Plumbing Business
Emergency calls at premium prices, 365 days a year
Plumbing businesses handle everything from leaky faucets to full plumbing installations for residential and commercial clients. Emergency calls command premium pricing, and the skilled trade creates a natural moat against competition. Licensed plumbers are in short supply, making established businesses highly valuable.
Avg Revenue
$600K
Profit Margin
25%
Acquisition Multiple
2x - 3x
Startup Cost
$30K - $100K
Difficulty
4/5
How It Works
Customers call for repairs, installations, or emergencies. Plumbers diagnose the issue, quote the job, and perform the work. Revenue comes from service calls, installations, and project work. Emergency and after-hours calls carry significant premiums. Growth comes from adding technicians and expanding service territory.
Revenue Range
Real Acquisitions in This Category
SBA 7(a) change-of-ownership loans · NAICS 238220 · Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors
Deal Size Distribution
Deal Flow Over Time
Financing Profile
Recent Comparable Deals
| Closed | State | Loan | Implied deal | Jobs | Franchise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2025 | TX | $500K | $588K | 30 | — |
| Dec 2025 | TX | $2.5M | $2.9M | 30 | — |
| Dec 2025 | TX | $990K | $1.2M | 11 | — |
| Dec 2025 | TX | $250K | $294K | 11 | — |
| Dec 2025 | TX | $1.8M | $2.2M | 11 | — |
| Dec 2025 | NJ | $1.7M | $2.0M | 26 | — |
| Dec 2025 | GA | $2.3M | $2.7M | 18 | — |
| Dec 2025 | FL | $4.3M | $5.1M | 31 | — |
| Dec 2025 | MO | $3.0M | $3.6M | 16 | — |
| Nov 2025 | FL | $864K | $1.0M | 7 | — |
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA dataset, filtered to acquisitions (loans where business age is "Change of Ownership"). Implied deal size assumes an 85% loan-to-purchase ratio, a common SBA change-of-ownership structure. Charge-off rate shown only when 10+ loans have resolved (paid in full or charged off). Interest rates reflect last 24 months only. Actual deal values vary with equity injections, seller financing, and working capital terms.
Pros
- +Emergency work drives high average ticket prices
- +Licensed trade creates a barrier to entry
- +Essential service — plumbing never becomes optional
- +Aging infrastructure keeps demand growing
Cons
- -Requires licensed plumbers who are extremely hard to hire
- -On-call and emergency work disrupts personal life
- -Physical, dirty work — not for everyone
Best For
Licensed plumbers looking to own their business or investors buying existing operations
Operating Costs
Technician wages are the largest cost, plus service vehicles, tools, materials, insurance, licensing, and marketing.
SBA Financing Estimator
Adjust the deal — see if it cash flows after debt service
Estimates only. Excludes owner compensation, capex, working capital draws, and taxes. Margin assumes average occupancy and volume. Actual SBA terms vary by lender and borrower profile.
Where to Buy
Find plumbing businesses for sale across the US
Browse plumbing company acquisition opportunities
Acquisition Score
Scores margin (30), entry multiple (25), SBA market depth (20), category risk (15), and deal momentum (10). Higher = better acquisition candidate.
Quick Facts
- Category
- service
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Buy price
- $1.2M–$1.8M
Buyer's Toolkit
Essential tools to get started
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Largest business-for-sale marketplace in the US
SBA loans and business acquisition financing — get funded fast
ROBS financing — use retirement funds to buy a business tax-free
Bookkeeping for small business owners — hands-off financials
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