This $2M Other Pays $706,842/Year After Debt
Priced at or below the benchmark multiple and coverage clears the 2.0x Bulletproof threshold. The margin runs well above the benchmark, which is the part to verify first.
This is a business listed at $2M, generating $3.1M in annual revenue and $1M in seller's discretionary earnings. At a 1.97x cash flow multiple, the asking price is within the 3.00x Bulletproof threshold and below the 3.00x benchmark for comparable businesses. The profit margin is 32%, well above the 17% benchmark for comparable businesses, about 1.9x the category figure.
We ran this deal through the DealScore Pro Bulletproof Calculator to see how it holds up across all five scoring criteria. Here is the full breakdown.
Deal Snapshot
The deal snapshot tells a clean story. Revenue of $3.1M produces a 32% margin, well above the 17% benchmark for comparable businesses, about 1.9x the category figure. The 1.97x multiple is within the 3.00x Bulletproof threshold and below the 3.00x benchmark for comparable businesses.
Financing Overview
Using the standard 80/10/10 SBA deal structure (80% SBA 7(a) loan, 10% seller financing, 10% buyer down payment), here is what this acquisition looks like when financed.
Why the Numbers Matter
The headline number most buyers fixate on is the asking price. But the asking price alone tells you almost nothing about whether a deal is worth doing. What matters is what happens after you finance it.
The post-debt cash flow of $706,842 per year is what is left after every loan payment on the figures entered. On a $199,500 cash investment, that is a strong return, and it is well above the $100K minimum threshold that the Bulletproof standard requires. This figure is calculated before any cost of replacing the owner’s own role in the business. Where the seller is also the person producing the revenue, a buyer should subtract what it would cost to hire that role before treating this as take-home pay.
The DSCR of 3.32x means the business generates $3.32 for every $1 of annual debt payment. SBA lenders require a minimum of 1.25x. The Bulletproof standard requires 2.0x. This deal clears both with room to spare, which means you have a real safety margin if revenue softens or costs spike unexpectedly.
The stress test is where many deals that look good on paper fall apart. We model a 20% drop in revenue and check whether the business can still cover all debt obligations. This deal passes. Even at $2.5M in revenue (down from $3.1M), the cash flow still services the debt. That is the kind of resilience you want in a financed acquisition.
Industry Context
📈 How This Deal Compares to Benchmark Medians
This category runs close to the all-industry average on SBA defaults, at 5% against 5.1%. The industry itself is neither a tailwind nor a drag here, so the deal gets judged almost entirely on its own numbers.
Combined with a deal that performs well on the fundamentals, this is the profile lenders like to fund.
Strengths and Risks
✓ What Works
- Debt coverage of 3.32 against a bank minimum of 1.25. That is margin for a bad year, not just a good one.
- Coverage still holds at 2.66 after a modeled 20% revenue drop.
- Owner cash flow of $707k after every loan payment is made.
- Priced at 1.97x, inside the 2.55x to 3.45x band these businesses normally trade in.
⚠ Watch Out For
- Every figure here comes from the listing and none of it is verified. A listing is marketing, and it is written by someone paid on the sale.
Who This Deal Is For
Best fit for:
A buyer with roughly $200k for the equity injection, plus closing costs and working capital on top.
Someone who needs the business to pay them from day one. After debt service this leaves $707k.
An owner-operator who intends to run it, since the financing math here assumes no separate manager salary.
Not a passive investor. SBA acquisition financing requires the buyer to be actively involved.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is $2M a fair price for a business?
At 1.97x seller's discretionary earnings, this asking price is within the 3.00x Bulletproof threshold and below the 3.00x benchmark for comparable businesses. The Bulletproof threshold and the category benchmark are two different yardsticks, and this deal sits inside the stricter of the two.
What is a good profit margin for a business?
The benchmark profit margin for comparable businesses is approximately 17%. This listing operates at a 32% margin, which is well above the 17% benchmark for comparable businesses, about 1.9x the category figure. That is a comparison against category medians, not a verdict on this listing.
Can I buy a business with an SBA loan?
Yes. Businesses like this one are commonly financed through SBA 7(a) loans using an 80/10/10 structure: 80% SBA loan, 10% seller financing, and 10% buyer down payment. For this $2M deal the down payment is $199,500, but cash required at closing is $259,350 once closing costs and a working capital reserve of $345,314 are counted. SBA lenders require a minimum DSCR of 1.25x, but conservative buyers target 2.0x or higher. This deal's 3.32x DSCR comfortably clears both thresholds.
How much do owners of businesses like this actually make?
Owner earnings vary widely based on revenue, pricing, and operational involvement. This business generates $1M in seller's discretionary earnings (SDE) before debt service. After SBA financing under the 80/10/10 structure, the buyer would take home approximately $706,842 per year. That post-debt figure is the number that actually matters for a financed acquisition, because it reflects what ends up in your pocket after every loan payment is made.