Business Buyer's Guides
What to know before buying — by business type
Each guide is a single-page brief on what makes a business type tick: how it actually makes money, what's worth verifying before an offer, and what a fair price looks like at SBA-financed sizes.
Browse the guides
Buying an HVAC business
Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning service and replacement businesses.
Read the guide →Buying a Plumbing business
Residential and commercial plumbing service contractors.
Read the guide →Buying a Landscaping business
Landscape maintenance, design, and installation businesses.
Read the guide →Buying a Commercial Cleaning business
Janitorial and commercial cleaning route businesses serving offices and facilities.
Read the guide →Buying an Auto Repair business
Independent auto-repair shops including general mechanics and specialty work.
Read the guide →Buying a Pool Service business
Residential and commercial pool maintenance route businesses.
Read the guide →Buying a Self-Storage business
Self-storage facility operators with owned or leased real estate.
Read the guide →Buying a Daycare business
Licensed childcare, daycare, and preschool operators serving families and employers.
Read the guide →Buying a Restaurant business
Full-service, fast-casual, and counter-service restaurant operations.
Read the guide →Buying a Liquor Store business
Off-premise alcohol retailers operating under state license.
Read the guide →Buying a Pool Construction business
Residential and commercial pool design and construction businesses.
Read the guide →Buying a Pest Control business
Recurring-route pest-control businesses serving residential and commercial customers.
Read the guide →
At a glance, side by side
Compare every business type across the dimensions that matter
Recurring revenue, capital intensity, owner dependency, newbie suitability, and PE rollup activity — the same five dimensions every guide opens with. Click a name to open that guide.
| Business type | Recurring revenue | Capital intensity | Owner dependency | Newbie suitability | PE rollup activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC | Moderate | Moderate | High | Low | High |
| Plumbing | Moderate | Moderate | High | Moderate | High |
| Landscaping | Moderate | Moderate | High | Low | Moderate |
| Commercial Cleaning | High | Low | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| Auto Repair | Low | Moderate | Moderate | Low | Moderate |
| Pool Service | High | Low | Moderate | Moderate | High |
| Self-Storage | High | High | Low | Moderate | High |
| Daycare | High | Moderate | High | Low | Low |
| Restaurant | Low | Moderate | High | Low | Moderate |
| Liquor Store | Low | High | Moderate | Moderate | Low |
| Pool Construction | Low | Low | High | Low | Moderate |
| Pest Control | High | Low | Moderate | Moderate | High |