Institutional private equity firms are sitting on historic levels of dry powder in 2026. For middle-market business owners, unlocking this liquidity requires navigating sophisticated quality of earnings (QofE) audits, structured rollover equity, and aggressive leveraged buyout financial models.

The dealership buy-sell market just posted its most active twelve-month stretch in history, with blue sky values still running roughly double pre-pandemic levels. For owners weighing an exit, understanding how dealerships are actually valued — and structured — is the difference between a good deal and a great one.