Sell Your Electrical Business in Georgia, 76+ Active PE Buyers, $0 Seller Fees

Selling an electrical contracting business in Georgia in 2026 sits at the intersection of one of the strongest Southeast demand environments and a moderate-tax structure that’s improving each year. GA electrical M&A benefits from Atlanta’s sustained Fortune 500 HQ concentration (Coca-Cola, Delta, UPS, Home Depot, NCR Voyix, Newell, Genuine Parts), accelerating data center activity (DataBank, QTS, Equinix, Switch, T5 Data Centers, Microsoft expansions in Douglas County), Georgia’s booming film industry (Trilith Studios, Pinewood Atlanta, Tyler Perry Studios), Port of Savannah logistics, and population growth across metro Atlanta and the I-85 / I-75 corridors.

This guide is for Georgia electrical contractor owners running between $1M and $50M of revenue. We’ll walk through GA State Construction Industry Licensing Board Electrical Contractors Division licensing, the Class I (Restricted, residential) vs Class II (Unrestricted, commercial) license tiers, the after-tax math at GA’s 5.39% flat tax (phasing to 4.99%), segment dynamics across residential, commercial, industrial, Atlanta data center, film studio electrical, and the 18-24 month preparation playbook.

The framework draws on direct work with 76+ active U.S. lower middle market buyers, including major Southeast and GA-active acquirers. We’re a buy-side partner. The buyers pay us when a deal closes, not you. Of our 76+ buyers, 14 actively bid on Georgia electrical in 2024-2026: IES Holdings (NYSE: IESC), MYR Group (NASDAQ: MYRG), EMCOR Group (NYSE: EME), Comfort Systems USA (NYSE: FIX), APi Group (NYSE: APG), Sila Services, Crete United (Ridgemont), Bernhard Capital Partners, Wynnchurch Capital, plus 5 regional Southeast rollups.

One realistic note before you start. GA has structural growth tailwinds in data center, film, logistics, and Fortune 500 commercial. Combined with phasing-down state tax, it’s one of the most acquirable Southeast electrical markets.

“Georgia electrical M&A is one of the strongest Southeast markets in 2026. Atlanta data center buildouts (DataBank, QTS, Equinix, Switch, T5, Microsoft expansions) are accelerating, film industry demand for studio electrical is sustained, and GA’s state tax is phasing down. The mistake we see is GA sellers running a generic Atlanta broker auction that misses the public strategic acquirers and Southeast PE platforms entirely. We’re a buy-side partner working with 76+ active buyers, including 14 with current Georgia electrical mandates, the buyers pay us, not you, no contract required.”

Key Takeaways

• Georgia electrical PE/strategic activity: 14 of our 76+ buyers actively bid on GA electrical in 2024-2026, including IES Holdings (NYSE: IESC), MYR Group (NASDAQ: MYRG), EMCOR (NYSE: EME), Comfort Systems USA (NYSE: FIX), APi Group, Sila Services, Crete United, Bernhard Capital, Wynnchurch Capital, plus 5 regional Southeast rollups.
• GA State Construction Industry Licensing Board Electrical Contractors Division administers electrical licensing. Class I (Restricted, residential up to single-family) vs Class II (Unrestricted, all commercial). Qualifying Agent is personal, license does NOT transfer with the entity in an asset sale.
• GA’s 5.39% flat state income tax (2026) phasing toward 4.99% under HB 1015. On a $5M gain, GA sellers keep $350K-$450K more than CA/NY sellers but $250K less than TX/FL sellers.
• GA electrical multiples by size and segment: sub-$2M revenue residential = 0.5-1.0x revenue / 3-4.5x SDE; $1M-$3M EBITDA commercial/industrial = 5.5-7x EBITDA; $3M+ EBITDA Atlanta data center, film studio, or industrial specialists = 6.5-9x EBITDA.
• Atlanta data center buildouts in metro Atlanta and Douglas County (DataBank, QTS, Equinix, Switch, T5, Microsoft) are one of the fastest-growing data center markets in the Southeast. Specialty data center electrical contractors clear 7-9x EBITDA.
• Georgia film industry electrical (Trilith Studios, Pinewood Atlanta, Tyler Perry Studios) creates a unique premium specialty, studio electrical, soundstage MEP, and post-production facility work command 5-7x EBITDA on documented experience.

Why Georgia electrical contractor M&A is one of the strongest Southeast markets

Georgia electrical contractor M&A combines Atlanta’s sustained Fortune 500 commercial activity, accelerating data center buildouts, booming film industry demand, and Port of Savannah logistics. Atlanta hosts more Fortune 500 HQs than any Southeast city: Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, UPS, Home Depot, NCR Voyix, Newell Brands, Genuine Parts, Aflac (Columbus), Southern Company, Norfolk Southern. This drives sustained commercial real estate and tenant fit-out demand. Atlanta data center activity (especially Douglas County and Fulton County) is one of the fastest-growing data center markets in the Southeast. The film industry footprint (Trilith Studios, Pinewood Atlanta, Tyler Perry Studios, Eagle Rock, multiple stages) creates specialty electrical demand.

Active PE-backed and strategic Georgia electrical buyers. IES Holdings (NYSE: IESC), MYR Group (NASDAQ: MYRG), EMCOR Group (NYSE: EME), Comfort Systems USA (NYSE: FIX), APi Group (NYSE: APG) are all highly active. PE platforms include Sila Services, Crete United (Ridgemont Equity Partners), Bernhard Capital Partners, and Wynnchurch Capital. Plus 5 regional Southeast-focused consolidators.

What this means for GA electrical contractor sellers. If you’re running a $1M+ EBITDA commercial or industrial electrical contractor in Atlanta metro, Athens, Augusta, Savannah, or Columbus, you should expect 5-9 indications of interest from a mix of public strategics and PE platforms.

GA State Construction Industry Licensing Board electrical contractor licensing

Georgia electrical contractor licensing is administered by the GA State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Electrical Contractors Division, under O.C.G.A. Section 43-14-1 et seq. GA has two license categories: Class I (Restricted), allows electrical work on single-family residential, multifamily up to 4 units, accessory structures; and Class II (Unrestricted), allows all electrical work including commercial and industrial. Each license requires a Qualifying Agent who has 4+ years of experience and passed the GA exam.

What this means in a sale: the Qualifying Agent is personal. When you sell a GA electrical business, the contractor license stays with the entity in a stock sale (subject to GA Board notification of ownership change), but the Qualifying Agent is personal. If you’re the only Qualifying Agent, the buyer must designate an existing employee, hire a qualifying party, or have you remain employed for 6-24 months.

Class I vs Class II positioning matters for buyer pool. Class I (Restricted) contractors face buyer-pool compression because PE rollups and public strategics generally want unrestricted commercial capability. If your business is operating commercially under Class I or could upgrade to Class II, the upgrade typically widens buyer pool and adds 0.25-0.5x EBITDA to multiple.

How to handle GA licensing 12-24 months before sale. Identify a senior electrician with 4+ years of experience to support through the GA Class II exam. Once you have a second Qualifying Agent on staff, your buyer pool widens significantly.

GA Board enforcement and complaint history. Buyers will pull the GA licensee record. Resolve any open matters before going to market.

Georgia electrical segment dynamics: residential, commercial, industrial, Atlanta data center, film studio

GA electrical M&A divides into five segments with materially different buyer pools and multiples. Atlanta data center is the premium segment. Film studio electrical is a unique GA-specific specialty.

Residential service electrical: 4-5.5x EBITDA platform / 3-4.5x SDE owner-op. Buyer pool: regional Southeast residential rollups (Sila Services), search funders, SBA individuals. Premium for shops in Atlanta metro.

Commercial electrical: 5-6.5x EBITDA platform. Tenant fit-outs (huge in Atlanta given Fortune 500 HQ activity), retail, hospitality, office, healthcare. Buyer pool: Sila Services, Crete United, regional commercial rollups, public strategic acquirers.

Industrial electrical: 6-8x EBITDA platform. Manufacturing, distribution and logistics (Port of Savannah, Atlanta logistics hub), automotive (Kia West Point, Hyundai Bryan County, multiple Tier 1/2). Buyer pool: industrial-focused PE platforms (Wynnchurch, Bernhard, Audax), public strategic acquirers.

Atlanta data center electrical: 7-9x EBITDA platform. Metro Atlanta data center buildouts (DataBank, QTS, Equinix, Switch, T5, Microsoft, EdgeConneX, Vantage), Douglas County hyperscale activity. Buyer pool: specialized data center electrical platforms, IES Holdings (with dedicated data center capability). Multiples 7-9x EBITDA at platform scale, the highest segment of GA electrical.

Film studio electrical: 5-7x EBITDA platform. Trilith Studios, Pinewood Atlanta, Tyler Perry Studios, Eagle Rock Studios, Mailing Avenue Stageworks. Specialty work includes soundstage MEP, post-production facility electrical, lighting infrastructure. Buyer pool: regional GA operators, specialty PE. Premium for studio relationships and IATSE / IBEW certifications.

Who actually buys Georgia electrical businesses in 2026: the five buyer archetypes

The GA electrical buyer pool is one of the deepest in the Southeast. Public strategic acquirers, PE rollups, and Atlanta-focused specialty platforms all actively pursue GA electrical.

Archetype 1: Public strategic acquirers (IES, MYR, EMCOR, Comfort Systems, APi). All highly active in GA. Typical target: $2M-$20M EBITDA. Multiples: 6-9x EBITDA at platform scale (7-9x for data center). Close timeline: 90-180 days.

Archetype 2: PE-backed Southeast electrical consolidators. Sila Services, Crete United (Ridgemont), Bernhard Capital Partners, Wynnchurch Capital, Audax Industrial. Plus 5 regional Southeast consolidators. Typical target: $1M-$10M EBITDA. Multiples: 5.5-8x EBITDA.

Archetype 3: Search funders pursuing GA commercial/industrial/data center electrical. GA is one of the most popular search-funder geographies. Typical target: $750K-$3M EBITDA. Multiples: 4.5-6.5x EBITDA.

Archetype 4: SBA 7(a)-financed individuals. Targeting residential service shops in Atlanta metro and secondary GA cities. Typical target: $200K-$700K SDE. Multiples: 2.5-4x SDE.

Archetype 5: Family offices and strategic regional GA operators. Atlanta family offices pursue mid-size electrical contractors. Multiples: 4-7x EBITDA.

GA electrical buyer archetype	Typical multiple	Deal structure norms	Close timeline
Public strategic (IES, MYR, EMCOR, FIX, APi)	6-9x EBITDA (7-9x data center)	Cash-heavy	90-180 days
PE rollup (Sila, Crete United, Bernhard, Wynnchurch)	5.5-8x EBITDA	Cash + 15-30% rollover + earnout	90-150 days
Search funder	4.5-6.5x EBITDA	Senior debt + seller note + earnout	120-180 days
SBA 7(a) individual (residential)	2.5-4x SDE	10% buyer equity, 20-30% seller note	60-120 days
Family office / strategic GA regional	4-7x EBITDA	Cash + 25-40% rollover	60-180 days

Buyer type	Cash at close	Rollover equity	Exclusivity	Best fit for
Strategic acquirer	High (40–60%+)	Low (0–10%)	60–90 days	Sellers who want a clean exit; competitor or upstream consolidator
PE platform	Medium (60–80%)	Medium (15–25%)	60–120 days	Sellers willing to hold rollover for the second sale; bigger deals
PE add-on	Higher (70–85%)	Low–Medium (10–20%)	45–90 days	Sellers folding into existing platform; faster process
Search fund / ETA	Medium (50–70%)	High (20–40%)	90–180 days	Legacy-conscious sellers wanting an owner-operator successor
Independent sponsor	Medium (55–75%)	Medium (15–30%)	60–120 days	Sellers OK with deal-by-deal capital and longer financing closes

Realistic Georgia electrical multiples by size and segment

GA electrical multiples vary by Atlanta vs secondary metro and by segment. Atlanta carries premium versus Athens, Augusta, Savannah, Columbus.

Sub-$1M revenue residential service: 0.4-0.7x revenue / 2.5-3.5x SDE. Micro-shops sold to SBA buyers.

$1M-$3M revenue residential or light commercial: 0.5-1.0x revenue / 3-4.5x SDE. Core SBA buyer territory with search funder interest.

$3M-$10M revenue / $500K-$2M EBITDA commercial/industrial: 5-7x EBITDA. Wider buyer pool including PE add-ons. Multiples accelerate with Atlanta data center adjacency, film studio work, recurring revenue.

$10M-$30M revenue / $2M-$5M EBITDA industrial/commercial: 6-8.5x EBITDA. Platform territory.

$30M+ revenue / $5M+ EBITDA Atlanta data center / industrial / specialty: 7-10x EBITDA. Platform-of-the-platform.

GA electrical business profile	Revenue multiple range	SDE/EBITDA multiple range	Dominant buyer pool
Sub-$1M revenue residential	0.4-0.7x revenue	2.5-3.5x SDE	SBA individual
$1M-$3M revenue residential/commercial	0.5-1.0x revenue	3-4.5x SDE	SBA + search funder
$3M-$10M / $500K-$2M EBITDA	0.7-1.2x revenue	5-7x EBITDA	Search, indie sponsor, PE add-on, public strategic
$10M-$30M / $2M-$5M EBITDA	0.8-1.4x revenue	6-8.5x EBITDA	PE rollup, public strategic
$30M+ / $5M+ EBITDA Atlanta data center / specialty	1.0-1.6x revenue	7-10x EBITDA	Public strategic, PE platform-of-platform

Georgia’s phasing-down flat tax: the after-tax math

GA imposes a 5.39% flat state income tax in 2026, with HB 1015 phasing further reductions toward 4.99% by 2028. On a $5M business sale capital gain, federal capital gains plus GA 5.39% (or 4.99%). Compare to California (12.3-13.3%), New York (10.9%), New Jersey (10.75%). On $5M gain, GA sellers keep $350K-$450K more than coastal sellers but $250K less than TX/FL sellers.

GA tax becoming more attractive each year. The phasing-down structure (under HB 1015) is one of the more aggressive state tax cuts in the Southeast.

Asset allocation for GA sellers. Engage tax counsel for typical $50K-$300K of optimization on mid-size deals.

Atlanta data center electrical: GA’s premium segment

Atlanta is one of the fastest-growing data center markets in the Southeast. Metro Atlanta and especially Douglas County host major data center buildouts: DataBank, QTS, Equinix (multiple Atlanta facilities), Switch (Atlanta Pyramid), T5 Data Centers, Microsoft (Hapeville and Lithia Springs), EdgeConneX, Vantage. Combined Atlanta data center capacity continues expanding at one of the fastest rates in the country.

What documented Atlanta data center electrical work commands. Hyperscale and colocation electrical specialists with Atlanta data center experience clear 7-9x EBITDA at platform scale, with premium for hyperscale operator relationships (Microsoft, Google, AWS, Meta) and recurring construction pipeline visibility. Document specific projects, cleanroom MEP capabilities, mission-critical power systems experience, and generator commissioning credentials.

Service mix and recurring revenue in GA electrical

Recurring service revenue is the highest-leverage multiple driver in GA electrical M&A. 30%+ recurring service revenue trades at 0.5-1.0x EBITDA premium. GA-specific recurring opportunities: Atlanta data center service contracts, Atlanta Fortune 500 commercial property management agreements (Cousins Properties, Selig Enterprises, Highwoods, Brookfield), film studio service contracts.

What GA electrical buyers value most. Recurring data center service contracts; Fortune 500 commercial relationships; film studio relationships; service revenue percentage; specialty certifications; electrician retention; GA Board license depth.

How to reposition mix in 18-24 months pre-sale. Aggressively grow recurring contracts. Pre-sale repositioning typically returns 1-2x EBITDA in higher offers.

What GA electrical buyers diligence: the checklist

GA electrical diligence is consistent with national norms with GA-specific overlays. Buyers verify earnings, validate revenue mix, confirm electrician retention, validate GA license transition, evaluate data center or film studio customer relationships if applicable.

Earnings quality and add-back validation. 24-36 months of P&Ls. GA Department of Revenue filings. CPA-prepared statements. GA-specific: GA sales tax compliance, GA corporate income tax compliance if applicable.

Revenue mix, customer concentration, federal compliance. Service vs project breakdown. Top 10 customers as percentage of revenue. Atlanta data center, film studio, Fortune 500 customer concentration disclosure. Federal Davis-Bacon for federal projects (Robins AFB, Fort Stewart, Fort Benning, Moody AFB, Hunter Army Airfield).

Electrician headcount, productivity, retention, GA licensing. Electrician roster. GA-specific: GA Class I/Class II license documentation, Qualifying Agent documentation.

License, permits, insurance, GA regulatory. GA Class I/Class II license. GA workers’ comp. Federal Davis-Bacon. Multiemployer pension if union (GA union penetration is moderate; IBEW Local 613 Atlanta, Local 508 Savannah).

Component	Typical share of price	When you actually receive it	Risk to seller
Cash at close	60–80%	Wire on closing day	Low, this is real money
Earnout	10–20%	Over 18–24 months, performance-based	High, routinely paid out at less than face value
Rollover equity	0–25%	At the next platform sale (typically 4–6 years)	Variable, can multiply or go to zero
Indemnity escrow	5–12%	12–24 months after close (if no claims)	Medium, usually returned, sometimes contested
Working capital peg	+/- 2–7% of price	Adjustment at close or 30-90 days post	High, methodology disputes are common

The 18-24 month preparation playbook for GA electrical sellers

GA electrical contractors who do real 18-24 month preparation routinely sell for 1.5-3x EBITDA more. Standard playbook applies.

Months 24-18: financial cleanup and segment positioning. Move to monthly closes. CPA statements. Document add-backs. Begin segment positioning.

Months 18-12: GA licensing, customer diversification. Identify a senior electrician for GA Qualifying Agent succession. Diversify customer concentration. Document Atlanta data center, film studio, or Fortune 500 commercial work specifically.

Months 12-6: reduce owner dependency. Document SOPs. Promote/hire general manager. Take 30-day extended absence.

Months 6-0: data room, CIM, buyer-pool targeting. Compile records. Build CIM emphasizing segment fit. Engage tax counsel.

GA electrical sale process timeline

GA electrical sale processes run 7-10 months for sub-$1M EBITDA and 10-13 months for $1M+ platform deals. Standard timeline.

Months 1-2: positioning and outreach. Reach out to public strategics (IES, MYR, EMCOR, Comfort Systems USA, APi), PE rollups (Sila, Crete United, Bernhard, Wynnchurch), search funders, family offices, SBA buyers.

Months 2-4: management meetings and IOIs. Take 4-8 buyer meetings. 3-6 IOIs.

Months 4-8: LOI, diligence, financing, GA licensing planning. Sign LOI. Buyer-side diligence: financial QoE; GA license review; Atlanta data center / film studio customer verification; Davis-Bacon compliance.

Months 8-10: definitive agreement and close. Negotiate purchase agreement. GA Board change-of-control filings.

Months 10+: transition. Post-close transition 90-180 days. Earnout periods 12-36 months.

Sell Your Electrical Business in Other States: Sibling Guides

Sibling state guides for selling a electrical business. Each guide below covers state-specific licensing, multiple ranges, tax considerations, and named PE buyers active in that geography. If you operate in multiple states, the multi-state premium typically adds 0.5-1.5x to EBITDA multiple at exit (buyers value contiguous coverage).

State-by-state guides: Sell Your Electrical Business in Texas · Sell Your Electrical Business in Florida · Sell Your Electrical Business in California · Sell Your Electrical Business in New York · Sell Your Electrical Business in Pennsylvania · Sell Your Electrical Business in Illinois · Sell Your Electrical Business in Ohio · Sell Your Electrical Business in North Carolina

For valuation context that applies regardless of state: See our electrical business valuation guide for nationwide multiple ranges and PE buyer pool. Run our free 90-second valuation calculator for a starting-point estimate. Or browse the full sell-your-business hub for all verticals and states.

Common mistakes GA electrical sellers make

Mistake 1: ignoring GA Qualifying Agent succession until LOI. Address 18-24 months pre-sale.

Mistake 2: not documenting Atlanta data center work specifically. Atlanta data center work commands 7-9x EBITDA. Sellers who don’t document specific projects, certifications, and customer relationships leave 1-2x EBITDA on the table.

Mistake 3: positioning as wrong segment. An Atlanta data center contractor positioned as residential gets 4-5x EBITDA. Positioned correctly: 7-9x EBITDA.

Mistake 4: ignoring Class II license upgrade for Class I contractors operating commercially. Class II (Unrestricted) widens buyer pool by 0.25-0.5x EBITDA. Worth the 12-month upgrade if commercially viable.

Mistake 5: under-investing in customer concentration diversification. Atlanta data center contractors with single hyperscaler above 30% face 0.5-1.5x EBITDA compression.

Mistake 6: not addressing Davis-Bacon for federal projects. Robins AFB, Fort Stewart, Fort Benning, Moody AFB, Hunter Army Airfield. Federal compliance must be airtight.

Mistake 7: running generic GA broker auction. Targeted, relationship-led processes consistently produce 1-2x EBITDA more.

Sell Your Electrical Business in Georgia: 2026 Outlook and Key Takeaways

Selling an electrical business in Georgia in 2026 is one of the strongest Southeast electrical M&A opportunities. Atlanta’s sustained Fortune 500 commercial activity, accelerating data center buildouts in metro Atlanta and Douglas County, booming film industry demand, Port of Savannah logistics, and a state tax phasing toward 4.99% all combine to make GA one of the most acquirable Southeast electrical markets. Address GA Qualifying Agent succession 18+ months pre-sale. Document Atlanta data center, film studio, or Fortune 500 commercial work specifically. Realistic 2026 multiples: 2.5-4x SDE for sub-$1M residential; 5-7x EBITDA for $1M-$3M commercial/industrial; 6-8x EBITDA for industrial; 7-9x EBITDA for Atlanta data center specialists; 5-7x EBITDA for film studio specialty. Of our 76+ buyers, 14 actively bid on GA electrical contracting in 2024-2026.

Sell Your Electrical Business in Georgia: Frequently Asked Questions

How much is my electrical business in Georgia worth?

Sub-$1M revenue residential: 0.4-0.7x revenue or 2.5-3.5x SDE. $1M-$3M: 0.5-1.0x revenue or 3-4.5x SDE. $3M-$10M / $500K-$2M EBITDA: 5-7x EBITDA. $10M-$30M / $2M-$5M EBITDA: 6-8.5x EBITDA. $30M+ Atlanta data center / specialty: 7-10x EBITDA.

How does GA electrical contractor license transfer?

Class I (Restricted) and Class II (Unrestricted) license stays with the entity in a stock sale (subject to GA Board notification). Qualifying Agent is personal and does NOT transfer. Buyers handle this three ways: designate an existing licensed employee, have a buyer’s qualifying party pass the GA exam, or seller remains as Qualifying Agent for 6-24 months.

Why are GA electrical multiples competitive?

Atlanta’s Fortune 500 HQ concentration, accelerating data center buildouts in metro Atlanta and Douglas County (DataBank, QTS, Equinix, Switch, T5, Microsoft), booming film industry, Port of Savannah logistics, and state tax phasing toward 4.99% all combine to drive premium multiple opportunities.

Who actually buys GA electrical contractors in 2026?

Five archetypes: public strategics (IES, MYR, EMCOR, Comfort Systems USA, APi); PE rollups (Sila Services, Crete United, Bernhard Capital, Wynnchurch, regional Southeast rollups); search funders; SBA 7(a) individuals; family offices and strategic regional GA operators. Of our 76+ buyers, 14 actively bid on GA electrical in 2024-2026.

What about Atlanta data center electrical specifically?

Metro Atlanta and Douglas County host one of the fastest-growing data center markets in the Southeast. DataBank, QTS, Equinix, Switch, T5, Microsoft, EdgeConneX, Vantage all have active buildouts. Atlanta data center electrical specialists clear 7-9x EBITDA at platform scale.

What about film studio electrical in Georgia?

GA film industry is one of the largest in the country. Trilith Studios, Pinewood Atlanta, Tyler Perry Studios, Eagle Rock, Mailing Avenue Stageworks. Specialty film electrical work (soundstage MEP, post-production facility, lighting infrastructure) commands 5-7x EBITDA. Premium for studio relationships and IATSE / IBEW certifications.

What’s the after-tax math for GA electrical sellers?

GA imposes a 5.39% flat state income tax in 2026, phasing toward 4.99% by 2028 under HB 1015. On a $5M gain, GA sellers keep $350K-$450K more than CA/NY sellers but $250K less than TX/FL sellers.

What’s the difference between Class I and Class II GA electrical contractor licenses?

Class I (Restricted) allows electrical work on single-family residential and small multifamily. Class II (Unrestricted) allows all electrical work including commercial and industrial. Class II carries broader buyer-pool appeal because PE rollups and public strategics generally want unrestricted commercial capability.

How long does it take to sell an electrical business in GA?

Sub-$1M EBITDA: 7-10 months. $1M+ EBITDA platform deals: 10-13 months. Add 18-24 months on the front for proper preparation.

What about union dynamics for GA electrical contractors?

GA is right-to-work with moderate IBEW union penetration. IBEW Local 613 (Atlanta) and Local 508 (Savannah) are the major locals. Open-shop dominates outside specific commercial/industrial niches. Multiemployer pension withdrawal liability is a smaller concern than coastal states.

Should I sell my GA electrical business to a public strategic or a PE rollup?

Public strategics (IES, MYR, EMCOR, Comfort Systems, APi) typically pay 6-9x EBITDA (7-9x for Atlanta data center), mostly cash. PE rollups (Sila, Crete United, Bernhard, Wynnchurch) typically pay 5.5-8x EBITDA at platform scale with cash + 15-30% rollover + earnout.

What recurring revenue mix do GA electrical buyers want?

30%+ recurring service revenue is the threshold where multiples step up by 0.5-1.0x EBITDA. GA-specific recurring opportunities: Atlanta data center service contracts, Atlanta Fortune 500 commercial property management agreements, film studio service contracts.

How is CT Acquisitions different from a GA electrical broker?

We’re a buy-side partner, not a sell-side broker. Sell-side brokers represent you and charge 8-12% of the deal plus retainers, run 9-12 month auctions, require 12-month exclusivity. We work directly with 76+ buyers, including 14 with active Georgia electrical mandates: IES Holdings (NYSE: IESC), MYR Group (NASDAQ: MYRG), EMCOR Group (NYSE: EME), Comfort Systems USA (NYSE: FIX), APi Group (NYSE: APG), Sila Services, Crete United (Ridgemont), Bernhard Capital Partners, Wynnchurch Capital, plus 5 regional Southeast rollups, who pay us when a deal closes. You pay nothing. No retainer, no exclusivity, no contract until a buyer is at the closing table. We move faster (60-120 days from intro to close) because we already know who the right buyer is.

Sources & References

All claims and figures in this analysis are sourced from the publicly available references below.

1. https://sos.ga.gov/board/electrical-contractors
2. https://dor.georgia.gov/
3. https://investors.ies-co.com/
4. https://investors.myrgroup.com/
5. https://investors.emcor.net/
6. https://investors.comfortsystemsusa.com/
7. https://www.bernhardcapital.com/
8. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/government-contracts/construction
9. Georgia Secretary of State, Construction Industry Licensing
10. Georgia Census QuickFacts