Buying a concrete and masonry company in Southwest Florida

Southwest Florida has 63 established concrete and masonry companies by our count: companies in business at least 15 years that still file with the state every year and aren't part of a larger group. Of those, 76% have been in business 20 years or more. Most will never be listed for sale, and many of their owners have never been asked.

established companies

76%

built over 20+ years

$318k+

a year, earned by the top quarter

17%

built over 30+ years

What it takes to own one

Concrete and masonry companies in Southwest Florida come in every size. Here's what owning one could look like at three levels, from a solid company to one of the leaders, with a small business loan covering most of the price.

A solid company

Earns about: $186,000 a year
Price about: $549,000
Your cash: $77,000
Could pay you: up to $87,000 a year

A strong company

Top quarter in Southwest Florida

Earns about: $318,000 a year
Price about: $939,000
Your cash: $131,000
Could pay you: up to $149,000 a year

One of the leaders

Top tenth in Southwest Florida

Earns about: $535,000 a year
Price about: $1.6 million
Your cash: $221,000
Could pay you: up to $251,000 a year

Earnings are owner earnings: profit plus what the owner pays themselves, before loan payments and taxes. They and the prices are our estimates from public records, not the owners' figures, and we value companies like these at about 3.0 times a year's owner earnings. Your cash covers the down payment and closing costs, and what the business could pay you is what's left after the loan payments and the cushion lenders require. The more cash you bring, the further up you can go.

Age, size and location

Revenue is our estimate from public records, grouped into wide ranges.

In business	Companies
Under 20 years	15
20 to 29 years	37
30 to 39 years	10
40 years or more	1

Estimated yearly revenue	Companies
Under $1M	10
$1M to $2M	7
$2M to $4M	4
$4M to $8M	1
Over $8M	1

County	Companies
Lee	22
Sarasota	15
Collier	12
Manatee	10
Other counties	4

Town	Companies
Naples	12
Bradenton	9
Sarasota	9
Bonita Springs	5
Fort Myers	5

What the best concrete and masonry companies have in common

Several builder and contractor customers, so one builder's slowdown doesn't stop the company.
Foremen who read plans and run a pour or a wall without the owner. A bad pour can't be undone, so judgment on site matters.
Records showing margin per house, per square foot or per job, by customer.
Steady work for property owners (driveways, patios, pool decks, repairs) to carry you when builders slow down.
Reliable concrete and block suppliers that offer good credit terms and deliver on time.
Few cracked slabs, failed inspections or callbacks (return trips to fix work).
Crews that can work through Florida's summer heat and afternoon storms without losing pours or people.
Forms, mixers, saws and trucks in good condition.

What to check before you buy

Revenue by builder or contractor for three years: does one dominate?
Money owed, including retainage (held back until the job is done), and how fast each builder pays.
Callback and warranty history: cracked slabs, settlement, failed inspections, and any claims or lawsuits.
Whether crews are employees or subcontractors, and proof of workers' compensation for everyone.
Equipment such as pumps, mixers, skid steers, saws, trucks and forms: age, condition, and any financing.
Supplier accounts, credit terms and any personal guarantees the owner signed, which you'll likely be asked to replace.
How prices on fixed-price bids kept up with the cost of concrete, steel and block.
Injury history and workers' compensation costs; this work is physically hard on crews.

Questions to ask the owner

Who are your three biggest customers, and how long have you worked with each?
How much of your work is for builders versus property owners?
Who does the estimating, and who runs a pour when you're not there?
What licenses or certifications do you have, and whose name are they in?
Have you had any slab or foundation claims, and how did they turn out?
What do you do when material prices jump after you've bid a job?
Are your crews employees or subcontractors?

To learn what these companies do, which licenses they need and how ownership works, read our full guide to buying a concrete and masonry company in Florida.

Owning a company in Southwest Florida

The local economy

This region covers Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Sarasota and Manatee counties on the Gulf coast and Hendry, Glades and DeSoto inland: Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, Bonita Springs, Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, Sarasota, Venice, Bradenton, LaBelle, Clewiston, Moore Haven and Arcadia. The coastal economy runs on people who choose to live or spend the winter here: retirees, seasonal residents, and the construction, real estate, health care, financial and home services that follow them. Tourism, golf and boating add to it.

Inland, the economy is agricultural: sugarcane around Clewiston, citrus, cattle and vegetables, with Immokalee in Collier County a center for farm work. The building trades, pool, landscaping and pest control companies, property managers, medical and dental practices, and marine businesses tend to do well along the coast.

What's different about owning a company here

This is one of Florida's most seasonal markets. From roughly January through April, restaurants, shops and service companies run at full speed. Summers are slower, so look at monthly revenue, not only the yearly total. The coast has taken two major hurricanes in recent years: Ian came ashore at Cayo Costa in Lee County in September 2022, and Milton at Siesta Key in Sarasota County in October 2024. Rebuilding brought a wave of work for contractors that won't last forever, so ask how much recent revenue came from storm repairs. Insurance costs and flood zones weigh on every property.

Housing costs near the coast make hiring hard, especially around Naples. New communities east of Interstate 75 in Lee, Collier, Charlotte and Manatee keep service companies busy.