🐶 Pet boarding businesses may seem easy to run—but they often depend on: Owner doing the grooming or customer service High seasonality (holidays, summer travel) Underpaid labor or family help Deferred maintenance on kennels, HVAC, and wash stations 📌 If the owner’s name is on every dog tag—there’s personal goodwill risk.

📘 Just dropped: Our Hair Salon Valuation Checklist for SBA lenders Covers:✅ Owner service vs. booth rental mix✅ Cash-based income verification✅ Equipment + CapEx review✅ Client retention & stylist transition risk✅ SBA guidance for small personal service businesses 📩 Click here to grab your copy.

A salon priced at $415K claimed $125K in cash flow. But: ❌ Owner provided 60% of all services and didn't take a salary❌ Booth rentals underreported + mostly cash❌ Addbacks included spa treatments, vacations, and “brand clothing”❌ No CapEx for 7+ years—chairs worn, mirrors cracked ✅ Adjusted FCF: ~$30K✅ Final valuation: ~$235K with a 6-month … Continue reading ⚠️ Red Flag Case Study: All Style, No Substance

 💈 Salon valuations often look better on paper than they perform in reality: Owner does most of the services and keeps clients Booth rental income is inflated or cash-based No CapEx for salon upgrades, chairs, or equipment Addbacks include spa treatments, family discounts, and perks 📌 If the clients follow the stylist—not the brand—it’s not … Continue reading 🧠 Valuation Insight: Chairs Don’t Pay the Loan

🧾 Just dropped: Our Plumbing Company Valuation Checklist for SBA lenders Covers:✅ Owner/operator labor vs. market replacement✅ Truck, van, and equipment CapEx review✅ Job-based vs. recurring revenue✅ Licensing, insurance, and customer retention risk✅ SBA-aligned normalization logic 📩 Click here to grab your copy.

A plumbing company was priced at $880K based on $240K in SDE. But: ❌ Owner was the only licensed plumber—also did estimates❌ Two vans were leased personally and excluded from financials❌ Addbacks included home utility bills and family cell phones❌ No recurring contracts—100% project-based ✅ Adjusted FCF: ~$75K✅ Revised value: ~$460K with licensing and labor … Continue reading ⚠️ Red Flag Case Study: One Man, One Van

 🚿 Plumbing business valuations can leak value when: The owner is the master plumber + lead tech + estimator Revenue comes from one-time jobs, not recurring service Tools, vans, and gear are left out of CapEx planning Licensing isn't transferable or not disclosed 📌 A business that depends on one person’s wrench isn’t enterprise value.

📘 Just released: Our Electrical Contractor Valuation Checklist for SBA lenders Includes:✅ Owner/operator labor & licensing review✅ Project vs. recurring revenue normalization✅ CapEx and truck/tool inventory✅ Customer concentration and contract risk✅ SBA-compliant normalization guidance 📩 Click here to grab your copy.

This contractor claimed $285K in "cash flow" and wanted $925K. But: ❌ Owner ran all estimates and handled complex service calls❌ Two trucks were leased personally—not on books❌ Revenue was inflated by a one-time hotel project❌ No apprentice training, no transition team ✅ Adjusted cash flow: ~$85K✅ Revised value: ~$520K after project normalization + labor … Continue reading ⚠️ Red Flag Case Study: Shocking Adjustments

 ⚡ Electrical contractor valuations often short-circuit when they: Use project-based income without smoothing Ignore owner’s labor as lead estimator/technician Omit CapEx for trucks, lifts, or diagnostic tools Assign goodwill without considering licensing transfer 📌 If you wouldn’t wire a building without a plan, don’t underwrite one without normalization.