Multiples on pool routes are remarkably stable, but *transaction speed and final price* swing significantly with timing.
Best months to list. Late winter to early spring (February–April). Buyers are positioning for the season. Banks are funding. The route is about to show its strongest months. Listing in late fall means buyers are looking at three months of slow revenue and discount accordingly.
Wait one season if… You just had your worst quarter in three years. You just lost a top-5 account. A planned price increase hasn't taken effect yet. Adding 6 months of clean numbers post-event can swing your sale price by 15–25%.
Sell now if… You're emotionally checked out (it shows in the books within 6 months), you've had a health event, your tech just quit, or the route has structurally peaked. Holding a route you've stopped caring about destroys value faster than any market timing gain.
Personal liquidity timing. Estimated capital gains on a $250k sale can be $30–60k depending on basis and state. Talk to a CPA about timing across tax years (e.g., closing in January vs December), sometimes a 30-day shift saves five figures.