Landscaping Services: SBA business acquisition loan data
790 SBA 7(a) loans since FY2018 financed the purchase of an existing business classified as Landscaping Services (NAICS 561730), totaling $680M. Median loan $535,750, 17% lower than the all-acquisition median. Annual volume rose 24% from FY2024 to FY2026.
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Reading this industry's numbers
- Deal size. The loan excludes the buyer's equity and any seller note and may include working capital. A loan request far above $1,193,000 would be in the top quarter of SBA acquisition loans in this industry.
- Share of all acquisitions. This industry is 1.6% of all SBA-financed business purchases, ranking #11 of 300 industries tracked.
- Geography. Florida leads with 118 loans; the top five states account for 34% of the industry's acquisitions.
- Jobs. Lenders reported 13,524 jobs supported across these loans, about 17.1 per acquisition, a rough proxy for the size of business changing hands.
Landscaping Services acquisitions by year
| Fiscal year | Loans | Total approved | Median loan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2018 | 45 | $32.3M | $464,000 | |
| FY2019 | 77 | $56.2M | $369,600 | |
| FY2020 | 77 | $61.3M | $400,000 | |
| FY2021 | 93 | $71.8M | $563,200 | |
| FY2022 | 66 | $63M | $617,700 | |
| FY2023 | 71 | $64.2M | $597,000 | |
| FY2024 | 107 | $90.6M | $510,000 | |
| FY2025 | 121 | $102M | $455,500 | |
| FY2026 | 133 | $138M | $743,000 |
How often do these acquisition loans fail?
Of the 292 Landscaping Services acquisition loans approved from FY2018 to FY2021 (the seasoned cohort, every loan at least about five years old), 16 have been charged off by the SBA, a rate of 5.5% by loan count and 3.6% by dollars. 161 have already been paid in full.
For comparison, the charge-off rate across all SBA 7(a) acquisition loans in the same cohort is 3.5%, so Landscaping Services is 56% higher than the acquisition-loan average. Non-acquisition 7(a) loans (every other stated purpose) approved FY2018 to FY2021 charged off at 6.2%.
"Charged off" is the SBA's final loss action on a defaulted loan after collection efforts. It lags default by a year or more, which is why only older cohorts are measured. It is not the same as a delinquency rate, and loans still outstanding can still fail. See charge-off in the glossary.
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Top states
| # | State | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | 118 | 14.9% | $102M | |
| 2 | Texas | 40 | 5.1% | $47.8M | |
| 3 | Minnesota | 38 | 4.8% | $28M | |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | 38 | 4.8% | $27.3M | |
| 5 | California | 36 | 4.6% | $42.5M | |
| 6 | Michigan | 34 | 4.3% | $19.5M | |
| 7 | Colorado | 32 | 4.1% | $34.8M | |
| 8 | Utah | 27 | 3.4% | $22M | |
| 9 | New Jersey | 26 | 3.3% | $14.3M | |
| 10 | Indiana | 24 | 3.0% | $27.3M |
Most active lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Huntington National Bank | 84 | 10.6% | $44.9M | |
| 2 | Live Oak Banking Company | 38 | 4.8% | $49.5M | |
| 3 | Byline Bank | 20 | 2.5% | $20.7M | |
| 4 | Beacon Bank and Trust | 18 | 2.3% | $23.3M | |
| 5 | BayFirst National Bank | 18 | 2.3% | $9.3M | |
| 6 | First Internet Bank of Indiana | 13 | 1.6% | $17M | |
| 7 | Wells Fargo Bank National Association | 13 | 1.6% | $13.9M | |
| 8 | Customers Bank | 13 | 1.6% | $12.2M | |
| 9 | The Bancorp Bank National Association | 13 | 1.6% | $8M | |
| 10 | Old National Bank | 12 | 1.5% | $17.3M |
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Franchise brands in Landscaping Services
5% of acquisition loans in this industry involved a franchised unit. Brands with the most SBA-financed resales:
| # | Brand | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | U.S. Lawns | 9 | 23.1% | $11.4M | |
| 2 | Monster Tree Service | 9 | 23.1% | $10.9M | |
| 3 | Lawn Doctor | 6 | 15.4% | $4.2M | |
| 4 | The Grounds Guys | 6 | 15.4% | $4M |
Questions buyers ask
How much is a typical SBA loan to buy a business in Landscaping Services?
Median $535,750 across 790 acquisition loans (FY2018 to FY2026); the middle half ran $222,000 to $1,193,000. That is 17% lower than the $645,250 median for all SBA-financed acquisitions.
Which lenders finance the most Landscaping Services acquisitions?
The Huntington National Bank (84), Live Oak Banking Company (38), Byline Bank (20), Beacon Bank and Trust (18), BayFirst National Bank (18).
Are businesses in Landscaping Services often franchised?
Rarely. Only 5% of acquisition loans in this industry involved a franchised business; most are independent operators.
How risky are SBA loans for buying a business in Landscaping Services?
Of 292 seasoned loans (FY2018 to FY2021), 5.5% charged off, 56% higher than the 3.5% benchmark for all SBA acquisition loans.
What loan terms are common for Landscaping Services acquisitions?
Median term 10 years, average initial rate 8.06% at approval (blended across years and fixed/variable structures). Terms longer than 10 years usually indicate real estate was included in the purchase.
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