Big Money Is Buying Up Trade Companies. Should You Sell?

Private equity is aggressively acquiring HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and trade companies across the United States—and the offers are getting harder to ignore. For many contractors, the call feels like validation. You built something valuable. You built something worth buying. And now someone is offering life-changing money for it. But the real story doesn’t begin when you get the offer… It begins AFTER YOU SIGN. In this video, Nick Dowgul of North State Law breaks down what trade business owners are not always told before selling to private equity: 🏗️ Why PE firms are aggressively targeting trade companies right now 💰 How HVAC, plumbing, and electrical businesses are actually valued 📉 What changes after acquisition (culture, staffing, pricing, and control) 👷 Why many owners stay on for 2–5 years after selling ⚖️ The hidden legal and licensing exposure most contractors don’t anticipate 📊 What alternatives exist besides a full sale (recaps, ESOPs, strategic buyers) Most owners focus on the valuation. Few understand what they are actually agreeing to. Because when private equity buys your business, they are not just buying your revenue… They are stepping into your systems, your people, and in many cases—your license. And that changes everything. If you are a licensed contractor or trade business owner, this is a conversation you need to see before you take that call. Watch now and understand what’s really on the table before you sell. 🔔 To learn more about protecting your professional license in North Carolina 📞 Call Our Raleigh Office: (919) 298-8865 #privateequity #tradebusiness #hvacbusiness #plumbingbusiness #electricianbusiness #constructionbusiness #businesssale #businessexit #businessacquisition #mergersandacquisitions #pefirm #skilledtrades #bluecollar #contractorlife #smallbusinessowner #entrepreneur #businessgrowth #wealthbuilding #exitstrategy #hvac #plumbing #electrician #construction #northstatelaw #nickdowgul #tradeindustry