From the Shop Floor Up: What’s Your Business Really Worth?

Running a business in the trades or industrial services takes grit. You don’t have the luxury of sitting around thinking about “enterprise value” when there’s gear to fix, jobs to quote, and a team to keep moving.

But once in a while — maybe in a quiet moment, or when someone asks if you’ve ever thought about selling — the question comes up: What’s this thing I’ve built actually worth?

At Bullaroo Partners, we’ve spoken with a lot of owners who’ve built incredibly solid businesses — often over decades — without ever really stepping back to put a number on it. And that’s completely fair. You’ve been focused on doing the work, leading your people, and solving real problems, not chasing valuations. Still, having a sense of what drives business value can help you plan for the future, whether you’re looking to exit or just want to understand your position a bit better.

What Actually Makes a Business Valuable?

Most folks assume it’s all about size — revenue, profit, headcount. And sure, those matter. But what often matters even more is how durable and self-sustaining the business is.

Think about it this way: if the phones keep ringing, jobs keep getting done, and customers keep coming back even when you’re not directly involved in every detail, you’ve built something special.

Buyers — whether it’s someone like us, a next-generation family member, or even an internal team — are looking for a business that doesn’t fall apart the day the owner steps away. That means:

• A reliable customer base (ideally spread across multiple clients)

• A team that knows the ropes and can carry the business forward

• Clear, understandable financials

• Solid systems and repeatable processes

These aren’t just nice-to-haves. They’re what make your business feel like a “machine” — not just a job you’ve created for yourself.

Why This Matters Even If You’re Not Selling

You might not be planning to sell — and we respect that. But knowing what your business is worth, and what drives that value, can help in all sorts of ways: planning for retirement, bringing in a partner, securing financing, or setting up the business for your kids or key employees.

It’s not about dressing things up. It’s about building a business that lasts — one that can run without burning you out and that keeps creating opportunities for the people who helped build it.

A Word From Our Side of the Fence

At Bullaroo Partners, we’re drawn to businesses that are often overlooked. The ones that fix infrastructure, move materials, service equipment, or manufacture with precision. We’re not financial engineers — we’re operators. And we’re looking to partner with founders who care about what happens next.

If you’ve ever wondered what your business might be worth, or just want a second set of eyes on how to think about the future, we’re always up for a conversation. No pitch. No pressure. Just two people who understand hard work, ready to chat.