We are a long-term operator that keeps your name, your people, and your legacy intact – while letting you step out of the operator seat in months, not years.
Start a confidential conversationWhen it's time to exit, you have options. Most owners only consider the first two. We offer a third path designed for legacy.
Often a consolidation play. Your brand is usually absorbed or killed, and your team may face layoffs or culture clashes. Fast cash, but your legacy disappears.
Financial engineering at scale. PE firms often load the company with debt, cut costs to boost margins, and aim to sell again in 5-7 years. Uncertainty for your team.
We keep your name, your people, and your culture. We are the permanent home for your business. We don't flip; we hold and grow. Your legacy remains intact.
A noble goal, but often capital-intensive and risky. Succession planning is difficult, and the next generation may not have the appetite or skill to run the business.
We move fast but deliberately. Our process is designed to respect your time and ensure a smooth transition for your team.
We start with a confidential call. We want to understand your business, your goals, and your team. If there is a mutual fit, we sign an NDA and move to light diligence.
We review high-level financials and operational data. This isn't a forensic audit—we just need to see the engine under the hood. We aim to do this in weeks, not months.
We present a Letter of Intent (LOI) outlining the terms. If accepted, we begin formal due diligence. We have a standardized checklist to make this as painless as possible.
We sign the papers. You get your liquidity. We introduce ourselves to your team—not as new owners, but as partners in the next chapter of growth.
We implement our playbook: optimizing back-office, launching growth initiatives, and developing your leaders. If you stay on, we support you; if you step back, we have a team ready to step in.
The right business broker can be a real asset. They can widen your pool of buyers, keep a process moving, and help you understand the market. In our experience, the problem is not "using a broker"; the problem is when a broker wins your listing by telling you what you want to hear instead of what the market will actually pay.
That's how owners end up anchored to unrealistic numbers. The business gets listed at a price that feels good on paper, buyers don't show up at that number, and months or years go by with no real movement. At the end of the day, assets like real estate and operating companies are only worth what a willing and able buyer is prepared to bring to the closing table in cash (or bankable financing).
National statistics are brutal: only a small minority of businesses that want to sell ever actually sell, and an even smaller percentage are still operating five years later. If you care about your people, your reputation, and collecting on the note you seller‑finance, that outcome does you no good.
At Stoneburgh, we are a direct buyer, not a broker. We underwrite on real cash flow and real risk. We prioritize certainty of close and cash at close over inflated headline prices that never materialize. If a broker tells you your business is worth 12x EBITDA, the first question is not "when do we list," it is "how much of that is cash at close versus a risky earn‑out or rollover equity?"
If you decide to hire a broker, use them. Just make sure they have actually earned the right to 8–12 percent of your exit. Below in Questions To Ask A Broker we provide questions you should ask brokers before you sign an engagement letter.
You don't have to work with us, and you don't have to work with a broker. But if you do bring in a broker, ask sharper questions, anchor to what real buyers will pay, and protect the legacy and people you've spent a lifetime building.
Your brand is your reputation. Your people are your engine. We don't break what's working.
Our goal, when possible, is to keep and grow the brand you built. We plug in our resources — marketing, recruiting, finance, and technology — behind the scenes while your local name stays in the market.
Some acquisitions are primarily strategic or geographic. In those cases, we may merge your business into an existing Stoneburgh company in the same region to create a stronger combined operation.
We'll be clear from the start which path we're on.
"We buy companies for the people — not just the trucks and phone numbers."
For the ones who want to "be a pro," we offer real careers: clear pay ladders, benefits, and the ability to grow or make lateral moves across our portfolio — instead of bouncing around town for another $1–$2 an hour.
We also know the reality of the trades. Some folks will keep doing the gypsy-tradesman circuit. Some won't like our standards or our style. That's okay. We are building a championship team, not a haven for everyone.
For those who lean in, this is a place to build a long-term home — not just another job.
We are not a fund with an expiration date. We are a permanent capital vehicle building a leadership factory.
We don't have a "fund clock" ticking. We don't have to sell your company in 5 or 7 years to pay back investors. We buy to hold indefinitely. This allows us to make decisions that are best for the long-term health of the business, not just short-term EBITDA manipulation.
We build leaders. Our Candidate and AGM programs create a pipeline of management talent that we deploy to run operations. When you sell to us, you aren't just handing keys to a stranger; you are plugging into a system designed to professionalize and scale your legacy.
Experienced operators and investors who understand the trades.
United States Marine Corps veteran. TCU undergrad and MBA. Has started, bought, grown, and sold companies including taking one to ~$300M in sales. Leads business and acquisition strategy.
Former MLB coach with three World Series appearances. Specializes in building high-performing teams and leaders. Runs leadership and goal-setting curriculum for our Candidate Program.
15+ years in the trades, over a decade in HVAC. Started in the attic like everyone else and worked his way up. Leads technical and field operations across the platform.
All submissions are strictly confidential.