Question 1

How long does a contractor license transfer take when buying a home services business?

Accepted Answer

Timing varies by state and by trade, so confirm the current process with your state contractor licensing board early. Some states allow a license transfer or reciprocity filing that can clear in a matter of weeks, while others require the buyer or a qualifying individual to hold or obtain their own license before the business can legally operate under new ownership, which can take considerably longer. We map the applicable state process before you sign a letter of intent so the closing timeline reflects the real licensing timeline, not just the deal timeline.

Question 2

What is successor liability for an HVAC, plumbing, or landscaping company's existing service contracts?

Accepted Answer

Successor liability is the risk that a buyer inherits a seller's warranty obligations, code-compliance issues, or contract disputes tied to work performed before closing, particularly when the deal is structured as an asset purchase of a licensed operation. This is easy to miss in diligence and expensive to discover after closing. We review prior code violations, licensing board complaints, and the terms of existing service and maintenance contracts, then allocate that risk in the purchase agreement before closing.

Question 3

Is a home services business eligible for SBA 7(a) financing?

Accepted Answer

Many HVAC, plumbing, landscaping, and cleaning company acquisitions are financed with an SBA 7(a) loan, but eligibility and structuring depend on the deal's specifics, including how the license transfer is handled and whether the seller stays on to bridge licensing requirements. We structure the purchase agreement and closing timeline to work with SBA lender requirements, and coordinate directly with lenders on licensing conditions that affect underwriting.

Question 4

Are technician non-compete agreements enforceable after state non-compete bans?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the state. Several states, including California, Minnesota, and North Dakota, ban or sharply restrict non-compete agreements for most workers, while other states still enforce them if reasonably limited in scope and duration. Because this changes deal value for buyers relying on technician and customer retention after closing, we review what protections are actually enforceable in your state and structure retention agreements, non-solicitation terms, and deal price accordingly.

Question 5

Should a home services acquisition be structured as an asset purchase or a stock purchase?

Accepted Answer

For a licensed trade business, the answer often turns on the license itself: an asset purchase can require the buyer to obtain a new license or complete a license transfer before operating, while a stock purchase may preserve an existing license but also carries forward the seller's liabilities, including past warranty and code-compliance exposure. We review the specific state licensing rules for your trade and structure the deal, and the purchase agreement's liability allocation, around which structure actually fits.

Question 6

What does Acquisition Stars handle for home services m&a legal services matters?

Accepted Answer

Acquisition Stars represents buyers and sellers across the full deal lifecycle: preliminary structuring, letter of intent, due diligence, definitive agreement negotiation, and closing mechanics. The firm handles state contractor and trade license transfer for hvac, plumbing, electrical, and landscaping companies, successor liability review for existing service contracts, maintenance agreements, and warranty obligations, sba 7(a) loan structuring and lender coordination for licensed trade acquisitions, among other transaction work. Alex Lubyansky leads every engagement.

Question 7

Who does Acquisition Stars typically represent in home services m&a legal services engagements?

Accepted Answer

The firm represents hvac company owners buying or selling a licensed operation, plumbing contractors navigating a change of ownership, landscaping and lawn care business owners consolidating or exiting, along with other parties involved in mid-market and lower-middle-market transactions. Engagements range from single-buyer acquisitions to multi-party recapitalizations.

Question 8

Does the firm represent clients outside Michigan?

Accepted Answer

Yes. While the firm office is in Novi, Michigan, Alex Lubyansky represents clients nationwide on M&A and securities transactions. Most engagements involve out-of-state buyers, sellers, or target companies. The firm regularly admits pro hac vice in other states when matters require it.

Question 9

Who will work on my deal?

Accepted Answer

Alex Lubyansky leads every engagement at Acquisition Stars. He sets the deal strategy, leads the negotiation, and runs closing, and every document is reviewed by him before it goes to the other side. An associate supports the work, including first drafts and diligence review. You will know who is doing what at each stage of the transaction.

Question 10

How does the firm price home services m&a legal services engagements?

Accepted Answer

Pricing varies with deal size, complexity, and timeline, so Acquisition Stars does not publish a fee schedule. After a brief initial conversation about the deal specifics, the firm provides a written engagement scope, typically as a bundled engagement or with a not-to-exceed budget, so clients can plan the matter with confidence.

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Questions to Ask Any M&A Attorney Before Hiring

1. "Who will actually handle my transaction?"

2. "How many M&A transactions has the lead attorney closed in the past 12 months?"

3. "What is your experience with my deal size and industry?"

4. "Will you coordinate with my CPA, financial advisor, and broker?"

5. "How do you handle post-closing disputes?"

6. "What is your fee structure, and what drives cost?"