	2.18×quartiles 1.34–2.53×	0.39×	$220,000	Trade row
Daycare / child care	3.28×quartiles 1.94–4.03×	0.88×	$380,000	Trade row
Dental practice	2.75×quartiles 1.6–3.37×	0.76×	$350,000	Trade row
Gym / fitness center	2.54×quartiles 1.72–3×	0.70×	$204,000	Trade row
Insurance agency	2.87×quartiles 1.88–3.44×	1.52×	$500,000	Trade row
Accounting / tax / bookkeeping	2.27×quartiles 1.61–2.66×	1.08×	$450,000	Trade row
Moving company	2.52×quartiles 1.8–3.11×	0.63×	$350,000	Trade row
IT services / MSP	3.22×quartiles 2.2–3.87×	1.08×	$726,800	Trade row
Locksmith	2.35×	0.75×	$300,000	Trade row
Pet grooming	2.30×quartiles 1.38–2.51×	0.63×	$152,500	Trade row
Laundromat	3.70×	1.33×	$250,000	Trade row
Car wash	4.87×	1.96×	$800,000	Trade row
Towing	3.28×	0.95×	$1,250,000	Trade row
Dry cleaning	2.11×quartiles 1.42–2.55×	0.77×	$253,500	Trade row
Coffee shop / cafe	2.27×	0.47×	$150,000	Trade row
Dog daycare / boarding	3.27×	1.08×	$412,500	Trade row
Concrete	2.54×	0.61×	$780,000	Trade row
Painting	2.65×	0.59×	$750,500	Sector average (no trade row)
Garage door	2.65×	0.59×	$750,500	Sector average (no trade row)
Handyman	2.65×	0.59×	$750,500	Sector average (no trade row)
Tree service	2.61×quartiles 1.75–3.13×	0.83×	$350,000	Sector average (no trade row)
Appliance repair	2.61×quartiles 1.75–3.13×	0.83×	$350,000	Sector average (no trade row)
Junk removal	2.61×quartiles 1.75–3.13×	0.83×	$350,000	Sector average (no 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 valuation benchmark pages (sold 2021–2025). Pool, tree service, appliance repair, and junk removal use the Service Businesses sector average. Roofing, painting, garage door, and handyman use the Building and Construction sector average. “Other” uses the Service Businesses sector. Junk removal is not the Junk and Salvage Yards row. Retrieved Oct 30–Nov 2, 2026.

Estimates for information only; not an appraisal or an offer. MainStreetKeys is not a business broker. Data retrieved Oct 30–Nov 2, 2026.