Rebuild job-level gross margin
Why:Annual SDE can hide underpriced jobs and callback costs.
Check:Job cost reports · labor hours · materials · subs · callbacks · gross margin by job
critical
Earnings Quality
Acquidex IntelligenceQuarterly SMB acquisition research
Score a listing →Diligence
PAINTING · Q2 2026 · 4-item pre-LOI diligence checklist · 2 Critical · 2 High · 0 MediumMETHODOLOGY · Acquidex v1.0 · Anchored to AQX-IR-PNT-2026Q2 · Sample window Q2 2026 public market-rate sweepCRITICAL 01 · Rebuild job-level gross margin · EARNINGS QUALITY pillarCRITICAL 02 · Normalize owner-estimator labor · EARNINGS QUALITY pillarCRITICAL 03 · Verify crew and subcontractor continuity · TRANSFERABILITY pillarLIVE · Pre-LOI verifications a sophisticated buyer should clear before signing an LOIPAINTING · Q2 2026 · 4-item pre-LOI diligence checklist · 2 Critical · 2 High · 0 MediumMETHODOLOGY · Acquidex v1.0 · Anchored to AQX-IR-PNT-2026Q2 · Sample window Q2 2026 public market-rate sweepCRITICAL 01 · Rebuild job-level gross margin · EARNINGS QUALITY pillarCRITICAL 02 · Normalize owner-estimator labor · EARNINGS QUALITY pillarCRITICAL 03 · Verify crew and subcontractor continuity · TRANSFERABILITY pillarLIVE · Pre-LOI verifications a sophisticated buyer should clear before signing an LOI
Q2 2026 Painting Pre-LOI Diligence
The complete painting pre-LOI diligence checklist.
Every Painting acquisition verification a sophisticated buyer should clear before signing a letter of intent — grouped by category, tagged by pillar and severity, anchored to the Q2 2026 Painting Atlas.
4
Total items
2
Critical · pre-LOI
2
High · post-LOI risk
0
Medium · diligence period
Severity legend
critical Will cause SBA fall-through or a deal break if missed. Verify before LOI.
high Post-LOI repricing risk. Verify in the diligence period or accept the haircut.
medium Diligence-period verification. Will not kill the deal but compounds working-capital and post-close risk.
01
Category 01 · 1 item
Job costing
02
Category 02 · 1 item
Labor normalization
Normalize owner-estimator labor
Why:Seller estimating and sales work must be replaced.
Check:Estimate logs · close rate · owner schedule · project-management workload
critical
Earnings Quality
03
Category 03 · 1 item
People
Verify crew and subcontractor continuity
Why:Production capacity can disappear after close.
Check:Crew roster · tenure · subcontractor agreements · insurance certificates · retention plan
high
Transferability
04
Category 04 · 1 item
Cash flow
Stress-test seasonality and pipeline
Why:Painting cash flow can trough even when annual SDE looks fine.
Check:Booked pipeline · deposits · monthly P&L · payroll timing · working-capital needs
high
Fundability