Enter trailing 12-month gross revenue, owner's salary, all add-backs, and rent. The calculator returns Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE) and applies industry-standard multiples (typically 2.5x–4.5x SDE depending on equipment age, lease terms, and market) to produce a low/mid/high valuation range. Adjustments factor in equipment vintage, lease remaining term, market growth, and store amenities (24-hour, attended, wash-dry-fold).
Three Valuation Methods
1) SDE Multiple — the dominant method for laundromat sales under $2M. 2) Cap Rate — used for absentee-operated stores and institutional buyers. 3) Asset-Based — for distressed sales, value plays, and when SDE is unreliable. The calculator runs all three and explains which method best fits your store's profile.
What Affects Multiple
Equipment age (newer = higher multiple), remaining lease term (10+ years = higher multiple), provable books (POS receipts, utility bills, payment processor reports = higher multiple), absentee operation (higher multiple), strong location (CLEANBI A/B = higher multiple), and competition density (saturated = lower multiple). The calculator surfaces each driver and shows how it moves your number.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the calculator actually free?
Yes — completely free, no signup required. Save your estimate or get a printable PDF by signing in with a free WashBizHub account. Premium users can attach a CLEANBI report to validate the location quality assumption that drives the multiple.
How accurate is the estimate?
Within ±20% of actual closing prices for stores with 12 months of clean books. Wider range (±35%) for stores with informal financials, mixed-use leases, or pending equipment replacement. The valuation is directional — for an actionable number on a specific deal, run the full Acquisition System due diligence.
Should I trust this over a broker's number?
Brokers represent the seller and have an incentive to anchor high. Use this calculator to triangulate. If the broker's number is more than 25% above the calculator's high end, ask for documentation supporting the spread (premium location, rare lease terms, recent equipment refresh). If they can't justify the gap, you have negotiation leverage.