Buy a Moving Company in Chicago, IL
Why Chicago Moving Companies Trade at 1.8x
A 1.8x cash flow multiple is low. Not "seems low" or "appears low." Low.
The national average across most SBA-eligible businesses sits in the 3x to 4x range. At 1.8x, you are buying real cash flow at a steep discount to what most operators in other categories pay.
The reason is perception. Moving companies have high equipment exposure, seasonal volatility, and owner-dependent operations. Buyers shy away. That creates opportunity for acquirers who actually understand the asset.
Chicago compounds the upside. With roughly 2.7 million residents, a dense rental population, and one of the largest commercial real estate markets in the Midwest, demand for moving services is structural and recurring, not cyclical noise.
Deal Economics on a Median Chicago Moving Company
The median asking price in Illinois is $550,000, with median annual cash flow of approximately $227K. That is a 2.4x DSCR before you even structure the deal.
Here is what a straightforward SBA acquisition looks like at that price point:
- Asking price: $550,000
- SBA 7(a) loan (85%): $467,500
- Seller note on full standby (5%): $27,500
- Buyer cash equity (5%): $27,500
- Annual debt service (10-year term, approx. 10.5%): roughly $76,500
- Cash flow available for debt service: $226,753
- DSCR: approximately 2.97x
That is well above our 2x target and comfortably above the 1.5x floor. The full standby seller note means no payments to the seller during the SBA loan term, which we achieve on more than 90% of Regalis deals.
These are estimates based on market data. Actual terms depend on individual qualification and lender underwriting.
The median asking price for a moving company in Illinois is $550,000, with median cash flow of approximately $227K. According to Regalis Capital's deal team, that produces a debt service coverage ratio near 3x at standard SBA terms, making this one of the stronger cash flow profiles in the lower-middle market across Illinois acquisition targets.
What to Look For When Buying a Chicago Mover
Fleet condition is the first thing to verify. Moving companies live and die on trucks. Get maintenance records for every vehicle. A fleet of aging box trucks with deferred maintenance can turn a clean deal into a money pit inside 18 months.
Customer concentration matters more than most buyers realize. If 40% of revenue comes from two commercial accounts, you are not buying a business. You are buying a vendor relationship that may not transfer.
Look for a mix of residential, commercial, and long-distance work. Chicago's corporate relocation market is large enough that a well-positioned mover can lock in B2B contracts with property managers and corporate HR departments. Those recurring revenue streams dramatically change the risk profile.
Driver availability is a real operational constraint in Chicago. The labor market for experienced movers and CDL drivers is tight. Ask how the current owner recruits and retains drivers. If the answer is "the owner knows everyone personally," factor that into your transition plan.
Finally, review Google reviews closely. Moving companies live on local reputation. A business with 400 reviews at 4.6 stars has a moat. One with 80 reviews at 3.8 stars has a problem.
When buying a moving company in Chicago, prioritize verifying fleet maintenance records, driver retention systems, and commercial contract transferability. Residential-only operations carry higher seasonality risk. Chicago's corporate relocation volume means B2B moving contracts are available to operators with the capacity to service them, and those contracts typically improve both stability and valuation.
Chicago Market Conditions
Illinois had 9 moving company listings in our data set, with asking prices ranging from $100,000 to $2,000,000. The spread is wide because the category includes everything from single-truck owner-operators to multi-crew regional movers with 20-plus vehicles.
At the low end of that range, you are likely looking at a one- or two-truck operation where the owner drives. Those can work as bolt-on acquisitions if you already have a platform, but they are difficult to finance through SBA because the cash flow often does not survive an ownership transition.
The $400K to $800K range is the sweet spot for SBA buyers. Enough infrastructure to survive a transition, enough cash flow to service debt, and small enough that a motivated buyer can learn the business within 90 days.
Chicago's density also means less drive time between jobs, which directly improves daily revenue capacity. A mover in a rural Illinois market might complete two jobs per day. A well-routed Chicago crew can complete three or four.
Based on Regalis Capital's analysis of recent acquisitions, moving companies in urban Midwest markets tend to trade at 1.5x to 2.5x cash flow depending on fleet age, contract mix, and owner involvement. The median 1.8x multiple in Illinois sits squarely in that range.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to buy a moving company in Chicago?
The median asking price for a moving company in Illinois is $550,000, with listings ranging from $100,000 to $2,000,000. Smaller owner-operator businesses start around $100K to $200K, while multi-crew operations with commercial accounts trade in the $750K to $2M range. Most SBA-eligible deals fall between $400K and $1M.
Can I use SBA financing to buy a moving company in Illinois?
Yes. Moving companies are SBA-eligible businesses. SBA 7(a) loans cover up to 85% to 90% of the acquisition price with a 10-year repayment term. The equity injection requirement is 10%, typically structured as 5% buyer cash plus a 5% seller note on full standby. At current rates of approximately 10% to 11%, a $550K acquisition requires roughly $27,500 in cash from the buyer.
What is the average cash flow for a moving company in Chicago?
Based on Illinois listing data, the median annual cash flow for a moving company available for acquisition is approximately $227K. That figure is reported as seller discretionary earnings in most broker listings, which can include owner salary and one-time add-backs. Discount SDE by 15% to 30% when stress-testing debt service coverage to get a more conservative picture of what the business will actually generate post-close.
What makes a Chicago moving company a better or worse acquisition target?
The strongest targets have diversified customer bases split between residential, commercial, and long-distance work, plus a fleet of well-maintained trucks less than 10 years old. Weaker targets are heavily dependent on the owner for sales and operations, or concentrated in residential-only work with no commercial contracts. In Chicago specifically, corporate relocation accounts tied to local employers or property management companies add meaningful recurring revenue.
How long does it take to close on a moving company acquisition?
A typical SBA acquisition takes 60 to 120 days from signed letter of intent to close. Moving companies with clean books and organized fleet records tend to close faster because environmental and equipment due diligence is straightforward. Deals that stretch past 120 days usually involve messy financials, lender complications, or title issues on vehicles.
Thinking About Buying a Moving Company in Chicago?
Chicago's moving company market offers a combination of low entry multiples, strong population density, and recurring commercial demand that is hard to find in most acquisition categories.
Regalis Capital's team reviews 120 to 150 deals per week across markets like this one. If you want a deal assessment on a specific opportunity, or want us to source candidates in the Chicago market, start here.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to buy a moving company in Chicago?
The median asking price for a moving company in Illinois is $550,000, with listings ranging from $100,000 to $2,000,000. Smaller owner-operator businesses start around $100K to $200K, while multi-crew operations with commercial accounts trade in the $750K to $2M range. Most SBA-eligible deals fall between $400K and $1M.
Can I use SBA financing to buy a moving company in Illinois?
Yes. Moving companies are SBA-eligible businesses. SBA 7(a) loans cover up to 85% to 90% of the acquisition price with a 10-year repayment term. The equity injection requirement is 10%, typically structured as 5% buyer cash plus a 5% seller note on full standby. At current rates of approximately 10% to 11%, a $550K acquisition requires roughly $27,500 in cash from the buyer.
What is the average cash flow for a moving company in Chicago?
Based on Illinois listing data, the median annual cash flow for a moving company available for acquisition is approximately $227K. That figure is reported as seller discretionary earnings in most broker listings, which can include owner salary and one-time add-backs. Discount SDE by 15% to 30% when stress-testing debt service coverage to get a more conservative picture of what the business will actually generate post-close.
What makes a Chicago moving company a better or worse acquisition target?
The strongest targets have diversified customer bases split between residential, commercial, and long-distance work, plus a fleet of well-maintained trucks less than 10 years old. Weaker targets are heavily dependent on the owner for sales and operations, or concentrated in residential-only work with no commercial contracts. In Chicago specifically, corporate relocation accounts tied to local employers or property management companies add meaningful recurring revenue.
How long does it take to close on a moving company acquisition?
A typical SBA acquisition takes 60 to 120 days from signed letter of intent to close. Moving companies with clean books and organized fleet records tend to close faster because environmental and equipment due diligence is straightforward. Deals that stretch past 120 days usually involve messy financials, lender complications, or title issues on vehicles.
Note: Deal economics, pricing, and cash flow figures referenced on this page are estimates based on aggregated listing data and general SBA acquisition math. Actual deal terms vary by business, market conditions, and lender requirements. This content is informational only and does not constitute financial advice.
Thinking about buying a moving company in Chicago? Regalis Capital's deal team reviews 120 to 150 deals per week. Start with a free deal assessment.
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