Most manufacturing, distributors & wholesalers, and trade businesses exit at 3–4x. The ones that don't are worth 11x. That gap is not luck. It is preparation.
Indicative only: The valuations, multiples and exit gap figures shown are illustrative estimates based on typical sector benchmarks. They are not formal valuations, financial advice or a guarantee of achievable sale price. Actual exit values will vary depending on market conditions, sector performance, buyer appetite and individual business circumstances at the time of sale. A formal business valuation should be obtained from a qualified professional before any exit decision is made.
A buyer's due diligence team will ask that question. If the honest answer is no — even partially — your multiple drops. The knowledge that lives in your head, in your key people's heads, in undocumented processes, is being priced as a liability.
Vantage exists to change that answer before a buyer arrives.
We are not an IT company. We are Business Value Defenders. We work with manufacturing, distributors & wholesalers, and trade businesses in the £2M–£20M turnover range, typically 18 to 36 months from a planned exit.
| Position | What it means | Multiple |
|---|---|---|
Captive Owner-dependent |
The business runs because you're in it. A buyer sees a liability, not an asset. |
3.0x – 3.5x |
Captain System-led, still steering |
Systems exist but you're still managing the gaps. Value leaks remain and a buyer will find them. |
4.5x – 5.5x |
| ▲ The target position | ||
Surfer Sovereign asset |
The business runs. Knowledge is documented and transferable. You collect the value. |
7.0x – 11.0x |
On a £3M EBITDA business, the difference between a Captive exit and a Surfer exit is £22.5 million pounds.
That is the exact exit gap we close.
Most owners arriving here are somewhere between Captive and Captain. The question is whether a buyer can see your value, verify it, and pay full price for it.
Take the 3-Minute Valuation Gap Check → Seven questions · Three minutes · Your gap in poundsMoving from Captive to Surfer on a mid-sized manufacturing business is the difference between a workable exit and the exit you spent forty years building towards.
We identify where your business value is leaking, document what needs to be documented, and build the case that protects your exit multiple when a buyer's team arrives with questions.
We don't sell software. We don't manage your IT. We defend the number on the page when it matters most.
The Diagnostic starts from £2,500. Nothing before that costs you a penny.
Book the Sovereign Readiness Call No obligation · Graham speaks to you directlyTen minutes with Graham. Your current position — Captive, Captain or Surfer — and your estimated valuation gap in pounds. No obligation. No technology pitch. Just a direct conversation about your business.
Book the Sovereign Readiness Call