The Case for Local Leadership in Life Safety

As buildings across America age and regulations tighten, a quiet but critical category of businesses is stepping into the spotlight: life safety services. These businesses aren’t just preserving property—they’re protecting people. From mold remediation to pest control, from elevator safety to environmental air quality, they are the unseen infrastructure that keeps homes, schools, offices, and hospitals both livable and legally compliant.

A Fragmented Industry—and Why That’s a Good Thing for Local Operators

Over the last decade, national roll-ups and private equity groups have poured into the life safety space. In 2023 alone, there were 129 private equity-backed acquisitions in fire and life safety services—and another 109 through the first nine months of 2024, according to Lincoln International. On paper, this might sound like progress: consolidation, scale, efficiency.

But in practice, these roll-ups have created a service model that often fails the local consumer. National platforms may win on volume but lose on nuance—centralizing decision-making, outsourcing relationships, and cutting corners on the very responsiveness that defines quality in life safety services. The result? A sector more fragmented than ever, and ripe for a return to what works: small, family-owned businesses rooted in the communities they serve.

Recurring Revenue in a Sector Built on Urgency

Historically, life safety services were reactive—called in only during emergencies or inspections. But today, the landscape is shifting. The effects of aging infrastructure, extreme weather events, and evolving environmental regulations have turned these “incident-based” services into ongoing needs. This shift has created a powerful opportunity for recurring revenue models in the space.

• Pest control is no longer seasonal—it’s year-round, due to changing pest behaviors tied to warming climates.

• Indoor air quality services are being regularly scheduled in schools, office buildings, and homes, especially post-COVID.

• Mold, water, and fire remediation companies are pivoting toward preventative inspections and ongoing contracts with property managers and HOAs.

• Even drainage and erosion control now involves annual system checks and seasonal maintenance packages.

This opens the door to subscription-style service models for residential and commercial clients—offering peace of mind and consistent income for operators. For small businesses, this is a game changer: the ability to build real equity, stabilize cash flow, and deepen relationships with customers who now think in terms of preventing problems, not just fixing them.

Sub-Sectors Defining the Future of Life Safety That We Like

At Legacy, we’re focused on building a portfolio of businesses that operate across the following essential sub-sectors—each of which reinforces the argument that local businesses are best equipped to lead:

1. Critical Pest & Infestation Services

The U.S. pest control industry is valued at over $10 billion annually, per Inside Advisor Pro. The companies winning share today are not national roll-ups but agile local providers who know the seasonal cycles and biological nuances of their area.

2. Site Remediation & Cleanup

From biohazards to crime-scene cleanup to environmental cleanup, these services are typically inspection-triggered or emergency-driven. Many restoration service calls are non-discretionary, making them resilient and ripe for long-term service agreements.

3. Erosion, Drainage & Land Resilience

This work is essential for areas facing stormwater surges, floods, or soil instability. Services are moving toward routine system management—a huge opportunity for residential and municipal recurring revenue contracts.

4. Environmental Health & Indoor Air Quality

Mold, asbestos, radon, and HEPA-based air testing services are growing rapidly as consumers prioritize air safety. BCC Research reports the indoor air quality market is projected to reach $12.9 billion by 2029. Regular air testing and remediation is becoming part of annual facility budgets—especially for schools, multi-unit housing, and commercial landlords.

5. Disaster Response & Emergency Services

Perhaps no sector is more emotionally and operationally sensitive. These companies are called in during the worst days of someone’s life. But now, smart operators are offering pre-disaster planning, site assessments, and seasonal preparedness contracts—bringing recurring revenue to a category long considered “one-time only.”

What a Life Safety Portfolio Means—and Why It Has to Be Local

At Legacy, we aren’t just collecting service businesses—we’re building a network of deeply rooted, high-integrity operators who serve their communities with pride. A life safety portfolio should not be defined by size or revenue, but by trust, responsiveness, and the ability to adapt to real-time risks. These businesses don’t scale like software—they scale like ecosystems.

And when they’re networked locally, they share resources, labor, and best practices—amplifying their value without losing their soul.

Why Small Will Win

Life safety is not a nice-to-have. It’s not something you defer until next year. It’s urgent, intimate, and deeply tied to place. And that’s exactly why the national roll-up model—built on spreadsheets and exit timelines—will never outperform a well-run local business in this sector.

The future of life safety belongs to those who know the ground they walk on. And thanks to evolving expectations, environmental pressures, and new service models, small businesses now have an unprecedented opportunity to pair mission-critical work with long-term revenue.

In this space, small doesn’t just survive—it scales.