A partner who will take good care of what you built
We partner with owners of established B2B businesses with $500K–$5M in EBITDA. Some want to keep building with a partner. Others are ready to step back. We do both.
Confidential conversations. No obligation. We work on your timeline.
How we partner
Two ways to work with us
For owners who want to keep building
Growth partnership
You keep running the business and keep a stake in it. We come in as a partner with capital, better systems and an acquisition plan, to help you break through the ceiling you have hit on your own.
For owners ready to step back
Succession
We buy the business outright and bring in a new leader to take it to its next chapter. You stay on long enough to hand over your customers and your know-how, then go do what you have been waiting to do.
| Question | Growth partnership | Succession |
|---|---|---|
| Your role after closing | You stay in charge | You hand over to a new leader |
| What you sell | Part of your ownership. You keep a stake in what comes next. | All of it |
| What we bring | Capital, governance and systems, add-on acquisitions, better software | A new leader, capital, governance and systems |
| Your transition | Flexible. We shape the investment around your goals. | 3 to 12 months, agreed before closing |
What stays the same
Your name and reputation
The company keeps its name, its culture and the reputation you spent years earning.
Your team
We keep and develop the people who built the business. They are a large part of why it is worth buying.
Your customers
We take the time to hand your customer relationships over properly, with you in the room, so nobody feels dropped.
What already works
We are not here to break things. We learn how the business runs before we change anything.
What we add
Governance & systems
The foundation first: clean financials, a finance function the business can rely on, and an operating rhythm of leadership meetings, scorecards and board oversight. The goal is a business that no longer depends on one person.
M&A
Add-on acquisitions when the business is ready for them. We source the deals, help with diligence and structure, and help close them. Think of it as a corporate development team the business could not afford on its own.
Tech enablement
The right software, rolled out well. Usually that starts with the basics, like a job management system, a CRM or better reporting, so the team spends less time on paperwork and more time with customers.
What we look for
Essential services
B2B service or product businesses with steady demand through good years and bad.
$500K–$5M EBITDA
Established companies with ten or more years of profit.
A strong team
People who can keep the business running well through a change in ownership.
Room to grow
Where better systems, software or acquisitions can take the business further.
At a Glance
Our Process
Confidential, on your schedule, and designed to close in 60–90 days.
A confidential conversation
We learn about your business and what you want next: to keep building, or to step back.
An indication of value
We share what we think the business is worth, how we got there, and the ways it could be paid.
Our homework
Diligence that is thorough but respectful. We work around your schedule so the business keeps running.
Closing and handover
A clean closing and a handover plan, agreed up front, that protects your team and your customers.
Questions owners ask us
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to sell all of my business?
No. In a growth partnership you sell part of your ownership, keep running the company and keep a stake in what comes next. In a succession you sell all of it and hand over to a new leader.
How do you decide what my business is worth?
We start with your profit over the last few years and how steady it has been. Then we look at what makes it last: how long customers stay, how much depends on you personally, and what the business needs to keep growing. We walk you through how we got to our number.
How will I be paid?
Most of the price is paid in cash at closing. The rest is usually a seller note paid over a few years, and sometimes a payment tied to the transition going well. There is a trade-off: more cash at closing usually means a lower total, and more paid over time can mean a higher total. We lay the options side by side so you can choose.
Why would part of the price be paid after closing?
Every transition takes work. Customers keep calling the owner’s cell phone, and the team is getting to know someone new. Paying part of the price over time keeps everyone working on the handover together, and it lets us offer a higher total price.
How long would I stay after closing?
In a succession, usually 3 to 12 months, agreed before closing. In a growth partnership, you keep running the business for as long as you want to.
Will my employees and customers find out?
Not from us. We sign an NDA before you share anything, and we speak to your team only when you decide it is time.
How long does it take?
We aim to close in 60 to 90 days once we agree on terms. We work around your schedule so the business keeps running while we do our homework.
What do I need to get started?
A conversation. If it looks like a fit, we will ask for a few years of financial statements and tax returns.
Start a Confidential Conversation
Schedule a call with Sean Smith, Managing Partner, to talk about your business and which kind of partnership fits.
Prefer email? Contact Matt Silva at matt.silva@searchfundventures.co