New Deals: A land survey business, pipe and infrastructure contractor, and 3 other finds

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NEW DEALS

1/ Land Survey Business

📍 Location: Florida
💰 Asking Price: $3,000,000
💼 EBITDA: $629,404
📊 Revenue: $1,389,842
📅 Established: 1998

💭 My 2 Cents: This 27-year-old business provides land surveys and mapping services, which are required for real estate transactions, construction, zoning changes, and boundary disputes. Their North Florida location is a real plus, as the continued development in their area means you can count on a steady demand for their services going forward. I also like their long-term client relationships, experienced staff, and go-to reputation as the leading firm in their region. I’d want to look into what percent of their revenue comes from government contracts (common in this industry), what their relationships with municipalities, developers, realtors, and attorneys looks like, who holds the required surveyor licenses in the business (and if there’s redundancy beyond the owner), how they keep up with the latest technology, and the condition of the $338K of equipment and vehicles included in the sale. Ultimately, the land survey industry is benefiting from strong long-term industry tailwinds with increased infrastructure spending and real estate development.

2/ Pipe and Infrastructure Contractor

📍 Location: Alabama
💰 Asking Price: $3,950,000
💼 EBITDA: $1,292,713
📊 Revenue: $4,831,411
📅 Established: 2005

💭 My 2 Cents: Pipe and infrastructure contractors specialize in installing, repairing, and maintaining underground utility systems such as water, sewer, gas, and telecommunications pipelines. This business specializes in large-scale infrastructure projects for commercial and municipal clients. They hold a strong competitive edge due to their substantial bonding capacity, allowing them to secure major contracts beyond the reach of smaller competitors. Other things that stand out are their very strong earnings and margins and the $1M of FF&E included in the purchase price. They have an experienced GM who basically runs things and is slated to remain, so a new owner can count on continuity in their ongoing projects and would be free if desired to focus on further growth. However, I’d want more detail on what types of infrastructure work they handle (water, sewer, road?), the revenue breakdown between their private and government-funded projects, their current backlog and pipeline, what their standard bidding process looks like, the experience and qualifications of their staff, if they use sub-contractors, and the nature and useful life of their FF&E. This is a major operation, so the seller, who is retiring, is looking for someone with a construction background to carry on their company’s legacy of success.

3/ Tree Service Company

📍 Location: California
💰 Asking Price: $3,000,000
💼 EBITDA: $1,134,932
📊 Revenue: $1,833,000
📅 Established: 30+ Years

💭 My 2 Cents: Tree service companies are some of the best boring businesses because of their recession-resistant demand (trees continue to grow regardless of economic conditions!), high margins, and recurring revenue opportunities. I really like how this company has the added benefit of a Northern California location where there is steady year-round demand for their services. They have built an excellent reputation over 30+ years, handle both residential and commercial clients, and come with over $1.3M of CARB-compliant equipment (check condition). A new owner could also readily leverage their proven track record to drive further growth by adding more crews and expanding into new markets. I’d want to understand their revenue split between emergency services and scheduled work, their level of recurring revenue (especially if they work with HOAs, commercial properties, and municipalities), how they source new jobs and set themselves apart from competitors in what can be a crowded space, if there are any challenges in retaining skilled tree professionals, and the day-to-day role of the owner. Given the reasonable multiple, this proven winner could be a strong platform acquisition opportunity in a fragmented industry with roll-up potential.

4/ Metals Recycling Business

📍 Location: Pennsylvania
💰 Asking Price: $2,500,000
💼 EBITDA: $986,902
📊 Revenue: $20,320,674
📅 Established: 1948

💭 My 2 Cents: Metal recycling is a stable, recession-resistant industry driven by construction, manufacturing, and consumer goods. This recycling business, in operation a really impressive 77 years, also operates a dumpster and container rental service that provides an additional revenue stream. Their sale includes approximately $2.5M in equipment, while their longstanding location on 2 acres near Philadelphia (available for separate purchase) helps insulate them from competition given the current challenging zoning requirements for opening a similar facility this close to a major metropolitan area. I’d want to know the percentage of revenue from recycling versus their rental business, how they hedge risks from scrap metal price fluctuations by managing inventory and supplier agreements, the condition of the FF&E and if there are any pending capital expenditures, and the roles and responsibilities of the staff to include the three owners. If I were interested in acquiring the real estate, I’d also want to check for contamination as scrap yards have high environmental risks. This looks like an intriguing opportunity as, assuming the FF&E checks out, a new owner will be getting not only a longstanding successful business but also tangible assets that alone equal the purchase price.

5/ Niche Manufacturer

📍 Location: Massachusetts
💰 Asking Price: $2,100,000
💼 EBITDA: $551,937
📊 Revenue: $1,830,134
📅 Established: 1946

💭 My 2 Cents: I really like manufacturers that make non-complicated, yet often critical, components for a range of industries. This particular company has been producing gears, sprockets, splines, and similar components for an amazing 75+ years. These aren't exactly flashy items, so their clients aren’t likely to be looking around for new versions or suppliers as long as they stay competitive on price. I love that they are a third generation family owned business, as you can’t fake this kind of history and the cumulative expertise and deep client relationships involved. I also like that they operate from a modern 9,000 sq ft facility (for sale separately) with recently updated IT systems and come with over $450K worth of specialized FF&E. I’d want to see their financials for the past 10 years to check on the stability of their earnings and any possible client concentration. I’d also want more detail on their 2025 backlog, if they face competition on price from overseas manufacturers, how sensitive they are to the cost of materials, if there are any pending capital expenditures, and the roles and responsibilities of their staff. For someone interested in niche manufacturing, this should be an appealing opportunity and the seller, who is retiring, is open to negotiating a training period to ensure a smooth transition.