How much does a Marine Pump-Out Service cost to buy?

A typical Marine Pump-Out Service sells for 2x to 3.8x seller's discretionary earnings. With estimated SDE of $112K, expect to pay roughly $224K to $426K before adjustments for assets, debt, growth, and local market quality.

How much does it cost to start a Marine Pump-Out Service?

Startup costs range from $80K to $220K depending on location, equipment, and scale.

Route

Marine Pump-Out Service

Every boat with a head needs the holding tank pumped. Marinas hate doing it themselves. So they hire you.

Bottom line

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

Marine pump-out services empty boat holding tanks (sewage from onboard heads) at marinas, yacht clubs, and boatyards. The Clean Vessel Act prohibits discharging untreated sewage within 3 nautical miles of US shores, and marinas are required by most state coastal authorities to provide pump-out access. Many marinas — especially smaller ones with under 200 slips — outsource the service rather than buy and maintain their own pump-out equipment. A pump-out boat (typically 22–28 feet with a 250–400 gallon tank, vacuum pump, and macerator) services 25–60 boats per visit and bills marinas at $25–$45 per pump-out plus a flat trip fee, or operates on a marina-paid contract at $1,500–$5,000/month per location. Solo operators with one boat covering 4–8 marinas in a coastal county generate $150K–$350K. Multi-boat operations covering entire bays or regional cruising grounds (Chesapeake, Long Island Sound, Puget Sound, Florida coast, Lake Michigan) hit $500K–$900K. The Clean Vessel Act administered through state programs reimburses marinas 75% of pump-out service costs, making the demand effectively grant-funded and price-insensitive. The work is highly seasonal in northern markets (May–October) but year-round in Florida, Gulf Coast, and Southern California.

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Acquisition score

Margin · multiple · SBA data

67Strong

Avg revenue

$320K/yr

$120K–$850K range

Profit margin

35%

~$112K SDE

Multiple

2–3.8×

of SDE

Est. buy price

$224K–$426K

startup: $80K–$220K

How It Works

An operator runs scheduled rounds at contracted marinas — typically 1–3 visits per week per marina during boating season. The pump-out boat ties up to each customer vessel, the operator connects a hose to the deck pump-out fitting, and a vacuum pump empties the holding tank into the service boat's onboard tank. Once full, the service boat returns to a designated land-based pump-out station to discharge into municipal sewer. A typical day handles 30–50 boats. Marinas pay either per-pump-out ($25–$45 each, often passed through to slip holders) or as a flat monthly contract. Some operators add holding tank cleaning, anti-odor treatments, and macerator pump repair as upsells. Clean Vessel Act grants administered through state DEC or DNR offices reimburse marinas for pump-out service costs — meaning marinas have strong incentive to keep contracts in place.

BizBite verdict

Watch / verify

Marine Pump-Out 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.

67Strong

low data confidence · 40/100medium financing fit

Why it may work

+Attractive 35% 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 $112K SDE — can this deal service its own debt?

2.44×

DSCR · Lender-comfortable

Purchase multiple — 2.8× SDE ($315K)

Category range: 2×–3.8× SDE

Down payment — 10% ($32K)

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

$315K

2.8× of $112K SDE

Cash to close

$41K

$32K down + ~3% closing

Debt service

$4K/mo

$46K/yr on $284K loan

Cash-on-cash

161%

cash back in ~8 mo

Debt service coverage · what the lender sees

2.44×+$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

+Clean Vessel Act grants effectively subsidize 75% of marina pump-out spending — demand is grant-funded and stable
+Multi-marina contracts create predictable seasonal revenue with low customer acquisition cost
+Few competitors per market — many coastal counties have only 1–2 pump-out service operators
+Capital asset (pump-out boat) holds value well and can be repurposed for resale or charter at end of service life

Cons

-Strong seasonality in northern markets compresses revenue into 5–6 months
-USCG vessel documentation, marine insurance, and Coast Guard pump-out vessel inspections add operational overhead
-Weather-dependent — rough water days halt operations and create scheduling pressure

Best For

Marina industry veterans, retired boat captains, or buyers in coastal markets who want a niche route business with grant-funded demand

Operating Costs

At $320K revenue: fuel 9–12%, vessel maintenance and dockage 12–16%, operator labor 25–32%, insurance and USCG compliance 6–9%. Owner-operator nets 32–40% in a 6-month season; year-round Florida operations net 28–35% on higher revenue base.