The Deal Sheet
2026-03-12
The Small Business Acquisition Newsletter
The Small Business Acquisition Newsletter
Weekly Deal Roundup
3 Deals We're Watching
Week of Week of March 12, 2026
01 — Deal of the Week
The Standout Listing
Growing Pest & Wildlife Control Business ↗
Des Moines, IA
$987,710
Revenue
$237,870
Cash Flow
$153,350
Asking Price
This Des Moines pest control operation is printing money at a 24% cash flow margin while asking just 0.64x revenue—an absolute steal in essential services. With nearly $1M in revenue generating $238K in cash flow, the buyer is looking at a 155% cash-on-cash return if the numbers hold, which is borderline absurd for a 16-year-old established business. The dual revenue streams (pest + wildlife) provide diversification, and the home-based operation means you're buying pure profit without the anchor of commercial rent. At this multiple, even modest growth turns this into a cash machine that pays for itself in under 8 months.
Verdict: BUY—Exceptional value at 0.64x revenue with 155% potential ROI
Verdict: BUY—Exceptional value at 0.64x revenue with 155% potential ROI
◉ DEAL OF THE WEEK
02 — Also Worth Watching
Runner-Up Deals
Residential and Commercial Plumbing Contracting Company in MT ↗
Montana
$1,527,818
Revenue
$574,558
Cash Flow
$1,495,000
Asking Price
Our take: A Montana plumbing contractor delivering a stunning 38% cash flow margin on $1.5M revenue with just 4 employees—that's $144K in cash flow per head. With 20+ years of operation and thousands of past clients in the database, this is a legacy business with recurring revenue potential that's priced at just 2.6x cash flow in a market where skilled trades command premium multiples.
Verdict: STRONG BUY—Elite margins with massive customer database
Verdict: STRONG BUY—Elite margins with massive customer database
Independent Restoration Company with High Growth Potential ↗
Baltimore, MD
$8,056,886
Revenue
$1,863,918
Cash Flow
$4,500,000
Asking Price
Our take: This 35-year-old Baltimore restoration company is doing $8M in revenue with 23% margins and strong referral relationships with property managers and plumbers—the exact flywheel that drives recurring emergency work. At 2.4x cash flow for a business this size with established brand equity in the Mid-Atlantic, you're buying a regional powerhouse with infrastructure already built to scale further.
Verdict: BUY—Scalable platform with strong referral network
Verdict: BUY—Scalable platform with strong referral network
03 — Market Pulse
What We're Tracking
- • Essential services businesses (pest control, plumbing, restoration) are trading at historically low revenue multiples despite recession-resistant demand—smart buyers are pouncing on sub-1x revenue deals
- • Home-based service operations are commanding premium attention as buyers realize the margin advantage of eliminating commercial lease overhead in tight real estate markets
- • Businesses with established referral networks and customer databases (1,000+ contacts) are significantly outperforming pure advertising-dependent competitors in valuation discussions
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