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
Financial Services Firms
• Examples
CPA, Bookkeeping, Accounting, Tax, RIA, Fractional CFO
• Key Qualifiers & Deal Terms
- ▸ At least 20% of revenue should be derived from business clients rather than personal tax returns or individual services
- ▸ Forgivable seller note to ensure successful client list transition
Data-Intensive Service Firms
• Examples
3PL/Freight Brokers, Market Research, Compliance Reporting, Route Optimization, Customer Analytics, Inventory Management
• Key Qualifiers & Deal Terms
- ▸ Asset-light business model with minimal capital requirements (no owned warehouses or heavy machinery)
- ▸ General Manager or second-in-command already in place
Specialty/Niche Contractors
• Examples
Low Voltage, Home Automation, Security, Energy Efficiency
• Key Qualifiers & Deal Terms
- ▸ If a specialized license is required, current license holder must be retained for 12-24 months (depending on trade and license requirements). Structured as a legacy play where I help improve the business side while earning the final credentialing requirements
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. Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA); CTEC Registered Tax Preparer.
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
License Requirements
I do not hold a CSLB (contractor) or CPA license.
For specialty contractors requiring a license, the owner must be willing to continue as Responsible Managing Officer (RMO) for 12-24 months, depending on the trade and specific license requirements. This requires a collaborative deal structure (Seller Note, Rollover Equity, Warrants, Earn-Outs).
I maintain CTEC registration and have established partnerships with RIAs and CPAs. The business will be owned by me, with licensed professionals providing services as needed.
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