You've built something real.
A business pulling in $200K, $500K, maybe $1.5M in net profit. You've got employees who depend on you, customers who trust you, and years of sweat equity baked into every line item on your P&L.
So when you start thinking about what it's worth: maybe you're planning your exit, testing the waters, or just curious: it's tempting to fire up Google and type: "What's my business worth?"
Within seconds, you'll find a dozen websites promising a "free instant valuation" if you just plug in a few numbers.
Here's the unfiltered truth: those tools are designed to capture your contact info, not give you an accurate number.
And if you're a Tampa Bay business owner in the Upper Main Street sweet spot ($200K–$2M profit), using an internet valuation tool is like asking a vending machine to appraise your house. It might spit out a number, but it won't mean much: and it could cost you six figures when it's time to sell.
Let me show you why.
Online business valuation calculators look sleek. They feel official. Some even give you a multi-page PDF with your company logo on it.
But here's what they don't do:
Most internet tools pull from national databases. They'll tell you that HVAC companies sell for "3–5x EBITDA" or restaurants go for "2–3x SDE."
Cool. But what multiple are Tampa HVAC companies actually getting in 2026? What about a plumbing business in Wesley Chapel versus one in St. Pete?
The online tool doesn't know. It doesn't factor in:
Reality check: A well-positioned home services business in Lutz can sell for 4–6x SDE right now. But an online calculator will lowball you at 3x or less, because it's pulling from a database that includes struggling Rust Belt markets.
You just left hundreds of thousands of dollars on the table. 💸
Let's say you run a profitable electrical contracting company. Your tax return shows $300K in net income.
But you also:
A skilled broker recasts your financials to show Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE), which in this case might be closer to $450K–$500K.
An online tool? It sees $300K and spits out a number based on that. You just got undervalued by 40% before you even started.
Here's what actually drives value in the Upper Main Street market:
✅ Recurring revenue (service contracts, subscription models)
✅ Trained, loyal staff who can run the business without you
✅ Strong local brand presence in high-growth Tampa suburbs
✅ Systems and processes that transfer to a new owner
✅ Growth runway (untapped markets, expansion opportunities)
An algorithm can't see any of that. It doesn't know you have a waitlist of new customers in Land O' Lakes. It doesn't care that you've built a referral machine in New Tampa that throws off leads every week.
A local broker does.
And that difference is worth 1–2x your profit: or more.
When you work with a Florida-licensed business broker who specializes in the Tampa Bay market, here's what you're actually getting:
I track every significant business sale in Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas. I know what buyers are paying for home services companies, light manufacturing, franchises, and specialty trades.
Not "national averages." Actual Tampa multiples.
When I tell you your business is worth $1.8M, it's because I just reviewed two similar deals in Wesley Chapel at that range: and I know there are three qualified buyers actively looking right now.
A professional valuation isn't just math. It's storytelling.
I'll recast your financials to show the true earning power of your business. Then I'll position it in a way that highlights growth, stability, and upside for the buyer.
Example:
That's a $500K difference. And it's not inflated: it's accurate.
You can't sell your business on Craigslist. You can't post it on LinkedIn without tipping off your employees, competitors, and customers.
A licensed broker has:
Online tools? They sell your info to a call center. You'll get 10 cold calls from unqualified "business coaches" before lunch. 📞
At LoboBusinessSales.com, we don't do $50K delis or $20M industrial complexes.
We specialize in the Upper Main Street market: businesses generating $200K to $2M in owner benefit. That's the sweet spot where:
Here's what sets us apart:
Business Broker Dave Britton is a member of the Business Brokers of Florida (BBF) and the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA): the gold standard in the industry.
Licensed. Professional. Diligent.
Not some out-of-state "advisor" running lead-gen ads.
We don't churn through 200 listings a year. We take on a very select number of clients and give each one white-glove service.
Your business isn't a number in a CRM. It's your life's work: and we treat it that way.
We know the difference between selling a business in Carrollwood versus New Tampa. We know which buyers are targeting Pasco County and why Hot Spots like Wesley Chapel and Land O Lakes multiples are climbing.
We're not guessing. We're local.
Dave Britton
Business Broker | BBF & IBBA Member
📞 (813) 395-9552
📧 Dave@LoboBusinessSales.com
Since no two businesses are identical, relying on an automated tool is like using a weather app to predict the exact temperature inside your kitchen. Here are two common ways "Internet" valuations can backfire:
Imagine a profitable plumbing company in Wesley Chapel. The owner uses an online calculator that values the business strictly on a basic multiple of reported net income. The tool misses the fact that the company has three new municipal contracts and a fleet of fully paid-off vehicles.
Without a local broker to "recast" those earnings and highlight those tangible assets to the right buyer, that owner could easily walk away from $250,000 or more—money that should have stayed in their retirement account.
Now, picture an owner who gets an inflated valuation from a site designed to "hook" them into a listing agreement. They list their business for $2.5M because the website said so.
Six months later? Zero qualified offers. The listing sits stale, competitors start telling your customers you're "in trouble," and key employees start looking for the exit because they're worried about their jobs. A local broker prevents this by pricing based on real Tampa market comps, ensuring you hit the market with momentum, not a thud.
The Lesson: A valuation is only as good as the data and the person standing behind it. Don't leave your legacy to an algorithm.
If you're a Tampa Bay business owner thinking about your exit: or even just curious what you've built is worth: skip the internet tools.
Here's the smart play:
Schedule a confidential consultation with a licensed broker. We'll review your financials, discuss your goals, and give you an accurate range based on current Tampa market conditions.
No obligation. No pressure. Just real numbers.
👉 Book a Free Consultation with Business Broker Dave
Maybe you're selling in 6 months. Maybe 2 years. Either way, you need to know:
We'll walk you through it: no sales pitch, just strategy.
Don't trust your biggest financial transaction to an algorithm or a part-time "business advisor."
Hire a Florida-licensed broker who specializes in your market, knows your buyer pool, and has a track record of closing deals in the $200K–$2M profit range.
That's us. 🐺
If you're running a profitable business in Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Land O' Lakes, Lutz, or anywhere in the Bay Area: you're already in rare air.
Less than 5% of small businesses ever break $200K in owner benefit. You did it.
Now it's time to make sure you get every dollar you deserve when you exit.
Don't let an internet calculator shortchange you. Don't let a national brokerage firm treat you like a commodity.
Work with someone who knows Tampa. Who knows your market. Who knows how to position your business so the right buyer pays a premium price.
Let's talk.
📞 Call or Text: (813) 395-9552
📧 Dave@LoboBusinessSales.com
🌐 LoboBusinessSales.com
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