The Deal Sheet
2026-03-19
The Small Business Acquisition Newsletter
The Small Business Acquisition Newsletter
Weekly Deal Roundup
3 Deals We're Watching
Week of Week of March 19, 2026
01 — Deal of the Week
The Standout Listing
Back on the Market Electrical Contractor ↗
Suffolk County, NY
$6,296,467
Revenue
$1,448,089
Cash Flow
$4,000,000
Asking Price
This 34-year-old electrical contractor is printing money with a 23% cash flow margin that puts most businesses to shame. The $1.45M in annual cash flow represents a 2.76x multiple on the $4M asking price—exceptional for a commercial contractor with 24 employees and established relationships across the lucrative NY/NJ supermarket renovation sector. The 60% supermarket focus creates recurring revenue as these clients require ongoing maintenance and upgrades, while the 70% renovation mix means less weather dependency than new construction. With voice/data and fire alarm capabilities, this isn't just another electrical shop—it's a diversified commercial services platform positioned in one of the nation's highest-value markets.
Verdict: A cash-flowing machine in a recession-resistant niche with enterprise-level revenue at small business pricing.
Verdict: A cash-flowing machine in a recession-resistant niche with enterprise-level revenue at small business pricing.
◉ DEAL OF THE WEEK
02 — Also Worth Watching
Runner-Up Deals
Established Plumbing Business with Strong Market Demand ↗
Apache Junction, AZ
$1,420,120
Revenue
$957,220
Cash Flow
$3,000,000
Asking Price
Our take: A 67% cash flow margin with 90% recurring customers and zero debt is almost unheard of in the trades. The 3.13x multiple seems high until you realize this is essentially a cash annuity with a customer moat—the listing shows zero employees, suggesting an owner-operator model ripe for systematization and scaling.
Verdict: Premium multiple justified by exceptional margins and recurring revenue model in growing Arizona market.
Verdict: Premium multiple justified by exceptional margins and recurring revenue model in growing Arizona market.
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: Over 35 years of brand equity in the Mid-Atlantic with a 23% cash flow margin on $8M+ revenue creates a rare combination of scale and profitability. The 2.41x multiple on nearly $1.9M in cash flow, plus established referral networks with property managers and plumbers, positions this as a platform for regional consolidation in the fragmented restoration industry.
Verdict: Enterprise-scale revenue with strong unit economics and built-in referral flywheel—ideal for strategic buyer or PE add-on.
Verdict: Enterprise-scale revenue with strong unit economics and built-in referral flywheel—ideal for strategic buyer or PE add-on.
03 — Market Pulse
What We're Tracking
- • High-margin service businesses are commanding premium multiples—electrical, plumbing, and restoration deals are all trading above 2.5x cash flow when they combine recurring revenue with skilled labor moats
- • The trades are bifurcating: owner-operator businesses with 90%+ recurring customers (like the Apache Junction plumber) are valued like SaaS companies, while equipment-heavy models trade at traditional multiples
- • Northeastern markets (NY, MD) continue to support higher absolute deal values due to population density and commercial real estate activity, with the Suffolk County electrical contractor generating 4x the revenue of comparable sunbelt operations
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