Home Inspection & Septic Services

Selling your inspection or septic business? We buy them.

Stockton Ventures acquires profitable home inspection companies and septic service businesses generating $500K–$4M in annual revenue. Two categories that share what we look for: light capex, fragmented competition, and demand that doesn't quit.

Two underrated, well-aligned verticals

Home inspection and septic service share the same operating DNA — and both are dominated by owner-operators ready for a thoughtful exit.

01

Light asset bases

Inspection and septic businesses run on trucks, software, and certifications — not heavy equipment fleets. Working capital is modest, depreciation is predictable, and post-close capex surprises are rare.

02

Demand isn't going anywhere

Real estate transactions require inspections. Septic systems require pumping every 3–5 years and emergency service when they fail. Neither demand source is going to be disrupted by software.

03

Fragmented and acquirable

Both categories are dominated by individual owner-operators with no clear succession plan. That's the buyer's window — and the reason these are great roll-up categories.

What a Stockton fit looks like

Most of these are common to both inspection and septic businesses we acquire.

$500K–$4M annual revenue
Established with multiple inspectors / multiple trucks. Not a solo operation.
More than one inspector or driver
Revenue generated by a team, not just the owner. We need bench depth from day one.
Realtor / referral diversification (inspection)
For inspection businesses: revenue spread across many realtor relationships, not concentrated with one or two brokerages.
Recurring service base (septic)
For septic businesses: customer database with scheduled pumping cadences, not just emergency-only revenue.
Multi-year profitability
Three years of clean financials with healthy SDE margins (typically 18–30% in inspection, 15–22% in septic).
A reason you're ready to sell
Retirement, succession, partnership exit, or simply ready for the next chapter.

Three steps. Sixty to ninety days.

Diligence on these categories tends to be quick — fewer moving parts than restoration or commercial cleaning.

1

Initial conversation

30 minutes, fully confidential, no NDA. We learn about your team, your customer base, and what you want from a sale.

2

Diligence + offer

Three years of financials, customer database review, certification roster, equipment / truck list. Typically 2–3 weeks.

3

Close + transition

Cash at close. We typically request 30–60 days of transition support to be introduced to your top referral partners.

Selling an inspection or septic business: FAQ

What multiple do home inspection businesses sell for?
Profitable home inspection businesses typically sell for 2.5–3.5× SDE. The biggest valuation drivers are realtor referral diversification, the number of independent inspectors on the team (vs. owner doing every inspection), and ancillary revenue lines like radon, termite, or sewer scope.
What multiple do septic service businesses sell for?
Profitable septic businesses typically sell for 2.5–4× SDE depending on recurring vs. emergency mix, fleet age, and route density. Companies with a real customer database and regular pumping schedules land at the high end; emergency-only operators land lower.
What if I'm the only licensed inspector?
It's a real consideration but not a dealbreaker. We'd structure the deal with a transition period during which we onboard additional licensed inspectors with you available as a senior reviewer. The price reflects the additional risk and ramp.
Will you keep my truck and brand?
Yes. Local brand recognition matters in both categories — your customers and referral partners know you by name. We keep the brand, the trucks, and the local identity.
What about my realtor relationships?
Critical for home inspection. We typically schedule warm introductions to your top realtor and brokerage partners during the transition period. Letters and emails alone don't transfer relationships — face time does.
I'm not ready to sell yet — is it worth talking now?
Yes. Adding a second licensed inspector or building a recurring septic schedule are 12–18 month projects that meaningfully lift the multiple. A conversation now helps you focus on what matters most before a sale.

Adjacent service businesses we acquire

Ready to talk about your business?

Whether you're ready to sell now or 18 months out, the first conversation is the same: confidential, 30 minutes, no obligation.

Book a confidential call