AUTOMOTIVE · AUGUST 2026 MARKET DATA
How much is your car wash worth?
Apply the reported 4.87× SDE and 1.96× revenue averages to your numbers, then inspect what makes one car wash differ from another.
Cash flow multiple
4.87×Price ÷ seller’s discretionary earningsRevenue multiple
1.96×Price ÷ annual gross revenueVersus Automotive
+57%Cash-flow multiple versus the 3.10× broad-sector averageVersus all businesses
+89%Cash-flow multiple versus 2.58× overallASKING VS. CLOSED SALE · FULL YEAR 2025
Reported car wash deals averaged 87% of asking.
Based on 32 reported sales. Use the ratio to understand category-level negotiation—not as a forecast for one transaction.
Do not subtract the two medians. Median asking and sale prices may describe different transactions. The source's average sale-to-ask ratio is the supported negotiation measure.
CLOSED-SALE DISTRIBUTION · 2021–2025
The middle 50% sold between 3.20× and 6.70× SDE.
This range comes from 296 reported sold listings—not current asking prices. It shows the spread that a single average hides.
Why the headline average differs: the 4.87× figure above uses the newer rolling Q3 2021–Q2 2026 table. This range uses the dedicated 2021–2025 report, which publishes quartiles. The periods remain separate rather than being blended.
See where my business landsCOMPANY-SPECIFIC DILIGENCE
What buyers examine beyond the average.
These factors help explain why two businesses in the same category can sell at different multiples. They are diligence questions—not automatic percentage adjustments.
WORKED MARKET REFERENCE
How the two common methods compare
For an example car wash with $1,000,000 in annual revenue and $250,000 in SDE:
The indications can differ because margins vary. A personalized market reference should use the company’s actual revenue and normalized SDE, then consider transferability and deal terms separately.
Calculate my private referenceREUSE THIS BENCHMARK
Give readers a calculator.
Embed an interactive SDE-and-revenue calculator with a visible source link, or reuse the period-specific citation and share card. The kit contains public category aggregates—never a contributed profile or transaction row.
Car wash valuation benchmark: 4.87× SDE, 1.96× revenue, and $800,000 median reported sale price. Reported US closed-business aggregates from BizBuySell, Q3 2021–Q2 2026. Analysis and source notes: https://businessvaluation.fyi/business-valuation/car-wash?utm_source=shared_benchmark&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=industry_benchmark
COMMON QUESTIONS
Reading this car wash benchmark
How much is my car wash worth?
A company-specific answer requires normalized earnings, revenue, and its operating risks. As a public starting point, reported sales in this category average 4.87× seller’s discretionary earnings and 1.96× annual revenue. The reported median sale price is $800,000.
What percentage of asking do reported car wash sales achieve?
Across 32 reported 2025 sales, the source reports an average sale-to-ask ratio of 87%. That is an average of transaction-level ratios, not a promise that every seller discounted by the same amount.
How long do reported car wash sales take?
The reported median was 174 days on market during 2025. Preparation, pricing, buyer financing, diligence, lease transfer, and deal terms can make an individual sale faster or slower.
What range did reported car wash sales fall in?
In the dedicated 2021–2025 report, the middle 50% of sold businesses had SDE multiples between 3.20× and 6.70×. The median was 5.18×.
How should I use the 4.87× multiple?
Apply it first to normalized SDE, not tax-return profit without review. Then cross-check the revenue method and examine the business-specific risks a buyer would inherit.
Does this tell me exactly what my car wash is worth?
No. It is a reported-sale average, not an appraisal or offer. Company size, margins, growth, transferability, assets, liabilities, geography, and deal terms can produce a different outcome.
Public aggregates reported by BizBuySell for closed US sales of car washes. The headline multiples cover Q3 2021–Q2 2026; asking-price, sale-price, and time-on-market metrics cover the full 2025 calendar year; the quartile distribution covers 2021–2025. These are useful relative indicators, not a formal appraisal, offer, or complete census.