Selling a plumbing company in Florida

In Florida the clock matters. Under Florida Statutes 489.119, a plumbing business contracts through a qualifying agent, and if its only qualifier leaves it has 60 days to employ another. Florida also has 9,071 plumbing and HVAC firms combined with $1M to $10M in revenue, and new plumbing platforms have formed in Sarasota and Tampa Bay since 2025.

How many plumbing companies are in Florida

The 2022 Economic Census counts 9,071 plumbing and HVAC firms combined in Florida with $1M to $10M in revenue. Census does not count plumbers separately. That is the second largest pool among our launch states, so buyers here can compare you against a lot of other shops. What sets you apart is usually how well the company runs without you.

License and qualifier rules when you sell

Florida Statutes 489.119 says a business organization contracts through a qualifying agent. If the only qualifying agent leaves, the business has 60 days to employ another, and it may not take on new contracting work in the meantime unless the state grants a temporary certificate.

What that means in a sale: if you are the only qualifier, a buyer needs you to stay through closing and the handover, or it has to bring its own qualifier. Either way, part of the price may be tied to your stay. A second qualified person on payroll, with a reason to stay, takes that pressure off. Our master license page shows how buyers price each plan. Confirm the current rule with the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board before you sign.

What moves value in Florida

Commercial service work has more bidders in Florida than in most states. Salt Creek reports that Shore Capital Partners formed a commercial platform around Ackerman Plumbing in Sarasota in January 2025, and that Comfort Systems USA bought Right Way Plumbing and Mechanical in Florida on May 1, 2025 for $65.0 million. If you do commercial service under contract, separate it clearly from bid work in your books.

Florida's big metros also count. Ad Astra names a top 50 metro location as one of the traits of the plumbers that earn the highest multiples, so a Tampa, Orlando or Miami shop with recurring plans has a stronger story.

Buyers active in Florida

Salt Creek's tracker (checked November 2026) names several Florida plumbing buyers: Shore Capital Partners (Ackerman Plumbing, Sarasota), Seacoast Service Partners, backed by White Wolf (GP Plumbing, Cape Coral, April 2025), Panther Service Group, backed by Pearl Street Capital Partners (Apex Plumbing and affiliated brands, Tampa Bay, April 2026), Team First Home Services (companies in Illinois, Florida and Texas, March 2026) and Comfort Systems USA. Smaller shops still mostly sell to local competitors or individual buyers. Compare buyer types on our plumbing buyers page. No buyer listed here pays us anything.

Business broker rules in Florida

Florida is one of the 17 states on BizBuySell's list where business brokers must hold a real estate license. Ask to see that license before you hire anyone to market your company. This is general information, not legal advice.