What is Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE)? As the wording suggests, it's a type of earnings or income that is calculated when a business is changing hands. But how is it different than other types of income you may see in the business world and how will it impact either your company or personal taxes, especially as it can impact a company's value as you enter the sale process. Here's a quick look into exactly what SDE is and how it can affect your finances.
Let's take a look at SDE based on each side of the equation during a business sale. If you're considering buying a business, the seller's discretionary earnings provides you with the information you need to develop an accurate prediction on your return on investment as well as get a better understanding on how realistic your expectations are of the business itself. For the seller, this calculation allows you to maximize your business' overall value before you get into sale negotiations. Preparing a business for sale can often bring up a range of various expenses which may or may not have an effect on a company's overall valuation. Understanding SDE allows you to make smart decisions while preparing to sell.
But how exactly is SDE calculated? If you've been following our blog, you may have seen the explanation of Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) a few posts ago. SDE is a combination of EBITDA and owner's compensation. Here's a look at what is often considered to be part of calculating owner's compensation:
What is Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE)? By having the answer to that question, you gain a much better grasp of exactly how your business' finances function and what changes you can expect as a business changes hands. Understanding this type of income calculation means you can better understand how a company is being valued based on this type of income and how it will impact your final business value figure for the sale.