NAICS 238220
HVAC, Plumbing & Mechanical Contractors in Morro Bay, CA
The 1 ZIP codes assigned to Morro Bay contained 3 HVAC & Plumbing establishments in 2023.
- Establishments (2023)
- 3
- 1 ZIP codes
- 10 or more employees
- n/a
- Practical financing floor
- Share of county
- 2%
- San Luis Obispo County
- City population
- 10,613
- 2025 estimate
Figures cover the ZIP codes the U.S. Postal Service assigns to Morro Bay (93442). ZIP areas are not municipal boundaries: they can extend beyond city limits and are shared between neighbouring places. This is a count of establishments in Morro Bay's ZIP codes, not a count of businesses inside its city limits.
Business size mix
Morro Bay is more consolidated than California as a whole: fewer micro-operators and a larger share of businesses with real headcount. Fewer targets, but the ones that exist are more likely to be financeable.
| Share of establishments | Morro Bay | California | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 5 employeesOwner-operated, often no management layer | 0.0% | 57.6% | -57.6% |
| 5 to 49 employeesThe range most individual buyers target | 0.0% | 21.9% | -21.9% |
| 10 or more employeesPractical floor for acquisition financing | 0.0% | 10.1% | -10.1% |
Nearest comparable markets
The closest places to Morro Bay that also have HVAC & Plumbing establishments on record. Useful for spotting a gap next door, or realising the market you are looking at is already served from the town over.
| Market | Establishments | Vs state share |
|---|---|---|
| Atascadero | 20 | +100% |
| San Luis Obispo | 12 | -59% |
| Pismo Beach | 3 | n/a |
| Grover Beach | 8 | n/a |
| Arroyo Grande | 15 | +54% |
The wider San Luis Obispo County market
Employment and payroll are reported at county level only, so the figures below describe the county Morro Bay sits in.
- County establishments (2023)
- 121
- San Luis Obispo County
- County employees
- 841
- Mid-March employment
- County annual payroll
- $57M
- All establishments
What acquirers look at
Recurring maintenance contracts, emergency pricing power and licensed-technician scarcity make the mechanical trades the most consolidated category in small business. Owner age skews high and private equity has been rolling them up since 2019. Plumbing is frequently acquired as a bolt-on to an existing HVAC platform to share dispatch and trucks.
Other industries in Morro Bay
Nearby cities
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 ZIP Code Business Patterns. Establishment counts and size distribution by ZIP code and NAICS, aggregated over the ZIP codes assigned to each city. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 County Business Patterns. Establishment counts, employment and annual payroll by NAICS. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (2026Q1). Quarterly establishment counts and employment for employers covered by unemployment insurance. Retrieved 2026-09-08.