Acquisition Criteria

At a Glance

Business Profile

Revenue: $5M or more annually, with a track record of consistent financial performance.

Owner Earnings: $1M or more in seller’s discretionary earnings (SDE) or adjusted EBITDA. I’m looking for businesses with healthy margins that support both the acquisition and continued investment in the company.

Location: Omaha metro area and the surrounding region - Nebraska, western Iowa, South Dakota, and Missouri. I plan to be present every day at the business I acquire.

Industries: B2B services and light manufacturing. This includes commercial services, industrial distribution, specialty contracting, facilities management, equipment services, and similar businesses. I look for industries where relationships, operational execution, and team quality matter more than technology cycles.

Ownership: Founder-owned or family-owned businesses where the current owner is planning for succession - whether that’s in six months or three years.

What I Value in a Business

• Established customer relationships with recurring or repeat revenue patterns
• A capable management team - experienced people who know the business and want to stay
• Stable or growing end markets that don’t depend on a single customer or contract
• Clean financials and a track record that can withstand thorough due diligence
• An owner who cares about what happens next - someone who has thought about the transition, even if they haven’t formalized a plan

How I Structure Deals

I’m transparent about how I finance acquisitions:

SBA 7(a) lending is typically a core financing component. I have lender relationships in place with SBA lenders experienced in acquisition transactions in this size range. SBA financing allows me to put meaningful personal equity into every deal while keeping the capital structure healthy for the business going forward.

Seller financing and earnouts are options I welcome - not because I can’t finance the deal otherwise, but because they keep both sides aligned through the transition. When the seller has a stake in the business’s success after closing, everyone’s incentives point in the same direction.

Personal equity goes into every deal. I’m not a broker or a middleman - my own capital is committed alongside any financing, which means I carry the same risk I’m asking you to trust me with.

Execution Support

I am a single operator, but I do not work alone. I have relationships in place with professionals who support transactions at this size:

• SBA lending (acquisition-focused lenders)
• M&A legal counsel
• Quality of earnings / diligence support
• Accounting and tax support (as needed)
• Insurance review (as needed)

This support is in place before I make an offer, not assembled after the fact. Lender and advisor references are available on request.

What’s Not a Fit

Being clear about what I’m not looking for saves time for everyone:

• Turnarounds or distressed businesses. I want to acquire a healthy business and make it better, not rescue one in crisis.
• Businesses dependent on a single customer for more than 25% of revenue.
• Highly regulated industries where licensure creates barriers to ownership transition.
• Retail or consumer businesses. My experience and approach are strongest in B2B environments.
• Businesses without a management team. I need experienced people in place who can maintain operations through a transition.

For Advisors and Intermediaries

If you represent business owners who match this profile, I welcome introductions. Here is what you can expect from me:

• Teaser review and initial response within 48 hours.
• NDA signed promptly before receiving confidential materials.
• CIM feedback within one week, with a clear indication of interest level and follow-up questions.
• A direct answer if it is not a fit. No ghosting.
• Lender and advisor references available on request.

My goal is to be the easiest buyer in your pipeline to work with.

Timing

The best transitions start early. If an owner is even beginning to think about what’s next, that’s a productive time to talk. There’s no cost, no obligation, and everything stays confidential.