There are an estimated 200,000 middle-market businesses in the U.S., which represent about one-third of private-sector GDP and close to 50 million jobs, according to the National Center for the Middle Market. The U.S. middle market is defined as companies with annual revenues between $10 million and $1 billion. Many of these middle-market businesses are privately owned and managed by the founding entrepreneurs along with their family members. More than three-quarters (77%) of these firms have either experienced an ownership transition in the past five years or expect one in the next five years. Valuation experts can play an important role in exit planning for these firms.