THE SHORT ANSWER
Reconcile supported annual earnings, account service costs, textile ownership/replacement, plant and delivery capacity, and customer terms before selecting comparisons. BizBuySell’s broad national 2021–2025 commercial-laundry sold sample reports a 2.53x median owner-discretionary earnings multiple. It does not establish a healthcare, uniform-rental or managed-platform EBITDA range or an automatic contract premium.
Use the commercial category on its stated basis
BizBuySell covers commercial/industrial customer laundry with several service types.
(BizBuySell: commercial laundry sold benchmarks)| 2021–2025 reported sold owner-earnings statistic | Multiple |
|---|---|
| Lower quartile | 1.89x |
| Median | 2.53x |
| Mean | 2.83x |
| Upper quartile | 3.50x |
Distinguish performed processing, textile rental, delivery, equipment/service contracts and self-service where actually offered. Use the separate laundromat guide for self-service evidence. No universal rule says every B2B account business commands a higher multiple or pays more reliably.
Reconcile account economics and annual earnings
Trace actual accepted work, quantities, pickup, processing, delivery, credits, invoicing and collection. Include plant labor, utilities, chemicals, textile replacement, transport and shared overhead on a consistent basis. Explain actual customer requirements and service costs rather than treating recurring billing as guaranteed contribution.
SEC adjusted-measure guidance is an issuer presentation reference.
(SEC: non-GAAP financial measure interpretations)Have the accountant define starting period/measure, actual deducted costs and future use. Draws, debt principal and machine/textile acquisitions are not blanket add-backs. Include necessary estimating, account service, plant supervision, routing and claims work using the earnings-basis guide. A size threshold alone does not choose SDE or EBITDA.
Check textile circulation, plant and account continuity
Reconcile owned, rented, customer-owned, in-process, delivered, missing and replacement-due textiles. Verify actual title, liens, leases and condition for processing equipment, vehicles and premises. Determine required investment with qualified inspection and real estimates; a count at historical cost is not usable value.
Review customer assignment, ownership change, pricing, renewal, cancellation, quality and shortage/claim terms using the consent register. Verify actual recurring staff and route capacity. Customer geography can affect delivery work, but dense routes or a signed term do not automatically guarantee margins, retention or buyer rights. Have appropriate specialists review actual wastewater, products, installation and offered-service conditions.
Compare sold operations and delivery terms
SBA sale guidance addresses valuation approaches and agreement assets/liabilities.
(SBA: closing or selling a business)Seek comparable sold service/asset models, territory, owner work, financial definitions and included property. Define what the proposed earnings-based price already includes before adding machinery, linen or vehicles again. Keep actual premises rights and real estate, if included, explicit.
Define receivables, payables, textile/chemical stock, circulating property, prepaid work, open orders, shortages and claims using the delivery guide. Separate tax, debt, necessary investment and cash timing. The scenario tool applies assumptions and does not certify a valuation. Explain unresolved account and asset conditions before promoting a fixed range or earnout structure.
Owner questions
Does the 2.53x median describe uniform-platform EBITDA?
It is historical owner-discretionary earnings in a broad reported sold commercial-laundry category.
Do multi-year accounts guarantee transferable revenue?
Review actual service economics, cancellation/assignment conditions and proposed continuation.
Should circulating textiles be added to earnings-based price?
Define ownership, usable condition, replacement duties and included assets first.
Sources and review scope
Source review completed . The sources below support the identified concepts or rules; they do not validate hypothetical amounts or a valuation of your business.
- BizBuySell: commercial laundry sold benchmarks
Broad national 2021–2025 reported sold commercial/industrial customer laundry category, including several service types. Primary sold owner-discretionary earnings table reproduced. Not healthcare/uniform/platform-only EBITDA, current appraisal or guaranteed contract/credit premium. Asking/revenue and other summaries separate.
- SEC: non-GAAP financial measure interpretations
Staff interpretations last updated December 2022: recurring operating costs and distinguishing EBITDA from adjusted measures. SEC reporting context, not a universal private-sale rule or automatic acceptance of add-backs.
- SBA: closing or selling a business
Valuation approaches, sale agreements, assets and ownership transfer.
Confirm tax, legal, accounting and lending applications with the relevant professionals. Historical market observations describe the stated period and reported sample.
This is educational material. Industry figures and program rules can change; check the original sources and your advisors before applying them to a transaction. Calculator scenarios are not appraisals, lending decisions, or offers.
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