Sell Your Home Services Business in Ohio
We help Ohio home services owners sell. Roofing, remodeling, garage doors, gutters, cleaning, pest control, restoration, and multi-trade companies.
We work throughout Central Ohio, including Columbus, Dublin, Westerville, New Albany, and the surrounding counties. The buyer pool includes individual operators, regional companies, and private equity-backed groups, depending on the trade and size of the business.
Your sale stays confidential. Buyers see a blind profile and sign a non-disclosure agreement before learning who you are.
In home services, buyers want to know where the leads come from, how often customers return, and whether someone other than the owner can sell the work.
How Home Services Business Businesses Are Valued
Smaller home services companies are priced on SDE, which adds back owner compensation and personal expenses. Larger ones move to EBITDA, which assumes the buyer pays a manager.
Once adjusted earnings reach roughly $1 million, larger buyers generally use EBITDA and expect a management team to be in place.
Membership plans, repeat customers, dependable lead sources, strong reviews, trained salespeople, consistent close rates, and clear job costing can support a higher multiple.
Storm-driven spikes, dependence on one lead source, owner-led sales, inconsistent margins, and high employee turnover can lower it.
The table uses completed private home services company sales reported by BVR DealStats.
These figures are a reference point, not a valuation. The size of the company, the quality of its earnings, and current buyer demand all matter. We review three years of financials and the add-back schedule before giving an owner a range.
| Metric | Average | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| SDE multiple | 2.7x | 3.1x |
| EBITDA multiple | 6.2x | 5.5x |
| Revenue multiple | 0.67x | 0.82x |
Based on 1,173 private company transactions.
Source: BVR DealStats. Private company transactions with $250K to $10M in revenue, closed 2016 to present. Multiples are MVIC (total price) divided by SDE, EBITDA, or revenue.
What Buyers Look For
Recurring and membership revenue. Service plans and repeat contracts are valued far above one-time jobs.
Lead sources. Where the work comes from, what it costs per lead, and whether it survives the change of ownership.
Online reviews and brand. Review count, rating, and local search presence transfer with the business and carry real value.
Sales process. Trained sales staff with tracked close rates beat an owner who closes every job personally.
Crew retention and training. Tenured, trained crews are the capacity being purchased.
Job costing discipline. Margin tracked by job type shows the buyer where the business actually makes money.
Customer concentration. A broad homeowner base is worth more than a few builder or insurer relationships.
Owner dependence. Documented processes and a general manager are the clearest way to raise value.
Common Problems That Kill Deals
Unreported cash revenue. Earnings that do not appear on the tax returns cannot be valued or financed.
Worker misclassification. 1099 treatment of employees is a liability the buyer inherits.
Warranty and callback exposure. Open workmanship warranties without reserves become a negotiated price reduction.
Licensing and permit gaps. Work done without required permits or licensing surfaces in diligence.
Single lead source dependence. If one referral partner or one ad channel drives most of the revenue, buyers treat it as concentration risk.
How the Sale Process Works
- Valuation. We review three years of financials, build the add-back schedule, and compare the business with similar sales. You get a range and the math behind it.
- Preparation. We deal with reporting gaps, contract issues, customer concentration, and owner dependence before buyers begin their review.
- Confidential marketing. A blind profile goes out to vetted buyers. Names are released only after a non-disclosure agreement and a check on the buyer's ability to fund.
- Letter of intent. We compare offers and negotiate the price, structure, escrow, and transition terms before you sign.
- Due diligence. The buyer verifies the financials, contracts, employees, and operations. We manage the document requests and keep the advisors moving.
- Closing. Final documents, funding, and handover. Most prepared businesses close six to nine months after going to market.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is my home services business worth?
It depends on adjusted earnings, recurring revenue, lead flow, and owner dependence. We give a specific range after a financial review.
Are private equity buyers active in home services?
Yes, heavily, though usually above a certain earnings level. They may structure with rollover equity or an earnout, and we walk you through what that actually pays.
Should I clean up my books first?
Yes. Three years of financials that tie to your tax returns, with a documented add-back schedule, is the foundation of the price you get.
Will my staff find out?
Not during the process. Confidentiality is controlled through blind profiles and signed non-disclosure agreements.
How long does it take?
Six to nine months from going to market to closing is typical for a prepared company.
What are your fees?
Success based, paid at closing out of the proceeds. No upfront listing fee.