Plant Nursery — Business Valuation Multiple
EBITDA Valuation Guide · Small & Mid-Sized Businesses
Actual EBITDA multiples can vary materially based on EBITDA size, growth, recurring revenue, margins, customer concentration, owner dependence, geography and other company-specific factors.
Min
3.5×
Typical
4.5×
Max
6×
Revenue Model
Repeat
Capital Intensity
Medium
A typical multiple of 4.5× EBITDA reflects mid-market transactions in the $1–$50M revenue range.
Overview
Plant nurseries — including wholesale growers and commercial suppliers of trees, shrubs, ornamental plants and other horticultural products — typically trade at approximately 3.5×–6× EBITDA, with a typical multiple around 4.5×. Valuations are influenced by the scale and quality of production facilities, customer diversification, recurring wholesale relationships, operating margins and the ability of the business to operate independently of its owner. Businesses towards the upper end of the range tend to have established B2B customer relationships, diversified end markets, strong production capacity, consistent margins and professional management teams. Larger nurseries with proprietary varieties, specialist growing expertise or strategically valuable production capacity may also attract stronger buyer interest. Land and property can represent a significant component of value in this sector. Where substantial freehold land, growing facilities or other property assets are included in a transaction, these should be considered carefully when comparing headline EBITDA multiples between transactions.
Key Value Drivers
- Diversified base of wholesale and commercial customers
- High levels of repeat business and established customer relationships
- Strong EBITDA margins and consistent cash generation
- Scale and quality of growing and production facilities
- Broad product range across plants, trees and shrubs
- Professional management team with low owner dependency
- Efficient growing, inventory and distribution operations
- Strong regional or national market position
- Access to attractive end markets such as landscaping, infrastructure and commercial development
- Proprietary varieties, specialist horticultural expertise or differentiated product offering
Key Risks
- Seasonal and weather-dependent production
- Long growing cycles and working-capital requirements
- Biological inventory losses from disease, pests or adverse weather
- Customer concentration among major retailers, wholesalers or landscapers
- Labour availability and rising employment costs
- Dependence on key growers or specialist horticultural expertise
- Energy, fertiliser, substrate and transport cost inflation
- Imported plant and supply-chain exposure
- Planning, environmental and water-use restrictions
- Significant capital tied up in land, facilities and growing stock
Related Industries
Real-World Transaction
Splendor Plant → Seafire
2026 · Plant Nursery
These transactions involved companies substantially larger than the $1–$50M SME benchmark and are shown for context, not direct comparison.
Disclaimer: All multiples are indicative estimates only and are not formal valuations or investment advice. They should not be relied upon for financial decision-making without independent professional advice.