Acquisition Criteria & Buyer Profile
Quick reference guide for business brokers. All key criteria at a glance.
I. Financial Criteria
Private Capital
$500k+
$1M - $5M
II. Industry Targets
Specialty and Niche Contractors
• Examples
Electrical, Telecommunications, Security, Fire-Alarm, Sound-Proofing, Energy Efficiency
• Key Qualifiers
- ▸ Owner is a craft expert (15+ years of experience)
- ▸ Business has 10+ recurring service/maintenance contracts
- ▸ Requires seller to stay on as RMO (Responsible Managing Officer - see "Deal Structure" section)
Asset-Light Logistics & Data
• Examples
3PL/Freight Brokers, B2B Workflow Optimization, Data Processing Services
• Key Qualifiers
- ▸ Asset-Light Model (No owned trucks, warehouses, or heavy machinery)
- ▸ Business is reliant on outdated or manual systems (spreadsheets, old databases) for mission-critical functions
- ▸ Clear opportunities for technical optimization (routing, load matching, scheduling)
High-End B2B Service Firms
• Examples
Financial Process Outsourcing, Specialized Accounting, Technical Recruiting
• Key Qualifiers
- ▸ High-margin, project-based, or retainer revenue model
- ▸ Growth is currently capped by operational bottlenecks (e.g., manual processes, chaotic client fulfillment)
III. Geography
Sacramento Metro Area / East Bay, Remote
SF Bay Area / Central Valley fringe
IV. Buyer Profile
Analytical Discipline
M.S. in Applied Math & Statistics; Certifications in AI, Supply Chain Optimization, and Financial Modeling.
Scaling Experience
Experience at three acquired/IPO'd tech scale-ups (Snowflake, LinkedIn, TripAdvisor). Consulted for PE firms buying HVAC companies.
Hands-On Experience
Own/operate a data consulting business (databuddy.us). Prior multi-unit franchise owner. Electrical crew volunteer (Habitat for Humanity).
Buyer Type: Hybrid Individual/Financial
I am a disciplined operator investing my own capital, which requires a thorough diligence process. I will be hands-on, focused on learning the craft, supporting the team, and growing the business; not stripping it down.
V. Deal Structure
Handling 'Messy' Deals & Owner Dependency
I handle complexity others avoid. Where buyers see 'messy books' or owner dependency as roadblocks, I see solvable challenges. Creative deal structures (seller financing, earn-outs) align interests and de-risk transitions — enabling me to close on quality businesses others pass on.
Contractor License Requirement
I do not hold a CSLB license; I have 36/48 months experience via owner-builder projects, Habitat for Humanity, and educational credits).
The seller or qualified 2nd must serve as the Responsible Managing Officer (RMO) for a guaranteed 1 year term. This necessity requires a highly collaborative deal structure (Seller Note, Rollover Equity, Earn-Outs).
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