Most route listings show gross revenue and ask you to trust a price. But routes are actually valued on weekly net income — what the owner takes home after COGS, fuel, and operating costs — multiplied by a brand- and region-specific multiple. A Snyders route and a Bimbo bread route with the same gross revenue are not worth the same.
This calculator uses multipliers derived from real route sale data, adjusted for brand tier, region, territory strength, revenue trend, and seller situation. Enter your weekly net income to get a realistic fair value range.
Route brokers and experienced buyers price routes on weekly net income — what the owner actually takes home after COGS, fuel, tolls, insurance, and operating costs — not gross revenue. Two routes doing $8,000 in weekly sales can have drastically different net incomes depending on margins, and therefore drastically different values.
The net multiplier varies by brand because not all routes carry equal desirability. A Pepperidge Farm bread route in the Northeast carries a 190–255× net multiplier because the brand is dominant, the margins are strong, and buyers compete for them. A Bimbo route in the same territory trades at 75–120× net because the brand has less pricing power and the income is less predictable.
Region matters significantly — Northeast routes command the highest multiples in the data. Southwest and West routes trade at 30–35 points lower on the same net multiplier, reflecting territory competitiveness and market liquidity. A truck is worth approximately $30,000 added to the route value regardless of route type.
This is the single biggest driver. Net is what you take home after COGS, fuel, tolls, insurance, and stale. Always verify net income — not just gross sales — with 52-week records before making an offer.
Premium brands like Pepperidge Farm and Snyders command 2–3× the multiplier of value brands. The brand determines how defensible your territory is and whether buyers will compete to buy you out one day.
How many years remain on the distribution agreement? An expiring territory destroys value — you could lose the route when it comes up for renewal. Always get the full contract before making an offer.
A growing route is worth more than a declining one even at the same weekly net. Buyers pay for momentum. Ask for 52-week averages by quarter — not just the most recent period.
The Route Profitability Calculator estimates your take-home after COGS, fuel, vehicle costs, insurance, stale product, self-employment taxes, and loan payments — so you can plug an accurate net number into this calculator.
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