The short answer: A staffed operating company prices at roughly 2×, 5.5× SDE, a $500K-revenue company with $150K SDE prices near $450,000 at a 3× mid-market multiple. A standalone route (accounts only) instead prices at 6×, 12× monthly recurring revenue. With an SBA 7(a) loan on the operating company, plan for roughly 10% down (~$45K) plus closing costs and working capital. Small pure routes are usually financed with a seller note instead of a bank loan.
Purchase price by firm size
Pool service pricing depends heavily on what's actually for sale. A staffed company with trucks, employees, and a repair/install line prices as a multiple of SDE:
| Revenue | SDE (~20%, 30%) | Price @ 2.5× | Price @ 3× | Price @ 5× |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $350,000 | $85,000 | $212,500 | $255,000 | $425,000 |
| $750,000 | $180,000 | $450,000 | $540,000 | $900,000 |
| $1,500,000 | $375,000 | $937,500 | $1,125,000 | $1,875,000 |
A real Orlando-area listing observed on BizBuySell in 2026 priced a $425,000-SDE pool operating company at $1.25M, a 2.9× multiple, a useful mid-market data point. Multiples toward the low end (2×, 2.75×) fit solo, cash-heavy, owner-dependent routes; toward the high end (4×, 5.5×) fit dense, systemized, staff-run companies with strong autopay and a repair/install revenue line. Check current comps on the pool service multiples page.
How a standalone route is priced (different rule)
If you're buying just the customer accounts, no trucks, no employees, no brand, the market prices it differently: as a multiple of monthly recurring revenue (MRR), not SDE.
| Route size | Typical MRR | Price @ 6×, 12× MRR |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40 accounts | $4,000, $6,000 | $30,000, $60,000 |
| 40 to 100 accounts | $6,000, $15,000 | $60,000, $200,000 |
| 100+ accounts | $15,000, $40,000+ | $200,000, $500,000+ |
Real listings bear this out: a Palm Beach County, FL route with 100 accounts and about $17,900 in monthly recurring income was on the market at roughly this multiple range in 2026, while larger 300+ account routes in the Lakewood Ranch and Pinellas/Pasco areas of Florida carried $50,000, $62,000 in monthly recurring income. Premium, high-density routes with strong retention can reach 12×, 15× MRR. Route brokers typically structure payment as 50%, 70% at closing with the balance paid over 6 to 12 months, contingent on account retention.
Two routes with the same account count can be priced a world apart, density and autopay decide which one you're buying.
What moves the multiple
| Pushes multiple up | Pushes multiple down |
|---|---|
| 85%+ autopay penetration | Mostly cash/check billing |
| Tight, dense route (70 to 100 pools/tech) | Scattered accounts, high drive time |
| Low churn (under industry's 15%, 20% avg) | Chronic cancellations, revolving-door accounts |
| Tenured staff who stay post-close | Owner personally services every stop |
| Repair/install revenue line, CPO/contractor-licensed staff | Cleaning-only, seasonal Northern-market revenue |
Down payment & the full cost stack
For a real operating company, budget for more than the sticker price. On an SBA 7(a) acquisition:
- Equity injection, ~10% of project cost. Part can sometimes be a seller note on full standby that counts toward your injection.
- SBA + closing fees, guaranty fee, packaging, and closing costs.
- Diligence, legal review and a quality-of-earnings check to confirm SDE, autopay penetration, and churn.
- Working capital, payroll, chemicals, and fuel through the ramp-up period before you've fully absorbed the route.
Small routes usually skip the bank
SBA lenders want collateral, staff, and documented cash flow, a small standalone route with no trucks or employees often doesn't fit that box. These deals more commonly close with a seller note, an unsecured line of credit, or cash, with 50%, 70% paid at closing and the rest tied to retention over the following months.
A worked deal
You buy a staffed pool service company with $500,000 revenue and $150,000 SDE (30% margin, two technicians, residential + commercial mix, ~90% autopay) at a 3.0× mid-market multiple, a $450,000 price.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Purchase price (3.0× $150K SDE) | $450,000 |
| Equity injection (~10%) | $45,000 |
| SBA 7(a) loan (~90%) | $405,000 |
| Est. annual debt service (10 yr, ~11%) | −$66,970 |
| SDE available | $150,000 |
| Cash flow after debt (pre-owner-wage) | $83,030 |
| DSCR (SDE ÷ debt service) | ~2.24× |
Even after the loan payment, the company throws off ~$83K before you draw a formal salary, and the DSCR clears typical lender minimums of 1.15×, 1.25× with plenty of room. Reserve a market wage for yourself if you're also running routes, and the deal still cash-flows. Model your own version in the valuation calculator, then read how SBA financing works.
Run this deal with your numbers
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Frequently asked questions
A whole operating company (trucks, staff, repair revenue) generally prices at 2x to 5.5x seller's discretionary earnings. A company with $500,000 revenue and $150,000 SDE at a 3x mid-market multiple prices near $450,000. A standalone route with no trucks or staff instead prices at 6x to 12x monthly recurring revenue, so a route billing $15,000 a month might sell for $90,000 to $180,000.
For a staffed operating company financed with an SBA 7(a) loan, budget roughly 10% equity injection. On a $450,000 deal that's about $45,000. Small standalone routes with no employees or hard assets are harder to finance through a bank; buyers commonly cover 30%-50% of the price with a seller note or pay in cash with a smaller upfront installment.
Around 2x to 5.5x SDE is the market range for whole operating companies. Pay toward the top only for high route density, 85%+ autopay penetration, tenured staff, and a repair/install revenue line. Pay toward the bottom for a solo, cash-heavy, seasonal route where the owner does all the work.
Yes. A standalone route sale (just customer accounts, no trucks or employees) is priced as a multiple of monthly recurring revenue, typically 6x to 12x MRR. A whole operating company with trucks, staff, and repair revenue is priced as a multiple of seller's discretionary earnings, typically 2x to 5.5x SDE. Confirm which one you're actually being offered before comparing multiples across listings.
Sources
- Pool service & pool route listings, prices, and multiples, BizBuySell; BizBuySell Swimming Pool Businesses (2026).
- Route valuation methodology & MRR multiples, PoolFounder; PoolDial.
- Industry revenue & margin benchmarks, IBISWorld (2025).
- SBA 7(a) equity injection & DSCR standards, sba.gov 7(a) program; SOP 50 10 8. Pool-route financing fit, Sealey Business Brokers.
