Buying a concrete and masonry company in Space Coast and Volusia

• 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.

• 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.

• 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?

This region covers Brevard, Volusia and Flagler counties: Melbourne, Palm Bay, Titusville, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach, Merritt Island, Daytona Beach, Port Orange, Ormond Beach, DeLand, Deltona, New Smyrna Beach and Palm Coast. Brevard's economy is built around space. Rockets launch often from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, and aerospace and defense manufacturers and their suppliers employ engineers, technicians and machinists across the county. Port Canaveral is a major cruise port.

Volusia depends more on tourism, beaches and big events, with Daytona's motorsports and motorcycle rallies drawing crowds. Health care and a large retired population matter too. Flagler County, around Palm Coast, is mostly residential. Machine shops, electrical and engineering firms, home service companies, marine businesses and restaurants all have a place here.

Brevard's fortunes follow the space and defense programs. A company that sells to aerospace firms should be able to show you how many customers it depends on and how secure their work is. Business in Volusia spikes around big events and the winter season, so look at revenue by month.

The whole coast faces storm risk. In 2022, Hurricane Ian brought flooding to much of Volusia, and Hurricane Nicole, which came ashore near Vero Beach six weeks later, washed away beaches and seawalls along the Volusia coast. Beachfront property needs careful insurance and structural checks. The Indian River Lagoon and the St. Johns River make boating and fishing part of daily life, which keeps the marine trades busy. Palm Coast and the Palm Bay area have added many new homes, and companies serving those areas have grown with them.