National transaction benchmarks for transportation and storage business businesses.
Under $500K
Median revenue$414k
Median cash flow$104k
Median sale price$199k
Multiple range1.5x - 2.6x
$500K to $2M
Median revenue$1.36m
Median cash flow$308k
Median sale price$825k
Multiple range2.4x - 3.4x
Over $2M
Median revenue$5.08m
Median cash flow$1.22m
Median sale price$4m
Multiple range3.4x - 4.7x
A variety of factors can cause businesses to trade outside this range, including earnings quality, operational transferability, key-person risk, growth trajectory, and geography, so a listing priced above or below the typical multiple usually reflects real differences in the underlying business.
What to know about transportation and storage business acquisitions
Key diligence, valuation, financing, and transition considerations for buyers evaluating transportation and storage business acquisitions.
Decide which kind of business you're buying
A storage facility's occupancy is durable real-estate income; trucking and moving revenue depends on contracts and crews. Price the two very differently.
Inspect the fleet and facility condition
Trucks, trailers, vehicles, and build-outs are capital-heavy with finite lives; get age, maintenance history, and the deferred replacement schedule.
Verify DOT, operating authority, and regulatory standing
Authority, safety ratings, and driver qualifications are central and may not transfer; review the compliance record.
Quantify customer and contract concentration
Contracted freight or a few large accounts can carry a transportation business and leave with little notice; understand the terms.
Pressure-test fuel, labor, and driver availability
Margins move with fuel and wages, and qualified drivers are scarce; understand the cost structure and key-person risk.
For storage, verify occupancy, rate trends, and the real estate
Occupancy history, rate increases, and property condition drive value; confirm the numbers and any deferred maintenance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common buyer questions for this market.
Yes, storage is especially attractive for its recurring, real-estate-backed income. For the operating businesses, lenders weigh asset condition, regulatory standing, and concentration.
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