How much does a Vacuum Truck Service cost to buy?

A typical Vacuum Truck Service sells for 2.5x to 5.8x seller's discretionary earnings. With estimated SDE of $294K, expect to pay roughly $735K to $1.7M before adjustments for assets, debt, growth, and local market quality.

How much does it cost to start a Vacuum Truck Service?

Startup costs range from $180K to $900K depending on location, equipment, and scale.

Service

Vacuum Truck Service

Q: What are the profit margins for a Vacuum Truck Service?

The average profit margin for a Vacuum Truck Service is around 21%. Costs include truck debt, CDL drivers, fuel, pumps and hose maintenance, disposal fees, insurance, permits, PPE, and downtime reserves. Utilization and disposal pricing determine whether the truck is a cash machine or a parked liability.

Big hoses, ugly jobs, invoices customers gladly pay

Bottom line

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

Vacuum truck companies remove liquids, sludge, grit, mud, grease, stormwater debris, and industrial waste from job sites, plants, car washes, catch basins, tanks, and municipal systems. The business is capital intensive, but the work is hard to DIY and customers often need scheduled compliance cleanouts plus emergency response.

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Acquisition score

Fair

Avg Revenue

$1.4M

Profit Margin

21%

Acquisition Multiple

2.5x - 5.8x

Startup Cost

$180K - $900K

How It Works

Operators dispatch vacuum trucks to clean basins, pits, tanks, interceptors, trenches, and spills, then transport material to approved disposal sites. Revenue comes from hourly truck rates, disposal markup, recurring municipal or facility routes, emergency premiums, and environmental documentation.

Revenue Range

Low End

$350K

Typical

$1.4M

High End

$8.0M

Pros

+Specialized trucks create a real barrier to entry
+Recurring cleanouts from municipalities and industrial sites
+Emergency and dirty-work pricing can be strong
+Pairs well with septic, sewer, grease, and environmental services

Cons

-Truck purchases and repairs are expensive
-Disposal compliance and manifests matter
-Driver hiring, CDL requirements, and safety training are constant constraints

Best For

Operators with fleet discipline, environmental-service experience, or an existing route base to feed utilization

Operating Costs

Costs include truck debt, CDL drivers, fuel, pumps and hose maintenance, disposal fees, insurance, permits, PPE, and downtime reserves. Utilization and disposal pricing determine whether the truck is a cash machine or a parked liability.

SBA Financing Estimator

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

$-30364/mo

after debt service

Deal price — $5.3M

Range: $2.8M (2.5×) to $9.5M (5.8×+)

Down payment — 15% ($798K)

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

$798K

15% equity injection

Loan amount

$4.5M

85% SBA-financed

Monthly payment

$55K/mo

$2.1M total interest

Monthly profit

$25K/mo

at 21% margin

Monthly cash flow after debt service

$-30364/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.