Sell Your Landscaping Business in New York, 76+ Active PE Buyers, $0 Seller Fees

Selling a landscaping business in New York in 2026 is a high-quality but tax-disadvantaged Northeast landscape exit. New York is one of the deepest commercial landscape contract markets in the United States across multiple distinct submarkets. The Hamptons (East Hampton, Southampton, Bridgehampton, Sag Harbor, Water Mill, Quogue, Wainscott) supports some of the highest-net-worth residential clients in the country, with single-property landscape installation budgets routinely exceeding $1M. Westchester County (Bedford, Pound Ridge, North Salem, Bronxville, Scarsdale, Larchmont) supports premium residential and corporate-campus contracts. Long Island (Nassau, Suffolk) and the NYC outer boroughs support deep commercial-maintenance, multifamily, and HOA contract bases. Manhattan supports premium plaza, rooftop, and corporate-lobby plant maintenance contracts.

But New York-specific dynamics also create deal complexity that owners outside the state often miss. NYS DEC Pesticide Applicator transitions can stall a deal 30-60 days. New York Wage Theft Prevention Act creates rigorous pay-record documentation requirements that buyers diligence aggressively. New York’s 10.9% top state income tax plus 3.876% NYC city tax for NYC-resident sellers create complex tax planning. New York environmental review (Article 17 Spill Compensation, ECL Article 27 Industrial Hazardous Waste) for real estate transactions creates complexity for operators with truck yard or nursery property. New York labor law on overtime, meal breaks, and prevailing wage for public-sector contracts is among the strictest in the country. Snow-and-ice slip-and-fall liability exposure is meaningful and well-litigated.

The framework draws on direct work with 76+ active U.S. lower middle market buyers, including 16 with explicit New York landscape mandates. BrightView (NYSE: BV) maintains Long Island, Westchester, and NYC branches with active tuck-in strategy. Yellowstone Landscape (CenterOak Partners-backed) has executed New York acquisitions in 2023-2025. Schill Grounds Management (Sterling Group-backed) has deep interest in NYC-metro dual-season operators. Mariani Premier Group (MSouth Equity Partners) targets premium NY residential design-build operators in the Hamptons, Westchester, and Long Island North Shore markets. Park West has active premium commercial interest. Heartland (TPG-backed), LandCare (Aurora Resurgence), and Sperber Landscape Companies all have active New York interest. We’re a buy-side partner. The buyers pay us when a deal closes, not you. If you want a 90-second valuation range, our free business valuation calculator produces a starting-point estimate.

One reality check before you start. The New York landscape owners who exit at the top of the multiple range almost always started preparing 18-24 months ahead, clean monthly closes, separated landscape EBITDA from snow-and-ice EBITDA, audited NYS DEC pesticide standing, audited Wage Theft Prevention Act pay-record compliance, identified replacement Certified Applicator, audited H-2B documentation, and resolved any open DEC enforcement matters or pending wage-and-hour litigation. Owners who go to market reactively, with weak documentation and 6 months of clean books, routinely receive offers 1-1.5x EBITDA below the realistic range.

“New York is one of the highest-quality but most tax-disadvantaged landscape M&A markets in the United States, the Hamptons supports some of the highest-multiple residential design-build deals in the country, Westchester corporate-campus density anchors premium commercial maintenance, and NYC/Long Island commercial-maintenance contracts at scale support PE platform interest. The 10.9% state tax (plus 3.876% NYC tax) is real, but Hamptons and Westchester multiples partially offset it. We’re a buy-side partner, the buyers pay us, no contract required.”

Key Takeaways

• New York landscape businesses with $1M-$5M EBITDA sell for 4-6.5x in 2026, with Hamptons premium residential, Westchester corporate-campus, and Long Island commercial operators commanding the top of the band.
• New York’s 10.9% top state income tax plus 3.876% NYC city tax for NYC-resident sellers totals nearly 38.6% combined federal-state-city, among the highest in the country.
• New York requires NYS DEC Commercial Pesticide Applicator licensing (Categories 3A Ornamental, 3B Turf most common). NYC requires local contractor registration.
• Hamptons premium residential design-build operators command 5-7x EBITDA when brand reputation is strong, Mariani Premier Group is the dominant national acquirer in this niche.
• NY Wage Theft Prevention Act creates rigorous pay-record documentation requirements, buyers diligence compliance aggressively.
• Use our free business valuation calculator for a 90-second starting-point New York landscape valuation range.
• Active 2026 New York landscape buyers include BrightView (NYSE: BV), Yellowstone Landscape, Schill Grounds Management, Heartland, LandCare, Mariani Premier Group, Park West, Sperber Landscape, and 10+ family offices with explicit NY mandates.

The New York landscaping market in 2026

New York’s landscaping market is one of the deepest in the United States across multiple distinct submarkets, structurally supported by Hamptons premium residential, Westchester corporate-campus density, and Long Island/NYC commercial concentration. New York has approximately 19.6M residents (2024 Census estimates), with NYC-metro carrying approximately 19.3M including New Jersey and Connecticut suburbs. Within New York State, Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk counties), Westchester County, and Rockland County support premium residential and commercial markets. Upstate New York (Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Hudson Valley) supports thinner but real landscape M&A activity.

Climate creates the dual-season operating model. Long Island, Westchester, and NYC support a 7-month landscape maintenance season (April through late October) and a 4-month snow-and-ice season (November through March). Upstate New York carries longer winters with deeper snowfall (Buffalo averages 95 inches annually). The dual-season model captures an additional 30-50% of annual revenue beyond pure landscape maintenance.

Commercial-versus-residential split varies materially by submarket. NYC-metro landscape revenue mix is approximately 50-60% commercial maintenance (Class A office, multifamily, healthcare, education, hospitality, plaza/rooftop, municipal), 25-30% residential maintenance, 15-20% installation/design-build. The Hamptons is dominantly premium residential design-build, with installation budgets exceeding maintenance revenue for many operators. Westchester carries roughly 40-50% commercial / 35-45% residential mix with significant high-end residential.

Recent New York landscape M&A activity tells the story. BrightView (NYSE: BV) maintains Long Island, Westchester, and NYC branches with active tuck-in strategy. Yellowstone Landscape (CenterOak Partners) has executed Long Island and Westchester acquisitions in 2023-2025. Schill Grounds Management (Sterling Group-backed) has acquired NYC-metro dual-season operators. Mariani Premier Group (MSouth Equity Partners) has consolidated multiple Hamptons and Westchester premium residential design-build operators, the most active acquirer in this segment nationally. Park West has acquired premium commercial portfolios.

What this means for your timing. New York is a healthy seller’s market for landscape businesses with $1M-$10M EBITDA, 50%+ recurring contract revenue (commercial) or strong brand reputation (residential design-build), and meaningful submarket concentration. Buyers compete aggressively on price for assets that fit the dual-season commercial-maintenance or premium residential design-build playbook, and the typical NYC-metro deal closes at 5-6.5x EBITDA when prep is complete.

What landscaping businesses are worth in New York (multiples and ranges)

New York landscape valuations follow national landscape multiple bands with state-specific premiums for Hamptons premium residential design-build, Westchester corporate-campus, and Long Island/NYC commercial-maintenance operators. The starting point is the national landscape range of 3-6x EBITDA. New York-specific premiums apply for Hamptons premium residential and Westchester/Long Island commercial concentration.

Sub-$500K SDE: 3-4.5x SDE. Owner-operator residential or small commercial shops, often 3-6 trucks, with the seller as the NYS DEC Certified Applicator. Buyer pool: individual SBA buyers, occasionally a local consolidator.

$500K-$1.5M EBITDA: 3.5-5x EBITDA. Established commercial-maintenance and residential operators, 8-20 trucks, dispatch software in place, named operations manager, 45-55% recurring contract revenue. Buyer pool: family offices, smaller PE platforms, search funders, regional consolidators.

$1.5M-$5M EBITDA: 4.5-6x EBITDA. The PE platform sweet spot. 20-50 trucks, full dispatch and CRM integration, GM or COO in place, 55-70% recurring commercial contract revenue (or strong premium residential brand), multi-year contracts. Buyer pool: BrightView, Yellowstone Landscape, Schill Grounds Management, Heartland, LandCare, Mariani Premier Group, Park West, regional family offices. NYC-metro operators in this tier with clean books routinely receive 5.5-6x EBITDA LOIs.

$5M+ EBITDA: 6-8x EBITDA. Platform-quality businesses. 50+ trucks, multi-location, professional management team independent of seller, 65%+ recurring contracts. Buyer pool: large PE platforms competing aggressively. New York businesses at this scale are limited.

Hamptons premium residential design-build: 5-7x EBITDA. Hamptons design-build operators with strong brand reputation, multi-million-dollar installation budgets, and high-net-worth client retention command premium multiples in this niche. Mariani Premier Group is the dominant national acquirer with multi-year platform-build strategy in the Hamptons. Multiples can reach 7x for premier operators with established brand.

What moves the multiple within the band. Recurring commercial maintenance contract percentage (or premium residential brand strength). Snow-and-ice contract structure. Submarket concentration (Hamptons, Westchester, Long Island, NYC). Customer concentration. Owner dependency. Multi-year contract terms. NYS DEC Certified Applicator transferable. Wage Theft Prevention Act compliance clean. Equipment fleet age.

Active PE buyers and consolidators acquiring landscaping businesses in New York

The New York landscape buyer pool in 2026 is one of the deepest in the country, anchored by Mariani Premier Group’s active Hamptons consolidation strategy and supported by every major national platform. Below is the named landscape we work with directly.

BrightView Holdings (NYSE: BV). Maintains Long Island, Westchester, and NYC branches with active tuck-in strategy. Buy-box: $1M-$15M EBITDA, commercial-maintenance dominant, multi-year contracts.

Yellowstone Landscape (CenterOak Partners). Active in Long Island and Westchester acquisitions. Buy-box: $1M-$10M EBITDA, commercial-maintenance focus.

Schill Grounds Management (Sterling Group). Strong interest in NYC-metro dual-season operators. Buy-box: $1.5M-$15M EBITDA, dual-season commercial maintenance.

Mariani Premier Group (MSouth Equity Partners). Premier residential design-build platform consolidating high-end residential landscape operators. The most active acquirer in the Hamptons premium residential design-build segment nationally. Active in Westchester, Long Island North Shore (Lloyd Harbor, Cold Spring Harbor, Centerport), and Hudson Valley premium markets. Buy-box: $1M-$8M EBITDA, residential design-build with high-net-worth client base, brand reputation valued highly.

Park West. Premium commercial landscape platform with active New York presence. Buy-box: $1M-$10M EBITDA, premium commercial focus, brand and team retention valued.

Heartland (TPG-backed). Multi-region commercial landscape platform with active Northeast expansion. Buy-box: $1.5M-$15M EBITDA.

LandCare (Aurora Resurgence). National commercial-landscape consolidator with active Northeast presence. Buy-box: $1M-$10M EBITDA.

Sperber Landscape Companies. Family-of-brands platform expanding into New York. Buy-box: $1.5M-$15M EBITDA, commercial maintenance dominant.

Family offices and search funders with New York mandates. We track 10+ family offices and 8+ search funders with explicit New York landscape buy-boxes in the $400K-$3M EBITDA range. Family offices often interested in Hamptons premium residential operations as long-hold investments.

Business size	SBA buyer	Search funder	Family office	LMM PE	Strategic
Under $250K SDE	Yes	No	No	No	Rare
$250K-$750K SDE	Yes	Some	No	No	Add-on
$750K-$1.5M SDE	Some	Yes	Some	Add-on	Yes
$1.5M-$3M EBITDA	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
$3M-$10M EBITDA	No	Some	Yes	Yes	Yes
$10M+ EBITDA	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes

New York-specific landscape licensing and regulatory transfer

New York requires multiple licensing layers: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Pesticide Applicator licensing, NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection contractor registration, and various local municipal licensing. New York does not require a state-level landscape contractor license, but the licensing layers that do apply are rigorous.

NYS DEC Commercial Pesticide Applicator licensing. NYS DEC’s Bureau of Pesticides Management administers commercial pesticide applicator licensing under Article 33 of the Environmental Conservation Law. Operators applying pesticides for hire must hold Commercial Applicator certification with category certifications. Category 3A (Ornamental and Shade Trees) and Category 3B (Turf) are most common for landscape. The Core Exam covers pesticide safety, regulations, and integrated pest management. Category-specific exams cover application practices.

Why this matters for the sale. If the seller is the only NYS DEC Certified Applicator, the buyer must produce a replacement before pesticide application activities can continue. If the buyer is an out-of-state PE platform without a New York-licensed employee, this can take 30-60 days for exam scheduling and processing. Most New York deals build a 60-180 day transition services agreement.

NYC contractor registration. New York City requires Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) license through the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection for residential work. The license requires examination, $20,000 surety bond, $20,000 trust fund contribution, and renewal. NYC also imposes various trade-specific licensing through the Department of Buildings. Buyers diligence NYC contractor registration carefully.

NYS Wage Theft Prevention Act. The New York Wage Theft Prevention Act (Labor Law 195) requires written notice to all employees of pay rate and pay schedule at hire and any time pay rate changes, with annual notice for non-exempt employees. Landscape operators with seasonal H-2B and direct-employment crews face documentation overhead. Buyers diligence Wage Theft Prevention Act compliance aggressively because violations create substantial back-wage exposure that transfers with the entity.

NYS prevailing wage for public-sector contracts. Operators with public-sector contracts (NYC parks, NYS Office of General Services, school districts, public housing) must pay prevailing wage rates and maintain certified payroll records. Buyers diligence prevailing wage compliance carefully.

Snow-and-ice insurance and liability mechanics. New York courts have well-developed law on snow-and-ice slip-and-fall (the storm-in-progress doctrine and reasonable-time-after-storm framework). Operators with SIMA certifications, GPS-tracked routes, photographic pre/post documentation, and clean liability claim history preserve full multiple.

New York tax implications for landscaping business sale

New York’s 10.9% top state income tax (effective 2021) plus NYC’s 3.876% city income tax for NYC-resident sellers create one of the highest combined tax rates in the country for landscape sellers. New York’s state income tax brackets top out at 10.9% on income above $25M (with 9.65% on income $1.1M-$5M, 10.3% on $5M-$25M). New York taxes long-term capital gains as ordinary income. NYC residents add 3.876% city income tax on top. Combined federal-state-city for NYC residents reaches approximately 38.6% on the top brackets.

The dollar impact on a typical New York landscape sale. On a $4M New York landscape sale with $3.2M of the purchase price allocated to goodwill, the New York seller (non-NYC) pays approximately $1.11M in combined federal-and-state long-term capital gains tax. A NYC-resident seller pays approximately $1.20M. A Texas, Florida, Nevada, or Tennessee seller of the same business pays approximately $762K. New York’s tax position is roughly $350-440K higher than no-tax states, among the highest in the country.

Asset allocation in a New York landscape deal. Most New York landscape deals structure as asset sales for buyer-side liability and depreciation reasons. Working with a tax attorney to push allocation toward goodwill (where you pay capital gains rates) versus equipment (where you pay your ordinary rate) typically saves 5-12% of total tax.

NY State estate planning considerations. New York has a state estate tax with a $6.94M exemption (2024 indexed). Sale proceeds invested in NY-resident estates face NY estate tax exposure on amounts above the exemption. Pre-sale estate planning structures (trusts, annual gifts, charitable structures) can mitigate.

New York sales tax and successor liability. New York imposes 4% state sales tax plus county and local taxes that can total 8-9% in NYC and surrounding counties. Landscape installation is subject to sales tax in many cases. Buyers diligence sales tax compliance carefully because New York pursues successor liability.

NY pre-sale relocation considerations. Some New York landscape sellers consider pre-sale relocation to Florida, Tennessee, Texas, Nevada, or New Hampshire to capture lower state tax. NY Department of Taxation and Finance scrutinizes residency claims aggressively, particularly when sale proceeds appear in the year of relocation. A genuine residency change requires more than 183 days physical presence outside New York, primary home, driver’s license, voter registration, and absence of meaningful New York ties. Work with a NY-experienced tax attorney 24+ months pre-sale, not 6 months. The combined federal-state-city tax savings on a $4M sale by relocating to a no-tax state can exceed $400K, but only with genuine relocation.

The 5 buyer archetypes for New York landscape sales

The New York landscape buyer pool sorts into five distinct archetypes. Knowing which archetype fits your business is the highest-leverage positioning decision before going to market in New York, where buyer-pool depth allows precise targeting.

Archetype 1: National landscape platforms. BrightView, Yellowstone Landscape, LandCare, Heartland, Sperber Landscape. Buy-box: $1.5M-$15M EBITDA, commercial-maintenance dominant, recurring contract revenue above 60%.

Archetype 2: Snow-and-ice / commercial-maintenance hybrid acquirers. Schill Grounds Management (Sterling Group), select PE platforms with dual-season focus.

Archetype 3: Premier residential design-build acquirers. Mariani Premier Group (most active in the Hamptons and Westchester), select boutique New York-focused acquirers. Buy-box: $1M-$8M EBITDA, residential design-build with high-net-worth client base. Multiples 5-7x EBITDA in the Hamptons for premier brand operators.

Archetype 4: Family offices. Single-family or multi-family offices with home services or commercial services mandates. Buy-box: $1M-$10M EBITDA. Often interested in Hamptons premium residential operations.

Archetype 5: Search funders and individual SBA buyers. Individual or two-person searcher teams using SBA-backed financing. Buy-box: under $1.5M total enterprise value.

What drives premium multiples in New York landscaping

New York landscape operators land at the top of the 4-6.5x EBITDA multiple band when they show buyers a specific set of operational characteristics. The list below is what every PE platform diligences.

Driver 1: Hamptons or Westchester premium residential brand reputation. Premium residential design-build operators with multi-decade brand reputation and high-net-worth client retention command premium multiples.

Driver 2: Recurring commercial maintenance contract revenue above 60%. NYC, Westchester, and Long Island commercial maintenance contracts.

Driver 3: Multi-year contract terms with auto-renewal. Multi-year contracts with CPI escalators worth more than annual.

Driver 4: Owner independence. An operator with a true GM or COO running day-to-day operations independent of the seller adds 0.5-1.0x EBITDA.

Driver 5: Wage Theft Prevention Act and prevailing wage compliance. Documented compliance preserves full multiple. Open litigation costs 0.5-1.0x.

Driver 6: Clean NYS DEC standing and contractor registrations. DEC Certified Applicator licenses current. NYC HIC registration current.

Driver 7: Snow-and-ice liability management and SIMA certification. SIMA certification, GPS tracking on snow routes, photographic pre/post documentation.

Common deal-killers in New York landscape sales

Most New York landscape deals that fall apart fall apart for one of seven specific reasons. Knowing the failure modes in advance lets you fix them 12-18 months pre-sale.

Deal-killer 1: NYS DEC Certified Applicator transition with no plan. Seller is the only licensed Applicator. Pesticide application capability stalls.

Deal-killer 2: Wage Theft Prevention Act exposure. Sellers without compliant pay-record documentation face material reclassification cost and back-wage exposure.

Deal-killer 3: Customer concentration above 25%. Single-customer concentration in single corporate-campus, single property-management firm, or single Hamptons estate above 30% creates concentration risk.

Deal-killer 4: Pending wage-and-hour or slip-and-fall litigation. Active or recently settled litigation tied to wage-and-hour or snow-and-ice work is a serious deal-killer.

Deal-killer 5: H-2B compliance gaps. Sloppy H-2B records, unfiled prevailing wage documentation, or active Department of Labor investigations face deal collapse.

Deal-killer 6: Aggressive add-backs. New York operators claiming $200K of personal vehicle, family salary, and discretionary travel add-backs face SBA and PE-buyer scrutiny.

Deal-killer 7: NYC contractor registration gaps for residential work. Residential work performed without NYC HIC license creates consumer-protection exposure.

The New York landscape sale process and timeline

A New York landscape sale typically runs 10-13 months from prep-complete to close. The breakdown below is what we see in actual New York landscape deals at the $1M-$10M EBITDA tier in 2025-2026.

Months -24 to -12: pre-sale preparation. Clean monthly closes with CPA-prepared financials. Separate landscape EBITDA from snow-and-ice EBITDA. Track recurring contract revenue, customer concentration, crew retention, H-2B documentation, Wage Theft Prevention Act compliance, prevailing wage records. Identify replacement NYS DEC Certified Applicator. Audit NYC HIC registration. Resolve any open DEC enforcement matters and pending litigation.

Months -12 to -6: positioning and buyer identification. Build CIM emphasizing New York-specific advantages (Hamptons brand, Westchester corporate-campus, Long Island/NYC commercial scale, dual-season operating model).

Months -6 to -3: buyer outreach and management meetings. Targeted outreach to 10-15 buyers with explicit New York landscape mandates.

Months -3 to 0: LOI, QoE, diligence. Best-and-final LOIs collected. Quality-of-earnings engagement. Operational diligence including Wage Theft Prevention Act audit, prevailing wage compliance review, multi-jurisdiction license verification, H-2B file audit.

Close: day 0 to day 30. Funds wire, customer notification letters mailed, vendor and OEM relationships transferred.

Post-close transition: 90-180 days. Customer transition support, key employee retention, financial reporting handoff.

How CT Acquisitions works for New York landscape sellers

CT Acquisitions is a buy-side partner, not a sell-side broker. We work directly with 76+ active U.S. lower middle market buyers, including 16 with explicit New York landscape mandates currently open. The buyers pay us when a deal closes, you pay nothing. No retainer. No exclusivity. No 12-month contract. No tail fee.

How that’s structurally different from a sell-side broker. A sell-side broker charges you 8-12% of deal value (often $400K-$1.5M+ on a New York landscape sale), runs a 9-12 month auction process, and locks you into 12-month exclusivity.

Why buyers pay us. Our 76+ buyers maintain active mandates and need consistent deal flow. We deliver pre-qualified, well-prepared sellers in their target verticals at a fraction of their internal BD cost.

What a typical engagement looks like. Step 1: 15-minute discovery call. Step 2: preliminary valuation range and prep for buyer introductions. Step 3: targeted introductions to 4-7 of our 76+ New York-mandate buyers. Step 4: management meetings, LOIs, exclusive due diligence. Step 5: close. Total elapsed time: 100-180 days from first introduction to close.

What we don’t do. We don’t prep your books, run your QoE, or negotiate the purchase agreement, you keep your CPA and your M&A attorney for that work. We don’t lock you up with exclusivity. We don’t take fees from you.

Sell Your Landscaping Business in Other States: Sibling Guides

Sibling state guides for selling a landscaping 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 Landscaping Business in Texas · Sell Your Landscaping Business in Florida · Sell Your Landscaping Business in California · Sell Your Landscaping Business in Pennsylvania · Sell Your Landscaping Business in Illinois · Sell Your Landscaping Business in Ohio · Sell Your Landscaping Business in Georgia · Sell Your Landscaping Business in North Carolina

For valuation context that applies regardless of state: See our landscaping 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.

The Hamptons premium residential design-build segment and Mariani consolidation

The Hamptons is one of the most distinctive landscape M&A segments in the United States, anchored by Mariani Premier Group’s active national consolidation strategy. East Hampton, Southampton, Bridgehampton, Sag Harbor, Water Mill, Quogue, Wainscott, and Amagansett support some of the highest-net-worth residential clients in the country. Single-property landscape installation budgets routinely exceed $500K-$2M+. Ongoing maintenance contracts at this client level run $50K-$300K annually per property.

Why Hamptons design-build operators command premium multiples. Brand reputation and multi-decade client relationships create barriers to competitive entry. The customer base (high-net-worth families, Manhattan-based and international owners) values trusted long-term relationships and pays premium pricing. Operators with established brand presence and 20+ year client retention preserve full multiple. Mariani Premier Group’s active acquisition strategy in this segment supports premium multiples (5-7x EBITDA for established brands).

What buyers diligence in Hamptons operators. Brand reputation and client retention rate. Multi-year client relationships (10+ years). Installation backlog and pipeline. Maintenance recurring revenue per property. Crew leadership depth and experience. Owner’s personal brand versus company brand (transferable value).

Off-season operating model. Hamptons operators face a unique seasonal pattern with summer peak demand (Memorial Day through Labor Day), shoulder spring/fall maintenance, and quieter winter periods. Many operators support winter operations with property-watching services, snow-and-ice work for full-time-resident properties, and design-development for spring projects. Buyers diligence the off-season operating model.

Westchester and Long Island North Shore as adjacent premium residential markets. Westchester County (Bedford, Pound Ridge, North Salem, Bronxville, Scarsdale) and Long Island North Shore (Lloyd Harbor, Cold Spring Harbor, Centerport, Oyster Bay) support similar premium residential design-build markets at slightly different scale. Mariani Premier Group is also active in these segments. Multiples 4.5-6x EBITDA for established premium brands.

Sell Your Landscaping Business in New York: 2026 Outlook and Key Takeaways

Selling a landscaping business in New York in 2026 is a high-multiple but tax-disadvantaged Northeast exit. The Hamptons premium residential design-build segment commands 5-7x EBITDA for premier operators, Westchester corporate-campus density anchors premium commercial maintenance, and Long Island/NYC commercial-maintenance contracts at scale support PE platform interest. The 10.9% state tax (plus 3.876% NYC tax) is among the highest in the country. The active buyer pool is 16-deep among our 76+ relationships, with BrightView (NYSE: BV), Yellowstone Landscape, Schill Grounds Management, Heartland, LandCare, Mariani Premier Group, Park West, Sperber Landscape, and 10+ family offices all writing checks for New York landscape assets. Owners who prep their books, identify a replacement NYS DEC Certified Applicator, audit Wage Theft Prevention Act compliance, push recurring contract revenue above 60% (commercial) or strengthen brand reputation (residential), and clean up multi-jurisdiction licensing routinely close at 5-6.5x EBITDA. We’re a buy-side partner, the buyers pay us, not you, no contract required.

Sell Your Landscaping Business in New York: Frequently Asked Questions

How much is my New York landscaping business worth?

New York landscape businesses typically sell for 4-6.5x EBITDA in 2026. Westchester, Long Island, NYC commercial-maintenance operators with $1M-$5M EBITDA and 60%+ recurring contracts trade at 5-6.5x. Hamptons premium residential design-build operators with strong brand reputation can reach 5-7x EBITDA. Sub-$1M EBITDA shops trade at 3-4.5x SDE.

Do I need a state license to sell my New York landscape business?

New York requires NYS DEC Commercial Pesticide Applicator licensing (Categories 3A Ornamental, 3B Turf are most common). NYC requires Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) license through the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection for residential work. Some municipalities require local registrations.

Which PE firms are buying landscaping businesses in New York right now?

BrightView Holdings (NYSE: BV), Yellowstone Landscape (CenterOak), Schill Grounds Management (Sterling Group), Heartland (TPG), LandCare (Aurora Resurgence), Mariani Premier Group (MSouth Equity, most active in Hamptons), Park West, and Sperber Landscape Companies are all actively acquiring New York landscape operators. We work with 16 of these and other New York-mandate buyers directly.

How long does it take to sell a landscaping business in New York?

Typically 10-13 months from prep-complete to close. Pre-sale preparation should ideally start 18-24 months earlier.

What are the New York tax implications of selling my landscape business?

New York’s state income tax tops out at 10.9%. NYC residents add 3.876% city income tax. New York taxes long-term capital gains as ordinary income. Combined federal-state-city for NYC residents reaches approximately 38.6% on top brackets. On a $4M New York landscape sale, this costs $350-440K more than no-tax states (Texas, Florida, Nevada, Tennessee).

What multiple should I expect for a Hamptons landscape design-build business?

Hamptons premium residential design-build operators with strong brand reputation, multi-decade client relationships, and high-net-worth client retention command 5-7x EBITDA in 2026. Mariani Premier Group is the dominant national acquirer in this segment, with active multi-year platform-build strategy. Brand reputation, owner independence, and crew leadership depth are the key value drivers.

What is the NY Wage Theft Prevention Act and how does it affect my landscape sale?

NYS Labor Law 195 requires written notice to all employees of pay rate and pay schedule at hire and any time pay rate changes, with annual notice for non-exempt employees. Buyers diligence Wage Theft Prevention Act compliance carefully because violations create back-wage exposure. Audit pay-record documentation 12+ months pre-sale.

How does NYS DEC pesticide licensing affect my New York landscape sale?

NYS DEC Commercial Pesticide Applicator licenses are individual (per Certified Applicator), not corporate. If you’re the only licensed Applicator, the buyer must produce a replacement before pesticide application can continue. Most New York deals build a 60-180 day transition services agreement to bridge.

What multiple should I expect for a Westchester landscape business?

Westchester County commercial-maintenance and premium residential operators with $1.5M-$5M EBITDA, 60%+ recurring contract revenue (commercial) or strong residential brand, and clean NYS DEC standing trade at 5.5-6.5x EBITDA in 2026.

How does snow-and-ice slip-and-fall liability affect my New York landscape valuation?

New York courts have well-developed law on snow-and-ice slip-and-fall (storm-in-progress doctrine, reasonable-time-after-storm framework). Operators with SIMA certifications, GPS-tracked routes, photographic pre/post documentation, and clean liability claim history preserve full multiple. Pending litigation costs 0.5x+ in re-pricing.

Should I consider relocating to a no-tax state pre-sale?

On a $4M sale, relocating from NY to a no-tax state can save $350-440K in tax. But NY Department of Taxation and Finance scrutinizes residency claims aggressively. A genuine relocation requires 183+ days physical presence outside NY, primary home, and absence of meaningful NY ties. Cosmetic relocations get unwound on audit. Work with a NY-experienced tax attorney 24+ months pre-sale, not 6 months.

Should I sell my New York landscape business through SBA or PE financing?

Depends on size. Sub-$1.5M EBITDA New York landscape businesses typically sell to SBA-financed individuals or small consolidators (3-4.5x EBITDA, 90-180 day close). $1.5M+ EBITDA businesses sell to PE platforms or family offices (4.5-6.5x EBITDA, 90-150 day close).

How is CT Acquisitions different from a sell-side broker or M&A advisor?

We’re a buy-side partner, not a sell-side broker. Sell-side brokers charge you 8-12% of deal value (often $400K-$1.5M+ on a New York landscape sale) plus monthly retainers, run a 9-12 month auction process, and require 12-month exclusivity. We work directly with 76+ buyers, PE platforms, family offices, strategics, and individual buyers, 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 (100-180 days from intro to close on a prepared New York landscape business) because we already know who the right buyer is rather than running an auction to find one.

Sources & References

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

1. NYS Department of Environmental Conservation – Pesticide Program, NYS DEC Bureau of Pesticides Management administers Commercial Pesticide Applicator certification with category certifications including Category 3A (Ornamental and Shade Trees) and Category 3B (Turf) for landscape operators.
2. NYS Department of Taxation and Finance – Income Tax, New York state income tax brackets top out at 10.9% on income above $25M. NYC residents add 3.876% city income tax.
3. NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection – Home Improvement Contractor, New York City requires Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) license for residential landscape work, including examination, surety bond, and trust fund contribution requirements.
4. NYS Department of Labor – Wage Theft Prevention Act, NYS Labor Law 195 (Wage Theft Prevention Act) requires written notice of pay rate and pay schedule to all employees at hire and any pay rate changes, with annual notice for non-exempt employees.
5. BrightView Holdings Investor Relations (NYSE: BV), BrightView Holdings maintains Long Island, Westchester, and NYC branches with active New York tuck-in acquisition strategy.
6. Mariani Premier Group, Mariani Premier Group (MSouth Equity Partners-backed) is the most active national acquirer in the Hamptons premium residential design-build segment, also active in Westchester and Long Island North Shore markets.
7. Schill Grounds Management, Schill Grounds Management (Sterling Group-backed) is one of the most active commercial-maintenance and snow-and-ice consolidators in the U.S. with active NYC-metro presence.
8. Yellowstone Landscape, Yellowstone Landscape (CenterOak Partners-backed) has executed Long Island and Westchester acquisitions in 2023-2025.
9. U.S. Department of Labor – H-2B Temporary Non-Agricultural Workers, H-2B program governs temporary foreign worker hiring for non-agricultural positions including landscape services.
10. New York Department of State, licensing
11. New York Department of Taxation and Finance
12. New York Census QuickFacts