2026 Valuation Reality Check: What Is Your ABA Therapy Practice Actually Worth?
If you looked at the M&A market for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in 2021, it felt like the Wild West. Private Equity firms were buying "growth at all costs," snapping up clinics based on future projections rather than current realities.
Welcome to 2026. The game has changed.
Today, the market has matured. The buyers are smarter, the diligence is deeper, and the "premium" valuation is reserved only for businesses that can prove operational excellence. If you own an autism therapy practice—whether you run a center-based model like Fresh Starts or a home-based agency—understanding these shifts is critical to your exit strategy.
Here is the no-nonsense guide to ABA valuations in the current landscape.
The "Growth at All Costs" Era is Over: What Buyers Want Now
Three years ago, a buyer might have overlooked a high turnover rate if your new patient intake was high. Today, that is a deal-killer.
In 2026, Clinical Governance is the new gold standard. Buyers (especially PE-backed platforms looking for "add-ons") are terrified of clawbacks and compliance audits. They are paying top dollar for:
Staff Retention: With the RBT (Registered Behavior Technician) shortage continuing, a stable workforce is a tangible asset.
Utilization Rates: The gap between Authorized Hours and Utilized Hours is the first metric we analyze. A tight gap proves operational efficiency.
Payer Diversity: Reliance on a single Medicaid contract is risky. A healthy mix of commercial insurance and state funding drives up your multiple.
Current EBITDA Multiples for Behavioral Health (2026)
"What is my multiple?" It is the most common question we get at Home Care Business Broker. While every deal is unique, here are the market benchmarks we are seeing this year:
1. The Platform Deal (Large Scale)
Size: $5M+ Adjusted EBITDA
Multiple Range: 12x – 15x
Buyer Profile: Large Private Equity groups or National Health Systems seeking a "flagship" to build around.
2. The Add-On Deal (Mid-Market)
Size: $1M – $3M Adjusted EBITDA
Multiple Range: 5x – 9x
Buyer Profile: Existing platforms looking to expand into a new geography (e.g., a Florida-based group buying a practice in Texas) or add specific clinical capabilities.
3. The Market Entry Opportunity (Owner-Operator)
Size: <$500k Adjusted EBITDA
Multiple Range: 2x – 4x
The Value: These are often excellent, high-quality practices that are simply smaller or more reliant on the founder's daily involvement. For the right buyer, they offer a perfect entry point into the industry with an established reputation.
Pro Tip: Don't confuse Revenue with EBITDA. Buyers pay for profit, not just top-line growth. We help you "recast" your financials to show the true profitability of your business by adding back personal owner expenses.
Center-Based vs. Home-Based: The Margin War
We are seeing a distinct preference in 2026 for Center-Based or Hybrid Models.
While home-based care (naturalistic environment) is clinically valuable, it is operationally expensive to scale due to travel time and cancellation rates. Center-based models allow for:
Better supervision of RBTs (Clinical Quality).
Higher billable hours per day (No travel time).
Stronger socialization opportunities for clients.
If you are strictly home-based, we often advise clients to secure a physical location or "hub" prior to sale to increase the valuation multiple.
Preparing for Exit: The 12-Month Checklist
If you are considering selling in late 2026 or 2027, you need to start "dressing" the business now.
Clean Up the Books: Separate personal expenses from business expenses immediately.
Diversify Referral Sources: Ensure no single pediatrician or school district sends you more than 20% of your clients.
Digitize Everything: If you aren't using a top-tier Data Collection and Practice Management software (like CentralReach or similar), switch now. Tech-enabled businesses sell faster.
The "Fresh Start" You Deserve
Selling the business you built is likely the biggest financial event of your life. You don't want to leave millions on the table because you didn't understand the 2026 metrics.
At Home Care Business Broker, we specialize in the details that generalist brokers miss. We know the difference between a BCBA and a BCaBA, and we know how to sell the value of your clinical team.
Ready to know your number? Stop guessing. Get a confidential, market-based valuation analysis of your ABA practice.