Distribution · Lower Middle Market

Distribution Business Broker & M&A Advisor in the New York Metro Area

Archveo Advisors helps owners of distribution businesses in the New York metro area sell to the right buyer, confidentially and at the right price. We manage the full transaction, from valuation and preparation through buyer outreach, negotiation, and closing.

Every engagement is led directly by Eric Mendelsohn, Founder and Principal of Archveo Advisors, who has personally completed more than 25 business transactions across the lower middle market.

The sector

Selling a distribution business in the New York metro area

Distribution and wholesale businesses attract steady buyer demand, especially those with sticky customers, exclusive supplier relationships, and disciplined inventory management.

Archveo runs a confidential, competitive process, reaching strategic and financial buyers directly and staying involved from valuation through closing while you keep serving customers.

What these businesses sell for

Priced from the market, not a rule of thumb.

Distribution businesses generally trade on a multiple of EBITDA. Where a specific company lands depends on supplier and customer relationships, inventory turns, margin quality, and customer concentration.

The ranges shown are illustrative of the lower middle market. Your real valuation is built from comparable transactions and current buyer demand, and reviewed with you directly.

Exhibit · DistributionIllustrative
Typical earnings multiples
DISTRIBUTION2.8–4.0×VALUE-ADDED DIST.3.2–4.4×COMMODITY DIST.2.2–3.2×0
Bar = typical range · tick = median · illustrative ranges for the lower middle market, not a quote

Illustrative ranges for the lower middle market, not a quote. A real valuation is built from comparable transactions and current buyer demand, and reviewed with you directly.

Value drivers

What makes a distribution business worth more

Two businesses with the same revenue can sell for very different multiples. These are the factors buyers reward most, and the ones we help you position before going to market.

01
Supplier relationships
Exclusive or long-standing supplier agreements are hard to replicate and support the valuation.
02
Inventory discipline
Strong inventory turns and clean working-capital management make the business easier to finance.
03
Customer diversification
A broad base with no single dominant customer protects the buyer and supports the valuation.
04
Recurring revenue
Contracts, memberships, or repeat customers turn one-time jobs into predictable income, the single biggest driver of a premium multiple.
05
Clean, recast financials
Earnings a buyer can trust are earnings a buyer will pay a full multiple for.
06
Systems and readiness
Documented processes, current licensing, and organized records shorten diligence and keep the deal moving to close.
Who buys these businesses

A real buyer market, reached directly

Rather than waiting for whoever happens to inquire, we identify and approach the buyers who fit your business and bring them into a confidential, competitive process.

  • Strategic acquirers. Larger distributors expanding lines or geography.
  • Private equity. Platforms consolidating fragmented distribution niches.
  • Manufacturers. Suppliers integrating forward into distribution.
  • Individual operators. Experienced buyers acquiring an established book and supplier base.
Our process

How we sell a distribution business

Every business is different, but a well run sale generally follows five stages, each actively managed from the first conversation to the closing wire.

01
Valuation and positioning
We recast the financials, benchmark against comparable transactions, and identify the factors that matter most to buyers. Before going to market, you should understand what your business is worth and how that value can be supported.
02
Deal preparation
We prepare the marketing materials, financial information, and data room so qualified buyers have what they need and the business is ready for diligence before the first conversation.
03
Buyer identification
Rather than relying on a public listing, we identify and approach qualified strategic buyers, financial buyers, and individual acquirers directly. Buyers are screened and confidentiality is protected throughout.
04
Offer management
We evaluate offers on more than headline price. Structure, financing, contingencies, timing, and certainty of close all determine which offer is actually the strongest.
05
Due diligence and closing
Once an offer is accepted, we stay involved through diligence, financing, and closing, coordinating with the buyer and with your attorneys, accountants, and lenders to keep the transaction moving.
Client outcome
I listed with others for 18 months. Not one offer. Eric Mendelsohn had 5 meetings and 3 offers in 2 weeks, and we closed in under 90 days. He followed up as needed without being over anxious.
Ron L.Business owner, sold with Archveo
18 months
listed elsewhere, zero offers
3 offers
within 2 weeks of going to market
Under 90 days
from launch to a closed sale
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much is my distribution business worth?

Distributors trade on an EBITDA multiple driven by supplier and customer relationships, inventory turns, margins, and concentration. A defensible number is built from comparable transactions.

What raises a distributor's multiple?

Sticky customers, exclusive supplier agreements, strong inventory turns, healthy margins, and low concentration.

Who buys distribution businesses?

Strategic distributors, private equity platforms, forward-integrating manufacturers, and individual operators.

Can you keep the sale confidential from suppliers and customers?

Yes. Buyers are screened and sign a non-disclosure agreement before identifying information is released, and details are shared in stages.

Get started

Find out what your distribution business is worth.

A confidential, no-obligation conversation about your valuation range, how prepared the business is for a sale, and what the likely buyer universe looks like. You do not need to have decided to sell before speaking with us.

A no-obligation conversation, held in confidence and at your pace.

Schedule a Confidential Consultation →