What is my tree service worth?

Tree services sell on owner earnings. BizBuySell does not publish a tree-service row, so the multiple here is the Service Businesses sector average, not a figure from tree companies alone. Buyers look at who climbs, who holds the insurance, and whether the work is storm chasing or year-round pruning and removal.

Avg SDE multiple

2.61×

Typical range

1.75–3.13×

Avg revenue multiple

0.83×

Median sale price

$350K

BizBuySell publishes no tree-service row, so this uses the BizBuySell Service Businesses SECTOR average. Quartiles are from that sector's sold-business benchmarks (2021–2025), not a tree-service row. Range is the sector benchmark's lower to upper quartile (median 2.38×), not a tree service row. Source: BizBuySell — Business Valuation Multiples by Industry (businesses sold Q3 2021–Q2 2026); BizBuySell — Service Business Valuation Benchmarks (sold 2021–2025, 5,839 sold listings analyzed).

Value your tree service business

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

Trade: Tree service ·

Which state is it in?

Worked example

Hypothetical. A pruning and removal company with a climber crew and a crane operator. The owner sells and schedules. Storm work is extra, not the base of the year.

Revenue $1,100,000, owner earnings (SDE) $220,000, 14 years, about 20% recurring, “I manage, my team does the work”.
Start at the published 2.61× average (sector average).
Owner involvement: I manage, my team does the work: +0.15×. Buyers pay more when the business runs without the owner.
14 years in business: +0.10×. Long, proven history.
Adjusted multiple 2.86× × $220,000 = $629,000, range $427,000 – $763,000.
Revenue cross-check: $1,100,000 × 0.83× = $913,000.

What raises the price

Climbing and crane crews who stay after the sale
Year-round pruning, plant-health, and municipal contracts
Current insurance and a safety record a buyer can read
Equipment that is owned and maintained

What lowers it

The owner is the only climber or the only certified arborist
Revenue that spikes in one storm and disappears
Old chippers and trucks with deferred repairs
Informal cash jobs

Calculating SDE for a tree service business

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

Owner salary
Personal truck
Depreciation on chippers, trucks and stump grinders
Interest
One-time storm mobilization 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

Why is this a sector average?

BizBuySell publishes no tree-service row. The earnings and revenue multiples are the Service Businesses sector average. The quartile band is from that same sector's sold-business benchmarks, not from tree services alone.

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.