How much does a Lightning Protection Inspection cost to buy?

A typical Lightning Protection Inspection sells for 1.7x to 4.6x seller's discretionary earnings. With estimated SDE of $122K, expect to pay roughly $207K to $559K before adjustments for assets, debt, growth, and local market quality.

How much does it cost to start a Lightning Protection Inspection?

Startup costs range from $18K to $140K depending on location, equipment, and scale.

Service

Lightning Protection Inspection

Rooftop rods nobody thinks about until insurance asks

Bottom line

Worth studying, but do not buy without strong local proof.

Lightning protection inspection companies inspect, test, document, repair, and certify lightning protection systems on schools, churches, factories, warehouses, hospitals, multifamily buildings, cell sites, and historic properties. The niche hides in plain sight: systems are installed once, then need inspection after roof work, storms, ownership changes, or insurer/AHJ requests.

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Acquisition score

Margin · multiple · SBA data

69Strong

Avg revenue

$320K/yr

$90K–$1.1M range

Profit margin

38%

~$122K SDE

Multiple

1.7–4.6×

of SDE

Est. buy price

$207K–$559K

startup: $18K–$140K

How It Works

Inspectors survey air terminals, conductors, bonding, surge protection, grounding, roof penetrations, and system continuity. They document deficiencies, coordinate repairs, and help customers maintain UL 96A, NFPA 780, or LPI-aligned records. Revenue comes from inspections, repairs, re-certifications, storm-damage assessments, and new installation referrals.

BizBite verdict

Watch / verify

Lightning Protection Inspection 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.

69Strong

low data confidence · 40/100medium financing fit

Why it may work

+Attractive 38% estimated margin profile

Be careful

!Source link status has not been verified yet
!No last-checked date yet
!No SBA category enrichment yet
!No category operating model yet
!Low data confidence

Deal Calculator

Priced off $122K SDE — can this deal service its own debt?

2.45×

DSCR · Lender-comfortable

Purchase multiple — 2.8× SDE ($340K)

Category range: 1.7×–4.6× SDE

Down payment — 10% ($34K)

SBA minimum equity injection is 10% for change-of-ownership

Interest rate — 10.50%

Typical SBA 7(a) range: 9.5–12% (prime-based)

Loan term — 10 years

Standard SBA 7(a): 10 years for business acquisition

Purchase price

$340K

2.8× of $122K SDE

Cash to close

$44K

$34K down + ~3% closing

Debt service

$4K/mo

$50K/yr on $306K loan

Cash-on-cash

163%

cash back in ~8 mo

Debt service coverage · what the lender sees

2.45×+$6K/mo after debt

Most SBA lenders want ≥1.25× coverage; 1.5×+ is a strong file.

SDE = revenue × margin estimate for this niche; it includes owner compensation, so budget your salary out of cash flow. Excludes working-capital injection, capex reserves, and taxes. Actual SBA terms vary by lender and borrower.

Pros

+Compliance and insurance requests create non-discretionary demand
+Commercial roofs, solar installs, and renovations create repeat inspection triggers
+Specialized expertise limits cheap handyman competition
+Can cross-sell grounding, surge protection, roof safety, and electrical services

Cons

-Requires trained inspectors and comfort working on roofs
-Liability is higher because failures can involve fire, equipment damage, or insurance disputes
-Some markets are relationship-driven through roofing and electrical contractors

Best For

Electrical contractors, roof-safety operators, facility compliance firms, and specialty inspectors with technical training

Operating Costs

Costs include training, ladders or lifts, test equipment, roof-safety gear, insurance, documentation software, vehicles, and repair inventory. July 2026 research found UL and Lightning Protection Institute materials tying inspected systems to UL 96A and NFPA 780 requirements.