This Energy Efficiency Business Looks Great… Until You Dig In

In this episode the hosts hilariously critique a New England insulation and energy‑efficiency contractor deal, debating subsidy dependency, normalized EBITDA red flags, and whether it’s a business worth owning. Business Listing – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x1fQmCWxkw0Jzbhc-vGwR89oK25r91Lm/view?usp=drive_link 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: 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! Capital Pad – A platform connecting accredited investors with vetted small business acquisition deals. Discover exclusive opportunities at https://capitalpad.com This week on Acquisitions Anonymous, Michael, Heather, and Mills tackle a unique deal in the home services world — a premier insulation and energy‑efficiency contractor operating in New England with roughly $5.3M in annual sales and a normalized EBITDA of about $671K. The business benefits from utility‑run programs like MassSave and EnergyWise, which drive much of its lead flow, but the panel quickly zeroes in on the risks inherent in those subsidy‑dependent revenue streams and skinny net margins once normalized adjustments are factored in. Key Highlights: - New England insulation & energy efficiency contractor with $5.3M revenue. - Revenue driven heavily by utility subsidy programs (MassSave/EnergyWise). - Normalized EBITDA ~ $671K but thin net margins after realistic adjustments. - Discussion on dependency risk of government/utility funding. - Debate over true profitability once owner labor and capex are normalized.