Find your next home services acquisition.
Your exit's success depends on having options. We provide them. With over 13,000 buyers registered directly on our platform, plus our advisor network and access to institutional-grade data tools, we ensure your business is presented to the most relevant, qualified acquirers in the market.
Backed by institutional investors behind global industry leaders.
We have raised substantial private capital to ensure our advisory platform, proprietary buyer intelligence and client execution team have permanent, long-term balance sheet stability.
Pre-empts how corporate acquirers and private equity analysts will test your working capital, gross margins and customer concentration.
Calculates defensible add-backs, from director compensation adjustments to non-recurring professional fees and personal motor costs, backed by source documentation.
Drafts anonymous teasers and full information memorandums to tier-one corporate finance standards.
A valuation that holds firm
You enter negotiations with an unvarnished, defensible valuation bridge. Buyers cannot exploit messy accounting to chip your price.
More time on buyers, less on spreadsheets
Duncan and our sector specialists do not spend 40 hours building models in spreadsheets. They spend that time qualifying buyer intent, rehearsing your management presentation and running competitive tension between bidders.
Checks statutory books, director filings and sector accreditations, including BAFE, NSI, WRAS and ISO, to ensure zero lapses.
Flags contractor IR35 exposures, intellectual property assignment gaps and key-person bottlenecks before a buyer uncovers them.
Monitors counterparty document engagement, flagging to the partners exactly which chapters and files a buyer\u2019s legal team is scrutinising.
No surprises once a buyer is in diligence
Diligence skeletons are resolved in private before go-to-market. When exclusivity begins, the buyer finds a clean, audit-ready data room, leaving zero room for renegotiation.
Partners focused on terms and cash at completion
Joe and our legal advisers are not chasing administrative paperwork. They focus exclusively on commercial deal structure, share purchase agreement warranties and securing maximum cash at completion.
A senior M&A bench, plus a sector specialist recruited for your industry on every deal.
Nine years in corporate finance. Formerly Associate Director, Corporate Finance at Quantuma, with earlier corporate finance and audit experience at BKL, joining DealFlowAgent from the largest M&A advisory firm in the UK, part of K3 Capital.
As an ex-Director he managed teams of M&A advisors, analysts and associates, working daily with business owners, buyers and stakeholders on live acquisition deals. Selected from 260 applicants alongside colleagues from investment banking backgrounds, he brings that experience and network to lead the advisory bench across Building Services, Facilities Management, and Healthcare.
Senior Building Services & FM Advisor
Martin is one of the most well-connected figures in UK fire, security, building services and FM. He is Chairman of both the Fire Industry Association and the British Security Industry Association, the only person in the UK to hold both roles simultaneously. Martin spent over a decade in senior leadership at Mitie, latterly as Industry Liaison Director for its fire and security division, helping scale the business past £500m in revenue and playing a role in the £366m acquisition of Marlowe plc, which created one of the UK's largest compliance, fire and security services groups. He joined DealFlowAgent because owners in these sectors deserve a genuine sector-specialist advisor across valuation, business optimisation and buyer access. In recognition of his industry roles, he acts in a personal, non-partisan capacity.
Industry Partner, Hiring and Leadership
Nick leads FM Talent Partners, the facilities management and real estate leadership search firm, and is a leading specialist in building services and FM management talent. He partners with DealFlowAgent on two-way referrals: helping business owners and acquirers fill the key roles that decide whether a business is sellable, and introducing owners who are thinking about their next chapter to a team that knows their industry and their market. Key-person dependency is one of the two most common reasons a sale collapses, and Nick fixes it at source.
For every engagement we add a sector specialist from your industry to the core team: a 15–25 year operator or advisor with direct relationships in your niche. Recruited per deal so you get the right fit, not a generalist.
Every mandate at DealFlowAgent is led directly by our senior partners (Joe Lewin, Duncan Moore, Martin Watson) and supported by dedicated sector specialists. We never hand your business off to junior associates.
Richard and Sally are our internal, always-on analytical infrastructure. They operate strictly behind the scenes, preparing materials, stress-testing numbers, and auditing documentation so our partners can spend their time where it matters most: strategic counsel, confidential conversations, and negotiating terms on your behalf.
Richard and Sally never contact clients, never message buyers, and never release documents.
Watch Chris share his experience working with DealFlowAgent.
Watch Nikki share her experience working with DealFlowAgent.
I couldn't have asked for better support during my exit. They found the perfect acquirer and negotiated terms that exceeded my expectations.
Hear directly from business owners and advisors who've worked with us.
See why PE funds and search funds choose Sterling over traditional methods
Watch this video to hear a conversation with Sterling
See exactly how Sterling matches you with vetted acquisition opportunities
How Sterling Sources Deals for Buyers
The Complete Sage & Sterling Ecosystem
The Sterling AI Calibration Interface
After completing your questionnaire, calibrate your mandate with Sterling through an 8 minute AI conversation
Share Your Acquisition Criteria, It's Free
In your own words, what are you looking for?
Fire and life safety sits within building services and FM. Tick both if that is your focus.
Tick any of these and their niche list opens underneath.
Almost there. These are still needed:
The optional questions can wait. We only need these to save your details.
That's the essentials saved. Four more questions takes about forty seconds and means we only send you businesses that genuinely fit.
Where is the funding coming from?
When are you looking to acquire?
Are you the person who signs off acquisitions?
Only if you're comfortable sharing. It helps us avoid sending you things that are priced outside your range.
Free, confidential, and no obligation. Your criteria help us surface the right opportunities.
Free Access to Curated Deal Flow
For Buyers · Home Services
Access vetted companies generating $/£500K-$/£100M revenue. Direct business owner relationships + boutique home services M&A advisor partnerships. 100% free for buyers.
Not a marketplace. Not a database. A conversational AI matchmaker.
Government mandates accelerating heat pump installations and electrical upgrades are creating a surge in demand for specialized home services businesses.
Why Traditional Deal Search Is
Most acquirers waste months on unqualified leads, cold outreach, and marketplace noise.
Sterling filters our network of vetted opportunities and notifies you only when he finds a strong match.
You're a PE-backed HVAC platform in the Midlands seeking bolt-ons with 60%+ recurring maintenance revenue. Sterling won't waste your time with one-off installation businesses in Scotland, even if they're 'for sale.'
Fire Safety & Protection', description:
Plumbing & Gas Services', description:
Sterling serves private equity funds, search funds, roll-up platforms, and strategic buyers acquiring $/£1M-$/£50M home services businesses.
What are the key valuation drivers for an HVAC business?
Key valuation drivers include recurring maintenance contract revenue (ideally 40%+ of total revenue), customer diversification, Gas Safe/F-Gas certified workforce, geographic coverage, and fleet/equipment condition. HVAC businesses with strong recurring revenue and heat pump capabilities command premium multiples of 6-7.5x EBITDA.
How important are recurring maintenance contracts to buyers?
Extremely important. Recurring maintenance revenue is the #1 valuation driver in home services M&A. Businesses with 50%+ recurring revenue typically achieve 1-2x higher multiples than project-based competitors. Buyers view maintenance contracts as predictable cash flow with high retention rates.
What certifications (e.g., Gas Safe, F-Gas) do buyers look for?
Critical certifications include Gas Safe registration (mandatory for gas work), F-Gas certification (refrigerant handling), NICEIC/NAPIT (electrical), and manufacturer accreditations. Buyers also value ISO 9001 quality management and industry body memberships like the FIA (Fire Industry Association).
Do you have buyers for commercial vs. residential focused businesses?
Yes, we have buyers for both. Commercial-focused businesses often attract higher multiples due to larger contract values and stickier relationships. However, residential businesses with strong recurring revenue and brand recognition are equally attractive to roll-up platforms seeking geographic density.
How does customer concentration affect the valuation of a plumbing business?
Customer concentration is a key risk factor. If any single customer represents more than 20% of revenue, expect valuation discounts. Buyers prefer diversified customer bases across residential and commercial segments. We help sellers develop transition plans to de-risk concentrated relationships.
Are you seeing roll-up strategies in the fire safety sector?
Absolutely. Fire safety is one of the most active roll-up sectors due to fragmentation, regulatory tailwinds, and high recurring revenue from inspection/maintenance contracts. PE-backed platforms are actively consolidating, paying 6-8.5x EBITDA for quality bolt-ons with FIA membership and strong compliance track records.
What size electrical contractors are most in-demand?
Buyers are most active in the £1M-£5M revenue range for bolt-ons and £5M-£15M for platforms. Key criteria include NICEIC approval, commercial/industrial focus, and increasingly EV charging and renewable energy capabilities. Smart home and automation expertise commands premium interest.
How do you source deals that aren\
Sterling maintains direct relationships with business owners through our AI-powered outreach and advisory partnerships. Many owners prefer confidential conversations before going to market. We also partner with accountants, solicitors, and industry associations who refer pre-sale clients.
Can you find businesses with a strong renewable energy (e.g., solar, heat pump) focus?
Yes, renewable-focused home services businesses are in high demand. We actively source heat pump installers, solar PV contractors, and EV charging specialists. These businesses command premium multiples due to government policy tailwinds and the UK Net-Zero 2050 transition driving sustained demand.
What is the typical deal structure for a home services acquisition?
Typical structures include 70-80% upfront cash with 20-30% deferred/earnout tied to retention or growth targets. Seller financing is common for smaller deals. Management retention and transition periods (6-24 months) are standard. We help match buyer and seller preferences on deal structure early in discussions.
Everything you need to know about acquiring home services businesses
Get Matched with Home Services Sellers
Create your free buyer account and schedule a 15-minute call with Sterling to set your acquisition criteria. Start receiving warm introductions to vetted HVAC, fire safety, plumbing, and electrical businesses within 7-10 days.
No signup required. Sterling will call you for a confidential conversation.
Book a confidential call with Joe Lewin
Real Estate / PropTech', subNiches: [
Raise on a deal-by-deal basis
Part of a committee or board
No, I research and recommend
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