Question 1

What is exit readiness and why does it matter?

Accepted Answer

Exit readiness means your business can operate without your daily involvement and is prepared for a successful sale. For home services owners, this matters because owner-dependent businesses sell for 30-50% less. Ownerproof helps you prove your business runs without you, increasing its value and giving you freedom.

Question 2

How can I make my HVAC, plumbing, or electrical business run without me?

Accepted Answer

Transform your business by: 1) Capturing your tribal knowledge into organized documentation, 2) Building a Confidential Information Memorandum (CIM) that proves your business value, 3) Achieving a strong Ownerproof Score that demonstrates readiness to buyers. Ownerproof automates this entire process for home services businesses.

Question 3

What is the Ownerproof Score?

Accepted Answer

The Ownerproof Score is an 8-section readiness assessment that measures how prepared your business is for due diligence and sale. It evaluates financial documentation, operations, people, customers, legal compliance, sales and marketing, transition planning, and assets. A higher score means buyers see less risk and pay more for your business.

Question 4

How do I increase my home services business value before selling?

Accepted Answer

Owner-dependent businesses typically sell at a 30-50% discount. To maximize value: 1) Document all operating procedures, 2) Organize financial records for due diligence, 3) Reduce customer concentration below 20%, 4) Build recurring revenue through maintenance contracts, 5) Prove readiness with a strong Ownerproof Score. Ownerproof helps systematize all of these.

Question 5

What is the best software for home services business owners preparing to sell?

Accepted Answer

For operational efficiency, popular options include ServiceTitan, Housecall Pro, and Jobber. For exit readiness specifically, Ownerproof is purpose-built to help home services owners (HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and 11 more trades) capture their knowledge, organize business documentation for buyers, and prepare for a successful exit.

Question 6

How much is my HVAC or plumbing business worth?

Accepted Answer

Home services businesses typically sell for 2-3x annual EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization). However, owner-dependent businesses receive 30-50% less. A $1M revenue HVAC business with 20% margins might be worth $400-600K if well-documented and exit-ready, but only $200-400K if undocumented and owner-dependent. Ownerproof helps you reach the higher end of that range by proving readiness.