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BIZBITE

SCUBA Tank Hydrostatic Testing

A tiny compliance shop hiding inside every dive market

Bottom line

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

SCUBA tank hydrostatic testing shops inspect and pressure-test dive cylinders so they remain legal and safe to fill. The niche is small, but it has a useful compliance cadence: visual inspections are typically annual, while hydrostatic testing is required every five years for many cylinders. Dive shops, fire equipment shops, paintball operators, and commercial divers all need reliable turnaround.

Acquisition score
Margin · multiple · SBA data
65Strong
Avg revenue
$160K/yr
$40K–$400K range
Profit margin
30%
~$48K SDE
Multiple
1.8–3.5×
of SDE
Est. buy price
$86K–$168K
startup: $40K–$175K

How It Works

Customers or dive shops drop off cylinders. The operator performs visual inspections, valve service, eddy testing when needed, hydrostatic pressure testing, stamping/documentation, and optional air fills. Revenue is per tank, with extra fees for cleaning, valves, tumbling, paintball cylinders, and expedited turnaround.

BizBite verdict

Watch / verify

SCUBA Tank Hydrostatic Testing 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.

65Strong
low data confidence · 40/100medium financing fit

Why it may work

  • +Attractive 30% 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 $48K SDE — can this deal service its own debt?

2.64×
DSCR · Lender-comfortable
Purchase multiple — 2.6× SDE ($125K)
Category range: 1.8×–3.5× SDE
Down payment — 10% ($13K)
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
$125K
2.6× of $48K SDE
Cash to close
$16K
$13K down + ~3% closing
Debt service
$2K/mo
$18K/yr on $113K loan
Cash-on-cash
183%
cash back in ~7 mo
Debt service coverage · what the lender sees
2.64×+$2K/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

  • +Regulatory cadence creates repeat inspection demand
  • +Can serve dive shops, fire-safety firms, paintball fields, and industrial gas users
  • +Small physical footprint compared with many industrial services
  • +High trust and fast turnaround can pull wholesale shop volume

Cons

  • -Certification, safety procedures, and documentation are non-negotiable
  • -Equipment capex is meaningful for a narrow niche
  • -Demand depends on local dive, paintball, and cylinder-user density

Best For

Technical owner-operators near dive markets or fire-safety customers who can run safe procedures and wholesale relationships

Operating Costs

Costs include hydrostatic test equipment, inspection tools, certified procedures, compressor or fill equipment if offered, insurance, shop rent, utilities, valves, technician labor, and documentation. July 2026 checks found dive shops advertising $55 hydrostatic-test packages and industry pages reiterating annual visual inspections plus five-year hydrostatic testing for many SCUBA cylinders, supporting a recurring but local-volume-dependent niche.

Where to Buy

Air Hogs SCUBA Service Pricing

Dive shop service page citing $55 hydrostatic testing with visual inspection and air fill

Paragon Dive Tank Hydrostatic Testing

Service page noting annual visual inspection and five-year hydrostatic testing cadence

Serviced Fire Equipment SCUBA Hydro Testing

Fire-equipment service provider discussing SCUBA hydrostatic testing and compliance

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Buy a scuba tank hydrostatic testing
via Air Hogs SCUBA Service Pricing
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