In New Zealand’s small business market, the typical Seller’s Discretionary Earnings (SDE) multiples most often seen in real transactions tend to sit roughly around 1.5× to 3.0× SDE for owner‑operated, profitable small businesses, with well‑structured and more stable businesses sometimes reaching toward the higher end of that range.

For small, owner‑operated businesses in New Zealand today, Seller’s Discretionary Earnings (SDE) valuation multiples typically fall in the ~1.5× to 3.5× range of SDE, with most service‑oriented and main‑street opportunities clustering around about 2×–3× SDE depending on size, stability, and owner reliance. Higher multiples (toward ~3.5×) are possible for well‑systemised, low‑risk businesses with strong earnings, while owner‑intensive or riskier operations tend to be at the lower end of that band.