The short answer is yes, or at least it can, but probably not for the reasons you might think.
Recent data from BizBuySell shows that about 33 percent of buyers now view AI adopting businesses as more valuable. On the surface, that may sound like you should get a premium just for having a software subscription. However, when you look at the 65 percent of owners who are already using AI, there is a clear gap between simply using the tools and actually creating real value with them.
In my conversations with buyers, this AI premium is rarely about the tech itself. It is about what the tech proves. When a buyer sees a business that has successfully integrated AI into its core workflows, they are not just buying software. They are buying a business that is truly scalable because you can handle more volume without a huge increase in headcount. They see a modern, efficient operation where margins are healthier because you have automated the repetitive tasks.
The days of a buyer being impressed by a business that just uses AI for social media posts or basic emails are fading. These days, buyers are looking for defensible AI. They want to see things like custom trained models on your own proprietary data or automated processes that give you a clear edge over the guy next door.
If you are thinking about selling in the next couple of years, I would recommend that you do not just sprinkle AI on top of your business. Use it to fix your biggest bottlenecks. If you can show a buyer that AI saved your team 20 hours a week or cut your customer response time in half, that is where the real valuation bump happens. Make sure you document these wins as they happen.
Buyers like turnkey machines. If AI helps that machine run smoother and faster, they will pay for it and often at a more significant premium.