Commercial Kitchen Equipment Repair
Restaurants can't afford downtime. You fix that.
Bottom line
Accessible entry point; validate local supply before buying.
Commercial kitchen equipment repair technicians service the fryers, ovens, walk-in coolers, dishwashers, and ice machines that every restaurant depends on. When equipment breaks, restaurants lose money by the hour — making this an emergency service with premium pricing power. A real acquisition: PGM Service in Tampa sold for $1.64M on $2.6M revenue and $500K+ SDE — a 3x multiple on a recession-proof business.
Avg Revenue
$900K
Profit Margin
28%
Acquisition Multiple
2.5x - 4x
Startup Cost
$20K - $80K
How It Works
Technicians hold factory certifications from equipment brands (Hobart, Vulcan, Manitowoc, etc.) and respond to emergency repair calls or scheduled preventive maintenance visits. Emergency calls command premium rates ($150–$250/hour plus parts). Preventive maintenance contracts with restaurant chains provide recurring monthly income. The business scales by adding technicians and expanding into new restaurant accounts.
Revenue Range
BizBite underwriting snapshot
Watch / verify
Commercial Kitchen Equipment Repair 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
- +SBA dataset shows 59 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 811310 · Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance
Deal Size Distribution
Deal Flow Over Time
Financing Profile
Recent Comparable Deals
| Closed | State | Loan | Implied deal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2026 | NY | $3.3M | $3.8M |
| Mar 2026 | FL | $2.8M | $3.2M |
| Feb 2026 | WA | $900K | $1.1M |
| Feb 2026 | AZ | $1.4M | $1.7M |
| Feb 2026 | TX | $1.2M | $1.4M |
| Feb 2026 | TX | $250K | $294K |
| Jan 2026 | TX | $200K | $235K |
| Jan 2026 | NY | $500K | $588K |
| Jan 2026 | TX | $1.3M | $1.5M |
| Jan 2026 | MD | $965K | $1.1M |
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
- +Emergency pricing power — restaurants pay premium to get back online fast
- +Manufacturer certifications create defensible competitive moats
- +Recurring revenue through preventive maintenance (PM) contracts
- +Restaurant industry is massive and always needs equipment serviced
- +SBA 7(a) financing readily available for acquisitions
Cons
- -Requires technical training and manufacturer certifications
- -Skilled technicians are hard to find and retain
- -Parts procurement can be slow and tie up working capital
- -On-call emergency culture can be demanding on staff
Best For
Former restaurant equipment techs going independent; searchers with mechanical aptitude looking for a B2B service business with SBA financing potential
Operating Costs
Labor (certified techs) is the primary cost at 40–50% of revenue. Parts markup (100–200% over cost) is a major profit driver. Vehicles and tools run 10–15%. Established operators with PM contracts report EBITDA margins of 20–30%.
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
Real acquisition story: $2.6M revenue commercial kitchen repair business bought for $1.64M
Restaurant equipment service businesses listed for acquisition
Detailed teardown of a commercial kitchen repair acquisition target
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
- 3/5
- Buy price
- $2.3M–$3.6M
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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