Moving companies in Illinois are valued at 2x to 4x SDE. Commercial moving businesses — office relocations, corporate relocation accounts — command higher multiples than residential-only movers. Companies with storage-in-transit revenue have a more stable income base that supports stronger valuations.
Fleet Condition and DOT Compliance
Moving truck fleet condition, age, and maintenance records are central to valuation. DOT authority, FMCSA compliance history, and insurance costs all factor in. A fleet of newer trucks with clean DOT records is a material asset; aging trucks with deferred maintenance represent a capital liability that buyers factor into their offers.
Commercial Accounts and Storage
Corporate relocation accounts, property management partnerships for apartment move-in/out services, and long-distance commercial moving contracts provide predictable recurring revenue. Businesses with dedicated storage facilities — whether owned or via portable storage units — have additional revenue diversification and asset value.
Online reputation (Google reviews, Yelp, moving-specific review sites) is unusually important for moving companies because most customers research heavily before choosing. A business with 4.7+ stars across 200+ reviews has a genuine competitive advantage that buyers can leverage for continued growth.
Recast Seller’s Discretionary Earnings, then apply a planning multiple for this Illinois business. Replacement labor is subtracted. This is a planning tool, not an appraisal.
Before debt, working-capital peg, holdback, and tax. Educational only.
How Illinois buyers put a number on how to value a moving company
This page is the valuation guide. It is not the sale-process playbook. Seller’s discretionary earnings (SDE) is the cash a full-time working owner can take after you normalize the books. Start with the tax return. Add owner pay and one-time costs. Subtract the wage you must pay to replace the owner.
SDE line items buyers actually use
- Reported net profit (tax return, not the marketing P&L)
- + Interest expense
- + Income taxes (not payroll, sales, or property tax)
- + Depreciation and amortization
- + Owner W-2, bonuses, and payroll taxes on the owner
- + Discretionary owner benefits that a buyer will not keep (auto, personal travel, family on payroll with no role)
- + Accepted one-time or non-recurring expenses
- − Market-rate replacement labor for owner work that will not transfer
- = Seller’s Discretionary Earnings (SDE)
Documents to gather this week
- Three years of signed business tax returns and matching P&Ls
- Year-to-date P&L, balance sheet, and three months of bank statements
- Current lease, amendments, and a plain-English remaining term
- License and permit list, including who holds each card
- Top-customer concentration (names redacted until an NDA)
A simple Illinois close calendar
Plan six to twelve months from cleanup to close on a prepared Main Street deal. Start CBS-1 and any Chicago or Cook notices at letter-of-intent, not the week of funding. Landlord consent often takes longer than the lender.
Related pages on this site
Educational only — not legal, tax, or a formal appraisal. Confirm bulk-sale notices, licenses, and tax allocation with counsel and a CPA.
Questions
No. This is education and planning math. A professional opinion of value is a confidential conversation. We work on a success fee if you engage a sale process. There is no file-upload portal.
Start with adjusted seller’s discretionary earnings, then a vertical planning band. A marketplace average is context, not your quote.
Personal professional licenses do not transfer. Municipal registrations and state notices have their own calendars. Confirm the path before you grant exclusivity.
Most prepared Main Street sales take about six to twelve months from cleanup to close. License transfers, landlord consent, and SBA underwriting add weeks.
CBS-1 is the Illinois bulk-sale notice. File it at least ten business days before an asset transfer that meets the statute. Late filing can put Illinois tax risk on the buyer.