SERVICE M&A EXPERTISE

WHY YOU CAN TRUST CALDER CAPITAL’S SERVICE EXPERTISE

If you are considering selling or buying a service business, you want to find the best service M&A brokerage firm to represent you, a firm that understands some of the unique obstacles and investment highlights that service businesses embody. Calder Capital combines the advantages of a local M&A brokerage firm with the expertise and contacts of a large M&A investment banking firm. We have been advising on the sale or purchase of service businesses – IT service, staffing, software, cleaning/janitorial, engineering/architectural just to name a few – for over a decade and we are experts at understanding and navigating service-specific challenges that arise in transactions – equipment and technology, service-level agreements, intellectual property or proprietary methodologies, and brand reputation, just to name a few.

With a proven track record of successfully closing over 50 service transactions in the past five years alone, we are the trusted experts to navigate the complex landscape of service mergers and acquisitions. Our deep understanding of the service sector combined with our extensive network of industry contacts, confidential marketing engine, and award-winning team of service M&A Advisors allows us to deliver exceptional results for our clients.

We are so confident in our ability to generate the most qualified interest, negotiate the highest offers, and find the right fit for the continuity of your business that we work on a month-to-month basis. If you are not satisfied with our efforts or services, you can terminate the agreement with us at any time.

RECENT SUCCESSFUL SERVICE TRANSACTIONS

Grand Rapids, MI

Acquired by

Walker, MI

Served as the Exclusive M&A Advisor to Breck Graphics, Inc.

Ann Arbor, MI

acquired by

Highland Group

Grand Rapids, MI

Served as the Exclusive M&A Advisor to Brandworks Detroit

Kalamazoo, MI

acquired by

Plainwell, MI

Served as the Exclusive M&A Advisor to Wolverine Lawn Services, Inc.

Shelby Township, MI

acquired by

Chicago, IL

Served as the Exclusive M&A Advisor to Courtesy Driving School

Jenison, MI

acquired by

St. Louis, MO

Served as the Exclusive M&A Advisor to Hi-Tec Building Services, Inc.

Grand Rapids, MI

acquired by

Integrated Manufacturing Group

Farmington Hills, MI

Served as the Exclusive M&A Advisor to Double Otis, Inc.

East Lansing, MI

acquired by

New Baltimore, MI

Served as the Exclusive M&A Advisor to the Waverly Animal Hospital

Grandville, MI

acquired by an

Individual Investor

Grandville, MI

Served as the Exclusive M&A Advisor to Hot Side Service Co.

East Lansing, MI

acquired by

Detroit, MI

Served as the Exclusive M&A Advisor to Blohm Creative Partners

Saginaw, MI

acquired by

Chicago, IL

Served as the Exclusive M&A Advisor to SERVPRO of Saginaw

Green Bay, WI

acquired by

Durham, NC

Served as the Exclusive M&A Advisor to AQUALIS

Calder Capital is recognized as a Service Industry Expert by the Business Brokerage Press

EXAMPLES OF RECENTLY SOLD NICHE SERVICE BUSINESSES

Calder Capital has experience working with a number of niche service businesses including:

Overhead Crane Service & Repair
Digital Marketing & Advertising
Window Cleaning
Commercial Janitorial Services
Auto Collision & Repair Services
Self Storage
Glass & Mirror Sales, Repair, and Installation
Auto Washes
Commercial Glazing
Framing & Art Gallery
Wastewater Systems Inspection & Repair
Restaurant Equipment Service & Repair
Cleaning/Janitorial Services
Staffing Services
Asphalt Sealing & Repair
Computer & Cell Phone Repair
Security Guard Services
Trucking & Transportation Services
Heating & Cooling (HVAC) Service
Communication & Radio Services
Website Creation & Management
CGI 3D Rendering and Animation Agency
Home Care Agency
Software & IT Services

WHAT ARE UNIQUE & CRITICAL COMPONENTS THAT BUYERS CONSIDER WHEN PURCHASING A SERVICE BUSINESS?

Beyond financial performance, buyers and their advisory teams will dig deeply into the following areas when analyzing any service business M&A transaction. In the preparatory phase, Calder will work with you to document, highlight, and explain these areas of the business and get prepared for intense buyer scrutiny.

Service quality and delivery: Assessing the target company’s service quality standards, customer satisfaction levels, and delivery processes is crucial. Buyers will evaluate factors such as service metrics, customer feedback, service-level agreements (SLAs), and any potential risks or issues that could impact service quality.
Service offerings and expertise: Buyers will need to understand the target company’s service offerings, unique expertise, and differentiation in the market. Buyers will review the range of services provided, the expertise of the workforce, and any intellectual property or proprietary methodologies that contribute to the company’s competitive advantage.
Client base and contracts: Buyers will consider the target company’s client base, key accounts, and contract relationships. Factors like client concentration, contract terms, contract duration, client satisfaction levels, and any potential risks related to client retention or loss will be carefully evaluated.
Information technology systems: Buyers will assess the effectiveness and security of IT systems, data management processes, software applications, and any potential integration challenges with the acquiring company’s IT systems.
Brand reputation and customer loyalty: Brand reputation and customer loyalty will be of high interest to potential buyers. Buyers will assess the company’s market positioning, and brand recognition, consider customer reviews and testimonials, and any potential risks to the brand’s reputation.
Legal and regulatory compliance: Ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements is essential for service businesses. This includes assessing licenses, permits, certifications, service industry-specific regulations, data privacy and protection, and any potential liabilities or risks associated with non-compliance.
Strategic Fit: To determine strategic fit, buyers will consider factors such as market presence, customer base, service offerings, geographic reach, and synergies that can be achieved through the combination.

WHY DON’T SOME SERVICE BUSINESSES SELL?

There are a few reasons why service businesses do not sell, and Calder has worked diligently to eliminate these primary obstacles to selling.

The number one reason that businesses do not sell is because there is a significant gap between what the seller wants and what the market provides in terms of valuation. Calder eliminates this by conducting a thorough “market-informed” business valuation before we ever ask for a client engagement. Because we often sell more than a dozen service businesses per year, we have an accurate pulse on valuation multiples, deal structure, and the state of the buyer pool. We combine our proprietary on-market data and insights with thorough research utilizing trusted valuation resources for businesses that match your specific niche and financial performance. The result is a precision valuation analysis that reflects the market feedback you will receive from buyers if you decide to proceed with a sale process.

At this point, it is 100% up to you whether to move forward with a sale process. If the valuation is not where you need or want it to be, Calder can point you to resources that can help you to improve your valuation or we can all simply wait. Sometimes, service business owners decide to wait 1-2 years before selling once they understand what drives valuation. At no point during our initial valuation process will you feel compelled to make a decision that is not in your best interest. Calder Capital is in it for the long game, and this means standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our prospects and clients and helping them to make the best decision for their businesses and lives.

The second reason that service businesses do not sell is the quality of their financial records. When buyers and lenders are making critical decisions to pay and loan, respectively, millions of dollars, it is critically important to them that they can trust the information that they are receiving from the seller. Periodically, we receive information from service business owners that contains errors or is not prepared to the accounting standards that buyers expect. During our business valuation exercise, if we identify areas where buyers are likely to be confused or have questions, or we encounter impasses with respect to obtaining the types of financial records that buyers and lenders will expect during the analysis and due diligence phase, we will discuss these with you and help you work with your CPA or other accounting advisors to prepare the business appropriately for the type of scrutiny that a sophisticated buyer will bring.

CONTACT US FOR A CONFIDENTIAL CONSULTATION

We want to learn about your business and goals. After our initial conversation, we will send you an information request regarding what is needed for us to conduct a “market-informed” valuation analysis. This analysis is unique as we carefully assess your business through the eyes of a buyer by pairing service industry transaction data with our own proprietary transaction data to produce a custom report indicating the valuation range that we believe will be reflected by the market. We will also discuss how to position your business to achieve a premium valuation.

Along with the valuation analysis, we will provide a custom confidential marketing plan detailing exactly the steps that we will take to find buyers and maximize competition. If you decide to move forward with a sale, we will design a confidential information memorandum (CIM) to outline the advantages of your service company. We will never provide your company’s identity or any confidential information to any buyer unless they have signed a strict confidentiality agreement, answered qualifying interview questions, undergone a background check, and been approved by our team (and/or our client).

Calder will design a sophisticated and comprehensive marketing campaign that confidentially introduces your business to a pool of 1,000s of buyers. Using sophisticated and proprietary communication campaigns, we will narrow the pool of buyers down to the most serious ones, have one-to-one discussions with them, solicit offers, and then sit down with you to review the best offers and advise you on the advantages of each one. When you have chosen the best offer for you, we will suggest ways to negotiate and improve each offer and then roll up our sleeves to make the final offer as perfect as possible. We’ll answer questions during due diligence and keep things on track with the attorneys.

At Calder Capital, we offer unparalleled industry and buy-sell expertise that sets us apart from the competition. Whether you’re looking to expand your service business portfolio or sell your service business, our team of seasoned professionals will guide you every step of the way. We have a comprehensive understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities within the service sector, enabling us to provide strategic advice and tailored solutions to meet your specific goals.

Trust Calder Capital as your partner in service business M&A. Contact us today to learn more about how our industry expertise, “market-informed” valuations, and our unique short-term agreement approach align us to achieve your goals in the dynamic world of service transactions.

SERVICE CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

“Mike was an entrepreneur, and leader, with many years of experience as a business owner and specifically in the window industry. He was known as the “window guru” of West Michigan. Those were some hard shoes for me to step into. I was faced with many “new” experiences and firsts. Selling a business was one of those firsts. Understanding this, Calder started by coaching me on how to speak with potential buyers. They posed some of the questions I would receive preparing me on how to answer effectively. They also screened the many, many requests for information from potential buyers leaving me to only have conversations with those that were legitimate, viable buyers. Before every conversation, Calder gave me their perspective and an overview of the buyer. They were a part of every conversation. We did follow-ups on those conversations weeding through who we saw as the best fit for Double-O. Double-O has been a family-owned, small business from the foundation. Calder understood that I desired to have someone who would care for our employees and continue the legacy that Mike left. Calder stepped into my decision to sell at a time when I needed them most! They were able to discern very quickly what I wanted in a buyer. They understood immediately what both Mike and I would have wanted for the next owner of Double-O. I will never regret my decision to use them.”

– Linda Otis, Owner, Double Otis, Inc., Grand Rapids, MI (Seller)

“Hats off and a big thank you to Calder Capital for what I consider a stress-free process for selling Hi-Tec Building Services. The team of Whit Webster, Andrew Williams, and Jakob Simonds were on point through every step of the sale. They made sure I had no surprises and when something came across their plate, it was communicated and given 100% attention. Calder has systems and protocols and they are very, very good at it! Thank you to everyone at Calder Capital who touched this acquisition.”

– Brian Hogan, President, Hi-Tec Building Services, Inc., Jenison, MI (Seller)

“I began searching for my next opportunity on my own and I did not realize how arduous it was going to be. It was a very difficult process that created moments of doubt and second-guessing. Once Shane and the Calder team began working with me, I felt true progress in my search. They helped lay out a strategic search plan with many different factors being weighted. From there, we were able to navigate several different opportunities and achieve the ultimate goal of acquiring a business that checked a majority of my boxes. Shane was always one phone call away, and every step of the way he made me feel supported. I would highly recommend the Calder team to anybody that needs the extra assistance in finding their own opportunity.”

– Trip Biesanz, Owner, G & C Glass & Mirror, Chicago, IL (Buyer)

“Andrew Williams, Whit Webster, Jakob Simonds, and the Calder Capital team demonstrated exceptional ability to collaborate effectively with our team, resolving any issues promptly and ensuring an efficient and seamless transaction process. Their professionalism and dedication were key factors in the success of this acquisition.”

– Andrew Rust, Head of Corporate Development, 4-M Building Solutions, St. Louis, MO (Buyer)

“Sandi and I would have never been able to do on our own what we did working with the Calder team. We would have never been able to access the caliber of the many potential buyers that Calder was able to provide for us. While the number is always important in the sale of a business, we wanted to make sure that the new owners would be proper stewards for our business and our team. Scott and the rest of the Calder team knew how important that was for us and showed the heart of servants in finding the right fit. We are proud to have been able to experience the fastest closing in Calder’s history–although I must admit that it didn’t feel that fast as we were going through the process. The expertise and experience of the entire Calder team helped us work through this process better than we could have ever imagined. If you are considering selling your business, I would highly recommend the Calder team.”

— Rog Bronsink, Owner, Starlite Kitchens & Baths, Inc., Byron Center, MI (Seller)

“Calder has been great to work with, this is our 3rd acquisition with them. Hannah Nahban really helps us focus on acquisitions, while still allowing us to keep our day-to-day focus on running our business.”

– Kyle Klingenberg, Owner, Sparkle Car Care Centers, Benton Harbor, MI (Buyer)

“It was a pleasure to work with Garrett. He held my hand throughout the entire process. He also had already had a relationship with my attorney, Andy Goldberg, with whom I have been doing business deals with for about 20 years. This made the experience much more comfortable and seamless for me.”

– Allyson Mechigian, Former Owner, The Mechigian Auto Washes, Fenton, MI (Seller)

“Garrett and Calder Capital helped us through the whole process. They are very knowledgeable in the business and helped us with financing options. Garrett was quick to respond and help us get everything we needed from the seller promptly. Overall, the experience with Calder Capital was smooth. We appreciate Garrett and Calder for helping us make this acquisition possible.”

– Saman Abdo, Owner, Ace Auto Wash, Troy, MI (Buyer)

“In the process of selling our business, we had an excellent experience with Scott Nicholson and Calder Capital. Scott was by our side the entire time and everything went well. Scott, thank you for all that you did for us. We would recommend you to anyone looking to buy or sell a business.”

– Dave and Jayne Steed, Former Owners, Taylor Floor Covering, Elkhart, IN (Sellers)

“My experience working with Garrett Monroe and Calder Capital was nothing short of exceptional. Garrett was a consummate professional who worked tirelessly to ensure the transaction proceeded smoothly and efficiently. He was always available to answer any questions and provide guidance, making the process much less daunting for the owner. Overall, I was very impressed with the level of expertise and professionalism displayed by the team at Calder Capital, and I would not hesitate to work with them again in the future.”

– Andy Goldberg, Legal Counsel to The Mechigian Auto Washes, Fenton, MI (Seller’s Counsel)

“Calder provided excellent analysis on business valuations and gave me confidence that my offers were competitive for the market and industry. This is important as sellers have a wide variety of expectations! Finding the right business is a process and Calder did a great job of providing insights as I worked my way through it. Ultimately, I was successful in acquiring a high-quality company, Corporate Clean Services.”

– Harry Kobrak, Owner, Corporate Clean Services, Grand Rapids, MI (Buyer)

“Scott Nicholson and Calder Capital are great to work with. They understand transactions from both sides and their assistance was vital to getting this deal done and to the finish line.”

– Marc Waite, Owner, Taylor Floor Covering, Elkhart, IN (Buyer)

Read more on our testimonials page by clicking here.

Contact Calder Capital – Industry Experts

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