How much does a Storm Drain Cleaning Service cost to buy?

A typical Storm Drain Cleaning Service sells for 2.4x to 3.9x annual revenue. With average revenue of $1.4M, expect to pay $3.4M to $5.5M.

How much does it cost to start a Storm Drain Cleaning Service?

Startup costs range from $150K to $900K depending on location, equipment, and scale.

Service

Storm Drain Cleaning Service

Q: What are the profit margins for a Storm Drain Cleaning Service?

The average profit margin for a Storm Drain Cleaning Service is around 24%. Big expenses include vacuum trucks, fuel, maintenance, disposal fees, field labor, insurance, and permitting. Profitability depends on route density, truck utilization, and keeping disposal and downtime under control.

Dirty municipal work with compliance tailwinds and almost no glamour competitors

Storm drain cleaning services vacuum debris, flush catch basins, clean lift stations, and maintain drainage infrastructure for municipalities, property managers, HOAs, industrial sites, and retail centers. Listings on BizBuySell regularly bundle storm drain work into liquid-waste and environmental service companies with seven-figure revenue profiles. The surprising angle is that clogged drainage is not optional, and recurring compliance-driven contracts can make this filthy niche more predictable than prettier service businesses.

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Avg Revenue

$1.4M

Profit Margin

24%

Acquisition Multiple

2.4x - 3.9x

Startup Cost

$150K - $900K

Difficulty

4/5

How It Works

The company uses vacuum trucks, jetting equipment, and field crews to clean drains, basins, grease systems, and related infrastructure on a scheduled or emergency basis. Revenue comes from recurring service agreements, municipal contracts, environmental compliance needs, and urgent callouts after storms or flooding.

Revenue Range

Low End

$500K

Typical

$1.4M

High End

$3.5M

Pros

+Essential work tied to safety and compliance
+Repeat revenue from municipalities and commercial properties
+High barriers from equipment, permitting, and messy operations
+Cross-sell potential into lift station, grease trap, and septic work

Cons

-Specialized trucks and disposal rules raise capex
-Emergency work can create uneven scheduling
-Operational execution and safety standards matter a lot

Best For

Buyers who want hard-to-replace infrastructure service work with contract potential

Operating Costs

Big expenses include vacuum trucks, fuel, maintenance, disposal fees, field labor, insurance, and permitting. Profitability depends on route density, truck utilization, and keeping disposal and downtime under control.