Best Search Fund Investors for Home Services Business Acquisitions (2026)

For search fund entrepreneurs, one of the most alluring industries is the home services sector. These industries experienced boom years in 2024 and 2025, as they consistently generate steady cash flows. 

They have established competitive moats due to their proximity to customers, and offer obvious chances for market consolidation in fragmented areas. But not every investor in search funds is familiar with residential service companies. 

In this article, we will focus on five capital providers that focus on home services deals from acquisition entrepreneurs, from HVAC and plumbing to cleaning and landscaping.

Let’s begin!

Key Takeaways

• Looking at the list of recommended investors 
• Exploring some best investing communities and groups 
• Decoding how they improve the successful contingencies 
• Uncovering some pivotal challenges 

A List of Our Recommended Investors:

The search fund capital providers below were selected for their experience supporting home services acquisitions, working well with acquisition entrepreneurs, understanding of service business challenges, and proven track records helping search entrepreneurs scale residential service companies.

#1 – CapitalPad

Comprehensive Support for Service Business Growth

CapitalPad is a flexible search fund capital provider that has backed numerous home services acquisitions, providing both capital and hands-on operational support tailored to service business challenges. Having worked for HVAC companies, landscaping businesses, cleaning services, and other residential service providers, they have a thorough understanding of the factors that contribute to success in these markets.

In addition to making $500K to $1.5M in direct investments, CapitalPad offers self-funded searchers extensive post-acquisition support, including help with vetting service providers, strategic guidance, or operational assistance when needed. Their hands-on approach proves especially valuable for home services companies that often lack sophisticated operational infrastructure.

Ideal for: Post-LOI raises, entrepreneurs acquiring established service businesses with strong track records of profitability, and multi-location service consolidation plays

Interesting Facts 
Business services (which often include B2B/B2C home services) and healthcare represent roughly 50% of all search fund acquisitions.

#2 – The Nashton Company

Long-Term Patient Capital for Home Services Platforms

The Nashton Company is a holding corporation that owns businesses in the electrical, plumbing, and HVAC sectors. Founded in 2017 by former search fund entrepreneurs, the Nashville-based firm brings direct operating experience in residential services to its partnerships with searchers.

The firm’s holding company structure means they invest with a time horizon measured in decades. This long-term approach aligns perfectly with home services businesses that require sustained investment in technician training, equipment, and local market development. Since inception, The Nashton Company has completed over 25 acquisitions, giving them experience with what works in scaling service businesses across multiple locations.

Ideal for: Home services entrepreneurs building regional platforms, multi-location consolidation strategies, searchers who value long-term patient capital and operator-led guidance

#3 – Smash Ventures

Marketing Expertise for Local Home Service Businesses

For home services businesses vying for clients in nearby markets, Smash Ventures’ specialized marketing skills are extremely beneficial. Their experience with digital marketing, brand positioning, and customer acquisition strategies helps service businesses break through the noise in competitive residential markets.

The firm’s ability to move quickly on smaller deals makes them well-suited for the typical home services acquisition, while their post-acquisition marketing support can immediately impact lead generation and customer acquisition. Smash understands the unique marketing challenges facing service businesses, from seasonal demand patterns to local search optimization.

Ideal for: Home services companies needing marketing transformation, residential service businesses with strong operations but weak customer acquisition, service companies expanding into new geographic markets

#4 – The Cambria Group

Deep Service Sector Experience Across Multiple Business Models

The Cambria Group has invested in over 300 business platforms since 1996, with significant experience in service businesses including HVAC distribution and residential exterior services. The Dallas-based firm’s principals invest their own capital, which eliminates LP approval requirements and enables quick decisions on opportunities.

Their extensive portfolio includes an HVAC distributor serving multiple locations and a company that consolidates residential roofing and exterior services businesses. This hands-on experience with home services business models means they understand the operational challenges of managing field technicians, seasonal demand fluctuations, and equipment-intensive operations. With involvement in hundreds of service businesses, they can provide guidance on scaling challenges that newer investors haven’t encountered.

Ideal for: Home services consolidation plays, searchers acquiring equipment-intensive service businesses, entrepreneurs who value speed and experience from investors who’ve worked with similar business models

#5 – Slack Capital

Home Services and Skilled Trades Specialist

Slack Capital explicitly focuses on home services, facilities services, and skilled trades, making them one of the few search fund investors with a stated specialization in residential service businesses. The majority of home services acquisition opportunities fall within the $500K–$5M EBITDA range, which is the range of equity gap funding that the firm offers especially for searchers seeking controlling ownership.

Led by founders who have acquired and run service businesses themselves, Slack understands both the acquisition challenges and the operational realities of residential service businesses. Slack structures deals where searchers retain majority ownership and can commit capital quickly to work within tight closing timelines common in home services transactions.

Ideal for: HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and skilled trades acquisitions, searchers using SBA financing who need gap equity, first-time operators who want guidance from investors with direct service business experience

Home Services Business Success Factors

Home services acquisitions require search fund investors who understand more than just financial metrics. The best search fund capital providers for residential service businesses recognize the importance of workforce management, seasonal cash flow patterns, and local market dynamics that determine long-term success in this sector.

The best search fund investors for home service deals understand the importance of service business foundations such as quality control systems, recurring revenue models, and customer retention. They understand the challenges in the residential service landscape around technician recruitment, equipment investments, and geographic market development, which often differ from other small business acquisitions.

When evaluating search fund capital providers for home services acquisitions, prioritize those with documented residential service business experience. Serial search fund investors can provide operational insights, help address common scaling challenges, and support the systems development you need to generate sustainable growth in residential services like HVAC, plumbing, landscaping, and related service businesses.

---