Trades

Sell Your Specialty Trades Business in Canada

Specialty trades businesses span an enormous range. Service-based trades with commercial maintenance contracts sell at solid multiples; pure-project trades sell at lower multiples. Specialty (high barrier-to-entry) trades like locksmithing, glass and security command premium multiples.

Typical Revenue
$500K – $7M CAD
EBITDA Margin
10–25%
Typical Multiple
2.5x–4.5x SDE/EBITDA

Why Selling a Specialty Trades Business Is Different

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

Owner-tradesperson dependency
Skilled tradesperson retention
Project-based revenue volatility
Equipment age and capex
Insurance and bonding requirements

What Sophisticated Specialty Trades Buyers Look For

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

Commercial maintenance contracts (recurring)
Trained, retained tradesperson team
Documented quoting and project-management systems
Modern equipment in working condition
Insurance and WSBC compliance

Who Buys Specialty Trades Businesses in Canada

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

1
Regional specialty trade consolidators
2
Strategic acquirers (larger contractors)
3
Individual operators expanding
4
Adjacent-services acquirers

Industry-Specific Challenges We Handle

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

Owner-Tradesperson Dependency

If you're the master tradesperson, the buyer is buying a job. Hire and train successors 12–18 months before listing.

Specialty Insurance

Some specialty trades (glass, security, locksmith) have unique insurance and bonding requirements. Plan transition with insurer.

Commercial vs Residential Mix

Commercial-heavy trades sell at higher multiples (recurring contracts) than residential (project-based).

What We Play Up in Your Marketing

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

Commercial maintenance contracts (recurring)
Specialty certifications (high barrier-to-entry)
Trained tradesperson team with retention
Modern equipment well-maintained
Documented safety and WSBC record
Strong B2B / commercial customer relationships

Frequently Asked Questions

Sector-specific questions specialty trades owners ask.

Ready to Sell Your Specialty Trades 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.