Sell Your Moving Company in Ohio
We help owners sell moving companies in Central and Eastern Ohio. We work with established companies where the owner wants a planned sale, a clear valuation, and a controlled process.
You decide who learns about the sale and when. We do not publish the company name. Buyers sign a non-disclosure agreement and show that they can fund a purchase before they receive identifying information.
The work starts before marketing. We review earnings, customers, contracts, employees, equipment, licenses, and the jobs or revenue expected after closing. That preparation gives buyers fewer reasons to reduce the price during diligence.
Ohio sales also raise licensing, registration and successor liability questions. Intrastate household goods movers must hold a certificate from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. ORC 4921.34 requires the fee, a complete application and certification of workers' compensation, unemployment compensation and financial responsibility coverage. The certificate is valid one year and renewed annually. ORC 4921.36 and OAC Chapter 4901:2-19 require the certificate number on all advertising, estimates and contracts, a consumer rights notice, tariffs filed with PUCO, cargo insurance equal to declared value and specific estimate and bill of lading practices. PUCO rules do not provide for transferring a certificate to a buyer, so a buyer using a new entity should apply for its own certificate and tariff before close and confirm with PUCO.
How Moving Companies Are Valued
Small owner-operated companies are usually valued on Seller's Discretionary Earnings, or SDE. SDE starts with net income. It adds the owner's compensation, interest, depreciation, amortization, supported personal expenses, and costs that will not continue after closing.
Larger companies are usually valued on EBITDA. EBITDA means earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. It leaves the cost of management in the business because the buyer expects to pay someone to replace the owner's work.
The correct measure depends on the company and the likely buyer. Buyers then apply a multiple based on the quality and durability of those earnings. Clean records, a team that stays, repeat revenue, diverse customers, and low owner dependence can support the upper end of a range. Weak reporting, concentration, thin forward revenue, compliance gaps, and deferred equipment needs can push value down.
We use private company transaction data from BVR DealStats. The median is the middle transaction in the data set.
| Metric | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SDE multiple | 1.9x | 2.3x | 2.8x |
| EBITDA multiple | 2.0x | 3.0x | 3.8x |
| Revenue multiple | Not reported | 0.45x | Not reported |
BVR DealStats, pulled November 1, 2026, NAICS 484210, n=51.
Filters: sale date November 1, 2016 or later, deal price (MVIC) $250,000 to $10,000,000. The median SDE multiple is 2.3x. The median EBITDA multiple is 3.0x. The EBITDA figure rests on fewer deals (n=33).
A valuation also tests what the buyer receives at closing. Debt, working capital, equipment ownership, leases, and related-party arrangements affect the final structure. The headline multiple does not show what the owner keeps.
What Buyers Look For
Commercial and corporate relocation work. Agreements of 12 to 24 months are valued over residential revenue concentrated May through September, which is discounted. Report the two separately.
A general manager in place. Buyers want someone other than the owner doing estimating, sales and dispatch. Hire or promote one before a sale.
Safety and authority records. Buyers review safety ratings, CSA scores, driver qualification files, hours-of-service records, USDOT and MC authority and FMCSA household goods complaints. Organize these files.
Documented preventive maintenance. Buyers want maintenance records on vans and trailers. Keep logs for each unit.
Steady crews. Buyers look for at least two steady crews per truck. Document crew tenure.
Storage and agency agreements. Warehouse storage and van line agency agreements add value. Gather the documents.
No dominant account. Buyers want no account above about 20 percent of revenue. Show revenue by account.
Buyers do not accept a claim because it appears in a sales package. They trace it to tax returns, contracts, bank statements, job records, employee files, and operating reports. Organized records support the price and shorten diligence.
They also ask who will run the business after closing. A manager, estimator, dispatcher or crew leader who can stay may matter as much as a piece of equipment. Written procedures make that team easier to transfer.
Common Problems That Kill Deals
Unresolved FMCSA complaints or lapsed authority. These can stop operations. Resolve them first.
Open DOT violations or incomplete driver files. Compliance gaps raise risk. Close them out.
An owner-run operation with no operations manager. The business depends on one person. Build management.
Dominant non-assignable accounts. A large account that cannot transfer puts value at risk. Check assignment terms.
An aging fleet with deferred compliance. The buyer faces cost right away. Plan replacements.
Most problems do not end a sale when they are found early and disclosed. They become dangerous when a buyer discovers them after signing a letter of intent. The buyer may reduce the price, demand escrow, or leave the deal.
We identify the issues before marketing. Some can be corrected. Others need a clear explanation, supporting records, and a buyer that understands the risk.
How the Sale Process Works
- Valuation. We review three years of tax returns, profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and payroll records. We build an add-back schedule. We compare the adjusted earnings with relevant transactions. You receive a range and the reasons behind it.
- Preparation. We identify reporting gaps, contract issues, customer concentration, owner dependence, and Ohio compliance items. We address what can be fixed before a buyer sees the company.
- Confidential marketing. We prepare a blind profile that does not name the company. Interested buyers sign a non-disclosure agreement and show that they can fund a purchase before receiving identifying information.
- Letter of intent. We compare the price, cash at closing, financing, working capital, escrow, transition terms, and contingencies. We negotiate the full offer before you grant exclusivity.
- Due diligence. The buyer checks the financials, tax records, contracts, employees, licenses, insurance, equipment, and operations. We manage requests and keep the buyer, lender, CPA, and attorneys moving.
- Closing. The parties finish the purchase agreement, funding, clearances, and transition plan. Six to nine months from market launch to closing is typical for a prepared business.
The company must keep operating through the process. Buyers and lenders use the newest results. A weak quarter during diligence can change the price or financing. We set a schedule, organize requests, and keep management focused on the business.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a moving company worth?
Value starts with adjusted earnings, not a rule of thumb. Smaller owner-operated companies are usually priced on SDE. Larger companies are usually priced on EBITDA. The published ranges on this page are a starting point. We confirm the current range after reviewing the financials, risks, and comparable transactions.
What records do I need to sell my moving company?
Prepare three years of tax returns, profit and loss statements, balance sheets, payroll records, customer and contract lists, equipment records, and support for every add-back. Movers also need USDOT and PUCO authority records, driver files and a fleet list with maintenance history.
Will employees and customers know about the sale?
You control who learns about the sale and when. Buyers first receive a blind profile. They sign a non-disclosure agreement and complete a financial review before receiving the company name. Key employees are usually told later in the process under a transition plan.
Do I need to stay after closing?
Most buyers request a transition. The length depends on customer relationships, licenses, management depth, and how much daily work depends on the owner. The transition is negotiated before closing.
What Ohio issues matter in a moving company sale?
Intrastate household goods movers need a PUCO certificate, renewed each year. PUCO rules do not provide for a transfer. A buyer using a new entity should apply for its own certificate and tariff before closing.
How long does it take to sell a moving company?
Six to nine months from going to market to closing is typical for a prepared company. Financial cleanup, licensing gaps, lease issues, tax clearances, or buyer financing can extend the schedule.