National recovery will be slow through 2010
The Great Recession took its toll on the median sale price of privately held businesses in the Milwaukee area last year, according to a report released by BizBuySell.com, an online business-for-sale marketplace.
The median asking price for businesses in metro Milwaukee fell to $300,000 in the fourth quarter of 2009, compared to $368,000 one year earlier. Median revenues for privately held businesses for sale fell to $440,800, compared to $505,400 during the fourth quarter of 2009, the report says.
During the fourth quarter of 2009, business owners asked for a median revenue multiple of 0.98, compared to 1.02 one year earlier.
BizBuySell.com is predicting a slow but steady recovery in 2010 as demand continues to rise for privately held businesses for sale.
"Many business owners delayed plans to exit their businesses and retire in 2009," says Mike Handelsman, general manager of BizBuySell.com. "In the latter part of 2009, we started to see clear signs of recovery, and 2010 is now shaping up to be a much more productive year for selling and buying businesses."
