EBITDA multiple lookup by sector (UK, 2026)
Pick your sector and size band. We return the P25–P75 EBITDA multiple range from Sell Ltd's quarterly synthesis of UK SME transactions, plus a rule-of-thumb for that sector and Chris's editorial note on what moves the multiple within the range.
By Chris at Sell LtdLast updated - 12 UK SME sectors × 4 size bands = 48 multiple grids, refreshed quarterly.
- P25 / P50 / P75 shown — not a single "average" that hides the spread.
- Every sector carries a rule-of-thumb (£/bed, gross fees, ARR) so you can sanity-check.
- Data provenance: Companies House filings 2023–25 + published UK SME deals + ONS sector data.
How to read the range — P25, P50, P75
The published "average UK SME multiple" is misleading. Real deals cluster in a range, and the difference between the 25th percentile and 75th percentile is often 40–60% on the same base EBITDA. We publish all three so you can position your business honestly.
- P25 (low end): where deals close with high customer concentration, key-person risk, thin margin, or off-market single-bidder processes.
- P50 (midpoint): the median observable UK SME transaction in that sector and size band. Aim for this if your fundamentals are solid but unremarkable.
- P75 (high end): strong recurring revenue, low concentration, growth > sector average, competitive process with 3+ bidders. Achievable but requires both the fundamentals and the process.
What actually moves you inside the range
Multiples aren't just about sector — they're about the six levers below. Buyers pay premium multiples for premium characteristics.
- Recurring revenue share. 80%+ recurring lifts you a full turn.
- Customer concentration. Top-3 > 30% of revenue drags you 15–25%.
- Growth rate. 20%+ YoY EBITDA growth lifts you 30–50%.
- Owner dependency. Business runs without owner day-to-day = premium.
- Gross margin. Above sector average = premium; below = discount.
- Contract quality. Long dated, transferable contracts add 15–30%.
How Sell Ltd data compares to other sources
UK SME multiple data is notoriously patchy. Companies-House filings tell you accounts but not deal prices. Broker-reported multiples systematically inflate (they're marketing). BVR / Pratt's Stats and Pepperdine surveys are US-centric. We triangulate all four: Companies-House financial trajectories of businesses whose ownership changed, published UK SME transactions where enterprise value is disclosed, sector productivity from ONS, and Sell Ltd's own confidential deal book — anonymised and aggregated. Refreshed quarterly. Read the full 2026 sector deal multiples data for the methodology.
Using this in a real valuation
Pick your sector, find your size band by adjusted EBITDA, then adjust from the P50 up or down based on the six levers above. That's a defensible headline value. Cross-check it against the multi-method calculator and the sector rule-of-thumb. If two of the three agree within 15%, you have a range to publish. If they disagree, your add-backs or your growth assumption are probably the reason — investigate before picking a number.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good EBITDA multiple for a UK small business?
It depends entirely on sector and size. UK SME EBITDA multiples typically fall between 2× and 8×. Micro businesses (<£250k EBITDA) trade at 1.5–3.5×. Small businesses (£250k–£1m) trade at 2.5–6×. Lower mid-market (£1m–£3m) reaches 3.5–8×. Above £3m EBITDA, multiples of 5–12× are common in SaaS, healthcare and MSPs.
Why do multiples increase with business size?
Bigger businesses attract more buyer types (PE, trade acquirers, search funds), have more diversified cash flow, less key-person risk, and better systems. This 'size premium' typically adds 30–60% to the multiple as you cross the £1m EBITDA threshold.
What drives the difference between the low and high end of the range?
Recurring revenue share, customer concentration, growth rate, gross margin, and owner-dependency. A business with 80% recurring revenue, top customer under 15%, and 15% year-on-year growth sells at the top of the range. A one-time-project shop with 40% concentration and flat growth sits at the bottom.
Are these UK-specific or global multiples?
UK-specific. Sourced from Companies House filings and published UK SME transactions 2023–2025. US SME multiples typically run 20–40% higher for the same sector; European ones roughly match or slightly trail UK.
Do you include property in these multiples?
No. These are trading-business enterprise values. For pubs, care homes, nurseries and manufacturers with freehold, add property value on top of the multiple output.
How often are the numbers updated?
Quarterly. We re-synthesise Companies House filings, published deals and ONS sector data every three months. The version shown here is stamped with the last refresh date at the top of the page.
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