Commercial Kitchen Equipment Repair
Restaurants can't afford downtime. You fix that.
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
Difficulty
3/5
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
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%.
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
Buyer's Toolkit
Essential tools to get started
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Tools for Buyers
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Browse Listings →SBA loans and business acquisition financing — get funded fast
Get Acquisition Financing →ROBS financing — use retirement funds to buy a business tax-free
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Quick Facts
- Category
- service
- Difficulty
- 3/5
- Acquisition Price
- $2.3M - $3.6M
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Commercial Kitchen Equipment Repair
$900K/yr • 28% margins • 2.5x–4x multiple
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