Drain & Sewer Jetting Service
Emergency calls, zero inventory, and customers who have no choice but to call you
Drain and sewer jetting is one of the most defensible service niches in the trades: when a drain is blocked, nothing else matters. Operators use high-pressure water jetting equipment to clear residential and commercial drain lines, grease traps, and sewer mains. The work is unglamorous — which keeps competition low. A single-truck operation billing $300–$1,500 per job (commercial calls average higher) can generate $300K–$600K annually. Emergency call premium pricing is standard. Margins are strong because the primary input is water and labor. Franchises like Zoom Drain have validated the national roll-up thesis, making established operators attractive acquisition targets.
Avg Revenue
$450K
Profit Margin
30%
Acquisition Multiple
2x - 3x
Startup Cost
$30K - $100K
Difficulty
2/5
How It Works
Technicians respond to residential and commercial service calls to clear blocked or backed-up drain and sewer lines using jetter trucks or trailer-mounted jetting equipment. Commercial accounts (restaurants, hotels, hospitals) are the highest-value clients — they require preventative maintenance contracts, creating recurring revenue. Operators also offer CCTV camera inspection as an upsell, enabling them to find additional repair work upstream.
Revenue Range
Real Acquisitions in This Category
SBA 7(a) change-of-ownership loans · NAICS 562998 · All Other Miscellaneous Waste Management Services
Deal Size Distribution
Deal Flow Over Time
Financing Profile
Recent Comparable Deals
| Closed | State | Loan | Implied deal | Jobs | Franchise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | MN | $312K | $367K | 2 | — |
| Sep 2025 | AZ | $333K | $392K | 4 | — |
| Mar 2025 | FL | $619K | $728K | 6 | — |
| Oct 2024 | WI | $166K | $195K | 1 | — |
| Sep 2024 | IA | $4.5M | $5.3M | 13 | — |
| Jul 2024 | MI | $2.8M | $3.3M | 23 | — |
| May 2024 | CA | $215K | $253K | 3 | — |
| Dec 2023 | WY | $150K | $177K | 3 | — |
| Sep 2023 | CA | $1.8M | $2.1M | 1 | — |
| Sep 2023 | NY | $629K | $740K | 2 | — |
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 demand creates strong pricing power — blocked drains can't wait
- +Commercial preventative maintenance contracts add recurring revenue layer
- +Low inventory: primary input is water, fuel, and consumable hoses/nozzles
- +Unglamorous = low competition; most plumbers don't want to specialize here
- +National roll-up momentum (Zoom Drain, Wind River Environmental) signals acquisition demand
Cons
- -Physically demanding, occasionally unpleasant work environment
- -Jetting equipment ($20K–$80K per truck) requires maintenance and eventually replacement
- -Residential demand is reactive — harder to predict than commercial contracts
- -Licensing requirements vary by state; CCTV inspection adds certification needs
Best For
Buyers seeking an essential-services business with emergency pricing power and a clear commercial recurring revenue path
Operating Costs
Main costs: jetter truck purchase or lease, fuel, hoses and nozzles (consumables), liability insurance, 1–2 technicians, and dispatch software. Vehicle maintenance is the largest ongoing variable.
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
Plumbing and drain service businesses listed for sale nationwide
National drain service franchise as an alternative to independent acquisition
Plumbing, drain, and sewer service businesses for acquisition
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
- $900K–$1.4M
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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