Similar businesses sell at 1.2x to 5.3x SDE. Compare live listings and connect with sellers.
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Fantastic opportunity to own a company that has been operating since 1970. They are 80% residential, 20% commercial with <10% new construction and no refrigeration. They have flat rate pricing, a CRM in place and payroll is handled in-house. They have completed 150 changeouts in the previous 12 months and have 5,000 active customers served in the last 3 years.
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Located in Central North Carolina, this heating and air conditioning company has provided installation, replacement, and maintenance services for several decades. Serving general contractors, commercial real estate agents, and homeowners, the business maintains a healthy pipeline (with an estimated 2026 revenue of $15 million and EBITDA of $1.8 to $1.9 million) and an established regional presence. While historically generating the majority of its revenue from commercial new construction, the company has actively shifted its project mix over the last couple of years. This operational shift features a growing volume of residential services and system replacement work, blending commercial and residential revenue streams to capture consistent demand in the local housing market. The turnkey operation is supported by a scaled technical workforce, including experienced field technicians, installation professionals, and a dedicated management layer. Operations are centralized in a sizeable standalone commercial facility designed for equipment storage and administrative functions, with immediate highway access. The purchase includes a multi-vehicle service fleet and all necessary equipment to execute both large-scale commercial contracts and recurring residential service calls. The SDE shown includes a rent charge of $79,380, is based on the Last Twelve Months through May 31, 2026, and is for a full-time owner-operator. The real estate is being offered for sale or lease by Murphy Business & Financial – Carolinas, LLC in conjunction with the sale of the business for $950,000, or an annual lease rate of $79,380.
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Amazing opportunity to own an HVAC company serving the Roanoke Valley and Lake Gaston NC area. They are 99% residential, 1% commercial with no refrigeration. They have flat rate pricing, 200 maintenance agreements, and a CRM in place. They have serviced 1,800 customers in the previous 3 years.
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Well‑established HVAC and trades company servicing the fast‑growing coastal region of Southeastern North Carolina. The company delivers full‑service HVAC, electrical, and plumbing solutions to both residential and commercial customers, with recurring service, retrofit, and light‑construction work. Built under the stewardship of a licensed unlimited electrical and H2/H3 HVAC contractor, this business has evolved into a professionally run, process-driven platform — supported by a trained field crew, strong brand reputation, and transferable trade licenses — that is a unique M&A opportunity, primed for scale. Key Investment Highlights Full-Service & Diversified Offering: HVAC, electrical, plumbing, indoor air quality (IAQ), duct cleaning, and maintenance — providing multiple revenue streams and resilience across economic cycles. Balanced Residential + Commercial Mix: Long-standing customer relationships across service, retrofit, and light construction drive recurring revenue and project‑based work. Licensing Advantage: Transferable unlimited electrical license and H2/H3 HVAC license enable immediate expansion into new markets within North Carolina. Scalable Infrastructure: Established operations, experienced management and technicians, and repeatable service delivery create a strong base for expansion. Flexible Seller Transition: Seller open to earn‑out, equity rollover, consulting or salaried role — offering continuity and institutional knowledge to facilitate growth or roll‑up strategies. A full Confidential Information Memorandum (CIM) is available to qualified buyers who sign an NDA.
National transaction benchmarks for hvac business businesses.
Under $500K
$500K to $2M
Over $2M
A variety of factors can cause businesses to trade outside this range, including earnings quality, operational transferability, key-person risk, growth trajectory, and geography, so a listing priced above or below the typical multiple usually reflects real differences in the underlying business.
Cofounder & CEO
Key diligence, valuation, financing, and transition considerations for buyers evaluating HVAC business acquisitions.
The most reliable indicator of HVAC business quality is the size and retention rate of its maintenance agreement (MA) base. Each MA typically generates $150-$300 in annual recurring revenue and produces 3-5x more replacement leads than non-agreement customers. Ask for MA count, renewal rate, and how long agreements have been in place. A business with 500+ active MAs and 80%+ renewal rate commands a significant premium over one without.
Businesses using flat-rate pricing are substantially more transferable than time-and-material shops. Flat-rate systems remove individual technician pricing discretion, making revenue more predictable, margins more consistent, and the business easier for a new owner to manage. When reviewing listings, flat-rate pricing is a positive signal. Time-and-material shops can be converted, but budget for a 6-12 month transition period.
Every state requires HVAC contractors to hold a valid license, and most are tied to a specific qualifying individual - typically the owner or a designated employee. When a business sells, the buyer must hold their own license, hire a licensed qualifier, or negotiate a transition period. Confirm the license situation early in diligence. Businesses where the owner is also the qualifier carry key-person risk that will directly affect valuation.
Residential HVAC businesses tend to be more transferable - customer relationships are distributed across thousands of households rather than concentrated in a few commercial accounts. Commercial-heavy businesses (50%+ commercial) warrant deeper diligence on contract terms, renewal dates, and whether contracts are assignable to a new owner. A residential business with a strong MA base and diversified customer geography is typically the most straightforward acquisition.
HVAC businesses are highly seasonal - revenue peaks in summer (cooling) and winter (heating), with shoulder months in spring and fall. Ask for monthly revenue breakdowns across at least two full years to understand the true seasonal pattern. Buyers who close during peak season may not see trough cash flow until months later. SDE calculations should normalize for seasonal working capital and owner compensation timing.
The presence of a modern field service CRM - ServiceTitan, FieldEdge, Housecall Pro - indicates the business has been run systematically rather than from the owner's memory. CRM-equipped businesses have documented customer histories, job costing data, and technician metrics that support a clean transition. Businesses without a CRM are not disqualified, but plan for 3-6 months of systems implementation post-close.
Answers to common buyer questions for this market.
