Tag Archives: William Bruce Business Broker

The State of America’s Restaurant Industry in 2026: Consumer Trends Every Owner and Investor Should Know

Posted on July 13, 2026 by William Bruce

By William Bruce As a business broker, I’ve been involved in restaurant valuations and ownership transfers for over three decades. Although restaurant operators continue to face rising labor costs, food inflation, insurance increases, and shifting consumer expectations, Americans have not … Continue reading →

Posted in Business Valuation & Appraisal, National economy, Valuing, Buying or Selling a Business | Tagged Consumer trends in restaurants, Restaurant trends in 2026, William Bruce Business Broker | 1 Comment

The Big Question: What Will the American Economy Look Like During the Last Half of 2026?

Posted on June 29, 2026 by William Bruce

By William Bruce My Auburn University degree is in macro economics. I’m one of those nerds, probably less that one-half percent of the population, who looks at those esoteric, overly wordy, sleep-inducing economic reports from the government. (In fact, if … Continue reading →

Posted in Gulf Coast Regional & National Economy, National economy | Tagged economic growth, Economic recession, employment rate, inflation rate, William Bruce Business Broker | 2 Comments

An Insider’s Report: What’s the Condition of the Business-for-Sale Marketplace?

Posted on June 15, 2026 by William Bruce

Whether you’re buying or selling a privately held business, or just want to keep up with what’s going on in the market, this article contains timely information on the condition of the business-for-sale marketplace. The most authoritative source of accurate … Continue reading →

Posted in Business Valuation & Appraisal, Mobile, Fairhope & Gulf Shores, Alabama, Valuing, Buying or Selling a Business | Tagged The William Bruce Report, William Bruce Business Broker | Leave a comment

EBITDA Valuation Multiples Are Rebounding for Privately Held Businesses

Posted on September 3, 2024 by William Bruce

By William Bruce This latest information on the EBITDA valuation multiples comes to my office from DealStats Value Index Digest, which is one of our most authoritative resources. The DealStats database contains the larger transactions where Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, … Continue reading →

Posted in Business Valuation & Appraisal, National economy, Valuing, Buying or Selling a Business | Tagged EBITDA for HVAC businesses, EBITDA for manufacturing businesses, EBITDA valuation multiples, William Bruce Business Broker | Leave a comment

The Critical Importance of Small Businesses to Our Country

Posted on August 26, 2024 by William Bruce

By William Bruce Small businesses are often referred to as the backbone of the American economy, and for good reason. These businesses play a crucial role in fostering innovation, creating jobs, and contributing to the country’s overall economic health. As … Continue reading →

Posted in National economy, Valuing, Buying or Selling a Business | Tagged Small business, William Bruce Business Broker | Leave a comment

New Gallup Survey Says Most Americans Want to be Their Own Boss

Posted on July 22, 2024 by William Bruce

A new Gallup survey published in June 2024 found that most Americans share the desire to be their own boss. More than six in 10 U.S. adults (62%) say they would prefer to be their own boss, while 35 percent … Continue reading →

Posted in National economy, Valuing, Buying or Selling a Business | Tagged William Bruce Business Broker | Leave a comment

Selling a Business? Ask These 5 Questions to Separate Serious Buyers From Tire Kickers

Posted on April 5, 2023 by William Bruce

If you are selling a business, it’s critical to distinguish a legitimate prospective buyer from a tire kicker. And as a business broker for over 30 years, I can tell you that there are a lot of tire kickers out … Continue reading →

Posted in Valuing, Buying or Selling a Business | Tagged William Bruce Business Broker | 1 Comment

What Are the Differences Between EBITDA and Seller’s Discretionary Earnings (SDE)?

Posted on August 24, 2020 by William Bruce

Updated July 18, 2025 The differences between EBITDA and Seller’s Discretionary Earnings (SDE) cause confusion. Sometimes the two terms are incorrectly viewed as interchangeable, but there are important differences. First, some definitions. Both are business performance benchmarks that are widely … Continue reading →

Posted in Business Valuation & Appraisal, Valuing, Buying or Selling a Business | Tagged difference in EBITDA and SDE, EBITDA defined, SDE defined, seller's discretionary earnings defined, William Bruce Business Broker | 9 Comments

The Best and Worst Franchises to Own Ranked by SBA Loan Default Rates

Posted on June 29, 2020 by William Bruce

This is an article by William Bruce containing a list of the best and worst franchises as ranked by SBA loan default rates. Continue reading →

Posted in Business Valuation & Appraisal, Franchises, Valuing, Buying or Selling a Business | Tagged Best and worst franchises, best franchise investment, Buffalo Wild Wings, CHRISTIAN BROTHERS AUTOMOTIVE, COMFORT INN, COMFORT KEEPERS, franchise loan defaults, HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE, IMAGE SUN, NOBLE ROMAN PIZZA, ONCE UPON A CHILD, Play N Trade, SBA loan defaults, William Bruce Business Broker, WIRELESS TOYZ, worst franchise investment, Zeppe's | 32 Comments

Here’s How to Quickly Calculate a Business Valuation

Posted on May 11, 2020 by William Bruce

Estimating the value of a business based on appraisal rules of thumb and guidelines using a multiple of cash flow or a percentage of revenue. Continue reading →