Inside a Miami Contractor Sale: Hidden Accounting Traps & Big Backlog

In this episode the hosts dissect a $23 million asking‑price acquisition of a Miami‑based specialty contractor with $41 M revenue, $4.7 M EBITDA, a $52 M backlog—and dig into its contract structure, accounting risks and deal suitability. Business Listing Link – https://businessesforsale.nuwireinvestor.com/business-opportunity/specialty-contractor-with-long-term-contracts-and-62mm-backlog/2395873/?J=AN Welcome to Acquisitions Anonymous – the #1 podcast for small business M&A. Every week, we break down businesses for sale and talk about buying, operating, and growing them. Subscribe for more episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@AcquisitionsAnonymousPodcast?sub_confirmation=1 Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://www.acquanon.com/newsletter Connect with us on Social Media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/acquanon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/acquanon 👋 Follow the Hosts Michael Girdley – Entrepreneur & investor. Twitter: https://twitter.com/girdley Bill D’Alessandro – CEO of Elements Brands. Twitter: https://twitter.com/BillDA Heather Endresen – SBA lending expert & advisor. Twitter: https://twitter.com/EndresenHeather Mills Snell – Small business investor & advisor. Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegeneralmills 💰 Sponsored by: Tonnesen Accounting Services - Tonnesen provides full quality of earnings reports trusted by buyers, lenders, and brokers on over $500 million in deals each year. Fast, detailed, and affordable. Visit tonnesenaccountingservices.com or connect with Josh Tonnesen on LinkedIn for a free consult. Acquisition Lab – Your fast-track to business ownership. Get hands-on support, world-class resources, and join a top-tier community of acquisition entrepreneurs. Schedule your free consultation at https://www.acquisitionlab.com and mention Acquisitions Anonymous! In this episode, the team reviews a specialty contractor serving healthcare and aviation clients in Miami‑Dade County, founded in 2007, with ~$41 M in revenue, ~$4.7 M in EBITDA, and a contracted backlog of ~$52 M. The asking price of ~$23 M implies about a 4.9× EBITDA multiple. The business claims that 80‑85% of revenue comes from renewable 3‑5 year institutional contracts with government and institutional clients, and emphasizes a capital‑light model with only ~$100k in equipment and ~53 employees. Key Highlights: - Revenue ~$41‑45 M, EBITDA ~$4.7 M (~10% margin) with backlog ~$52 M. - Asking price ~$23 M → ~4.9× EBITDA, which is reasonable compared to many contractor deals. - Contract structure: 80‑85% from 3‑5 year renewable institutional contracts (government, healthcare, aviation) which reduce reliance on open bidding. - Accounting/diligence risks: low equipment/FF&E (~$100k) suggests perhaps subcontract model or specialized niche; retainage, WIP, deferred revenue and billing practices must be scrutinized. - Buyer fit & financing: likely better for an industry‑experienced buyer; banks/lenders will want low leverage and proven transition plan given the contract complexity and possible change‑of‑control risk.