Most Business Owners Don’t Know What Their Business Is Worth. Find Your Number Today.

Small Business Owner Challenges

You already know
what your business made.

Today's the day you start
finding out what it's worth.

The Reality of Small Business Owner

Most Business Owners Don't Know
What Their Business Is Worth

98%

Don't know their
business value

M&T Bank Survey

7 in 10

Will never
successfully sell

Exit Planning Institute

48%

Go to market with
no advance planning

IBBA Market Pulse

<2%

Ever have calculated
their enterprise value

EPI Generational Report

The $1M-$10M revenue segment is the single largest underserved segment for enterprise valuation in the U.S. – large enough to have real enterprise value at stake, too small to attract institutional advisors.

The Reality of Small Business Owner

Where You Actually Stand

Of the 36 million small businesses in the U.S., more than 90% generate less than $1M annually – making the $1M+ owner part of the top 10%.

Non-Employer

84% – 30.4 Million Businesses

No paid employees. Average revenue ~$47,794/year.

Micro Business

1-9 Employees -~ 5 Million

Revenue typically $250K-$2M.

Small Business

10-99 Employees -~ 600K

Revenue typically $1M-$20M.

Medium-Small

100-499 Employees -~ 90K

Often $20M+ in revenue.

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU - SBA OFFICE OF ADVOCACY

Revenue Distribution

Under $50K
34%
$50K – $100K
20%
$100K – $250K
18%
$250K – $1M
19%
Over $1M
9%

Hitting $1M+ already puts you in a select group. The math is clear.

THE CLOCK IS RUNNING​

You’re not the only owner getting ready to sell​

2M

owners plan to sell within the next 12 months​

5.6 million employer-business owners in the U.S.​
37% plan to sell within a year — most will negotiate with no number​

Millions more change hands this decade — the largest transfer of business wealth in U.S. history​

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau · M&T Bank survey · U.S. Bank 2025 survey · Exit Planning Institute​
WHERE YOU ARE DECIDES WHAT MATTERS​

The four stages of business​

01 · YEARS 0–5​

Build

Creating the asset​

Value CREATED​

Move on when the business survives a week without you and revenue repeats.​
02 · YEARS 5–10​

Optimize​

Closing the value gaps​

Value BUILT​

Move on when the nine drivers are strong and it runs without you.​
03 · YEARS 10–15​

Scale​

Growing on a strong foundation​

Value COMPOUNDED​

Move on when growth repeats without you driving it.​
04 · YEARS 15+​

Transition​

Exiting on your terms​

Value CAPTURED​

Done when the deal closes and the handoff is complete.​

Most value gaps are timing problems. Fix the stage, and the multiple follows.​

EXPLORE CHARTWELLVALUE​

Six steps to knowing your number​

01 · CHARTWELLVALUE​

P&L​

Clean, normalized earnings: the true starting point of value.​

02 · CHARTWELLVALUE​

EV

Your enterprise value today, calculated the way buyers see it.​
03 · CHARTWELLVALUE​

Forecast​

Project tomorrow’s earnings to see where your value is headed.​
04 · CHARTWELLVALUE​

Multiples​

Benchmark your business against what the market is actually paying.​
05 · CHARTWELLVALUE​

Optimization​

Close the gap. Pinpoint the levers that raise your exit value.​

06 · CHARTWELLVALUE​

Contact​

Let’s talk about building the value you deserve at exit.​
Start anywhere. Every section feeds your number.​

The Bottom Line

The Survival Gap

Why Fewer Businesses Survive to Exit – and What Separates the Ones That Do

The average small business has been operating for 12 years (SBA Office of Advocacy, 2024). BLS cohort-survival data shows what happens from there:

34.7%
10 Years
25.5%
15 Years
19.5%
20 Years
12.6%
30+ Years

your Business

Enterprise Value

P&L

Tax Return

Cash Flow

EBITDA

SDE

DSCR

Intangible Assets

Enterprise Value

Forecast

Every small business owner needs these core financial tools to understand, prove, and communicate the value of their business – plus a 5-year forecast.