{
  "title": "How to Buy a Plumbing Business: 8 Steps, Licences and SBA Financing",
  "url": "https://acquisitions.com/blog/how-to-buy-a-plumbing-business/",
  "author": "Moran Pober",
  "publisher": "Acquisitions.com",
  "published": "2026-10-23",
  "updated": "2026-10-23",
  "section": "Buying a business",
  "keyword": "how to buy a plumbing business",
  "short_answer": "Find a plumbing company through brokers, listings and letters to retiring owners, then check its service-versus-construction mix, call volume, technician licences, truck fleet and callback rate. If you are not a licensed plumber, line up a master plumber or qualifying agent before you sign. Most buyers pay with an SBA 7(a) loan, a seller note and their own cash.",
  "facts": {
    "Under $500K": [
      "SDE",
      "2.0x"
    ],
    "$500K to $1M": [
      "SDE",
      "3.0x"
    ],
    "$1M to $2M": [
      "SDE",
      "3.1x"
    ],
    "$2M to $5M": [
      "EBITDA",
      "4.1x"
    ],
    "$5M to $50M": [
      "EBITDA",
      "5.5x"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    "https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/7a-loans",
    "https://www.sba.gov/partners/lenders/7a-loan-program/terms-conditions-eligibility",
    "https://legacy.sba.gov/document/sop-50-10-lender-development-company-loan-programs",
    "https://www.ibba.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/market-pulse-highlights-q4-2025.pdf",
    "https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/plumbers-pipefitters-and-steamfitters.htm",
    "https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat11b.htm",
    "https://tsbpe.texas.gov/responsible-master-plumber/",
    "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0489/Sections/0489.119.html"
  ],
  "license": "Facts may be quoted with attribution to Acquisitions.com and a link to the url above."
}