Question 1

What is the difference between a landscaping business broker and an M&A advisor?

Accepted Answer

A traditional broker lists Main Street businesses (typically <$500K of EBITDA) on a flat-fee basis. An M&A advisor — what we are — runs a sell-side process with a 100+ buyer outreach, competitive IOIs, and managed diligence for $750K+ EBITDA companies. The difference at closing is usually 25–50% of headline value.

Question 2

Are residential mow-and-blow companies sellable?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but mostly to other residential operators or small regional consolidators. PE platforms generally pass on residential-only books unless they are very dense in a single MSA. Expect 2x–4x EBITDA. Repositioning toward commercial maintenance over 12–24 months can move that meaningfully higher.

Question 3

How do snow-and-ice contracts affect valuation?

Accepted Answer

In Snow Belt markets, a stable snow book adds resilient annuity revenue and can be a 0.5–1.5 turn multiple lift. But a business that is overweight snow with high-single-digit-event concentration (e.g., a single mall account) is harder to underwrite and usually gets earned out.

Question 4

How long is the typical landscaping company sale?

Accepted Answer

6–10 months end-to-end. Prep is heavier than other trades because commercial contract assignment language, H-2B documentation, and equipment fleet schedules require careful organization before going to market.

Question 5

Will my employees be retained after the sale?

Accepted Answer

In commercial maintenance, the answer is almost always yes — buyers are buying the team and the contracts, not just the assets. Most platform buyers offer retention bonuses to key foremen and account managers as part of the deal structure.

Question 6

How do M&A advisor fees work?

Accepted Answer

Most modern home-services M&A advisors charge a low monthly retainer plus a success fee on closing using a Lehman or Double-Lehman scale. We disclose all fees in writing before signing an engagement letter, and there is no fee if no transaction closes.

Question 7

How confidential is the sale process?

Accepted Answer

We market on a confidential teaser first (no company name disclosed), and only release the company identity to buyers after a signed NDA and a fit confirmation. Customers, employees, and competitors do not know the business is for sale until you decide to tell them.

Question 8

Do you only work with home-services businesses?

Accepted Answer

Our practice is concentrated in home services — HVAC, plumbing, roofing, pest control, landscaping, and pool services — because that is where deep domain expertise produces the largest valuation lift. We occasionally take on adjacent route-based or essential-services businesses on a selective basis.

Driver	Healthy range	Why it matters
Annual revenue	$3M – $80M+	Institutional buyers generally start at $5M revenue with $750K+ EBITDA.
Commercial maintenance %	60%+ ideal	The single biggest multiple driver in landscaping.
Customer retention	85%+	Year-over-year contract retention should exceed 85% for premium pricing.
Customer concentration	<15% any single account	HOA and commercial property managers are common; concentration above 25% is a diligence headwind.
Geographic density	Single MSA preferred	Buyers prefer a tight operating footprint over scattered branches.

Landscaping Business Brokerfor $1M+ EBITDA Founders

The Landscaping M&A market in numbers

Selling a landscaping business — at a glance

Why founders are selling landscaping businesses now

What a real landscaping business broker does

Broker vs. M&A advisor

The four value levers that move landscaping multiples

Commercial vs. residential mix

Maintenance vs. enhancements

Snow & ice mix

Crew & H-2B reliability

Landscaping business valuation drivers

Our 4-stage landscaping sale process

Frequently asked questions

We work across home services

Confidential 60-minute strategy session

Ready to talk to a real landscaping business broker?