Elevator Maintenance and Modernization Business

This article presents a detailed acquisition plan for a specialized elevator maintenance, repair, and modernization company serving mid-rise and high-rise commercial buildings, hospitals, senior living centers, universities, and government facilities. The company operates in a tightly regulated environment with high technical barriers to entry, recurring maintenance obligations, and regulatory inspection requirements that create durable customer relationships.

The business generates $4.7 million in annual revenue and $1.12 million in adjusted EBITDA. Approximately 78% of revenue is recurring through multi-year elevator maintenance contracts that mandate monthly or quarterly service visits per jurisdictional code. The remaining 22% comes from emergency repairs, modernization retrofits, and state-mandated inspections. The business holds both state and federal elevator contractor licenses and employs licensed journeymen trained under a state apprenticeship model.

This business is an ideal candidate for SBA 7(a) financing due to its high EBITDA margin, defensible licensing moat, and long-term contracts. Strategic buyers can grow by acquiring independent elevator service firms, expanding into residential high-rise and industrial platforms, and layering in elevator interior design/refurbishment services.

Proposed SBA 7(a) Deal Structure

The business has a stable revenue base and asset-light profile that supports a typical SBA-backed leveraged buyout structure:

• Purchase Price: $4.48 million (4.0x EBITDA)

• SBA Loan: $3.36 million (75%)

• Buyer Equity Injection: $448,000 (10%)

• Seller Financing (Subordinated): $672,000 (15%) amortized over 6 years, interest-only for the first 12 months

Risk mitigation and incentives:

1. Seller note is subject to 25% clawback if recurring contracts representing more than 10% of revenue are canceled in the first 6 months post-close

2. Seller bonus of $50K if buyer retains 95% of contract revenue by the first anniversary

3. Seller to remain licensed Responsible Managing Officer (RMO) or provide transition path to in-house RMO for 12 months

Client Segmentation and Revenue Mix

Customer profile:

• Commercial office buildings (Class A and B): 38%

• Hospitals and healthcare facilities: 19%

• Government and municipal buildings: 17%

• Universities and school campuses: 10%

• Senior living and residential towers: 9%

• Industrial and logistics platforms: 7%

Service mix:

• Recurring maintenance contracts (monthly/quarterly visits): $3.65M

• Emergency repairs and callback service: $480K

• Modernization and control panel upgrades: $410K

• State inspection coordination and certification: $155K

Contracts typically span 3 to 5 years with 30-day cancellation windows subject to minimum service thresholds. Agreements include 24/7 on-call coverage, scheduled mechanical inspection, lubrication, and minor adjustment service.

Clients value compliance documentation, service call response time, and consistency in licensed techs. Contracts are assignable upon sale and carry performance-based renewal provisions.

Top 30 clients account for 65% of revenue. No single customer exceeds 6.2% of top-line billing.

Workforce, Licensing, and Technical Infrastructure

Labor force:

• 6 licensed journeyman elevator technicians (4 with over 8 years’ tenure)

• 1 modernization technician focused on controller upgrades and elevator interiors

• 2 apprentices in state-registered training program

• 1 field supervisor/inspector

• 2 customer service reps

• 1 compliance and licensing officer

Each elevator technician is OSHA-certified, state-licensed, and maintains Continuing Education Units (CEUs) annually to retain compliance. Labor rates reflect union equivalency without actual union structure, giving the business a cost advantage over OEMs.

Post-close labor strategy:

1. Sponsor additional apprentices under the company’s training program

2. Provide licensing support for buyer to assume RMO role within 12–18 months

3. Retain key techs with milestone-based bonuses and profit share tied to retention KPIs

Fleet, Tools, and Operating Assets

Fleet:

• 6 fully stocked service vans (equipped with lift kits, calibration tools, and spare parts)

• FMV: ~$310K (owned)

Facility:

• 4,200 sq ft leased office and warehouse space

  • Parts inventory room (valued at ~$210K)

  • Dispatch office and technician lockers

  • Training simulator with test rig for mechanicals and controllers

Lease: $4,500/month, 2 years remaining with 5-year renewal option

CapEx plan:

• Upgrade technician mobile toolkits and dispatch tablets: $18K

• Add second modernization tech with van and tools: $95K (can be financed)

• Implement remote diagnostics and client-facing elevator dashboard: $12K

Sales and Marketing Engine

Current client acquisition:

• Referrals from property managers, mechanical contractors, and developers

• State bid registry participation for public buildings

• Inbound web traffic from targeted Google Ads (“elevator maintenance + city”)

• Minimal outbound or dedicated sales force

Marketing budget: ~$2,800/month

Growth levers:

1. Hire business development rep to target property management groups and REITs

2. Bid for school district and hospital group inspection bundles

3. Acquire independent elevator service firms and convert to branded routes

4. Launch premium modernization packages for mid-cycle interior upgrades

5. Offer “compliance audit + onboarding” program for distressed elevator systems

Financial Summary

• Revenue: $4.7M

• COGS (labor, parts, fuel): $2.31M

• Gross Profit: $2.39M

• SG&A: $1.27M

• Adjusted EBITDA: $1.12M (23.8%)

Margins:

• Recurring maintenance: 55–60%

• Emergency repairs: 60–70%

• Modernization: 45–50%

• Inspection services: 65%+

Invoicing is monthly or quarterly based on service tier. Emergency calls are billed separately or under existing contracts depending on plan. Receivables are collected on 30-day terms with minimal aging.

Compliance and Risk Management

• All field techs are OSHA and manufacturer-certified

• State elevator contractor license in place with licensed RMO

• DOT compliance for fleet

• Fully insured: $2M GL, $1M auto, $1M umbrella, $1M workers comp

• No open litigation or warranty claim issues

Buyer must either qualify for elevator license within a defined period or maintain seller or other license holder as Responsible Managing Employee (RME).

Working Capital and Transition Budget

• Payroll float: $120K–$130K

• Technician bonus and retention pool: $35K

• Technician recruitment and licensing support: $30K

• Modernization division expansion (van + hire): $95K

• Seller transition and licensing retainer: $40K

Ideal Buyer Profiles

• Trade service entrepreneurs with mechanical or HVAC background

• Facilities compliance service firms expanding vertically

• Buyers with PE backing targeting recurring compliance revenue

• License-eligible professionals seeking platform business

Post-Close Execution Plan

1. Meet all top 25 clients to reaffirm license continuity and retain SLAs

2. Begin modernization and controller upsell program with backlog of qualifying elevators

3. Hire modernization technician and begin training a second apprentice

4. Conduct full route audit to balance technician time, optimize call windows

5. Launch bid campaign targeting schools, hospitals, and senior living portfolios

Conclusion

This elevator service and modernization company offers high-margin, regulatory-anchored recurring revenue with minimal churn and strong barriers to entry. SBA 7(a) financing allows for low-equity acquisition of a specialized technical services platform with in-place licensing, trained techs, and valuable contracts. With disciplined growth through territory expansion, modernization upsells, and strategic roll-ups, this business provides a durable foundation for buyers seeking regulated, repeatable income and long-term client retention in a defensible niche.