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Business Acquisition Calculators
Acquisition calculator

Business Acquisition Calculator

Combine business earnings with buyer equity, debt terms, and replacement salary to test whether an acquisition pencils.

FormulaCash flow after debt = SDE − replacement salary − annual debt service
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Business Acquisition Calculator

Enter your numbers and the result updates straight away.

Results

Outputs

Loan amount
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Annual debt service
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DSCR
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Cash flow after debt
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Cash-on-cash return
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Planning estimate only. Verify assumptions before making a financial decision.

Worked example

A deal can appear affordable on an earnings multiple but fail once buyer salary, debt service, and capital expenditure are included.

Methodology

How this calculation works

The model treats buyer equity as purchase price less financed amounts and compares adjusted operating cash flow with annual debt service.

How to interpret the result

Run downside cases for lower earnings, higher rates, replacement labor, working capital, and capital expenditure before relying on the result.

Limitations

Results are educational planning estimates. They do not include every tax, legal, accounting, financing, or business-specific consideration and are not professional advice.

Browse more Business Acquisition Calculators.

Formula and example
Cash flow after debt = SDE − replacement salary − annual debt service

A deal can appear affordable on an earnings multiple but fail once buyer salary, debt service, and capital expenditure are included.

Common use cases
  • Screen a listing quickly.
  • Compare financing structures.
  • Identify the maximum defensible offer.
Business Acquisition Calculator FAQ

Why subtract an operator salary from SDE?

If the buyer will not perform the seller’s role personally, the business must fund replacement management before debt service and investor returns.

What costs are excluded from the quick underwriting?

Transaction fees, financing fees, taxes, working-capital adjustments, unexpected capex, and post-close integration costs require separate analysis.

How is Acquisition calculated?

The model treats buyer equity as purchase price less financed amounts and compares adjusted operating cash flow with annual debt service.

How should I interpret the result?

Run downside cases for lower earnings, higher rates, replacement labor, working capital, and capital expenditure before relying on the result.