Leading mechanical engineering firm specializing in HVAC design, founded in 2007. Thousands of completed projects across San Diego and nationally. Sold to Keel's Landing, an Annapolis-based engineering firm led by Naval Academy graduates. Seven-figure deal.

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A premier San Diego design-build firm specializing in custom residential remodeling, serving a discriminating clientele since 1996. BBB accredited with a long track record of high-end kitchen, bathroom, and full-home renovations across San Diego County. Successfully transitioned to new ownership last year.

The best time to sell is when your backlog is healthy, your team is stable, and the business doesn't depend entirely on you to win or deliver work. Infrastructure spending is elevated heading into 2026, housing demand across Southern California is driving deal activity, and buyer appetite for engineering and construction businesses is strong. Owners who plan their exit in advance — rather than waiting for a forcing event — consistently get better outcomes.

Most transactions take 6 to 12 months from engagement to close. More complex deals — those involving multiple owners, licensing considerations, real estate, or SBA financing — can run longer. Our SB&O transaction took over 12 months due to the complexity of multiple stakeholders and the volume of buyer interest. The businesses that close fastest are the ones that are operationally prepared before they go to market.

This is one of the most important questions in any engineering or construction deal and it needs to be addressed early. If you are the qualifier of record or the PE of record, the buyer needs a licensed replacement in place at or shortly after close. SBA financing requires the seller to exit within 12 months, which means your transition plan needs to account for license continuity from day one. CBA works through this with buyers and sellers early in the process so there are no surprises at the closing table.

Your client list, project history, and key relationships are among the most sensitive assets in your business — and we treat them that way. That information is never shared during the marketing process. It is only released to a single buyer, after an offer has been accepted and the deal has entered due diligence. This is a core part of how CBA protects sellers throughout the process. To learn more about how we control the flow of confidential information, see our Information Release Timeline.

Work in progress and backlog are central to how buyers value an engineering or construction business — and how the purchase price gets structured. Buyers will want to see detailed WIP schedules, project profitability by job, and pipeline documentation. Backlog is often used to justify a higher multiple, while WIP accounting can affect working capital calculations at close. This is an area where having an experienced advisor makes a significant difference.

It's the most common challenge in this industry and it doesn't automatically kill a deal — but it does affect your valuation and deal structure. Buyers will want a longer transition period, additional seller financing, or earnout provisions tied to client retention. The best thing you can do in advance of a sale is begin systematically transferring relationships to key staff members. Even 12 to 18 months of intentional relationship transfer can meaningfully change your outcome.

It depends on size and specialty. Engineering firms are a highly sought-after vertical for MBA operators and search funders who want a professionally run business with a defined service offering. Larger firms attract strategic acquirers looking for geographic expansion, certifications, or a specific client base. In trades businesses like commercial plumbing and HVAC, experienced industry operators are typically the strongest buyers — as demonstrated in our Mark Harris Plumbing transaction. CBA maintains active relationships across all of these buyer categories.

It's worth considering but comes with real tradeoffs. Internal buyers rarely have the capital to close without seller financing or SBA debt — which means you're carrying more risk and often accepting a lower price than the open market would deliver. The existing relationship also makes negotiation emotionally complicated. The right move is to run a proper competitive process first and see what the market actually offers before committing to an inside deal. You may be surprised how many qualified buyers are out there — and what that does for your price and terms. Learn how our confidential auction process works .