Statistics at a Glance
Industry
Residential & Light Commercial HVAC
Years in Business:
18
Annual Revenue
$2.1M
Sales Multiple
6.2x SDE
Time to Close
94 Days
The Situation
The owner had built the business from a one-truck operation into a company with a dozen employees and a loyal customer base across the region. After 18 years, he was ready to retire, but had never planned an exit. He didn’t know what the business was worth, hadn’t organized his financials in a way a buyer could evaluate, and worried that selling would mean the business he built would be gutted or the team let go.
The Approach
We started with a full valuation based on seller’s discretionary earnings, industry multiples for HVAC service businesses, and the strength of the company’s recurring maintenance contracts. From there, we organized three years of financials into a clean, buyer-ready package and identified the qualities that would matter most to the right buyer: trained technician retention, a strong reputation in the local market, and predictable recurring revenue from maintenance agreements.
Rather than listing broadly, we targeted a shortlist of buyers already active in the trades space, including one buyer looking to expand into the region. This kept the process focused and confidential, which mattered to an owner who didn’t want employees or customers hearing rumors before a deal was finalized.
The Outcome
A qualified buyer was identified within the first few weeks, and after due diligence and negotiation, the sale closed in 94 days at a 6.2x multiple on SDE, an outcome that exceeded the owner’s initial expectations. The buyer retained the full technician team, and the business kept its name and reputation in the local market. The owner walked away with a clean exit and the confidence that the business, and the people in it, were in good hands.