The Deal Sheet
2026-07-16
The Small Business Acquisition Newsletter
The Small Business Acquisition Newsletter
Weekly Deal Roundup
3 Deals We're Watching
Week of Week of July 16, 2026
01 — Deal of the Week
The Standout Listing
Legacy HVAC & Plumbing Contractor | $1.7M+ SDE & Real Estate ↗
Midwest
$8,265,921
Revenue
$1,726,433
Cash Flow
$9,625,000
Asking Price
This is the kind of business that makes acquisition finance teams salivate. A 60-year-old multi-generational contractor throwing off $1.7M in owner cash flow with included real estate represents the gold standard of essential services businesses. The 20.9% cash flow margin on $8.3M revenue signals operational excellence, while the diversification across HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and geothermal creates multiple revenue engines that dampen seasonality. With 47 employees and decades of goodwill in a stable Midwest market, this is a platform asset ready for bolt-on acquisitions or private equity roll-up strategies. At 5.6x SDE, you're paying for quality—but getting recession-resistant cash flow and the real estate to boot.
Verdict: 🔥 Platform Play
Verdict: 🔥 Platform Play
◉ DEAL OF THE WEEK
02 — Also Worth Watching
Runner-Up Deals
Top Brand Cleaning Biz, Walk Into $282K In Immediate Equity ↗
Dover, DE
$1,704,005
Revenue
$289,518
Cash Flow
$650,000
Asking Price
Our take: This 23-year-old franchise is printing 17% margins on $1.7M revenue while the owner works just 30 hours weekly—that's the holy grail of lifestyle businesses. At 2.2x cash flow, you're looking at a sub-3-year payback on a recession-resistant service with contractual recurring revenue.
Verdict: 💰 Cash Machine
Verdict: 💰 Cash Machine
Thriving Electrical Contractor | 40+ Years Reputation | Semi-Absentee ↗
Newburgh, NY
$2,074,597
Revenue
$731,482
Cash Flow
$3,300,000
Asking Price
Our take: A 35% cash flow margin on a 40-year-old electrical contractor? That's not a business—it's a money printer with a trade license. Semi-absentee operation with 8 employees and four decades of Hudson Valley reputation means this runs itself while depositing $731K annually into your account.
Verdict: ⚡ Margin Monster
Verdict: ⚡ Margin Monster
03 — Market Pulse
What We're Tracking
- • Home services trades continue to dominate the quality deal flow—HVAC, plumbing, and electrical businesses with 30+ year track records are commanding premium multiples as acquirers chase recurring revenue and aging owner demographics
- • The cleaning and maintenance category is showing exceptional unit economics: businesses like the Dover cleaning franchise are delivering 17%+ margins with part-time owner involvement, proving the franchise model's operational leverage
- • Commercial contractors with diversified service offerings (HVAC + plumbing + electrical) are emerging as platform plays, with the Midwest legacy contractor showing how multi-decade relationships and real estate inclusion can justify 5-6x SDE valuations
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