Acquisition Strategy for a Multi-State Parking Lot Maintenance and Striping Company Using SBA 7(a), Contract Recurrence, and Seasonal Equipment Leasing

Multi-State Parking Lot Maintenance and Striping Company

June 30, 20256 min read

This article explores the strategic acquisition and scalability of a commercial parking lot maintenance and striping business operating across multiple states in the southeastern U.S. The company specializes in parking lot re-striping, sealcoating, crack filling, ADA compliance layout, signage installation, and small asphalt repairs. It services national retail chains, regional shopping centers, REIT-owned assets, industrial parks, municipalities, and hospital systems—most of which are recurring clients with annual or biannual maintenance cycles.

With $6.1 million in annual revenue and $1.14 million in adjusted EBITDA, this business presents a compelling acquisition opportunity for a buyer seeking recurring contract revenue, low capital intensity, and a predictable seasonal labor model. Over 70% of jobs are repeat clients with pre-negotiated pricing, often routed via national facility management companies or property managers. Clients value the company’s ability to complete large, multi-acre jobs overnight or during low-traffic windows with minimal disruption.

The business is an excellent fit for SBA 7(a) financing and supports further expansion through geographic coverage, equipment-based add-on services (such as snow plowing), and subcontractor network optimization. It is also uniquely positioned to consolidate smaller striping operators, offer turnkey compliance services, and pursue government bids for curb and asphalt maintenance.


Proposed SBA 7(a) Deal Structure

Due to consistent EBITDA, asset-backing through equipment, and contractual customer relationships, this acquisition supports a standard SBA 7(a) structure:

  • Purchase Price: $4.56 million (4.0x EBITDA)

  • SBA Loan: $3.42 million (75%)

  • Buyer Equity Injection: $456,000 (10%)

  • Seller Financing (Subordinated): $684,000 (15%), amortized over 6 years, with 12-month interest-only

Performance incentives and protections:

  1. 20% seller note clawback if more than 10% of national facility contracts terminate within 6 months

  2. Seller earns $75K performance bonus if buyer retains 95%+ of existing client revenue through next annual cycle

  3. Seller agrees to remain as transition advisor and subcontractor coordinator for 9 months


Client Segmentation and Revenue Profile

Customer composition:

  • National retail (CVS, Aldi, Walmart, Lowe’s, etc.): 34%

  • Commercial real estate management groups: 28%

  • Hospitals, universities, and school districts: 16%

  • Municipalities (curb painting, public lot maintenance): 12%

  • Industrial and distribution centers: 10%

Service mix:

  • Line striping and restriping: $2.4M

  • Sealcoating: $1.7M

  • Crack filling and patching: $780K

  • ADA upgrades (curb ramps, signage, truncated domes): $520K

  • Signage installation and bollard work: $460K

  • Thermoplastic road marking: $240K

Contracts are often bundled with other lot improvements and executed on pre-approved schedules with 24-hour turnaround requirements. Clients provide multi-site work orders through FM platforms like ServiceChannel, Corrigo, and SMS Assist.

Top 25 clients account for 63% of revenue. No single client represents more than 6.8%.


Operations and Route-Based Deployment

Field labor model:

  • 3 full-time in-house striping crews (4 people per crew)

  • 4 subcontractor-based crews for out-of-state or overflow work

  • 2 sealcoating teams (in-house) and 1 crack filling crew

  • 1 overnight compliance crew for ADA and curb painting

  • 2 schedulers/estimators and 1 compliance QA tech

Jobs are routed nightly with project loads assigned to geographic zones. Most jobs occur between 10 PM and 6 AM to avoid customer traffic. All crews use GPS tracking and report job completion via mobile inspection tools with time/date-stamped photos.

Technicians receive hourly pay plus job completion bonuses and nightly incentives during peak season (April–October). The company retains 90%+ of its seasonal crew leaders annually due to its bonus structure and off-season work with partner snow removal firms.


Fleet, Equipment, and Facilities

Fleet and equipment:

  • 5 striping trucks with mounted paint machines (Graco and Titan)

  • 3 sealcoating rigs (tanker and trailer-mounted)

  • 2 crack filling kettles (Cimline Magma)

  • 2 ADA compliance vans with ramps, stencils, domes, and signage kits

  • FMV of owned equipment: ~$870,000

Facility:

  • 7,200 sq ft warehouse with:

    • Paint storage and EPA-compliant waste area

    • Equipment servicing bay

    • Office and dispatch center with job board and route monitors

    • Employee break room and gear lockers

Real estate is leased at $7,500/month with 4 years remaining and a 5-year renewal option. Site is zoned for Class B commercial equipment storage.

Planned CapEx:

  • Replace 2 aging trucks: $90K (lease option)

  • Upgrade drone mapping and measurement tech: $12K

  • Add second crack fill rig for new geographic territory: $60K


Sales and Marketing Engine

Current sales model:

  • Inbound RFPs from ServiceChannel, Corrigo, and integrated vendors

  • Facility manager referrals and repeat buyers

  • Google Ads targeting "parking lot striping + city"

  • SEO-optimized blog for ADA compliance and signage changes

  • Relationship with national REIT portfolio managers and FM directors

Annual marketing spend: ~$48,000

Growth initiatives:

  1. Hire national account rep to pursue multi-state FM clients directly

  2. Bid for regional airport and city transit striping contracts

  3. Expand digital proposal platform to allow instant site quotes via Google Maps overlays

  4. Bundle with snow plowing services in cold-climate satellite markets

  5. Launch ADA compliance audit and upgrade program for CRE and public entities


Financial Summary

  • Revenue: $6.1M

  • COGS (labor, paint, fuel, subcontractors): $3.26M

  • Gross Profit: $2.84M

  • SG&A: $1.7M

  • Adjusted EBITDA: $1.14M (18.7%)

Margin by service:

  • Striping: 50–55%

  • Sealcoating: 45–48%

  • Crack filling: 40–50%

  • ADA and signage: 55–65%

  • Emergency service upcharges: 60–70%

Seasonality is managed with over-winter subcontracting and a snow services partnership that provides crew hours and storage rent sharing during low season. The company books 60%+ of the year’s revenue in Q2 and Q3.


Compliance and Risk Management

  • OSHA-trained technicians with PPE usage monitoring

  • EPA-approved paint disposal and washdown containment protocols

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

  • DOT numbers and intrastate licenses active in 5 states

  • No outstanding environmental violations or litigation

Clients require insurance proof, lien waivers, and completion photos. Some government contracts mandate e-verify and certified payroll. The company maintains a 96% on-time job completion rate over 24 months.


Working Capital and Transition Budget

  • Payroll float: $120K–$140K

  • Equipment upgrade and replacement: $100K–$150K

  • CRM and proposal tool integration: $10K

  • Seller transition and consulting: $35K–$40K

  • Sales rep hiring and territory development: $60K


Ideal Buyer Profiles

  • Route-based service operators with night shift crew experience

  • Asphalt, paving, or facilities maintenance entrepreneurs

  • PE-backed roll-up targeting property maintenance services

  • First-time buyers with ops management or dispatch backgrounds


Post-Close Execution Plan

  1. Audit all repeat client contracts for margin and route optimization

  2. Deploy second shift in key metro market to reduce travel miles

  3. Bid on city and county road contracts using thermoplastic equipment

  4. Hire national sales rep and pursue master service agreements

  5. Add ADA compliance audits to all commercial job quotes as upsell


Conclusion

This multi-state parking lot striping and maintenance business delivers reliable, high-margin revenue through route-based, compliance-driven services. With SBA 7(a) financing, a qualified buyer can secure a defensible asset-light operation with night shift labor efficiency, loyal national customers, and minimal client churn. Strategic value lies in scaling regionally, acquiring smaller operators, bundling services, and locking in contracts under national facility management systems. For the right buyer, this is a playbook-ready platform for long-term, recurring cash flow with a clear expansion path.

Co-Founder and COO of Eagle Dawn Capital

Danny Carlson

Co-Founder and COO of Eagle Dawn Capital

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