Catch Basin Cleaning Service
Private storm drains quietly fill with sludge until the parking lot floods
Bottom line
Worth studying, but do not buy without strong local proof.
Catch basin cleaning companies vacuum sediment, trash, oils, and debris from private storm drains at shopping centers, industrial yards, apartment complexes, hospitals, schools, and municipalities. It is an unglamorous compliance-and-prevention business: property owners pay because flooding, blocked drains, and improper sediment disposal become expensive fast.
Avg Revenue
$900K
Profit Margin
28%
Acquisition Multiple
2x - 4.2x
Startup Cost
$120K - $650K
How It Works
Crews use vacuum, vactor, clamshell, or jetting trucks to remove sediment from catch basins and storm drains, haul waste to approved disposal sites, document service for compliance, and schedule annual or biannual maintenance. Dense routes around commercial properties are the margin lever.
Revenue Range
BizBite underwriting snapshot
Pass for now
Catch Basin Cleaning Service has enough high-level data for a first look, but BizBite has not assigned a category-specific operating model yet. Treat the score as preliminary.
Category-level fit before lender-specific diligence.
Weak source data caps the final score.
Why it may work
- No strong positives yet. More verified data needed.
Be careful
- !Source link status has not been verified yet
- !No last-checked date yet
- !No SBA category enrichment yet
- !No category operating model yet
- !Low data confidence
Pros
- +Annual or biannual recurring maintenance demand
- +Compliance documentation creates switching friction
- +Emergency flooding calls can be high-ticket
- +Natural add-on for sewer, pumping, and parking-lot maintenance operators
Cons
- -Vacuum trucks and disposal requirements raise startup cost
- -Permitting and environmental compliance vary by region
- -Weather can create uneven demand and emergency scheduling
Best For
Environmental-service buyers, sewer contractors, septic operators, and route businesses with heavy-equipment discipline
Operating Costs
Major costs include vactor or vacuum trucks, fuel, disposal fees, CDL or trained operators, insurance, maintenance, jetting equipment, and compliance paperwork. Profit depends on route density, disposal distance, and recurring contracts rather than one-off emergency calls.
SBA Financing Estimator
Adjust the deal — see if it cash flows after debt service
Estimates only. Excludes owner compensation, capex, working capital draws, and taxes. Margin assumes average occupancy and volume. Actual SBA terms vary by lender and borrower profile.
Where to Buy
Commercial provider example showing catch basin cleaning as flood-prevention and drainage-system maintenance
Service overview noting private property owners typically maintain catch basins on annual or biannual schedules
Marketplace for environmental service, hauling, waste, and stormwater-adjacent acquisition comps
Acquisition Score
Scores margin (30), entry multiple (25), SBA market depth (20), category risk (15), and deal momentum (10). Higher = better acquisition candidate.
Quick Facts
- Category
- service
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Buy price
- $1.8M–$3.8M
Buyer's Toolkit
Essential tools to get started
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Largest business-for-sale marketplace in the US
SBA loans and business acquisition financing — get funded fast
ROBS financing — use retirement funds to buy a business tax-free
Bookkeeping for small business owners — hands-off financials
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