This $3.5M Law Firm / Legal Practice Pays $571,493/Year After Debt
Coverage clears the 2.0x Bulletproof threshold and survives a 20% revenue drop. The margin runs well above the benchmark, which is the part to verify first.
This is a law firm / legal practice business listed at $3.5M, generating $1.9M in annual revenue and $1.1M in seller's discretionary earnings. At a 3.16x cash flow multiple, the asking price sits above the benchmark of 2.70x for law firm / legal practice businesses. The profit margin is 58%, above the 26% industry average.
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 $1.9M with a 58% margin means the business runs well above the 26% benchmark for law firm / legal practice businesses. A gap that wide often means the owner is doing work a buyer would have to pay someone else to do, so confirm how much of that margin survives a change of ownership. The 3.16x multiple is on the higher side relative to the industry average.
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 $571,493 per year is what is left after every loan payment on the figures entered. On a $350,000 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 2.07x means the business generates $2.07 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 $1.5M in revenue (down from $1.9M), 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 the Law Firm / Legal Practice Industry
Law Firm / Legal Practice sits in the lowest default band tracked here. Licensing requirements and established client relationships tend to keep revenue steady through a transition. The SBA default rate of 2.3% is well under the 5.1% all-industry average.
The law firm / legal practice industry carries a lower-than-average SBA default rate at 2.3%, compared to the all-industry average of 5.1%. Combined with a deal that performs well on the fundamentals, this is the profile lenders like to fund.
Strengths and Risks
✓ What Works
- Strong DSCR of 2.07x clears the 2.0x Bulletproof minimum
- Strong post-debt cash flow of $571,493 per year
- Adequate working capital reserves
- Survives a 20% revenue decline stress test
⚠ Watch Out For
- Purchase multiple of 3.16x is near the Bulletproof threshold
- Key-person risk: verify the current owner's role in daily operations
- Lease terms and renewal risk
Who This Deal Is For
Best fit for:
Owner-operators with industry experience or management background who want a business that cash flows from day one.
First-time buyers looking for a straightforward acquisition with solid fundamentals.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is $3.5M a fair price for a law firm / legal practice business?
At 3.16x seller's discretionary earnings, this asking price is above the benchmark multiple of 2.70x for law firm / legal practice businesses. Deals priced below 2.20x are generally considered favorable for buyers, while anything above 3.40x starts to look expensive.
What is a good profit margin for a law firm / legal practice business?
The benchmark profit margin for law firm / legal practice businesses is approximately 26%. This listing operates at a 58% margin, which is above average and suggests the business is managing costs effectively. Margins above 21% are generally considered healthy at this scale.
Can I buy a law firm / legal practice business with an SBA loan?
Yes. Law Firm / Legal Practice businesses 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 $3.5M deal, that means approximately $350,000 in cash at closing. SBA lenders require a minimum DSCR of 1.25x, but conservative buyers target 2.0x or higher. This deal's 2.07x DSCR comfortably clears both thresholds.
How much do law firm / legal practice business owners actually make?
Owner earnings vary widely based on revenue, pricing, and operational involvement. This law firm / legal practice business generates $1.1M in seller's discretionary earnings (SDE) before debt service. After SBA financing under the 80/10/10 structure, the buyer would take home approximately $571,493 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.