Buy a Moving Company in San Antonio, TX

San Antonio's Moving Market

San Antonio is one of the fastest-growing large cities in the country. The metro added roughly 20,000 to 25,000 new residents per year through the early 2020s, and that growth has not slowed enough to change the calculus for moving company operators.

The driver mix here is different from Austin or Houston. San Antonio has a massive military presence: Joint Base San Antonio is the largest military installation in the U.S. by population. Military permanent change-of-station (PCS) moves are a recurring, government-contracted revenue stream that most other markets cannot replicate at this scale.

Combine that with consistent residential inbound migration, an active commercial sector, and a cost-of-living profile that keeps attracting families relocating from higher-cost metros, and you have a market with real structural demand.

Deal Economics

There are 37 active listings for moving companies in Texas at the time of this writing. Asking prices range from $299,999 to $4,000,000, with a median of $1,075,000 and median cash flow of $313,025. The average multiple across the dataset is 3.2x.

At the median, a deal looks roughly like this:

Asking price: $1,075,000 Annual cash flow: $313,025 Implied multiple: 3.4x

That multiple sits squarely in SBA sweet-spot territory. At 3x to 5x EBITDA, SBA 7(a) lenders are generally comfortable. At 3.4x, you have room to negotiate and still clear a reasonable debt service.

Approximate debt service on the median deal:

• SBA loan: ~$967,500 (90% of asking price, assuming 10% equity injection)
• Loan term: 10 years
• Rate: approximately 10% to 11% (current SBA rates, subject to change)
• Annual debt service: roughly $153,000 to $160,000
• DSCR: approximately 1.96x to 2.04x at median cash flow

That puts the median deal right at the 2x DSCR target. It is not a slam dunk at those rates, but it is workable, and there is meaningful room to improve operations post-close.

Note: these are rough estimates based on market data. Actual terms depend on individual qualification and lender.

On equity injection: You do not need $107,500 in cash sitting in a bank account. The standard structure is 5% buyer cash ($53,750) plus a 5% seller note on full standby acting as equity. Full standby means the seller receives zero payments during the SBA loan term. Regalis Capital achieves this structure on more than 90% of deals.

What to Look for in a San Antonio Moving Company

Customer concentration. A book of business anchored on one or two large commercial or corporate relocation contracts is a liability. If a single contract represents more than 20% of revenue, treat that as a risk flag during due diligence.

Military contract documentation. If the business claims PCS move revenue, verify the contracts. Government moving work through programs like the Global Household Goods Contract (GHC) is regulated and has specific certification requirements. Confirm the business holds the right certifications and that those transfer with the ownership change.

Equipment condition and age. Moving companies live and die on their truck fleet. Request maintenance records for every vehicle. A fleet skewing older than 8 to 10 years carries meaningful near-term capex exposure. Get that priced into the deal.

Driver classification. Many moving companies use 1099 contractors for labor. Post-acquisition, misclassification risk can become your problem. Review how workers are classified and whether the practice holds up under Texas and federal standards.

Revenue seasonality. Moving is a seasonal business. San Antonio runs hotter in summer due to military PCS cycles and school-year transitions. Ask for month-by-month revenue going back three years to understand the trough months and whether the business can cover fixed costs during slow periods.

SBA Financing for a Moving Company in Texas

SBA lenders generally view moving companies as an eligible business type. The key underwriting concern is asset intensity. Trucks are depreciating assets that can also serve as collateral, which cuts both ways.

SBA lenders will want to see two to three years of tax returns showing consistent cash flow, not just add-backs and adjustments on a recast P&L. Moving companies with owner-operated characteristics (a hands-on owner driving trucks or managing dispatch) may require lenders to assess whether the business can sustain performance under a new, potentially more passive owner.

Based on Regalis Capital's analysis of recent acquisitions, moving companies with documented revenue from recurring commercial accounts or government contracts tend to get better lender reception than those relying primarily on one-time residential moves. Recurring revenue signals are worth more than gross revenue volume alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to buy a moving company in San Antonio?

Based on Texas-wide listing data, moving companies in this market trade at a median asking price of $1,075,000 with prices ranging from $299,999 to $4,000,000. The median cash flow is $313,025, implying roughly a 3.4x multiple. Deals at the lower end of the range may represent smaller owner-operator businesses with limited equipment.

Can I use SBA financing to buy a moving company in Texas?

Yes. SBA 7(a) loans are a standard financing vehicle for moving company acquisitions. The equity injection requirement is 10% of the purchase price, typically structured as 5% buyer cash plus a 5% seller note on full standby at 0% interest acting as equity. At the $1,075,000 median price, buyer cash required is approximately $53,750.

What DSCR should I target when buying a San Antonio moving company?

Target a 2x debt service coverage ratio as the baseline. The median deal in this market, financed at current SBA rates over 10 years, produces an estimated DSCR of approximately 1.96x to 2.04x. At 1.5x or below, the deal requires stronger structural protections like a partial earnout or reduced purchase price before we would recommend proceeding.

What does military PCS revenue mean for a moving company acquisition?

PCS (permanent change-of-station) moves are government-mandated relocations for military personnel. San Antonio's large military presence creates a recurring demand pipeline for moving companies with the right certifications. Buyers should verify that relevant government contracts and certifications transfer to a new owner at close, as these do not always convey automatically.

How long does it take to close a moving company acquisition in Texas?

A typical SBA-financed business acquisition takes 60 to 120 days from signed letter of intent to close, depending on lender processing times, due diligence complexity, and any title or licensing issues. Moving companies with large truck fleets or government contracts may require additional time to verify asset transfers and contract assignments.

Talk to Our Team About San Antonio Moving Company Acquisitions

Regalis Capital's deal team reviews 120 to 150 deals per week. We know what a clean moving company looks like versus one that is priced to hide problems. If you are evaluating a specific business or want help building a target profile for this market, we can run the numbers with you.

Start with a free deal assessment at Regalis Capital.