Sell Your Plumbing Business in California
Who is buying plumbing companies in California
Named plumbing acquisitions we have recorded in California
- the largest independent Roto-Rooter franchise, acquired by Roto-Rooter (strategic / public)Announced Sep 2026 · Northern San Diego, Palm Springs, Ventura, Bakersfield, Lancaster, Fresno, Monterey, Stockton, Modesto, Manteca and Sacramento, California · Source ↗
- A-1 Total Service Plumbing, acquired by Repipe Specialists (private equity)Announced Jan 2025 · CA · Source ↗
Headquartered in California: Repipe Specialists (Burbank, CA).
| Platform | Owner / backer | Type | Headquarters | Scale | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roto-Rooter | Chemed Corporation (NYSE: CHE) | Strategic / public | Cincinnati, OH | 600+ company-owned and franchise locations across the US and Canada — the largest US plumbing and drain-cleaning brand | Source ↗ |
| P3 Services (formerly Peltram Plumbing Holdings) | Stellex Capital Management | Private equity | Hockley, TX (Houston area) | 10+ local plumbing brands across the Pacific Northwest, Texas / Southwest and Southeast | Source ↗ |
| Repipe Specialists | Gryphon Investors (Heritage Fund); founder retains a significant stake | Private equity | Burbank, CA | National residential repipe specialist (single- and multi-family) | Source ↗ |
| SageWater | Boyne Capital + Grindstone Partners | Private equity | Alexandria, VA | Multifamily repipe specialist · East Coast, West Coast, Hawaii and Southwest divisions | Source ↗ |
| Len The Plumber (LTP Home Services Group) | L Catterton (Thompson Street Capital, minority) | Private equity | Baltimore, MD | ~6 plumbing and HVAC brands across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast | Source ↗ |
| Flow Services Holdings | Propel Equity | Private equity | Mountain West (HQ city not publicly disclosed) | Early-stage residential sewer, drain and trenchless line-repair platform | Source ↗ |
| Regency Plumbing Contractors | Green Heron Partners | Private equity | Houston, TX | Commercial and industrial plumbing in Greater Houston (founded 1984) | Source ↗ |
| Wind River Environmental | Gryphon Investors | Private equity | Marlborough, MA | Largest Eastern-Seaboard consolidator of septic, grease-trap and liquid-waste services; 100+ acquisitions to date | Source ↗ |
| Mr. Rooter Plumbing | Neighborly (owned by KKR) | Franchisor | Waco, TX (Neighborly) | 250+ franchise locations across the US and Canada | Source ↗ |
| Benjamin Franklin Plumbing | Authority Brands (Apax Partners majority; BCI minority) | Franchisor | Columbia, MD (Authority Brands) | ~360 franchise territories across the US | Source ↗ |
Ownership verified June 30, 2026. See every platform's recent deals in the Plumbing roll-up tracker →
How many plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors are in California
The Census Bureau counted 11,686 plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors in California in 2023, the most of any state. 61% had fewer than five employees and 90% had fewer than 20. 415 had 50 or more.
| Employees | Establishments | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer than 5 | 7,120 | 61% |
| 5 to 9 | 2,125 | 18% |
| 10 to 19 | 1,301 | 11% |
| 20 to 49 | 725 | 6% |
| 50 or more | 415 | 4% |
The Census Bureau counts plumbing and HVAC contractors as a single category (NAICS 238220), so this figure includes HVAC contractors.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023 ↗ (NAICS 238220). An establishment is a single physical location, so an owner with three locations counts three times.
What a plumbing business in California is worth
Plumbing companies typically sell for 3.5x-6.5x EBITDA, or 2x-4x SDE for smaller owner-operated plumbing companies, with most deals in the $500K - $10M range. These are industry-wide benchmarks, reviewed July 2026, not an appraisal of your business.
What buyers pay more for
- +Emergency/24-hour service capability
- +Commercial contracts
- +Licensed plumber count
- +Service area density
What buyers discount
- -Residential-only focus
- -Single-location operations
- -Owner as primary technician
- -No dispatch/scheduling system
How selling through DealSeam works
A confidential conversation
We learn about your business and what you want from a sale. Nothing is listed publicly.
Introductions where there is a fit
Where a qualified buyer fits your business, we introduce you, and only after you approve it.
You decide
You choose whether to go further, on your own timeline. Sellers pay nothing; the buyer pays our fee if a deal closes.
Selling a plumbing business in California: common questions
How much is a plumbing business in California worth?
Plumbing companies typically sell for 3.5x-6.5x EBITDA, or 2x-4x SDE for smaller owner-operated plumbing companies, with most deals in the $500K - $10M range. Buyers tend to pay more for emergency/24-hour service capability, commercial contracts, licensed plumber count and service area density, and less where they see residential-only focus, single-location operations, owner as primary technician and no dispatch/scheduling system. These are industry benchmarks, not an appraisal of your business.
Who is buying plumbing companies in California?
Recent named deals in California include the largest independent Roto-Rooter franchise (acquired by Roto-Rooter, Sep 2026) and A-1 Total Service Plumbing (acquired by Repipe Specialists, Jan 2025). Nationally, the largest groups consolidating plumbing companies include Roto-Rooter (Chemed Corporation), P3 Services (Stellex Capital Management) and Repipe Specialists (Gryphon Investors); 7 of the 10 platforms we track are private-equity-backed.
How many plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors are there in California?
The Census Bureau's County Business Patterns counted 11,686 plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors in California in 2023, the most of any state. 61% had fewer than five employees, 90% had fewer than 20, and 415 had 50 or more. The Census Bureau counts plumbing and HVAC contractors as a single category (NAICS 238220), so this figure includes HVAC contractors.
Does it cost anything to sell through DealSeam?
No. Sellers pay nothing. When a deal closes, the buyer pays DealSeam's fee. There is no listing fee and no retainer.
Will my employees or customers find out I'm thinking about selling?
No. Nothing is listed publicly, and your details go to a buyer only after you approve that introduction.
Selling another kind of business in California?
Selling a plumbing business in another state?
Thinking about selling your plumbing business?
DealSeam works confidentially with owners to understand their options and, where there's a fit, introduces them to qualified buyers, at no cost to sellers.
Talk to us about your California business
Tell us how to reach you and we'll start a confidential, no-obligation conversation.
Sources
Valuation multiples are DealSeam's industry benchmarks, reviewed July 2026. Establishment counts are from the U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023 (NAICS 238220). Platform ownership comes from each platform's own or press sources, verified June 30, 2026. Named acquisitions are the deals we have recorded from public announcements, each linked to its source; they are not every deal in the state. Ownership in this sector changes often. None of this is investment, legal or tax advice.