Christmas Light Installation
90 days of work. 12 months of recurring clients.
Bottom line
Accessible entry point; validate local supply before buying.
Christmas light installation companies install, maintain, and remove holiday lighting displays for residential and commercial properties each season. The business runs almost entirely from October through January — but top operators book $250K–$750K in a single 90-day window. Recurring clients (who sign up for annual service) are the engine: retention rates above 80% make this a de facto subscription business with extraordinary gross margins.
Avg Revenue
$350K
Profit Margin
38%
Acquisition Multiple
1.5x - 2.5x
Startup Cost
$15K - $60K
How It Works
Crews install customer-owned or company-supplied lights on homes, commercial storefronts, and events. Most revenue is booked in October–December. Off-season time is used for marketing, quoting, and equipment prep. Annual service agreements lock in customers — they prepay or sign up in fall, creating predictable seasonal revenue. Upsells include wreaths, garland, and commercial displays at $5K–$50K+ per install.
Revenue Range
BizBite underwriting snapshot
Watch / verify
Christmas Light Installation 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
- +Attractive 38% estimated margin profile
- +SBA dataset shows 212 recent comparable loans
Be careful
- !Source link status has not been verified yet
- !No last-checked date yet
- !No category operating model yet
- !No category model yet
Real Acquisitions in This Category
SBA 7(a) change-of-ownership loans · NAICS 561730 · Landscaping Services
Deal Size Distribution
Deal Flow Over Time
Financing Profile
Recent Comparable Deals
| Closed | State | Loan | Implied deal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2026 | NY | $135K | $159K |
| Mar 2026 | NJ | $150K | $177K |
| Mar 2026 | NJ | $1.4M | $1.6M |
| Mar 2026 | CA | $333K | $392K |
| Mar 2026 | MN | $83K | $97K |
| Mar 2026 | IL | $1.2M | $1.4M |
| Mar 2026 | MA | $100K | $118K |
| Mar 2026 | FL | $1.2M | $1.4M |
| Feb 2026 | SC | $480K | $565K |
| Feb 2026 | IN | $990K | $1.2M |
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA dataset, filtered to acquisitions (loans where business age is "Change of Ownership"). Implied deal size assumes an 85% loan-to-purchase ratio, a common SBA change-of-ownership structure. Charge-off rate shown only when 10+ loans have resolved (paid in full or charged off). Interest rates reflect last 24 months only. Actual deal values vary with equity injections, seller financing, and working capital terms.
Pros
- +90-day season with 80%+ client retention each year — effectively recurring revenue
- +Gross margins of 35–45% are 3× higher than standard lawn care
- +Low barrier: a truck, ladders, lights, and hustle — no specialized license required
- +Add-on to existing service businesses (landscaping, pressure washing) with minimal overhead
Cons
- -Intensely seasonal — 90% of revenue in Q4, income planning required
- -Labor crunch during peak season; crews must be hired and trained fast
- -Weather delays can compress an already-short install window
Best For
Entrepreneurs who already run seasonal service businesses or want high-margin work with off-season downtime
Operating Costs
Main costs are labor (30–40% of revenue during install season), equipment (lights, clips, trucks), and storage. Many operators lease lights to customers to reduce upfront capital.
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
Search for established Christmas light businesses with client bases for sale
Franchise and licensing model for holiday light installation businesses
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
- 2/5
- Buy price
- $525K–$875K
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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