Landscaping businesses in NSW and VIC trade at 1.5× to 3.0× EBITDA — a wide range that reflects the enormous difference between a residential lawn mowing round and a commercial landscaping business with long-term maintenance contracts. The multiple depends almost entirely on the type of work and whether it recurs without the owner's personal involvement.
What the market is paying
| Business type | Typical multiple | Key driver |
|---|---|---|
| Residential lawn mowing, owner-operated, no staff | Under $80k goodwill | A round, not a business |
| Mixed residential, 2–4 staff, some repeat clients | 1.5–2.0× EBITDA | Some recurring work but owner-dependent |
| Commercial maintenance contracts, staff crews, owner managing | 2.0–2.5× EBITDA | Recurring B2B revenue |
| Strata/council/commercial portfolio, systems, multiple crews | 2.5–3.0× EBITDA | Contracted recurring revenue + scale |
Commercial maintenance contracts: where the value is
The businesses that achieve the upper end of the multiple range are those with long-term commercial maintenance contracts — strata complexes, council parks, commercial properties, industrial estates. These contracts provide predictable, recurring revenue that a buyer can underwrite. The key metrics are the number of contracts, the annual value, the remaining term, and the renewal history.
Residential landscaping work — design and construction projects — is valuable but lumpy. Buyers will not pay a high multiple for a business that depends on winning new residential projects every month.
Equipment and vehicles
Landscaping businesses are equipment-intensive. Buyers will assess the age and condition of mowers, trucks, trailers, and specialist equipment. A business with well-maintained, relatively modern equipment is more attractive than one where the buyer needs to immediately invest in replacements. Equipment is typically sold as part of the business at an agreed value — separate from goodwill.
The owner dependency question
In many landscaping businesses, the owner is the primary estimator, the primary client relationship, and often the primary crew leader. Buyers will ask: what happens when the owner leaves? If the answer is "the clients leave too," the multiple will reflect that. Businesses where a qualified supervisor or operations manager runs the day-to-day are significantly more attractive.
NSW and VIC: where the deals happen
Western Sydney (Parramatta, Hills District, Penrith), the Central Coast, and Melbourne's outer suburbs (Frankston, Dandenong, Werribee) are the primary markets for landscaping business sales. Buyers include trade acquirers, private equity-backed home services platforms, and owner-operators looking to acquire a commercial maintenance portfolio.
