Considering retirement or stepping away from your Environmental Services or Consulting Firm?
Ready to Sell Your Environmental Services Firm?
From Startup to Success, Now What?
You’ve Built a Business That Protects Land, Air, and Water. Now It’s Time to Protect Your Legacy.
You’ve spent years navigating regulations, responding to RFPs, and solving environmental challenges for clients who count on your expertise. Whether you lead a hazmat cleanup crew, manage field sampling teams, or provide regulatory guidance to developers, your work has impact.
But now, you’re thinking about stepping back. Maybe you’re ready to retire, reduce your day-to-day involvement, or explore strategic options. The question is: what happens to the business you’ve built?
At Lion Business Brokers, we help owners of environmental services and consulting firms exit on their terms, preserving the relationships, systems, and impact they’ve worked so hard to create.
Call us Today: 800.525.3542
Recently Sold Environmental Services Firms
This firm specialized in Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments for commercial lenders, developers, and institutional investors. With standardized reporting systems and a remote team of assessors, the company maintained strong relationships with national CRE clients.
Gross Revenues: $3,850,000
✅ Acquired by a regional engineering consultancy looking to expand its due diligence division. The seller remained on in a six-month consulting role and assisted with client introductions and staff transition.
Serving industrial and logistics facilities, this firm offered 24/7 hazmat spill response, soil remediation, and tank cleaning services. With a fleet of vacuum trucks and DOT-compliant crews, it held key vendor contracts with environmental insurance carriers.
Gross Revenues: $9,420,000
✅ Sold to a national environmental services platform backed by private equity. The buyer retained all field crews, and the seller exited fully after a 90-day equipment and safety compliance handoff.
Focused on new residential and commercial developments, this firm provided NPDES compliance inspections, SWPPP development, and ongoing reporting. The owner developed standardized field protocols and had contracts with top regional homebuilders.
Gross Revenues: $13,400,000
✅ Sold to a construction management company looking to vertically integrate compliance services. The seller retained ownership of the real estate and leased it back to the buyer.
Established in 2012, this company specialized in post-construction cleaning for multifamily developers, in addition to commercial janitorial contracts. Known for detailed work and fast turnaround, it maintained strong relationships with general contractors.
Gross Revenues: $1,730,000
✅ Sold to a local buyer with a background in property services. The seller stayed on for 60 days to support crew transitions and project handoffs.
Industry Overview: Why Environmental Firms Are in Demand
Environmental services firms play a critical role in today’s economy, from regulatory compliance to risk mitigation and sustainable development. The industry is diverse, with firms operating in:
Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs)
Soil and groundwater remediation
Hazardous waste transport and cleanup
Stormwater and erosion control consulting
Air quality testing and permitting
Wetland delineation and mitigation
Environmental due diligence for M&A and development
As awareness and regulation increase, buyers see opportunity in firms that provide specialized, recurring, or compliance-driven work, especially in growing states like Texas, where real estate, energy, and infrastructure intersect.
What’s Your Environmental Service Business Worth?
Market Outlook & Valuation Trends
Demand is growing for environmental firms with technical depth, team structure, and repeat client contracts. Buyers range from engineering and construction companies looking to expand into environmental scopes, to private equity-backed roll-up platforms targeting firms with field crews or regulatory specialization.
Valuation trends for environmental firms:
| Firm Type | Typical Valuation | Key Factors |
|---|---|---|
| Owner-led ESA or Compliance Firm | 2.0x–3.0x SDE | Higher with recurring lender or developer clients |
| Multi-Staff Consulting Group | 3.0x–5.5x EBITDA | Premium for backlog, credentialed staff, and low owner dependence |
| Hazmat Cleanup or Industrial Services | 3.5x–6.5x EBITDA | Strong value if equipment, licenses, and teams are in place |
💡 Firms with regulatory contracts, repeat commercial clients, and certified field teams command premium pricing.
Why Owners Choose to Sell
You’ve built your business through hard-earned relationships and technical credibility. But maintaining pace, managing bids, training staff, and staying compliant, takes a toll.
Common reasons we see environmental firm owners sell:
Retirement or exit planning without a clear internal successor
Burnout from field oversight and compliance burdens
Growth plateau and desire to de-risk
Strategic buyer interest from engineering or infrastructure firms
Opportunity to cash out while maintaining continuity for staff and clients
Whatever the reason, a well-structured sale can reward your work, and ensure your impact continues beyond you.
What Makes Environmental Firms Valuable
Buyers pursue environmental businesses that offer both technical credibility and operational consistency. They’re evaluating:
Credentialed team (PEs, PGs, CHMMs, or licensed remediation staff)
Recurring contracts with developers, municipalities, or regulated industries
Data systems for lab tracking, compliance documentation, or reporting
Job costing clarity and minimal regulatory risk exposure
Field equipment condition and documented service records
Owner’s day-to-day role in delivery or technical oversight
Even firms under $5M in revenue can attract strong offers when client relationships and staff are transferable.
Call us Today: 800.525.3542
HOW WE HELP YOU SELL
Our Process: Built for Consulting Firm Owners
Lion is trusted by technical service providers across Texas and the Southeast because we understand that exiting a specialized business takes more than a listing, it takes strategy.
With us, you get:
A confidential, full-service process that protects your brand
Experience with service businesses subject to licensing and regulation
Real-world guidance on timing, valuation, and exit readiness
A partner who respects your legacy, not just your numbers
Seller Success Story
“After 18 years in environmental consulting, I knew it was time to step back, but I didn’t know where to start. I had loyal clients, great staff, and contracts I didn’t want to jeopardize. Lion Business Brokers helped me structure a deal that respected what we’d built and protected my team through the transition. They understood the regulatory landscape and brought serious buyers to the table. I didn’t just sell the business, I passed it on with confidence.”
— Melissa T., Former Owner, Enviro******* Solutions (Houston, TX)
📍 Serving Environmental Service Consulting Firms Across Texas
Austin • Dallas-Fort Worth • San Antonio • Houston • El Paso • Hill Country • Border & Coastal Regions
Ready to Take the First Step?
You don’t need to decide today. But if you’re thinking about stepping away from the business, now is the time to get informed and explore your options.
🎯 Schedule a Free Confidential Exit Consultation
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…
