The prices small businesses sold for during the third quarter of 2018 reached record highs, according to the 2018 third-quarter Insight Report from BizBuySell.com, the online business-for-sale marketplace. The record sale prices are related to stronger business financials which also hit new levels in Q-3″ according to Bob House, president of BizBuySell.com. “With buyers able to offset increasing prices by acquiring healthier businesses, the result is a well-balanced market. To be in a place where both buyers and sellers are able to capitalize without the other party losing out is fantastic and a testament to the strong will of entrepreneurs.”

$249,000 | Median sales price of a small business during Q-3, 2018
10.7% | Percentage growth of median sales price (year-over-year) (Highest increase since BizBuySell started collecting data in 2007)

Buyers are purchasing businesses with better financial footings

$530,995 (up 7.4% year-over-year) | Median revenue
$116,229 (up 2.8% year-over-year) | Median cash flow

Tariffs and elections take center stage as market aims to continue record pace

Even as small business asking prices have continued to rise, buyer demand has not swayed thanks to the attractive financials absorbed in an acquisition. However, as witnessed during the Great Recession, small business success is greatly tied to the performance of the overall economy.

30%  | Percentage of owners who say they will be negatively affected by the tariffs.
76% |  Percentage of owners who approve the tariffs (including half of those believed to be negatively impacted)

30% | Percentage of buyers who approve the tariffs
23% | Percentage of buyers who said if tariffs remain in place, they would be less likely to purchase a small business

90% | Percent of Republican business owners who support the tariffs
27% | Percent of Democratic business owners who support the tariffs

“We’ve now had a few record-breaking years in a row in terms of transactions and it appears 2018 will be no different,” said BizBuySell.com’s House. “The fact that small businesses are selling for the highest price to date and demand hasn’t slowed shows how much confidence both sides have in today’s market.”