Manure Hauling Service
You get paid to pick it up. Then paid again to deliver it.
Bottom line
Worth studying, but do not buy without strong local proof.
Manure hauling businesses solve one of agriculture's most persistent logistical problems: livestock operations produce enormous volumes of manure that must be removed from barns, feedlots, and lagoons. The farmer pays to get rid of it. The crop farmer needs it as organic fertilizer. The hauler in the middle collects a fee from both sides — or at minimum charges for hauling and resells the load as a soil amendment. It's one of the few businesses where the raw material is free and you collect revenue at both ends. A single tanker servicing a 50-mile radius in a livestock-dense region can generate $250K-$600K annually.
Avg Revenue
$350K
Profit Margin
35%
Acquisition Multiple
1.5x - 2.75x
Startup Cost
$80K - $250K
How It Works
Liquid manure is pumped from dairy, hog, or poultry operations into tanker trucks (3,000-6,000 gallon capacity) and injected or spread on cropland as fertilizer. Solid manure is loaded and transported in dump trailers. Source farms pay $6-$20/ton for removal, or provide it free; receiving crop farms pay $15-$45/ton delivered, or the hauler charges $8-$18/acre for custom spreading. Spring and fall are peak demand seasons matching crop planting cycles. Some operators add composting to convert raw manure into bagged premium product with higher margins.
Revenue Range
BizBite underwriting snapshot
Watch / verify
Manure Hauling Service 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.
Category-level fit before lender-specific diligence.
Weak source data caps the final score.
Why it may work
- +Attractive 35% estimated margin profile
- +SBA dataset shows 5 recent comparable loans
Be careful
- !Source link status has not been verified yet
- !No last-checked date yet
- !No category operating model yet
- !No category model yet
Real Acquisitions in This Category
SBA 7(a) change-of-ownership loans · NAICS 484220 · Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Local
Deal Size Distribution
Deal Flow Over Time
Financing Profile
Recent Comparable Deals
| Closed | State | Loan | Implied deal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2025 | GA | $1.6M | $1.9M |
| Sep 2024 | NC | $2.5M | $3.0M |
| Sep 2024 | NC | $150K | $177K |
| Aug 2024 | NY | $100K | $118K |
| Aug 2024 | NY | $1.7M | $2.0M |
| Dec 2023 | UT | $719K | $846K |
| Nov 2023 | WV | $2.1M | $2.5M |
| Nov 2023 | WV | $350K | $412K |
| Mar 2023 | WI | $525K | $618K |
| Aug 2022 | FL | $781K | $919K |
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
- +Raw material is often free or generates a pickup fee — both ends of the transaction can produce revenue
- +Recurring route business with the same farm customers year after year
- +Low competition in rural markets — few operators want the work, creating genuine pricing power
- +Growing organic farming demand is increasing the value of properly-managed organic soil amendments
Cons
- -Seasonal revenue — spring and fall are peak, winter and summer slow in northern climates
- -Specialized equipment (tankers, spreaders, injection equipment) requires consistent maintenance
- -Regulatory complexity: nutrient management plans, lagoon permits, and setback rules vary by state
Best For
Rural operators comfortable with agriculture who want a route-based business with very low competition and recurring farm customers
Operating Costs
At $350K revenue: truck and equipment payments or maintenance ($40-60K/year), fuel ($30-50K/year), driver wages if not owner-operated, insurance, permits. Owner-operators net 30-40%.
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
Search agricultural service businesses including hauling and spreading operations
Industry resources and network for farm-related business buyers
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
- route
- Difficulty
- 3/5
- Buy price
- $525K–$963K
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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