What is your septic business worth?
An estimate built from what septic and waste-service businesses really sold for, not from asking prices. Takes a minute. No signup.
What septic and waste-service businesses actually sold for
Figures are for waste management and recycling businesses sold on BizBuySell, 2021 to 2025. Multiples are the sale price divided by yearly owner earnings (SDE) or by yearly revenue.
| Lower quartile | Median | Average | Upper quartile | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings multiple (SDE) | 2.14x | 3.14x | 3.31x | 3.88x |
| Revenue multiple | 0.5x | 0.81x | 0.95x | 1.29x |
| Yearly owner earnings of those businesses | $119,000 | $176,635 | $293,961 | $384,800 |
| Yearly revenue of those businesses | $382,485 | $710,000 | $1,206,081 | $1,534,731 |
Median sale price $525,000, median asking price $625,000; businesses sold for about 91% of the asking price. Source: BizBuySell valuation benchmarks for waste management and recycling businesses, read October 2026. BizBuySell does not publish a septic-only benchmark, so these are the figures for waste management and recycling businesses as a whole. That group includes septic and sewage services along with trash collection, junk hauling, dumpsters and recycling, so a septic company with steady maintenance contracts can price differently. A broker can narrow it for your area. Consultants in a Box is not affiliated with BizBuySell.
What moves the value of a septic business
Recurring pumping and maintenance contracts (aerobic systems with a service agreement are the steadiest revenue), trucks and tanks in good condition, licenses and permits that can pass to a buyer, and a team that runs routes without the owner are what move a septic company toward the top of its range.
- Size. Larger companies sell for higher multiples. The calculator adjusts the multiple for the size you enter.
- Owner dependence. A business that runs without you on every job is worth more than one that stops when you do.
- Clean, provable books. Buyers and lenders pay for earnings they can verify.
- Recurring revenue and a steady lead flow. Predictable work is easier to finance.
Questions people ask
How much is a septic business worth?
BizBuySell has no septic-only figure, so this uses waste management and recycling businesses as a whole, which include septic and sewage services. Half of those that sold went for between about 2.1 and 3.9 times yearly owner earnings (SDE), with a middle of about 3.1 times, and a median sale price of about $525,000.
Does a septic sale include the trucks and equipment?
Usually the price covers the equipment needed to run the business, so the age and condition of the vacuum trucks, pumps and tanks matter a great deal. How it is treated differs by deal, so ask a broker or attorney.
Do licenses and permits transfer to a buyer?
It depends on your state and county, and some require the buyer to apply in their own name. Check with the regulator and your attorney early, because it can decide whether a sale closes.
Do maintenance contracts raise the price?
Usually yes. Customers who renew every year make future revenue easier to trust and to finance, and aerobic systems are often required to have a maintenance agreement, which makes that base steadier.
Is this an appraisal?
No. It is a quick estimate from published sale data, meant to start a conversation. A real price depends on your books, your customers, your team and the buyer. For a formal number, use a business broker or a certified appraiser.
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This is an indicative estimate from published sale data, not an appraisal, and not financial, legal or tax advice.