The Deal Sheet
2026-10-22
The Small Business Acquisition Newsletter
The Small Business Acquisition Newsletter
Weekly Deal Roundup
3 Deals We're Watching
Week of Week of October 22, 2026
01 — Deal of the Week
The Standout Listing
Residential and Commercial Plumbing Contracting Company in MT ↗
Montana, MT
$1,600,000
Revenue
$575,000
Cash Flow
$1,495,000
Asking Price
This Montana plumber is printing money at a 36% cash flow margin—$575K on $1.6M revenue—which is exceptional for a trade business. The 2.6x multiple is remarkably fair given the business has been operating for over 20 years with a database of thousands of past clients, creating a moat that's nearly impossible for competitors to replicate. With five full-time employees already in place and diversified commercial/residential revenue streams, a buyer inherits immediate stability plus white space to scale in Montana's underserved markets. The real kicker? Plumbing is recession-resistant, impossible to offshore, and this business has already survived two economic downturns.
Verdict: Best deal this week. Elite cash flow margins meet reasonable valuation in a business that's been stress-tested for two decades.
Verdict: Best deal this week. Elite cash flow margins meet reasonable valuation in a business that's been stress-tested for two decades.
◉ DEAL OF THE WEEK
02 — Also Worth Watching
Runner-Up Deals
Cleveland's Dryer Vent Cleaning Pros. - Lucrative ↗
Cleveland, OH
$563,000
Revenue
$247,000
Cash Flow
$90,000
Asking Price
Our take: A 44% cash flow margin ($247K on $563K revenue) at a 0.36x multiple is almost comical—you'll recover your investment in under 5 months. The business runs 5-8 jobs daily per van at $200-$350 each with essentially zero COGS, and dryer vent cleaning is a recurring, safety-critical service that homeowners can't ignore.
Verdict: Absurdly cheap entry into a high-margin, essential service business with clear expansion playbook.
Verdict: Absurdly cheap entry into a high-margin, essential service business with clear expansion playbook.
Proven Backyard Pest Protection Business Ready for Growth ↗
Greenville, SC
$987,133
Revenue
$256,655
Cash Flow
$309,000
Asking Price
Our take: This 23-year-old mosquito and tick treatment company generates $257K cash flow on just two employees—a 26% margin that reflects the beautiful economics of scheduled, recurring seasonal applications. At a 1.2x multiple, you're buying a proven customer renewal model in one of the fastest-growing metros in America.
Verdict: Home-based, high-margin recurring revenue with two decades of proof—rare find in pest control.
Verdict: Home-based, high-margin recurring revenue with two decades of proof—rare find in pest control.
03 — Market Pulse
What We're Tracking
- • Service businesses with recurring revenue models are commanding aggressive multiples, but this week's standouts (dryer vent cleaning, pest control, plumbing) are still trading at 0.4x-2.6x—suggesting smart buyers can still find value in overlooked niches
- • Home-based and asset-light models continue to dominate the sub-$500K deal space, with dryer vent cleaning and pest control businesses showing 26-44% cash flow margins that would make SaaS founders jealous
- • Montana and secondary markets are emerging as value plays—the Montana plumber's 36% margins and $575K cash flow demonstrate that geographic arbitrage still works when you're buying essential services in underserved regions
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