This $3.5M Painting Pays $715,421/Year After Debt
Coverage clears the 2.0x Bulletproof threshold and survives a 20% revenue drop. The asking price is the part to negotiate.
This is a painting business listed at $3.5M, generating $4.5M in annual revenue and $1.3M in seller's discretionary earnings. At a 2.80x cash flow multiple, the asking price is within the 3.00x Bulletproof threshold, though above the 2.50x benchmark for painting businesses. The profit margin is 28%, well above the 17% benchmark for painting businesses, about 1.6x the category figure.
We ran this deal through the DealScore Pro Bulletproof Calculator to see how it holds up across all five scoring criteria. Here is the full breakdown.
Deal Snapshot
The deal snapshot tells a clean story. Revenue of $4.5M produces a 28% margin, well above the 17% benchmark for painting businesses, about 1.6x the category figure. The 2.80x multiple is within the 3.00x Bulletproof threshold, though above the 2.50x benchmark for painting businesses.
Financing Overview
Using the standard 80/10/10 SBA deal structure (80% SBA 7(a) loan, 10% seller financing, 10% buyer down payment), here is what this acquisition looks like when financed.
Why the Numbers Matter
The headline number most buyers fixate on is the asking price. But the asking price alone tells you almost nothing about whether a deal is worth doing. What matters is what happens after you finance it.
The post-debt cash flow of $715,421 per year is what is left after every loan payment on the figures entered. On a $350,000 cash investment, that is a strong return, and it is well above the $100K minimum threshold that the Bulletproof standard requires. This figure is calculated before any cost of replacing the owner’s own role in the business. Where the seller is also the person producing the revenue, a buyer should subtract what it would cost to hire that role before treating this as take-home pay.
The DSCR of 2.34x means the business generates $2.34 for every $1 of annual debt payment. SBA lenders require a minimum of 1.25x. The Bulletproof standard requires 2.0x. This deal clears both with room to spare, which means you have a real safety margin if revenue softens or costs spike unexpectedly.
The stress test is where many deals that look good on paper fall apart. We model a 20% drop in revenue and check whether the business can still cover all debt obligations. This deal passes. Even at $3.6M in revenue (down from $4.5M), the cash flow still services the debt. That is the kind of resilience you want in a financed acquisition.
Industry Context
📈 How This Deal Compares to the Painting Industry
Painting runs close to the all-industry average on SBA defaults, at 5.6% against 5.1%. The industry itself is neither a tailwind nor a drag here, so the deal gets judged almost entirely on its own numbers.
Combined with a deal that performs well on the fundamentals, this is the profile lenders like to fund.
Strengths and Risks
✓ What Works
- Strong DSCR of 2.34x clears the 2.0x Bulletproof minimum
- Fair pricing at 2.80x earnings
- Strong post-debt cash flow of $715,421 per year
- Survives a 20% revenue decline stress test
⚠ Watch Out For
- Key-person risk: verify the current owner's role in daily operations
- Lease terms and renewal risk
Who This Deal Is For
Best fit for:
Owner-operators with industry experience or management background who want a business that cash flows from day one.
First-time buyers looking for a straightforward acquisition with solid fundamentals.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is $3.5M a fair price for a painting business?
At 2.80x seller's discretionary earnings, this asking price is within the 3.00x Bulletproof threshold, though above the 2.50x benchmark for painting businesses. The Bulletproof threshold and the category benchmark are two different yardsticks, and this deal sits inside the stricter of the two.
What is a good profit margin for a painting business?
The benchmark profit margin for painting businesses is approximately 17%. This listing operates at a 28% margin, which is well above the 17% benchmark for painting businesses, about 1.6x the category figure. That is a comparison against category medians, not a verdict on this listing.
Can I buy a painting business with an SBA loan?
Yes. Painting businesses are commonly financed through SBA 7(a) loans using an 80/10/10 structure: 80% SBA loan, 10% seller financing, and 10% buyer down payment. For this $3.5M deal the down payment is $350,000, but cash required at closing is $455,000 once closing costs and a working capital reserve of $585,000 are counted. SBA lenders require a minimum DSCR of 1.25x, but conservative buyers target 2.0x or higher. This deal's 2.34x DSCR comfortably clears both thresholds.
How much do painting business owners actually make?
Owner earnings vary widely based on revenue, pricing, and operational involvement. This painting business generates $1.3M in seller's discretionary earnings (SDE) before debt service. After SBA financing under the 80/10/10 structure, the buyer would take home approximately $715,421 per year. That post-debt figure is the number that actually matters for a financed acquisition, because it reflects what ends up in your pocket after every loan payment is made.