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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.

65
Acquisition score
Strong

Avg Revenue

$160K

Profit Margin

30%

Acquisition Multiple

1.8x - 3.5x

Startup Cost

$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.

Revenue Range

Low End
$40K
Typical
$160K
High End
$400K

BizBite underwriting snapshot

Pass for now

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.

30
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 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

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.

SBA Financing Estimator

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

$-331/mo
after debt service
Deal price — $420K
Range: $210K (1.8×) to $720K (3.5×+)
Down payment — 15% ($63K)
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
$63K
15% equity injection
Loan amount
$357K
85% SBA-financed
Monthly payment
$4K/mo
$163K total interest
Monthly profit
$4K/mo
at 30% margin
Monthly cash flow after debt service
$-331/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

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

65/100Strong

Acquisition Score

Profit margin
20/30
Entry multiple
24/25
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
4/5
Buy price
$288K$560K

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