Hydrovac Excavation
The $500K-a-truck business that digs up America's buried infrastructure
Hydrovac excavation uses pressurized water and a vacuum system to safely expose underground utilities without risk of hitting gas lines, fiber, or electrical conduits. Every construction project near utilities is legally required to use safe digging methods — and hydrovac is the gold standard. A well-run truck generates $300K–$500K/year, and a 3-truck operation can generate $1M+ with one operator-manager. The global market is growing at 5%+ CAGR as infrastructure spending accelerates.
Avg Revenue
$700K
Profit Margin
28%
Acquisition Multiple
2.5x - 4x
Startup Cost
$300K - $800K
Difficulty
3/5
How It Works
Contractors, utilities, and municipalities hire hydrovac companies to expose underground lines before digging. Jobs are charged by the hour ($250–$500/hr) or by the project. Trucks can run 2,000+ billable hours per year in active markets. Government infrastructure contracts provide recurring, predictable revenue.
Revenue Range
Pros
- +Mandatory compliance work — contractors cannot legally skip it
- +Infrastructure spending tailwind drives long-term demand
- +High hourly rates with government and utility contracts
- +Competitive barrier: equipment cost keeps casual entrants out
Cons
- -Truck cost of $400K–$700K new creates capital requirement
- -Maintenance-intensive equipment with high downtime risk
- -Requires CDL drivers and specialized operator training
Best For
Operators with civil construction experience or existing relationships with utilities and contractors
Operating Costs
Operating costs run $100K–$200K per truck per year: fuel, maintenance, insurance, CDL driver wages, and disposal fees for excavated material.
Where to Buy
Find excavation and hydrovac businesses for sale
Browse excavation company acquisitions nationwide
Quick Facts
- Category
- service
- Difficulty
- 3/5
- Acquisition Price
- $1.8M - $2.8M
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Hydrovac Excavation
$700K/yr • 28% margins • 2.5x–4x multiple
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