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BIZBITE

Retail EAS Security Installation

Anti-theft gates, tags, and shrink control for small retailers

Bottom line

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

Retail EAS security installers sell, install, tune, and support electronic article surveillance systems: entry pedestals, AM/RF tags, labels, deactivators, detachers, and post-warranty support. The niche is boring but timely because shrink, tariffs, labor costs, and organized retail theft make every prevented loss feel like found margin.

63
Acquisition score
Strong

Avg Revenue

$340K

Profit Margin

31%

Acquisition Multiple

1.8x - 4.4x

Startup Cost

$30K - $220K

How It Works

Operators source EAS pedestals, tags, labels, deactivators, and detachers, then survey stores, coordinate with electricians, install systems after hours, train staff, and sell replacement tags plus maintenance. Revenue comes from equipment markup, installation labor, recurring consumables, service calls, and multi-location retailer rollouts.

Revenue Range

Low End
$90K
Typical
$340K
High End
$1.3M

BizBite underwriting snapshot

Pass for now

Retail EAS Security Installation 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.

32
Avoid / 100
Data confidence
low
40/100
Financing fit
medium

Category-level fit before lender-specific diligence.

Confidence cap
58

Weak source data caps the final score.

Why it may work

  • +Attractive 31% 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

  • +Shrink pressure makes ROI easy to understand
  • +Recurring tag, label, and support sales after installation
  • +Small retailers often need local help instead of enterprise vendors
  • +Can bundle cameras, alarms, and access-control referrals

Cons

  • -Hardware inventory ties up cash
  • -Installations may require electricians and after-hours work
  • -False alarms and staff training can create support burden

Best For

Security integrators, low-voltage contractors, retail-supply distributors, and owner-operators with B2B sales chops

Operating Costs

Costs include EAS hardware inventory, tags and labels, installation labor, electrician coordination, vans, insurance, troubleshooting time, and warranty reserves. Margin is strongest when hardware markup is paired with repeat consumables and support contracts.

SBA Financing Estimator

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

$-1426/mo
after debt service
Deal price — $990K
Range: $440K (1.8×) to $1.8M (4.4×+)
Down payment — 15% ($149K)
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
$149K
15% equity injection
Loan amount
$842K
85% SBA-financed
Monthly payment
$10K/mo
$384K total interest
Monthly profit
$9K/mo
at 31% margin
Monthly cash flow after debt service
$-1426/mo
Margin does not cover debt service at these terms. Lower the deal price, increase the down payment, or extend the loan term.

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

SecurityTagStore - EAS Investment

Retail-security article describing shrink pressure and EAS ROI for stores

Intrepid Security - EAS Tagging

Provider overview noting EAS installation, warranties, and post-warranty support

American Retail Supply - EAS Systems

Retail supply source for EAS systems, tags, and loss-prevention equipment

63/100Strong

Acquisition Score

Profit margin
21/30
Entry multiple
22/25
Market depth
8/20
Risk (charge-off)
8/15
Deal momentum
5/10

Scores margin (30), entry multiple (25), SBA market depth (20), category risk (15), and deal momentum (10). Higher = better acquisition candidate.

Quick Facts

Category
service
Difficulty
3/5
Buy price
$612K$1.5M

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