Median Sale Price for Businesses Down 27% in 2008

Business Valuation Resources in Portland, Oregon, estimates that the median sale price of a closely held company fell from $551,000 to $400,000 in 2008. Presumably, it is down even farther now. Median net sales fell from $1.03 million to $804,000. In the first quarter of 2009, midmarket transactions were 25% less than a year ago, according to Dealogic.

These data are contained in the sixth annual Inc. valuation guide. The guide provides a useful—if very imperfect—rough guide to estimating how much your business is worth. The guide is in the June 2009 issue of the magazine, as well as on Inc.'s Web site.