Specialty Trade (HVAC / Plumbing / Electrical) Valuation Multiples (2026)
HVAC, plumbing, and electrical contractors are dominating PE roll-up activity. Recurring maintenance contracts, strong reviews, and skilled tech retention compound to 0.75× revenue and 5.5× EBITDA at the high end.
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Pick your industry and enter revenue + EBITDA / SDE. We'll triangulate three valuation methods and show what buyers typically pay for businesses like yours.
Premium drivers
- ↑Recurring service / maintenance contracts > 30%
- ↑Strong online review profile (4.7★+)
- ↑Skilled tech retention > 80%
- ↑Geographic density / route efficiency
Discount drivers
- ↓Project-only revenue, no maintenance plans
- ↓Owner-as-lead-tech dependence
- ↓Aging fleet / equipment
- ↓Limited online presence
Who buys specialty trade (hvac / plumbing / electrical)?
PE-backed home services roll-up (Apex, Wrench Group, Authority Brands), or a regional independent
Typical timeline + revenue band
- Days to close: 60–150
- Revenue band these multiples apply to: $1.00M–$5.00M
- NAICS: 238220 (Construction)
5 levers that lift your Specialty Trade (HVAC / Plumbing / Electrical) multiple by 30-50%
- 1Lock in recurring revenueConvert the top of your specialty trade (hvac / plumbing / electrical) revenue stack into multi-year contracts, retainers, or auto-renewing subscriptions. Buyers pay 25-40% more for revenue they don't have to re-win every quarter.
- 2De-risk customer concentrationAim for no single customer above 15% of revenue. If you have a > 25% client, get them on a multi-year master services agreement before going to market.
- 3Document the business out of the ownerPE-backed home services roll-up (Apex, Wrench Group, Authority Brands), or a regional independent will discount aggressively for any function that lives in the owner's head — sales, key vendor relationships, pricing, hiring. Run the next 90 days like the owner is on a 6-week vacation.
- 4Clean up the financialsGet a Quality of Earnings-ready trailing 12 months: GAAP-aligned, owner add-backs documented, no commingled personal expenses. This alone moves the multiple 0.5-1.0× upward in this category.
- 5Match the deal to the right buyer poolPE-backed roll-ups, strategic acquirers, and ETA buyers compete on different terms. List with someone who has run a process for specialty trade (hvac / plumbing / electrical) acquisitions — generic SMB brokers will leave 20%+ on the table.
FAQ — Specialty Trade (HVAC / Plumbing / Electrical) valuations
What's a typical specialty trade (hvac / plumbing / electrical) valuation multiple?▾
Typical specialty trade (hvac / plumbing / electrical) valuations land near 2.5× SDE, 4× EBITDA, or 0.5× revenue. Strong operators reach 3.5× SDE / 5.5× EBITDA / 0.75× revenue, while weaker operators stay closer to 2× SDE / 3.5× EBITDA / 0.4× revenue.
How long does it take to sell a specialty trade (hvac / plumbing / electrical)?▾
Most specialty trade (hvac / plumbing / electrical) deals close in 60–150 days from listing. Strong operators with clean financials and a documented buyer pool close on the lower end.
Who buys a specialty trade (hvac / plumbing / electrical) business?▾
PE-backed home services roll-up (Apex, Wrench Group, Authority Brands), or a regional independent
What pushes a specialty trade (hvac / plumbing / electrical) valuation to the high end?▾
Recurring service / maintenance contracts > 30%. Strong online review profile (4.7★+). Skilled tech retention > 80%. Geographic density / route efficiency.
What forces a discount when selling a specialty trade (hvac / plumbing / electrical)?▾
Project-only revenue, no maintenance plans. Owner-as-lead-tech dependence. Aging fleet / equipment. Limited online presence.