Jordan walks through a real BizBuySell listing: a full-service independent auto repair shop in Cypress, TX (Houston metro), asking $375,000 against $247,500 SDE on roughly $450,000 in annual revenue. That works out to a 1.52x SDE multiple in a category that typically trades at 2.71x median. Full SBA 7(a) math at 10% down, 9.3%, 10 years. Three due diligence priorities, one yellow flag on a 55% SDE margin, and a pursue verdict with one specific broker question.

Two childhood friends — both former private equity professionals — quit their jobs in 2023 and built a thesis: franchising, then automotive, then auto repair, then Meineke specifically. They raised $2.8M from friends and family, expecting to reach 10 locations. Two and a half years later, Etium Capital owns 25 Meineke stores across the Carolinas, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts — at roughly $25M run-rate revenue and a path toward $5M corporate cash flow — with no second equity raise. They stacked SBA 7(a) debt, seller financing, sale-leasebacks, and reinvested operating cash flow on top of the original raise.

Jordan walks through a real BizBuySell listing: an established full-service landscaping and snow removal company in Wayne County, MI (Detroit metro), operating 30+ years with four full crews. Asking $1.4M against $500K SDE on $1M revenue — a 2.80x multiple at a highly unusual 50% margin. Full SBA 7(a) math at 10% down, 9.3%, 10 years. Three due diligence priorities (margin sustainability, contracted commercial snow share, crew retention + equipment reserve), one yellow flag on Wayne-County geographic concentration, and a binary verdict.

After his family's HVAC business deal fell apart at Christmas 2021, 20-year trade veteran Corey Mullins started Cool by Design from scratch in Oakland Park, FL — and simultaneously bought McConnell Air Conditioning for $100K via SBA 7(a) ($15K down) for one reason: a phone number that had been on stickers for nearly 50 years across South Florida. Three years later, the combined business was doing $2M+ in revenue. Under four years from the SBA application, he sold for $3.2M.

Jordan walks through a real BizBuySell listing: a residential and commercial HVAC service business in Oklahoma City, OK, operating since 1996 as a franchised location of a national heating and cooling brand. Asking $725,000 against $268,600 SDE — a 2.70x multiple. Full SBA 7(a) math at 10% down, 9.3%, 10 years. Three due diligence priorities (franchise terms, technician retention, customer mix), one yellow flag on margin sustainability, and a binary verdict.

Mike Fagan bought Ten Pins and More, a bowling alley in Rio Rancho, NM, for $2.05M including real estate via SBA 7(a). One year later he owns two locations, has a third in motion, and runs both from Dallas — 600 miles away. The lesson: the boring categories with intimidating equipment lists are where the real spread is.

Jordan walks through a real BizBuySell listing — a 30-plus-year independent auto repair shop in St. Louis County, MO. Asking $465K against $200K SDE puts the multiple at 2.33x, in comp range for established shops. Full SBA 7(a) math at 10% down, 9.3%, 10 years. Three due diligence priorities, one yellow flag, binary verdict.