HVAC, home health & home services M&A activity sits at record highs heading into 2026.

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Delaware Selective PE Market

What's Your Delaware Plumbing Business Worth?

Delaware has 223 plumbing businesses generating an estimated $570M in annual revenue. Here is what buyers are actually paying, what drives multiples up or down, and how to find out what your specific business is worth.

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Delaware Plumbing Market · BLS QCEW 2024
Plumbing businesses (est.)
223
Industry employment
2,375
Est. annual market size
$570M
Avg. business revenue
$2.6M
Source: BLS QCEW 2024 Annual, NAICS 23822 (Plumbing and HVAC Contractors, Private Sector), plumbing share apportioned by BLS OEWS May 2024 occupational mix (SOC 47-2152 vs 49-9021). Revenue estimated at ~$240K per employee (PHCC industry benchmark). Data & methodology

Housing Stock & Demand Signal

Aged-infrastructure demand. Older housing stock drives steady repipe, sewer line, and water heater replacement work. Buyers value the predictable repair-and-replace revenue base, and drain and sewer service lines add recurring revenue that lifts multiples.

Selective PE Market

Buyer Landscape in Delaware

Delaware is a lighter PE market for plumbing. Most sales here go to strategic buyers, larger local operators, or family transitions. Well-run shops with clean books, licensed staff on payroll, and recurring drain or membership revenue still command premium pricing.

Plumbing Valuation Multiples by Business Size · Delaware

The larger your plumbing business, the higher the multiple buyers will pay. Below is where Delaware shops typically fall in the 2026 market, based on comparable transactions and current PE platform activity.

Business Size Valuation Basis Typical Multiple
Under $500K revenue SDE 1.8× – 2.8×
$500K – $2M revenue SDE 2.2× – 3.4×
$2M – $5M revenue SDE / EBITDA 3× – 4.5×
$5M – $15M revenue EBITDA 4.5× – 7×
$15M – $50M revenue EBITDA 6× – 8.5×
$50M+ revenue EBITDA 7.5× – 11×

Multiples are directional. Actual sale prices depend on recurring revenue, owner dependency, customer concentration, financial hygiene, and buyer type. Take the Exit Score to see where your specific business lands.

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What Actually Drives Your Delaware Plumbing Multiple

Membership & drain revenue

Recurring revenue is the biggest lever in plumbing. Buyers pay 1-2 extra turns of EBITDA for shops where membership programs and recurring drain, sewer, and jetting contracts make up 25%+ of revenue. In Delaware, PE-backed platforms model recurring revenue percentage as a first-page deal metric.

Owner dependency

If the business runs when you take two weeks off, it is worth more. If you hold the master license, answer every call, and price every job, buyers will discount aggressively or require you to stay for 3+ years post-close.

Licensed plumber retention

Delaware has an estimated 2,375 plumbing industry workers across 223 shops. Licensed journeymen and masters are the scarce resource. Buyers pay premium multiples for shops that keep licensed plumbers 5+ years and have licenses held beyond the owner.

Clean financials

Accrual-basis books, reviewed or audited financials, and a clean chart of accounts add real dollars to your exit price. Cash-basis QuickBooks cost owners 10-15% at the table.

Frequently Asked · Delaware Plumbing Valuation

What is the average plumbing business worth in Delaware? +
A typical plumbing business in Delaware does about $2.6M in annual revenue with roughly 10.7 employees. For an owner-operated shop, that usually translates to $200K to $600K in seller's discretionary earnings (SDE), which at Delaware's current market of 1.75x to 4x SDE means the business is likely worth $350K to $2.4M in a normal sale. Larger operators above $1M EBITDA get valued at 3.5x to 8x EBITDA.
Are private equity buyers active in Delaware? +
Delaware is a lighter PE market for plumbing. Most sales here go to strategic buyers, larger local operators, or family transitions. Well-run shops with clean books, licensed staff on payroll, and recurring drain or membership revenue still command premium pricing.
How does Delaware's housing stock affect plumbing business valuations? +
Aged-infrastructure demand. Older housing stock drives steady repipe, sewer line, and water heater replacement work. Buyers value the predictable repair-and-replace revenue base, and drain and sewer service lines add recurring revenue that lifts multiples.
How many plumbing businesses are for sale in Delaware? +
Delaware has approximately 223 plumbing establishments (BLS QCEW 2024, NAICS 23822, plumbing share estimated via BLS OEWS May 2024 occupational mix). In any given year, roughly 4 to 6% change hands through owner retirement, private equity acquisitions, and estate transitions. That means 11 businesses per year, on average, are candidates for sale. Most transactions happen quietly and never hit a public listing site.
What is the fastest way to know what my Delaware plumbing business is worth? +
Take the free Exit Score assessment. It takes about 5 minutes, asks the same questions a buyer or investment banker would ask, and returns your estimated valuation range plus the specific factors moving your multiple up or down. No sales call, no obligation, just the number.

Find out what your Delaware plumbing business is worth

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