Trades

Sell Your Construction Business in Canada

Construction businesses sell at lower multiples than service trades because of project-based revenue, surety bonding requirements, and key-personnel risk. But sophisticated sellers in the right sub-segments (commercial GCs, specialty subs, design-build firms) can achieve solid prices when sale preparation is done right.

Typical Revenue
$1M – $25M CAD
EBITDA Margin
5–12% (GC); 12–25% (specialty subs)
Typical Multiple
2.5x–4.0x EBITDA (project-based); 4.0x–6.0x (specialty / recurring)

Why Selling a Construction Business Is Different

Generic business brokers handle this wrong. These are the specific challenges in your sector.

Project revenue is lumpy; trailing 12 months may not represent run-rate
Surety bonding capacity tied to owner's personal guarantee — does not transfer easily
Key project manager and superintendent dependency
Work-in-process accounting can hide problems
Warranty exposure on completed work

What Sophisticated Construction Buyers Look For

Build these into your business 12–24 months before listing, and your multiple rises 1–3 turns.

Backlog of signed contracts at close
Master service agreements with repeat clients
Surety relationships and bonding capacity
Documented project-management processes
Skilled-trade workforce that will retain through transition

Who Buys Construction Businesses in Canada

We've mapped the active buyer universe for your sector.

1
Regional construction consolidators
2
Larger general contractors expanding services
3
Private equity rolling up construction
4
Owner-operators acquiring established firms
5
Strategic acquirers (developers acquiring construction capability)

Industry-Specific Challenges We Handle

The deal-breakers we've seen — and how we address each one.

Bonding Transfer

Bonding capacity rarely transfers. Buyer must qualify with their surety. Plan for 60–90 days of surety underwriting.

Backlog Recognition

Signed contracts are an asset but not on the balance sheet. We document and value backlog separately.

Owner-PG Risk

Personal guarantees on bonds, leases, vehicle loans need to be released at close. Plan transition with lender and surety.

What We Play Up in Your Marketing

These are the value drivers that move construction buyers from interest to LOI.

Established backlog of signed contracts (priced into deal)
Repeat-client master service agreements
Documented estimating, project-management & safety systems
Specialty certifications (LEED, COR, ISO)
Trained workforce with retention agreements
Strong surety relationships with capacity

Frequently Asked Questions

Sector-specific questions construction owners ask.

Ready to Sell Your Construction Business?

Confidential, no-obligation conversation. Tell us about your business, your timeline, and your goals. We'll respond with a written engagement proposal within 24 hours.