An add-back is an expense that is added back to the profits of a business (most often earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, or EBITDA), to show the profitability and value when you take out expenses that will “go away.”

Add backs play a critical role in adjusting the bottom line when analyzing the valuation of a company.  A “legitimate” add back is an expense that is for owner benefit that would not continue after a transaction with a new buyer.

Some examples of legitimate add-backs are:

• Legal Fees
• Facility updating
• Personal expenses
• Adjustments to the owner’s compensation

One time instances where it would add back to EBIDTA:

• One time fees: litigation that has now been settled
• Something you wouldn’t close after a transaction

Things that we would not consider an add-back:

• Owners salary if you are going to continue on after selling your business - adjusting compensation to the market price
• Bad debt expense. For example, you’ve done a lot of work for a client and they didn’t pay you so you write it off, this expense is not considered an add back. 
• Rationalizing Staff - Let’s say you paid someone for the year and it was a bad hire and you fired them, it would not be considered an add-back as it impacted your profit.
• “I rented a space that is too big for my business.” This is an expense you can adjust, but you can’t say in the year “we should have had a smaller office so we should add this back.”

If you’re acquiring a company read our add backs blog post.

Think about add-backs to EDIBTA are for owner benefit that will not be there going forward, or one time expenses that hit your P&L that will not in the coming years. If you have questions about expenses you need to take a closer look at, we can help. Reach out at: [email protected]

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