ABA Therapy Business Valuation
ABA Therapy Business Valuation Calculator & Exit Planning Built for ABA Practice Owners
We built one platform that tracks your ABA practice's value monthly, identifies exit gaps early, and ensures your personal finances align with your exit timeline.
1,000+ Businesses have joined YourExitValue.com
Most ABA Practice Owners Have No Idea What Their Business is Actually Worth
Current ABA Therapy (Autism Services) Valuation Multiples (2026)
ABA therapy valuations are exceptional due to demand growth and PE consolidation. Here's the market:
Every business is different. That's why you need to track your value.
Included in Your Exit Value is a complete Exit Planning Assessment where you track your progress quarterly against your results from the previous quarter.
Know your number and watch it grow
Most business owners guess at their value. You'll know it with precision.
Our platform uses six proven valuation methodologies to give you a complete picture of what your business is worth today—and tracks how that number changes month over month. No more waiting for annual appraisals or paying $15K+ for outdated reports.
See your trends. Spot opportunities. Make informed decisions
What Actually Drives ABA Therapy Value
Your clinical outcomes matter, but sophisticated buyers evaluate these factors that determine premium pricing:
BCBA Staffing
Strong BCBA Team Retained
BCBAs are your production capacity and the biggest bottleneck in ABA. Practices with stable BCBA teams command premium valuations because acquirers know how hard BCBAs are to recruit. Track BCBA tenure and have retention strategies in place. If BCBAs leave at acquisition, value walks out the door.
BCBA turnover = critical risk
Billable Hours
High Utilization Rates
Track billable hours per BCBA and RBT. High utilization demonstrates operational efficiency and proper scheduling. Buyers evaluate revenue per clinician carefully. Low utilization signals scheduling problems, no-shows, or capacity that isn't being monetized effectively.
Low utilization = efficiency gap
Payer Contracts
In-Network with Major Payers
In-network contracts with major insurance carriers provide patient access and predictable reimbursement. Out-of-network only practices face patient acquisition challenges and reimbursement uncertainty. Having contracts with the major payers in your market is increasingly important as the industry matures.
No contracts = access limits
RBT Pipeline
Training & Certification Program
RBTs deliver the bulk of direct therapy hours. Having a training program that develops RBTs internally solves the constant hiring challenge. Practices with RBT pipelines can scale more easily; those dependent on external hiring face growth constraints.
No pipeline = scaling bottleneck
Patient Census
Stable Active Clients + Waitlist
How many active clients are you serving? A healthy patient census with a waitlist demonstrates demand that exceeds capacity—an ideal position. Track patient retention and discharge patterns. Growing census signals market strength; declining census raises questions.
No waitlist = demand questions
Service Delivery Model
Center-Based + In-Home Mix
Center-based services often have better unit economics—more billable hours per clinician, better supervision ratios. In-home provides family convenience. Many acquirers prefer center-based or are building center capacity. Understanding your delivery model's economics helps position for sale.
In-home only = scaling challenges
How to Value an ABA Therapy Business
The U.S. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy market has grown rapidly, with thousands of providers generating approximately $4 billion in annual revenue. ABA therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder is increasingly mandated by state insurance laws, creating a strong and growing payer environment.
EBITDA is the standard valuation method for larger ABA companies, while SDE applies to smaller practices. ABA therapy businesses typically sell for 3.0x to 6.0x SDE, or 5.0x to 10.0x EBITDA for established multi-location operations. These are among the highest multiples in healthcare services, reflecting strong revenue growth and favorable insurance mandates.
Revenue multiples for ABA businesses generally range from 0.70x to 1.5x annual revenue. Companies with strong BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) staffing ratios and high billable hours per client command the upper end.
The unique valuation driver in ABA is the BCBA workforce and insurance authorization pipeline. BCBAs are the clinical leaders required to oversee therapy programs, and there is a severe nationwide shortage. A company with stable, employed BCBAs has a workforce asset that directly determines billable capacity. Insurance authorizations for ABA therapy — which typically approve blocks of hours over 6-12 month periods — create a visible revenue pipeline. Companies with strong payer relationships, efficient credentialing processes, and low BCBA turnover command premium valuations.
ABA has been one of the most active PE acquisition sectors in healthcare, with platforms like LEARN Behavioral, Centria Autism, and BlueSprig driving consolidation. The combination of growing demand, insurance mandate expansion, and workforce scarcity continues to support strong valuations. Use our free calculator above to get your instant estimate, then track your value monthly with YourExitValue.
Frequently Asked Questions
What multiple do ABA practices sell for?
ABA practices typically sell for 5.0x – 10.0x SDE or 8x – 16x EBITDA—among the highest in healthcare. Practices with stable BCBA teams, payer contracts, and center-based services command premium multiples.
How important is BCBA retention for ABA value?
Critical. BCBAs are the biggest bottleneck and your production capacity. Practices with stable BCBA teams command premiums because acquirers know how hard BCBAs are to recruit.
Who buys ABA practices?
PE-backed ABA platforms (extremely active—dozens of consolidators), large autism services companies, healthcare systems adding behavioral services, and strategic buyers building regional presence.
Does center-based service affect ABA value?
Yes. Center-based often has better unit economics—more hours per clinician, better supervision. Many acquirers prefer center-based models or are investing in center buildout.
How important are payer contracts?
Increasingly important. In-network contracts provide patient access and predictable reimbursement. Out-of-network only practices face access and collection challenges.
What's the fastest way to increase my ABA practice value?
Three high-impact moves: 1) Focus on BCBA retention through compensation and culture, 2) Develop in-network payer contracts, 3) Consider center-based services for better economics.