Who buys restoration (water / fire / mold) businesses: 8 active acquirers
Named PE platforms, franchisors, and strategic consolidators currently acquiring restoration (water / fire / mold) businesses. Every listing is drawn from public 10-K filings, funding announcements, and industry association reports — sourced, dated, and cross-checked.
Restoration (Water / Fire / Mold) multiples currently trade at SDE 3x–4.25x and EBITDA 5x–7.5x 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.
Strategic acquirers
Strategic restoration (water / fire / mold) acquirers
Operating companies acquiring for market coverage, capability, or route density. Often value the specific book of business over the platform play.
First Onsite
StrategicFirstService Corporation-backed strategic acquirer.
Franchise systems
Restoration (Water / Fire / Mold) 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.
SERVPRO
FranchisorBlackstone-backed franchise system, converts independents.
Timing intel
When restoration (water / fire / mold) deals close
Restoration M&A follows the loss-season cycle: hurricanes in the Southeast drive Q3-Q4, winter freezes drive Q1. Buyers prefer post-season close so full-year loss volume is in the books.
- Peak close months
- April, May, September, October
- Softest months
- December, January
People also ask
Common restoration (water / fire / mold) buyer questions
Who are the strategic acquirers in restoration (water / fire / mold)?
BluSky Restoration, ATI Restoration, First Onsite, BELFOR are the primary strategic acquirers active in restoration (water / fire / mold). Strategics typically pay for market coverage, capability, or route density rather than the platform play PE firms pursue.Do restoration (water / fire / mold) franchisors acquire independent operators?
Yes — SERVPRO, PuroClean, Restoration 1, 1-800 WATER DAMAGE 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 restoration (water / fire / mold) 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 restoration (water / fire / mold) deals close?
Restoration M&A follows the loss-season cycle: hurricanes in the Southeast drive Q3-Q4, winter freezes drive Q1. Buyers prefer post-season close so full-year loss volume is in the books. Peak close months: April, May, September, October. 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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