What's my MC authority worth? An honest framework

The first question every seller asks is “what’s it worth?” The honest answer is “it depends” — not because we’re hedging, but because there are five or six real variables that move the number meaningfully.

Here’s the framework we actually use when pricing an LLC.

The variables

In rough order of how much they swing pricing:

1. Active Amazon Relay contract. This is the biggest single factor. An LLC with an active Relay contract trades in a much higher band than a non-Relay LLC, because Relay onboarding is the bottleneck most acquirers are trying to skip.

2. MC authority age. For non-Relay LLCs, fresh authority (under 180 days) is more valuable than older authority. Beyond ~6 months without operating activity, the MC becomes harder to onboard and the value drops.

3. Insurance status. Active in-force coverage is always preferred. For non-Relay LLCs it’s usually required.

4. Violation history. Clean FMCSA records are worth a premium. Out-of-service orders, HOS pattern violations, or unsafe-driving thresholds reduce the price — sometimes substantially.

5. State of registration. Some states are friendlier than others for trucking operations. This is a smaller factor but it shows up on the margin.

6. Active loans or factoring lines. Doesn’t change the underlying value of the LLC, but it changes the wire to you. The purchase price is the same; what you net is different.

What we don’t price for

A few things sellers sometimes expect to add value, but actually don’t much:

• Branding and Google reviews. We re-brand post-close. Your Google reviews are tied to your business name and aren’t worth much in transfer.
• Driver roster. Drivers are at-will. They don’t come with the LLC unless they choose to.
• Office furniture, signage, marketing assets. Out of scope.
• Existing broker relationships. Helpful but not load-bearing. Most broker relationships re-establish quickly under new ownership.

What we will pay extra for

• Long, clean operating history with consistent revenue. Even for an LLC we’re not buying primarily for cash flow, a track record of clean operation is worth a small premium.
• Pre-existing equipment in good condition. If trucks or trailers transfer with the LLC and they’re in operating shape with clean titles, we adjust the price up.
• Proactive disclosure. Sellers who flag everything up front get a smoother, faster close. We don’t pay extra for honesty per se, but we do close faster, which has its own value.

Why we don’t publish a price grid

We’ve thought about putting numbers on a public page. The reason we don’t: any grid is a misleading simplification. Two LLCs with the same MC age, same insurance, same state can have twenty-percent different valuations because of one variable that doesn’t fit cleanly in a table (recent violation, equipment condition, lender complications).

The right way to price an LLC is to look at the specifics, run the analysis, and write a number. That’s why our quotes come back within hours instead of being published as a grid.

How to get the highest number

Three things, in order of impact:

1. Have an active Amazon Relay contract. Biggest single lever.
2. Keep insurance active and current. Even if you’re going to sell soon, don’t let it lapse mid-process.
3. Disclose proactively. A clean diligence pass means the offer doesn’t shrink later.

If you’d like a real number on your specific LLC, the form takes two minutes and we come back within hours during the working week.