Calder Capital & SBDA End Q2 with 32 Closings For 2026

Calder Capital & SBDA Charge into Second Half of 2026 with 32 Closings

Calder Capital and its sister company, Small Business Deal Advisors (SBDA), closed 32 transactions through June 30th and charged into the second half of 2026 with strong momentum.

Despite a cautious M&A environment characterized by trade policy uncertainty, ongoing geopolitical tensions, global conflicts, and tighter credit standards, the firm’s new client engagement pace continues to trend upwards. New Sell-Side engagements increased year over year from 19 to 21 clients, a 10.5% improvement over the prior year, while new Buy-Side engagements rose from 30 to 40 clients, representing 33.3% growth.

“We’re pleased with our performance through the first half of 2026,” said Calder Capital Founder Max Friar. “While the market continues to navigate uncertainty, our team has remained focused on deal execution. Our team’s hard work and smart systems have resulted in many more new client engagements and great transaction activity. We’re excited to carry this momentum into the second half of the year and continue delivering exceptional outcomes for our clients.”

Q2 2026 Highlights

The Calder/SBDA Team Closed 20 Transactions in Q2 2026. The following 32 transactions have closed thus far in 2026:

Company	Location	Industry	Deal Type
Lake Nepessing Golfland	MI	Service	SBDA
At Home Cleaning Co.	MI	Service	SBDA
Dixie Lite-Trol	KY	Service	SBDA
Empire Heating and Air Conditioning	GA	Service/ Construction	Buy-Side
Best Upon Request Corporate, Inc.	OH	Service	Sell-Side
Wholesale Builder Supply	MI	Distribution	Sell-Side
Delta Services	IN	Service	Sell-Side
Hellmann Lumber	KY	Distribution	Buy-Side
Kimbrell’s Kustom Machine Shop	TX	Manufacturing	Buy-Side
BiTec	OH	Manufacturing	Buy-Side
Door Service, Inc.	MO	Service/ Construction	Buy-Side
Environmental Services Company	DE	Service	Buy-Side
Venco Western, Inc.	CA	Service	Buy-Side
Tom’s Fence	MI	Construction	SBDA
Hog Wild BBQ	MI	Service	SBDA
Plumbing Services Company	MI	Service	Buy-Side
Freight Transportation & Logistics Company	SC	Distribution	Buy-Side
Trailer & RV Parts Distributor	MI	Distribution	Buy-Side
Industrial Marketing Platform	MI	Technology	Sell-Side
Restoration Company	TX	Service	Sell-Side
Specialty Engineering Firm	MA & FL	Service	Buy-Side
Electrical Component Manufacturer	MI	Manufacturing	Sell-Side
Chicago Show	IL	Manufacturing	Sell-Side
Jeffrey Animal Hospital	MI	Service	Sell-Side
Vacation Rental Business	IL	Service	Sell-Side
Yeghoian Grading and Paving	CA	Construction	Sell-Side
Factory Safety Equipment Manufacturer	FL	Manufacturing	Buy-Side
Recycle Away	VT	Distribution	Buy-Side
Steel Products Supplier	KY	Manufacturing	Sell-Side
Mosquito Joe	PA	Service	Buy-Side
Demott Technical Solutions	KY	Technology	Buy-Side

Industry Breakdown

In H1 2026:

Service businesses accounted for 14 transactions (43.8%).
Manufacturing companies represented 7 deals (21.9%).
Distribution businesses accounted for 5 transactions (15.6%).
Service/Construction companies represented 2 deals (6.3%).
Construction businesses accounted for 2 transactions (6.3%).
Technology companies represented 2 deals (6.3%).

Buy-Side Update

Calder’s Buy-Side team continues to build momentum, as the market continues to express strong demand for proprietary, off-market acquisition opportunities and increasing competition for high-quality businesses.

“The first half of 2026 has been incredibly encouraging for our Buy-Side team,” said Sam Scharich, Buy-Side Managing Director. “We’ve welcomed a record number of new clients and continued helping buyers successfully acquire great businesses despite a market that’s still navigating plenty of uncertainty. We’re excited to help more buyers achieve their acquisition goals in the second half of the year.”

Through Q2, the Buy-Side team:

Generated 1,848+ introductions to off-market sellers
Held 749+ meetings and owner conversations
Submitted 134+ offers across active opportunities
Signed 25 letters of intent
Closed 16 transactions

The team continues expanding its presence in high-demand sectors including manufacturing, aerospace and defense, building products, HVAC services, and infrastructure-related businesses, while benefiting from trends such as onshoring and increased domestic investment.

Recent SBA initiatives have also strengthened the acquisition landscape. The Made in America Manufacturing Loan Guarantee Program, which increases SBA loan guarantees up to 90% for qualifying manufacturing acquisitions, is improving access to capital and further increasing competition for quality businesses.

As buyer demand continues to outpace the supply of attractive acquisition opportunities, Calder remains well positioned to help clients identify, evaluate, negotiate, and successfully close proprietary transactions throughout the remainder of 2026.

Sell-Side Update

In Q2, Calder’s Sell-Side team experienced increased interest from business owners exploring exit opportunities. Our Sell-Side professionals witnessed continued demand for well-positioned lower middle market companies. While buyers remain disciplined in underwriting and due diligence, quality businesses continue to attract competitive interest.

“We’re having more conversations with business owners than we were a year ago, and it’s encouraging to see more people beginning to explore what a sale could look like,” said Garrett Monroe, Sell-Side Managing Director. “While buyers are still taking a thoughtful approach and quality transactions require careful execution, well-prepared businesses continue to generate strong interest. Our team is excited to build on this momentum and help even more owners achieve successful outcomes in the second half of the year.”

Through Q2, the Sell-Side team:

Conducted 239 seller meetings
Delivered 67 business valuations
Added 21 new sell-side engagements
Closed 12 sell-side transactions

Business owners continue to benefit from an extensive pool of strategic and financial buyers seeking high-quality acquisition opportunities, particularly in manufacturing, industrial services, business services, HVAC, aerospace and defense, and infrastructure-related sectors. Although transactions require greater preparation and diligence than in previous years, businesses with strong financial performance, experienced management teams, and clear growth opportunities continue to command significant buyer interest.

Calder remains well positioned to help business owners prepare for market, maximize value through a competitive sale process, and achieve successful exits throughout the remainder of 2026.

Calder Team Update

During Q2 2026, Calder Capital added the following professionals:

AJ Wood: Buy-Side Advisor
Walid Houalla: Sell-Side Advisor
Tess Foster: Marketing & PR Associate
Piper O’Rourke: Sell-Side Analyst
Matthew Wynes: Sell-Side Analyst

We also celebrated the promotion of:

Em Medich: CRM & Data Operations Manager

Awards & Recognitions in Q2 2026

To view complete details of these accomplishments, please visit our awards page here.

Looking Ahead

Reflecting on the first half of 2026 and the road ahead, Max Friar shared:

“The first half of 2026 has been a strong one for Calder. Despite continued uncertainty in the M&A market, our team has remained focused on what we can control: serving our clients exceptionally, executing transactions, and continuing to improve as an organization. I’m incredibly proud of what our team has accomplished together.”

“As we continue to grow, we’re placing an even greater emphasis on operations, communication, and developing our people. Sustainable growth isn’t just about closing more deals, it’s about building a firm that consistently delivers exceptional results while creating opportunities for our team to thrive.”

“Looking ahead to the second half of the year, our pipeline remains healthy, client demand is strong, and we’re excited about the opportunities ahead of us. We’ll continue investing in our people, refining our processes, and helping business owners and buyers achieve outstanding outcomes.”

About Calder Capital

Founded in 2013, Calder Capital is a cross-industry mergers and acquisitions advisory firm with offices across the United States. Calder provides valuation, sell-side, and buy-side services. We are nationally recognized for excellence in advising $1-100M enterprise value transactions in manufacturing, construction, distribution, and business services. Calder serves business owners, entrepreneurs, family offices, financial buyers, and investors. Learn more at www.CalderGR.com.

Notice: Calder Capital, LLC is not affiliated with any similarly named organizations or entities. To verify communications from our firm, visit our website or contact [email protected].