Trades

Sell Your HVAC & Plumbing Business in Canada

HVAC and plumbing companies sell for higher multiples than almost any other trade because they have recurring service revenue, sticky customer relationships, and increasing PE and strategic buyer interest. We've helped HVAC owners across BC and Alberta sell to private equity, regional consolidators, and individual operators — usually at multiples of 3.5x–5x SDE for owner-operated and 5x–8x EBITDA for established companies with management depth.

Typical Revenue
$1M – $15M CAD
EBITDA Margin
12–25% (residential), 15–30% (commercial)
Typical Multiple
3.5x–5.0x SDE owner-op; 5.0x–8.0x EBITDA with management

Typical Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE) for this sector: $150K–$2M+

Why Selling a HVAC & Plumbing Business Is Different

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

Owner-installer transfer risk — buyers worry the owner IS the company
Technician retention post-sale (most key value is in people)
Equipment, truck and fleet age affects asking price
Customer concentration if commercial-heavy
Warranty obligations transfer to buyer

What Sophisticated HVAC & Plumbing Buyers Look For

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

Service-contract base with recurring revenue (PE buyers especially)
Trained, certified, retained technician team
Documented systems: scheduling, dispatch, invoicing
Clean A/R aging and collections discipline
Provincial certifications transferable

Who Buys HVAC & Plumbing Businesses in Canada

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

1
Regional HVAC consolidators (often PE-backed)
2
Private equity directly (search funds, family offices)
3
Strategic acquirers (large local players)
4
Individual operators / franchise systems
5
US strategic acquirers expanding into Canada

Industry-Specific Challenges We Handle

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

Owner-Tech Dependency

If you're the master tradesperson, the buyer is buying a job, not a business. Document, train, and transfer responsibility before listing.

Service Contract Retention

Buyers underwrite based on customer retention. Build a 90% renewal rate and your multiple jumps from 3x to 5x+.

Technician Retention

PE buyers structure key-employee retention with stay bonuses. Plan for this in advance.

What We Play Up in Your Marketing

These are the value drivers that move hvac & plumbing buyers from interest to LOI.

Recurring service-contract revenue (annual or maintenance plans)
Trained, certified technician team with low turnover
Documented dispatch & scheduling systems
Fleet of newer, well-maintained service vehicles
Established commercial accounts under multi-year contracts
Strong online reviews & local SEO presence

Comparable Transactions

Residential HVAC in Lower Mainland: $1.5M–$8M deals. Commercial mechanical in BC interior: $4M–$22M deals.

Specific transaction details confidential. Ask for redacted case study under NDA.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sector-specific questions hvac & plumbing owners ask.

Ready to Sell Your HVAC & Plumbing 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.