Considering retirement or stepping away from your Engineering Firm?
Ready to sell your Engineering Firm?
You Built the Foundations of Progress. Now Let’s Talk About What Comes Next.
You’ve Designed a Business That Shapes Communities. Now Let’s Shape Your Exit.
As a civil or structural engineer, you’ve spent decades solving problems — shaping roads, structures, utility systems, and site plans that outlast your name on the drawings. Your business is built on trust, precision, and performance. But when it comes time to step away, retiring from your firm can feel like the hardest job of all.
You may be wondering:
What’s my firm actually worth?
Can the business survive without me as lead PE?
Is there a buyer who will protect my team, clients, and reputation?
At Lion Business Brokers, we work with owners of engineering firms across Texas and the Southeast to help them exit on their terms, with structure, confidentiality, and strategic support from start to finish.
Call us Today: 800.525.3542
Recently Sold Engineering Firms
Specializing in land development, utility layout, and municipal permitting, this firm supported developers and GCs across North Texas. The business had a licensed team of three engineers, a steady backlog, and strong referral relationships with local cities and planning departments.
Gross Revenues: $4,950,000
✅ Acquired by a regional AEC platform expanding into Texas. The seller negotiated a partial equity rollover and remained as a market director for two years post-sale.
This solo-practitioner firm focused on mid-rise commercial buildings, mixed-use developments, and structural retrofits. With over 20 years of stamped projects and a strong working relationship with architecture firms, the business maintained a lean but high-margin model.
Gross Revenues: $2,780,000
✅ Sold to a boutique design-build firm. The deal included a 90-day transition, and the buyer retained the seller under a limited consulting agreement to support open projects.
Known for expert witness work, insurance assessments, and post-storm structural evaluations, this firm held multiple master service agreements with property managers, attorneys, and restoration contractors. Staff included two licensed PEs and support engineers.
Gross Revenues: $9,620,000
✅ Acquired by a national engineering group specializing in forensic services. Deal structure included an earnout tied to legacy contract renewals and staff retention milestones.
This civil firm combined land planning, transportation engineering, and site design services under one roof. Their AutoCAD Civil 3D systems and GIS mapping services supported multi-phase projects across the greater Austin metro.
Gross Revenues: $15,100,000
✅ Sold to a PE-backed AEC consolidator focused on fast-growth urban markets. The seller remained in a senior advisory role with performance-based incentives.
This firm supported public sector contracts, including DOT projects, drainage system upgrades, and stormwater master planning. A team of engineers and CAD designers handled project delivery with minimal owner involvement.
Gross Revenues: $6,280,000
✅ Purchased by a regional infrastructure consulting firm. The seller completed a one-year transition plan, and the acquiring group absorbed all staff and backlog.
Why Civil & Structural Engineering Firms Are in Demand?
Engineering firms, especially those with licensed staff and public/private contracts, are in high demand from both strategic and financial buyers.
We represent:
Civil engineering consultancies focused on land development, drainage, and infrastructure
Structural engineering firms supporting architects, developers, and design-build teams
Surveying, utility coordination, and site design specialists
Engineering-led firms with CAD/BIM capabilities and cross-trained project teams
Buyers are drawn to these firms because they generate recurring revenue through permitting phases, retain long-standing municipal or developer relationships, and offer steady backlog tied to infrastructure, utilities, and real estate growth.
Market Outlook & Valuation Trends
What’s Your Engineering Firm Worth?
With strong tailwinds from public infrastructure spending and ongoing population growth in Texas, M&A demand for engineering firms remains steady. Buyers range from larger AEC groups and regional competitors to private equity-backed platforms looking for expansion through acquisition.
How engineering firms are valued:
| Firm Profile | Typical Valuation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Owner-led Civil or Structural Firm | 2.5x–3.5x SDE | Higher if team and clients are not overly dependent on owner |
| Multi-PE Firm with PMs and Backlog | 4.0x–6.5x EBITDA | Premium for backlog, licensed staff, and government/commercial contracts |
| Niche or Tech-Enabled Engineering Co. | 5.0x–8.0x EBITDA | Advanced BIM/CAD workflows, recurring contracts, or regulatory specialty |
💡 Firms with a team of licensed engineers, repeat contracts, and a multi-year backlog tend to attract competitive offers.
Call us Today: 800.525.3542
Exiting Your Engineering Firm With Ease
Our Process: Built for Relationship-Driven Businesses
What Buyers Look for in Engineering Firm Acquisitions
Serious buyers look past the P&L. They’re evaluating:
Licensed staff (PEs, EITs) who can stay post-sale
Project backlog and contract history
Client diversity — ideally a mix of public and private sector
Established internal processes for QA/QC, CAD, permitting, submittals
Owner’s role in delivery vs. oversight
Reputation with agencies, GCs, and architectural partners
Even firms under $3M in revenue can be highly marketable if they have the right team, systems, and relationships in place.
Seller Success Story
“After thirty years running our civil engineering firm, we weren’t sure how to begin the sale process or what our company was actually worth. The Lion team walked us through every step, from valuation to buyer introductions, and handled everything confidentially. Within a few months, we had multiple offers and closed with a regional buyer who’s continued our legacy and retained our staff. It was the right move at the right time.”
— Former Owner, Central Texas Civil Engineering Firm
Representing Civil & Structural Engineering Businesses Across Texas
We help owners sell engineering firms in:
Austin • Dallas–Fort Worth • San Antonio • Houston • Lubbock • East Texas & Beyond
Whether you specialize in light industrial, professional search, healthcare staffing, or executive placement, we understand your business and how to sell it right.
Thinking About Your Next Chapter?
Start with a Confidential Valuation
If you’re considering selling your engineering firm in the next one to three years, the best first step is understanding your market value and readiness.
Take our Sellability Assessment or request a confidential valuation to learn what your firm could sell for in today’s market.
Selling Your Engineering Business: How Lion Guides the Process
At Lion Business Brokers, we approach engineering firm exits the way you approach design: strategically, precisely, and with a commitment to protecting what works.
Here’s how we help:
✅ Valuation & Exit Readiness Review
We assess backlog, margin, client mix, and owner dependence to provide a confidential market valuation.✅ Targeted Buyer Outreach
We quietly market your firm to vetted acquirers — from individual engineers to AEC groups and PE-backed platforms.✅ Negotiation & Deal Structure
We manage term sheets, earnouts, equity rollovers, and retention planning to align deal structure with your goals.✅ Diligence & Transition Planning
We quarterback the process from LOI to close — including staff communication, licensing transfers, and client continuity.
You built your business the right way. Let’s make sure your exit reflects that.
Why Choose Lion Business Brokers
We specialize in trades and professional service businesses that don’t fit cookie-cutter models. We understand how engineering firms operate — the blend of technical execution, relationship management, and regulatory compliance.
With Lion, you get:
Deep knowledge of AEC industry deal drivers
Proven experience selling engineering and technical consulting firms
Confidential process that protects client relationships and staff stability
Texas-based representation with national buyer reach
Client Testimonials
“I used Travis with Lion Business brokers to successfully sell my Carpet cleaning business. Travis goes above and beyond to find potential buyers and handles all of the task associated with the sale. I definitely could not of made this sale happen…
“We were seeking businesses to fuel our roll-up acquisition strategy, and Travis was instrumental in the process. He understood what mattered to sellers, educated them on reasonable terms, and ensured we avoided excessive risks. Travis is easy to work with, highly knowledgeable,…
“I hired Lion Business Brokers to sell my machine shop. I was skeptical when I first hired them because I had a bad experience with another business broker. That’s why it was important to me to find someone professional, with integrity and…
