Who buys painting contractors businesses: 7 active acquirers
Named PE platforms, franchisors, and strategic consolidators currently acquiring painting contractors businesses. Every listing is drawn from public 10-K filings, funding announcements, and industry association reports — sourced, dated, and cross-checked.
Painting Contractors multiples currently trade at SDE 2.25x–3.5x and EBITDA 4x–6x for well-run Main Street businesses under $5M revenue. The buyer graph below is what makes the difference between the low end and the high end.
Private equity platforms
PE-backed painting contractors platforms
PE-backed acquirers looking to consolidate painting contractors businesses into regional or national platforms. Typically pay the highest multiples for well-run businesses with strong recurring revenue.
Groundworks
PE platformCortec Group-backed multi-service platform. Selective on painting-adjacent operators in dense metros.
Franchise systems
Painting Contractors franchisors
Franchise systems that acquire and convert independent operators. Structure and multiples differ meaningfully from PE / strategic deals — worth understanding before you commit to a process.
CertaPro Painters
FranchisorFranchise Group-owned. Actively converts independent painting operators and occasionally acquires in strategic metros.
Five Star Painting
FranchisorNeighborly Brands (KKR-backed) portfolio. Franchise-conversion focused with occasional direct acquisitions.
WOW 1 DAY PAINTING
FranchisorNeighborly Brands portfolio. Franchise system oriented around one-day residential repaint model.
Fresh Coat Painters
FranchisorStrategic Franchising Systems. Active franchisor with residential-repaint focus.
ProTect Painters
FranchisorFranchise Group portfolio. Residential-focused franchise system.
Consolidators & other
Other active acquirers
Consolidators, search funds, and other buyer archetypes actively engaging with the market.
1-800-PAINTING
ConsolidatorRegional consolidator with franchise-like operating model.
Timing intel
When painting contractors deals close
Northern operators see 40%+ revenue swings across the year (exterior season is Apr-Oct). Sun Belt operators run more evenly with interior work smoothing winter. Buyers prefer to close ahead of exterior season so they capture the peak-cash quarter.
- Peak close months
- May, June, July, August, September
- Softest months
- December, January, February
People also ask
Common painting contractors buyer questions
Which private equity firms are buying painting contractors companies right now?
Groundworks are the most active PE-backed platforms currently acquiring in painting contractors. Groundworks: Cortec Group-backed multi-service platform. Selective on painting-adjacent operators in dense metros.Do painting contractors franchisors acquire independent operators?
Yes — CertaPro Painters, Five Star Painting, WOW 1 DAY PAINTING, Fresh Coat Painters run franchise systems that regularly acquire and convert independent operators. Franchise-conversion structures differ meaningfully from PE / strategic deals — worth understanding before you commit to a specific process.How do I get a painting contractors buyer to make a real offer?
Run a competitive process, not a one-off conversation. Buyers pay their best price when they think another qualified buyer is at the table. A sell-side broker who has closed with the buyers above will run that process for you — and knows what each buyer actually values.When do most painting contractors deals close?
Northern operators see 40%+ revenue swings across the year (exterior season is Apr-Oct). Sun Belt operators run more evenly with interior work smoothing winter. Buyers prefer to close ahead of exterior season so they capture the peak-cash quarter. Peak close months: May, June, July, August, September. If you're planning your timeline, target listing 4–6 months ahead of these peaks so due-diligence lands in the buyer's active window.
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