MFS Trade School is a fast-growing, high-margin online and hybrid vocational training company operating in one of the most recession-proof and regulation-driven niches in North America: commercial kitchen exhaust hood cleaning and related kitchen equipment maintenance services. Founded in 2014, MFS has become one of the few credible certification providers in a market where training is not optional—it is mandated by NFPA Code 96, insurance carriers, fire inspectors, and municipal compliance departments across the U.S. and Canada. This unique regulatory foundation provides stable, recurring demand.

The business delivers certifications and training programs across several high-value commercial cleaning verticals including Kitchen Exhaust Hood Cleaning, Wood-Burning Pizza Oven Cleaning, Conveyor Belt Oven Cleaning, Kitchen Appliance Steam Cleaning, and Cooking Oil Filtration Services. These courses serve a diverse and growing customer base ranging from individuals launching their first recession-proof business to established pressure washing, janitorial, HVAC, and fire suppression companies expanding their service offerings.

MFS operates with a modern digital education model: approximately 74% of courses are delivered online, driving gross margins up to 97% on core products and enabling 40%–50% EBITDA margins. Total revenue has climbed steadily from $1.70M in 2023 to $2.24M in 2024, with $2.43M TTM 2025 and a record quarter of $720k in Q3 2025. Strong lead flow—averaging 150–230 inbound leads monthly—ensures predictable customer acquisition and ongoing sales momentum.

The business benefits from an established upsell ecosystem. Students frequently purchase additional certifications, equipment packages that we sell & dropship, our own chemical brand, lead-generation services, and annual recertification exams, creating high average order value. The optional Orlando-based hands-on training center provides an additional premium offering while the majority of fulfillment remains virtual, asset-light, and scalable.

Operations are streamlined and well-documented, supported by a virtual team handling sales, customer onboarding, administrative tasks, and exam scheduling. The owner currently spends 10–15 hours per week overseeing strategy and team performance. This makes the business ideal for a semi-absentee owner or a strategically minded operator looking to scale.

The competitive landscape is surprisingly thin for such a large, compliance-driven industry. The few recognizable competitors—such as IKECA and Phil Ackland—offer limited course selection and lack the digital scale, marketing infrastructure, and multi-program ecosystem that MFS has built. This positions the company as the most accessible, comprehensive, and modern certification provider in the space.

There is extensive upside for the next owner. Expansion opportunities include launching Spanish-language programs (over one-third of students speak Spanish), opening additional hands-on training centers nationwide, franchising or licensing the training curriculum, building corporate partnerships with fire suppression and insurance companies, and scaling paid advertising campaigns that already demonstrate strong ROI. Additional regulated cleaning and compliance services can be added to the existing course catalog, leveraging current brand authority and infrastructure.

MFS Trade School offers the rare combination of high margins, regulatory stability, digital scalability, and strong recurring demand. With robust systems, an experienced team, and a decade of brand goodwill, this business presents a compelling acquisition opportunity for buyers seeking a recession-proof, compliance-anchored company with significant potential for national expansion.