Dr. Allen Nazeri explains EBITDA multiples in M&A: a 4x multiple means 25% annual return, while 10x means 10%. Higher multiples mean lower returns because buyers pay more for the same earnings. Risk, growth, and company size drive the multiple. Small businesses typically sell for 3–5x EBITDA.
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When people talk about EBITDA multipliers, what do they actually mean? It's simply the number of years it takes for an investment to pay for itself. It acts as the inverse of the return on investment. A 4x multiple implies a 25% annual return, while a 10x multiple implies only 10%. A higher multiple signifies a lower ROI because you're paying a higher price. It's essentially a proxy for your total investment yield. Several factors affect this multiple. First is risk. Lower-risk businesses command higher multiples, while riskier ones have lower multiples. Then there's growth. Companies with higher growth prospects command higher multiples because buyers pay more now for those future earnings. And finally, size. Larger companies command higher multiples due to stability, while small businesses often sell for 3 to 5 times EBITDA. The EBITDA multiple is a quick way to compare values in M&A. If you want to know yours, drop in the comments the type of company you own and DM our team for a complimentary valuation today.