The structural inspector with a full inspection calendar
You are 61, lead twelve employees and inspect about 400 structural sub-units every year. The framework contract with the state road agency runs for three more years. Your best inspector is 58.
Does this sound familiar?
Six inspection firms where the signature depends on the owner
You built your company over decades. We know these situations from talks with owners. One of them is probably yours.
The certified inspection expert nearing the age limit
You are recognized as a certified inspection expert for fire protection and ventilation. 180 special buildings run through your office on a three-year cycle. You wonder how to hand over without clients moving to TÜV.
The electrical testing firm with 30 inspectors and little time
Your testing service tests 250,000 items of equipment every year under DGUV Regulation 3. Recording eats up the margin. You want to sell, just not to a facility management group that turns your people into numbers.
The environmental firm with two owners and a plan
You and your partner have run a firm for building pollutants and contaminated sites for 25 years. One of you wants to stop in 2027, the other in 2030. A buyer has to be able to handle both.
The owner who has tried to sell before
You had an advisor, an information memorandum and a 14-month process. The buyer pulled out during due diligence. You want a clear yes or no before you invest time.
The firm with inspection and design under one roof
Half your revenue is structural inspection, the other half structural design. You know buyers only want one half. You are looking for someone who separates the two cleanly and values them fairly.
We speak your language
Terms your business uses every day
Anyone who wants to buy your company has to understand what your people are talking about. This is our vocabulary.
Main inspection under DIN 1076The hands-on inspection of all components every six years, with equipment, closure and a full report.
Condition ratingThe rating from 1.0 to 4.0 under RI-EBW-PRÜF that the asset owner uses to set its renovation list.
Qualified personThe specialist who may test work equipment under TRBS 1203 and is liable through their signature.
Test intervalThe time until the next test, set by risk assessment, standard or state ordinance.
Defect listThe document the client waits for, which often triggers the follow-up order for the repair.
Integrated function testProof that fire detectors, smoke and heat exhaust ventilation, ventilation and doors actually work together in a fire.
Hazardous substance registerThe overview of where asbestos, PAH, PCB or man-made mineral fibers are installed in the building, as a basis for demolition and operation.
Technical action valueLegionella from 100 CFU/100 ml in drinking water: a risk analysis and a report to the public health office follow.
Your year, as we know it
January to MarchInspection plans and framework contracts for the year are set, indoor inspections and office work run, bridge inspections often pause because of the weather.
April to JuneBridge season begins, closure times are agreed with road authorities, main playground inspections start.
July to SeptemberPeak season in the field, inspectors' holidays meet tight closure windows, schools and halls are inspected during school holidays.
October to DecemberClients want inspections completed before year-end, reports pile up, municipalities spend their remaining budgets.
Systems we work with in this sector:SIB-BauwerkeGossen Metrawatt IZYTRONIQGossen Metrawatt SECUTESTBenning appliance testersFluke test equipmentBAFA energy audit portal
How you can tell we know your business
Numbers, rules, deadlines: what is moving your sector right now
A buyer has to know the market. These are the facts we work with.
Road bridges by asset owner
Number
Source: BMV 2018, VFIB 2025, Difu 2013
What this means for you
Most bridges belong to municipalities, and about half of these are not in good condition. Each one is inspected every three years, even when nothing is being built.
Regulation sets the pace
DIN 1076Main inspection every 6 years, simple inspection every 3 years
DGUV V3Equipment every 6 months to 4 years, installations every 4 years
PrüfVOSpecial buildings: certified inspection experts every 3 years
2024GefStoffV Section 5a: asbestos survey mandatory before renovation
Six facts you can quote
- 01Germany has about 130,000 bridges: about 39,500 on federal trunk roads, 27,000 on state roads, 67,000 owned by municipalities (BMV 2018, VFIB 2025, Difu 2013).
- 02About half of the 67,000 municipal bridges are not in good condition (Difu 2013).
- 03723,270 elevators were inspected in 2025. 76.3% had defects, 10.8% significant ones (TÜV Association plant safety report 2026).
- 04The German TIC market was USD 24.13bn in 2025. The five largest providers hold about 62%, the rest is SMEs (Mordor Intelligence 2025).
- 05In 2020 there were about 115,700 engineering and planning offices in Germany. 55% employ one to five people (VBI industry report 2023).
- 065% of the 4,859 offices surveyed fear closure in 2026. 19% rate their situation as poor (VBI/AHO/BIngK/BAK economic survey 2026).
AI efficiency in this sector
Which segment gains most from the technology
Our assessment for each segment of this sector, side by side. The bar shows what share of today's working time can be automated with available technology.
5segments assessed
4.0Average AI impact, scale 1 to 5
20% to 50%Range of automatable working time
| Segment | AI impact | Automatable working time | Strongest lever |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical testing | 5 | 35% to 50% | Reports without retyping |
| Additional testing services | 4 | 30% to 45% | Routes and scheduling |
| Hazardous substance surveys | 4 | 25% to 40% | Building age and material research |
| Structural inspection | 4 | 25% to 35% | Findings from drone images |
| Certified inspection experts | 3 | 20% to 30% | Checking documents against standards |
GTP assessment as of September 2026. Not a market study. Sources and limits are on each segment page.
What we buy
Five inspection fields, driven by law
Structural inspection under DIN 1076
Bridges, tunnels, retaining walls or noise barriers for the federal government, states, municipalities or Deutsche Bahn.
Minimum size: certified structural inspectors on the team
More on this segment
Electrical testing under DGUV Regulation 3Testing services for portable equipment, fixed installations and machines.
Minimum size: 10 or more field inspectors
More on this segment
Certified building services inspectorsFire protection, ventilation, smoke extraction, safety power supply or fire extinguishing systems.
Minimum size: at least two recognized people
More on this segment
Hazardous substance and contaminated site surveysBuilding pollutants, asbestos surveys, contaminated sites and soil protection with recurring clients.
Minimum size: framework clients from the housing sector, industry and the public sector
More on this segment
Additional testing servicesDrinking water and legionella testing, playground and sports facility inspection.
Minimum size: as an add-on or on its own from €0.5m EBITDA
More on this segment
What we do not buy
- Pure engineering design offices: structural design, building services design, electrical design, architecture. The business depends on individual projects and individuals.
- Health and safety coordination and construction supervision as the main business. The order ends with the structure.
- Publicly appointed surveyors (ÖbVI). State law usually does not allow outside shareholders.
- Approved inspection bodies (ZÜS) for elevators, pressure equipment or explosion-protected installations.
- Firms whose only recognition lies with the departing owner and that have no path to requalification.
Why we buy this sector in particular
Three reasons why we buy in this sector
Inspection cycles continue even in a construction slump
A bridge is inspected every three years, a special building every three years, an item of equipment every six months to four years. These cycles continue when construction stalls. 37% of engineering firms reported falling orders in 2025 (VBI economic survey 2026). Inspection firms with framework contracts were hardly affected.
The building stock is aging faster than inspection capacity is growing
About half of the 67,000 municipal bridges are not in good condition (Difu 2013). At the same time, engineering offices were short of about 7,700 engineers in 2021 (VBI 2023). Inspection capacity is scarce.
Inspection is largely documentation
An inspection report under RI-EBW-PRÜF or a DGUV V3 report consists of findings, photo, rating and text. The engineer collects the findings. A system can generate the text from speech and images. We estimate the desk share at 60% to 80% of working time (GTP assumption). The system drafts the report, the engineer checks and signs it.
What your company is worth
Valuation in five sentences, range with source
Valuation logic
- We value your firm on the basis of adjusted EBITDA for the last three years.
- The multiple depends on recurring revenue, contract terms and team depth.
- A firm whose revenue comes mostly from inspection cycles is worth more than a firm with mostly project revenue.
- We take out owner salary and one-off effects transparently.
- You see our calculation before you decide.
Value drivers
- Framework contracts with more than two years remaining
- Documented inspection cycles: structures due again within 36 months
- Recognitions held by at least two people other than the owner
- Digital inspection database without binders
- High repeat rate
Value reducers
- Recognition or appointment held only by the departing owner
- High project share of revenue
- One client above 30% of revenue
- Inspectors on the team mostly over 58 with no successors
- Paper-based reports without structured data
What you get in the first call
The first call takes 30 minutes, is confidential and is held with a partner. We work out your value with your numbers and name the three factors that move it most, including possible discounts. Afterwards you get our assessment in writing, even if we decline.
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.
What we plan
After the acquisition: what stays and what is added
We build a group from several owner-managed businesses. Each business stays independent and shares back office and purchasing with the others.
Independent, as before
- Name, brand and your phone number
- Location and premises
- Your team and local management
- Client contracts and the familiar contacts
- Your prices and your professional signature
What applies to your company, we put in the purchase agreement.
New in the group
- Back-office relief
- The system handles invoicing runs, documentation and standard correspondence. Your people check and approve.
- Recruiting
- Joint job postings, training paths and cover between the businesses in the group.
- Professional exchange
- Four meetings a year with the other owners and managers. Assess interpretation questions, standards and prices together.
- Joint client development
- Your clients often need services from the sister businesses too. We only recommend them with your consent.
- Purchasing and software
- Licenses, insurance and measuring equipment on terms a single business does not get.
- Capital
- Equity from the fund is available for filling positions, expanding locations or add-on acquisitions.
Why this route
Succession is settled, and your business stays independent under its own name. In the group it buys more cheaply and finds staff more easily. You decide whether you keep leading or leave after the handover.
Two types of buyer, one difference
Mid-sized direct buyer or large consolidator?
If the highest price matters most, look at both types of buyer. The table shows what each route means for your team and your role.
| Generation Tech Partners | Large consolidators (TÜV, Dekra, Kiwa) | |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase price | Calculated openly with your numbers | Often higher |
| Response | Usually within 72 hours, with reasons | Weeks, often in an auction |
| Name and location | Stay | Often rebranding and a head office |
| Your role afterwards | Interim managing director, advisory board, rollover of up to 25% | Usually exit after handover |
| Team | Stays, gets back-office relief | Integration into group processes |
| Sector knowledge | Market data, regulation, sub-segments on this page | Yes, often deeper |
Both routes work directly or through an M&A advisor. We are just as happy to work with an advisor.
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
Minimum sizes and teaser metrics for inspection firms and experts
Here are our minimum sizes per segment and the metrics we need in the teaser.
Minimum sizes per segment
| Segment | Minimum size |
|---|---|
| Structural inspection under DIN 1076 | Certified structural inspectors on the team |
| Electrical testing under DGUV Regulation 3 | 10 or more field inspectors |
| Certified building services inspectors | At least two recognized people |
| Hazardous substance and contaminated site surveys | Framework clients from the housing sector, industry and the public sector |
| Additional testing services | As an add-on or on its own from €0.5m EBITDA |
These metrics belong in the teaser
- Structures in the current inspection cycle
- Revenue share of framework contracts and their remaining terms
- Revenue share of the largest client
- Recognized or qualified persons per discipline
What you get from us
- You usually get a clear answer with reasons within 72 hours. A no also comes in writing.
- We only approach your client through you.
- The price in our indicative offer only changes if due diligence shows something different from your documents.
- Capital comes from our €60m fund. We do not look for investors during the process.
- If your client does not fit us, we tell you who might.
All 24 segments and minimum sizes: Acquisition profile for advisors
Frequently asked questions
What owners ask us
Do I lose my recognition or appointment when I sell?
No. Recognitions as a certified inspection expert, structural inspector or expert are personal. They are tied to you and are not affected by a change of shareholders. In a share deal, the company remains in place and you remain recognized. That is why in step 3 we check which employees will requalify before you leave.
Do you also buy engineering design offices?
No. Structural design, building services design, electrical design and architecture live on individual projects. Revenue depends on the construction cycle and on a few individuals. We turned down a structural engineering office for exactly this reason. Inspection firms have statutory cycles and recurring clients.
What is my engineering firm worth?
The value is the adjusted EBITDA of the last three years times a multiple. The multiple rises with recurring revenue, contract terms and team depth. It falls with the project share and dependence on the owner. We work out your value in the first call using your numbers and show the calculation openly.
How long does the sale take?
From the first call to closing, we usually expect 6 to 9 months. You usually get a response within 72 hours. The indicative offer follows after 2 to 4 weeks. Due diligence takes four weeks.
Can I stay on as managing director after the sale?
Yes. Many owners stay 6 to 24 months as interim managing director and then move to the advisory board. Others hand over right away to a managing director from our network. We set this out together in the purchase agreement.
What happens to public-sector framework contracts?
In a share deal, your company remains the contracting party. Framework contracts with Autobahn GmbH, state road agencies or municipalities continue. An asset deal would trigger a new tender. That is why we always structure inspection firms as share deals.
What does AI transformation mean for my inspection team?
Your inspectors still collect the findings on site themselves. What is new is the documentation: dictation and photos become a draft report. The inspector checks, corrects and signs. That saves hours at the desk per report. Nobody loses their job.
Should I sell with an M&A advisor?
That is your decision. Many owners work with an advisor, and we are happy to work with them. A good advisor prepares documents and saves both sides time. If you come directly, the partners run the process themselves. In any case, you should bring in your own lawyer and tax advisor.
First step
Talk to a buyer who knows the difference between inspection and design
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
ConfidentialOnly the three partners see your enquiry. An NDA is possible in advance on request. We share nothing with third parties.