The Q3, 2026 Exit Readiness Index draws on 782 owner assessments completed this quarter, part of a longitudinal base of 76,520 businesses tracked over 14 years. Download the report to see what the largest dataset of exit-minded owners reveals about buyer demand, readiness, and valuations.
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The Q3, 2026 Exit Readiness Index
Recurring Revenue Businesses Were Twice as Likely to Land a 5x Offer. 42% of Owners Have None.
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- Why owners with mostly recurring revenue were 2.4 times as likely to receive a 5x+ offer, and why 42% of owners have no recurring revenue at all.
- Why buyers are still circling (17% of owners fielded a written offer), but the median multiple stuck at 3.0x.
- Readiness slips after two strong quarters: the median score falls to 55, and just 1.2% of owners are premium-ready.
- The proof-point gap: owners are stepping back from operations faster than they're building the financials buyers pay for.
- The exit runway: 59% plan to exit within five years, and 55% fear not getting what their business is worth.
- AI Watch: 58% of owners now use AI, and 28% use it across multiple areas.
Who this report is for:
If you advise business owners, this data tells you what's happening in their inboxes. Buyers are approaching more owners than at any point in our tracking, and most of those owners are unprepared to negotiate. The advisor who starts the readiness conversation first is best positioned to guide the client through the liquidity event that follows.
Inside this report:
