2,345 small businesses changed hands in Q1 2026 for a combined transaction value of $2 billion, according to BizBuySell quarterly Insight Report. Both figures mark record highs for a first quarter, reflecting sustained demand from individual buyers, search funds, and small private equity groups targeting sub-$5M deals.
The median sale price reached $350,000, a 13% increase from Q1 2025. Price appreciation was broad-based across sectors, but manufacturing transactions led with a 16% volume increase -- driven partly by reshoring trends that raised the strategic value of domestic production assets.
Restaurant and food service transactions declined in volume despite stable pricing, as buyer appetite shifted toward asset-light service businesses with recurring revenue characteristics. Software, professional services, and home services continued to command the strongest multiples relative to seller discretionary earnings.
Seller inventory remains below buyer demand levels in most markets. Brokers report that well-prepared listings -- those with three years of clean financials, documented processes, and reduced owner dependency -- close in under 90 days in most metropolitan markets. Listings that lack documentation take an average of 180 days or longer.
Search engine visibility is becoming a primary competitive factor for brokers generating buyer leads. Brokers ranked on page one for location-specific and business-type-specific search terms are capturing the majority of inbound buyer inquiries in their markets, according to traffic analysis from top-performing broker websites.