Fire Protection Companies typically sell for 6-9x EBITDA; recurring inspection contracts prized. On $1M - $20M of revenue that usually means $250K - $4M of normalized owner earnings. WETYR can make a direct, confidential offer and close in 30 to 75 days, without your business ever going on the open market.
What drives value in fire protection companies
Value comes from transferable earnings, not revenue. Code-required recurring inspection revenue, aggressive PE roll-up, non-discretionary spend What lifts the multiple: Code-mandated recurring inspections, sticky contracts, licensing, recurring or contracted revenue, low customer concentration, a team that runs without the owner, and clean books. What lowers it: owner dependence, messy financials, and customer concentration over 20 percent.
Who buys fire protection companies
Private equity platforms and strategic consolidators (Pye-Barker, Summit Fire, APi Group, PE platforms) are the loud buyers, but they screen hard, move slowly, and re-trade at diligence. WETYR is the operator alternative: we buy fire protection companies to run them, so we move quickly, keep it confidential, and pay a fair, certain number without a marketed auction.
| Factor | WETYR (operator-buyer) | PE platform | Individual buyer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical offer basis | 6-9x EBITDA | Highest headline number | Financing-dependent |
| Time to close | 30 to 75 days | 6 to 12 months | 3 to 9 months |
| Stays confidential | Yes, no public listing | Committee and advisors see it | Usually broker-marketed |
| Fees to you | $0, we buy as principal | Broker 8 to 12% if listed | Broker 8 to 12% |
| Re-trade risk at diligence | Low | High | Medium to high |
| Who runs it after close | WETYR operates it | Installs their own team | New owner learns the business |
Get a confidential valuation
Tell us a little about your fire protection company. We reply with an indicative value range and whether we are a direct fit, within one business day. No obligation, no listing, nothing public.
Fire Protection Company FAQ
What is a fire protection company worth?
Most fire protection companies trade at 6-9x EBITDA; recurring inspection contracts prized. The number that matters is your normalized owner earnings (SDE or EBITDA after adding back one-time and owner-specific costs), multiplied by a range set by size, recurring revenue, licensing, and how dependent the business is on you. On roughly $1M - $20M of revenue we typically see $250K - $4M of earnings. Send the numbers and we will give you an indicative range within a day.
How long does it take to sell a fire protection company?
A direct sale to WETYR can close in 30 to 75 days because there is no listing, no broker marketing cycle, and no auction. A brokered or PE-marketed process usually runs 6 to 12 months and puts your confidential financials in front of dozens of strangers. Location does not change the mechanics; readiness of your books does.
Do I have to list my business publicly to sell it?
No. That is the single biggest fear owners raise, and the reason many never start. WETYR buys directly and privately. Your staff, customers, and competitors do not find out unless and until you decide to tell them. Nothing goes on BizBuySell, no sign goes up, no teaser circulates.
What does WETYR charge to sell my fire protection company?
When we buy directly, you pay us nothing; we are the principal, not a broker taking 8 to 12 percent of your proceeds. When we advise on a sale to a third party, fees are agreed up front and disclosed in writing. Either way you know the economics before anything moves.
What makes a fire protection company sell for a higher multiple?
Code-mandated recurring inspections, sticky contracts, licensing. Concretely: recurring or contracted revenue, a team that runs the day-to-day without you, clean books, and current licensing (State fire protection license, NICET certifications). We tell you honestly which levers are worth pulling before a sale and which are not worth the delay.
Find out what your fire protection company is worth
Confidential valuation in one business day. No listing, no obligation.