📡 SMB Signal: America's skilled labor gap, a waste services business and smart home firm

Hello, and welcome to 📡 SMB Signal by Mainshares! Each week, we spotlight high-quality small business deals, operator insights, and tactical playbooks for buying, running, or investing in Main Street businesses.

🎉 Network wins

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🔍 What’s in the Deal Depot?

Agricultural & Construction Waste Services

🔑 Buyer Opportunity
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Founded: 1985
Revenue (2024): $9.5M
SDE (2024): $1.2M

TLDR: This business is a multi-decade Arizona-based waste removal and hauling company specializing in construction site cleanup, agricultural waste management, and dirtwork for equestrian/rodeo arenas. With a loyal customer base across dairy farms, GCs, and rodeo operators, the company has grown steadily through word-of-mouth and referrals. The business owns a large fleet of heavy equipment and benefits from minimal customer concentration, low employee turnover, and consistent margins.

Why is this interesting?

• Long-standing, diversified service lines: 75% construction cleanup, 20% dairy/ag hauling, 5% arena services.

• Recurring customer relationships: Trusted vendor for major regional dairies and Arizona contractors.

• Asset-heavy operation: Substantial equipment fleet included; optional real estate with multiple yards.

• Full employee base in place: 35 FTE across admin, drivers, and field staff; owners are semi-active.

• Stable margins & scale potential: 7-figure SDE and consistent cash generation, with upside through bid expansion and commercial contracts.

Smart Home Design & Automation

🔑Buyer Opportunity 
Location: Florida
Founded: ~2020
Revenue (2024): $5.2M
SDE (2024): $1M

TLDR: This is a high-end smart home integration firm specializing in whole-home automation, AV systems, lighting design, and residential security. With a 4-year operating history and over $1M in SDE, the business caters to affluent homeowners and designers seeking luxury technology solutions. Sales are project-based with some recurring revenue from service plans. The company is well-positioned for growth via structured sales hires, lighting design upsells, builder partnerships, and enhanced SEO.

Why is this interesting?

• Strong cash flow in premium niche: Over $1M in SDE in 2024 across complex residential AV and automation projects.

• Luxury client base: Operates in Florida’s booming luxury real estate market, targeting custom homes and high-end renovations.

• Diverse, project-based revenue: No customer exceeds 20% of revenue; recurring support plans offer margin upside.

• Growth levers identified: Potential in lighting design expansion, digital lead generation, and structured sales approach.

• Plug-and-play for tech-savvy buyers: Ideal for those with smart home, low-voltage, or AV experience.

Deal summaries above are for informational purposes only. Detailed financials and confidential information are shared only with vetted buyers under an executed NDA.

🎥 Upcoming events

🗓️ Thursday, August 7
👤Hosts: Jed Morris, Managing Partner at Sunset Coast Partners
🕛 12 PM CT / 1 PM ET
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Some of the best businesses never hit the market—and the most successful acquirers know how to find them.

Join us for a tactical session focused on off-market search strategies: how to identify, approach, and build relationships with business owners before a broker ever gets involved. We’ll cover what makes off-market deals different, how to structure your outreach, and how to position yourself as the buyer of choice.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• Proven strategies for sourcing off-market deals

• Real-world examples of successful outreach

• Tips on messaging, owner conversations, and managing deal flow

• A candid look at what works—and what doesn’t

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📑 More Resources

• The Skilled Labor Crisis in America’s Reshoring Efforts 👉 Read the article

• Buy vs. Build: Should you buy or start a plumbing business? 👉 Read the article

• Industry Deep Dive: A Guide to Acquiring a General Auto Repair Business 👉 Read the report

• What investors look for in small business searchers 👉 Read the article

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