A calculator cannot see the company behind the number
A revenue or earnings multiple applied to one input leaves out how earnings were normalized, whether work is profitable, how backlog converts to cash, or how much performance depends on the owner. Those differences can be material, but they are not visible in a simple online field.
Different purposes call for different work
An owner’s planning estimate, an M&A advisor’s indication, a tax valuation, and a formal appraisal may use different scopes and assumptions. A calculator should not present these as interchangeable or claim to determine fair market value.
Organize the information before estimating
Useful context can include several years of financial statements, a bridge from reported earnings to maintainable earnings, job-costing detail, customer mix, management responsibilities, backlog quality, and the owner’s objectives. More detail does not automatically mean more certainty; assumptions still need scrutiny.
Use a safe first step
Rather than treating a rough multiple as a price, identify the questions that could change the answer. My Exit Score is a qualitative reflection on readiness and transferability; it deliberately does not calculate a sale value.