Can I buy a plumbing company without a plumbing licence?

You can own it, but the company needs a licensed qualifying agent to work and pull permits. Plan who qualifies it before you sign and confirm the process with the Construction Industry Licensing Board.

What is work in progress and why does it matter in a contractor sale?

Jobs started but not finished. The purchase agreement decides who completes them and how their billings and costs are split, so the buyer neither inherits unpaid work nor pays twice for revenue already collected.

Is service revenue worth more than construction revenue?

Buyers usually value steady service and repair revenue from many customers above project revenue concentrated in a few contractors, because it is more predictable.

How to Buy a Plumbing or Electrical Company in Florida

A plumbing or electrical company is only as transferable as its licence. Florida licenses plumbing contractors through the Construction Industry Licensing Board and electrical contractors through the Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board, and each company works under a qualifying agent. Settle who will qualify the business before you settle the price.

Reviewed by Tyson E. Sam, Founder and Broker of Record, BreakThru Realty, Florida License 3565210

Last reviewed November 1, 2026

The Licence and the Qualifier

A licensed qualifying agent is responsible for the company's work and permits. If the selling owner is the qualifier, the business cannot keep pulling permits after they leave unless a new qualifier is in place. Options include qualifying it yourself, hiring a licensed qualifier, or keeping the seller in that role for a defined period; confirm the steps with the board that regulates the trade.

Service, Remodel and New Construction

Service and repair work for homeowners and property managers is steady and carries good margins. Remodel work depends on the housing market. New construction and commercial projects bring large contracts, retainage, bonding and the risk of one general contractor slowing payments. Ask for revenue by type and the backlog of signed work with its margins.

Contracts, Backlog and Warranties

Review signed contracts, retainage owed to the company, open warranty obligations and any disputes. In an asset purchase, decide which jobs in progress the buyer completes and how their revenue and costs are split at closing. Ask for the claims history on the general liability policy.

Technicians and Apprentices

Licensed journeymen and experienced technicians are hard to replace. Ask for headcount, tenure, pay, certifications and who leads which customer relationships. Plan retention before closing, because the people who do the work leave first when a sale is announced badly.

Fleet, Tools and Inventory

List the trucks and vans with ownership and loans, the tools and specialized equipment, and the parts inventory. Confirm the phone numbers, website, review profiles and service software transfer.

Financials, Financing and the Offer

Ask for three years of tax returns, job costing by type, accounts receivable aging and work in progress schedules. Value follows the earnings after the owner's roles are replaced. SBA 7(a) financing is open only to buyers whose owners are all U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals living in the United States (since March 1, 2026), with an equity injection of at least ten percent of the project cost; other buyers use cash, seller financing or a conventional loan. Consult a lender about your eligibility. Notes and earnouts tied to retention are common.

Businesses for Sale That Fit This Guide

Live MLS listings asking $240,000 or more, matched to this guide by their industry. Asking prices and income figures are as the listing brokers report them.

$500,000 Service Business for Sale in HialeahProfessional Service · Hialeah, FL · Gross $773,678 · Seller financing · MLS# A12119409Courtesy of Campos Commercial Real Estate LLC

Service businesses for sale in Florida

Talk to a Business Broker

A licensed BreakThru Realty business broker can read the lease, the financials and the listing with you before you make an offer. Call or text (786) 914-1017, or start your acquisition plan: a broker reviews your budget, industry and timing and replies with the businesses that fit.

Thinking About Selling Your Contracting Company?

Buyers of plumbing and electrical companies ask who holds the licence, how much work is service versus new construction, and which technicians and contracts stay. A broker can review your company confidentially against the requirements trade buyers have shared with BreakThru Realty.

Over 300 business buyers are already working with BreakThru Realty, seeking acquisitions across Florida. Before you list, a broker reviews what you own, the market around it and whether an existing buyer's requirements match. If none does, you see how we would position it to reach other qualified buyers.

Find Out If We Have a Buyer · Discuss Selling With BreakThru Realty

A potential match is a conversation, not an offer, until the buyer sees your property and makes one. No buyer is named and nothing about your property or business is shared until you decide to proceed.

Questions Buyers Ask

Can I buy a plumbing company without a plumbing licence?: You can own it, but the company needs a licensed qualifying agent to work and pull permits. Plan who qualifies it before you sign and confirm the process with the Construction Industry Licensing Board.
What is work in progress and why does it matter in a contractor sale?: Jobs started but not finished. The purchase agreement decides who completes them and how their billings and costs are split, so the buyer neither inherits unpaid work nor pays twice for revenue already collected.
Is service revenue worth more than construction revenue?: Buyers usually value steady service and repair revenue from many customers above project revenue concentrated in a few contractors, because it is more predictable.