Sampler with 5,000 properties
Drinking water testing for property managers, lab external. Small, recurring, no successor.
Does this sound familiar?
Two situations we know
Playground inspector for 80 municipalities
Annual main inspection, quarterly checks. Your client base is gold, your team is two people.
Your day-to-day, as we know it
This is what happens in your business before anyone talks about succession
Missing sampling points
Without suitable sampling valves, the sampler cannot take samples to standard. The plumber has to come first.
Result above the action value
The result is above the technical action value. The operator then has to contact the public health office and commission a risk analysis.
Playground season
In spring, every municipality wants its annual main inspection under DIN EN 1176-7 at the same time.
Energy audit every four years
The client gets in touch shortly before the deadline. After that, the online declaration to BAFA is still waiting.
How we measure your company
The metrics we look at in the first call
We look at the numbers you use to run your business yourself. The right column shows our acquisition criterion.
| Metric | What it tells us | Our benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Share of recurring orders | How reliably your revenue comes from cycles. | The higher the recurring share, the better. |
| Properties in legionella testing under TrinkwV | How large your predictable sampling base is. | We look at the development over three years. |
| Partner lab and sample transport | Whether samples are analyzed on time and safely. | We expect a fixed partner lab. |
| Playgrounds under contract | How strongly municipal clients are tied to you. | Good with multi-year contracts. |
| Energy audits with repeat orders | Whether clients come back to you after four years. | We look at repeat orders. |
What actually changes after the acquisition
Step by step
We automate the desk work. Professional decisions and customer contact stay with your people.
TodayPlan sampling and assign samples to the lab
With GTPAppointments, sampling points and sample labels are created automatically. The sampler takes the samples.
TodayAssess results and inform operators
With GTPExceedances are flagged immediately and operator letters are prepared. Your employee gives the professional recommendation.
TodayWrite inspection reports under DIN EN 1176-7
With GTPPhotos and defects are combined into a report per piece of equipment. The playground inspector assesses safety.
TodayDocument energy audits under DIN EN 16247-1
With GTPConsumption data is prepared and the report is pre-structured. The auditor assesses measures and cost-effectiveness.
Your systems stay in use:BAFA energy audit portal
AI potential in the segment
How much desk work can really be automated here
This is GTP's assessment. We show it upfront so you can see what we will work with after the acquisition.
Routes and scheduling
A planner sets sampling routes by deadline, property address and the property manager's access times.
Results and notification, automated
Lab values go into the limit check, and the system generates the report and the notification to the public health office.
Findings from playground photos
Image models detect wear and entrapment points in equipment photos and classify defects under DIN EN 1176.
What limits the technology here
Sampling, main inspections and energy audits require qualified people on site, and labs need their own accreditation.
What this means for you
You meet your test deadlines reliably, even if your team is only two people.
Sources Drinking Water Ordinance 2023, legionella testing obligations (2023) · Energy audit under the EDL-G, mandatory for non-SMEs in a four-year cycle (2025)
What we want to see
The documents we need
After the first call and the non-disclosure agreement, these five documents are enough for a solid offer.
- Property list for drinking water testing with cycle and last sampling
- Contract with the partner lab and its accreditation
- List of playground contracts with municipalities and terms
- Overview of energy audits with the due date of the follow-up audit
- Qualification certificates of samplers, playground inspectors and energy auditors
What we buy
Our acquisition profile for this segment
Criteria
- Revenue mostly from recurring test cycles
- 5 or more employees, or as an extra unit
- Accredited partner lab secured by contract
- Municipal or housing sector framework clients
Value drivers
- Framework contracts with municipalities and property managers
- Expertise held by several employees
- Digital property database with deadlines
Value reducers
- Expertise held by only one person
- Lab capex without utilization
- Dependence on subsidies in energy consulting
How you can tell we know your business
Three facts you can quote
- 01The TrinkwV 2023 requires legionella testing every three years for rented buildings and annually for public use (Section 31).
- 02DIN EN 1176-7 provides for an annual main inspection and quarterly operational inspections of playgrounds.
- 03Energy audits under Section 8 EDL-G are mandatory for non-SMEs every four years.
Market range, third-party source
What comparable companies trade at in the market
| Size class | EBITDA multiple |
|---|---|
| Micro-cap, revenue below €5m The relevant class for most succession cases in this segment | 3.5x to 5.5x |
| Small-cap, revenue €5m to €50m | 5.0x to 7.0x |
Category business services (B2B). Source: DUB KMU-Multiples Q2/2026. The DUB figures show asking prices and price expectations on a business marketplace. They do not include completed transactions. The range comes from an independent third party and is not an offer from GTP.
From multiple to cash
The multiple gives the enterprise value. What reaches your account depends on four items:
- Net financial debt
- Loans, leases and shareholder accounts are deducted, cash is added.
- Working capital
- We assume a normal level. An account emptied before the sale reduces the price.
- Investment backlog
- Vehicles, measuring equipment and software due in the next two years are deducted from the price.
- Payment structure
- Part of the price is paid only after signing, through a rollover or a performance-based component.
What lowers the value
If one of these points applies, the value drops:
- The owner personally holds the key customers
- Short remaining terms or contracts that can be terminated at any time
- If a large share of revenue depends on one customer, the price goes down.
- No second management level that runs the business without the owner
We calculate your value in the first call using your numbers. We go through the four items openly with you, even if the result is below your expectations.
All market data and the regulatory timeline for testing and experts
Frequently asked questions
What owners in this segment ask
Do you buy offices this small?
As an extra unit of an inspection firm, yes. On their own from €0.5m EBITDA.
Do I need my own lab?
No. An accredited partner lab under contract is enough.
What do you automate?
Deadline tracking per property, inspection reports, client portal.
How fast?
Response usually within 72 h, indicative offer in 2 to 4 weeks.
Testing and experts
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Why we buy this segment
Your clients trust inspectors with a name and recognition. That is why we only buy if the team stays and the next generation already works in the business.
We first look at who will sign in five years. If that is only the owner, we tell you before any price discussion.
For M&A advisors, tax advisors and succession advisors
Response on your client usually within 72 hours
Acquisition profile, teaser metrics and our commitments for all 24 segments are on a separate page. We only approach your client through you.
First step
Talk to a buyer who knows your segment
A 30-minute call is enough to know whether we fit. Afterwards you get a written assessment with reasons.
Request a confidential first call
Or call us: +49 40 89741812
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