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

Strong

Avg Revenue

$320K

Profit Margin

38%

Acquisition Multiple

1.7x - 4.6x

Startup Cost

$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.

Revenue Range

Low End

$90K

Typical

$320K

High End

$1.1M

BizBite underwriting snapshot

Pass for now

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.

Avoid / 100

Data confidence

low

40/100

Financing fit

medium

Category-level fit before lender-specific diligence.

Confidence cap

Weak source data caps the final score.

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

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.

SBA Financing Estimator

Adjust the deal — see if it cash flows after debt service

+$852/mo

after debt service

Deal price — $900K

Range: $380K (1.7×) to $1.8M (4.6×+)

Down payment — 15% ($135K)

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

Interest rate — 8.00%

Current prime-based SBA rates: 7.5–10.5%

Loan term — 10 years (120 mo)

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

Down payment

$135K

15% equity injection

Loan amount

$765K

85% SBA-financed

Monthly payment

$9K/mo

$349K total interest

Monthly profit

$10K/mo

at 38% margin

Monthly cash flow after debt service

+$852/mo

Down payment paid back in ~159 months — long horizon

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.