If you are a business broker or intermediary representing a seller in the lower-middle market, you understand the challenge of finding qualified buyers who close. Plenty of buyers express interest. Fewer have their financing together. Fewer still have the operational background to satisfy SBA lenders and actually run what they acquire.
Ridge and Valley Holdings was built to be the kind of buyer brokers want to work with. Here is exactly what we are looking for, and how we approach broker relationships.
Our Acquisition Criteria
We are looking for established service businesses that meet the following parameters:
- Annual SDE between $150,000 and $400,000
- 3+ years of operating history with consistent or growing revenue
- Purchase price in the $750,000 to $2,000,000 range
- Service business category: home services, staffing, wellness, senior care, training, or similar fragmented service industries
- No single customer exceeding 25% of total revenue
- Clean, verifiable financials across three years
- Seller willing to remain for a 30-60 day transition period
- No active litigation and no material deferred maintenance
What We Bring to the Table
Financing is pre-arranged
We work with SBA 7(a) lenders and have our deal structure built. We are not an aspiring buyer who needs to find financing after a deal is under LOI. Our standard structure is 75% SBA, 15% seller note, 10% equity. Lenders have reviewed our background, and we understand the SBA process.
Two qualified operators
Ridge and Valley Holdings is operated by two founders with directly relevant backgrounds. One brings clinical operations experience: process documentation, quality systems, people management, regulatory compliance. The other brings technology and revenue growth experience: CRM, digital marketing, loyalty programs, financial reporting. SBA lenders respond well to operator backgrounds that match the acquisition target.
We close what we commit to
We do not sign LOIs on businesses that do not fit our criteria. When we sign, we are prepared to close. Our target is 90 days from signed LOI to closing, and we work to protect that timeline.
Industries We Are Most Active In
While we are industry-agnostic across service businesses, the following categories are where we have the deepest appreciation and the most relevant operating backgrounds:
- HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and home services
- Pest control and lawn care
- Staffing and workforce placement
- Physical therapy, wellness, and health services
- Senior care and aging-in-place services
- Training, certification, and professional development programs
The Ideal Seller Profile
Beyond the financial criteria, we do our best work with sellers who:
- Are motivated by retirement or a life transition, not distress
- Care about what happens to their employees and customers
- Are willing to stay for a proper transition period
- Have been transparent with their financials over the years
These are the businesses we will fight to acquire, and that we will take the best care of after closing.
We honor your fee arrangements without negotiation. We maintain strict confidentiality on all introductions. We communicate clearly throughout the process, including if we decide a business is not right for us.