How a Family-Run Machine Shop Sold at 22x EBITDA with Niche Certification

This episode breaks down the sale of a small precision machine shop in Ohio that specialized in aerospace-grade titanium parts. The business had only $2.2 million in revenue but sold for a stunning 22x EBITDA — more than double the typical multiple for small manufacturing. The key? A single certification: AS9100D, the aerospace quality standard. Lucas and Luna walk through how the owner initially resisted the certification process, the $40,000 investment that took eighteen months to complete, and how that one piece of paper transformed a commodity shop into a de facto sole-source supplier. They also discuss the buyer — a mid-tier defense contractor — and why they were willing to pay such a premium for a facility that fit within their supply chain. The episode touches on multiples, valuation nuances, and the overlooked power of niche industry certifications in small business exits. #MachineShop #AS9100D #Aerospace #Manufacturing #EBITDA #BusinessExit #SmallBusiness #Valuation #NicheCertification #DefenseContractor #SupplyChain #Ohio #TitaniumParts #SoleSource #BusinessBrokers #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #TheBuyerAndSellerPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo