The Ascend difference

Who buys your business matters as much as what they pay for it.

The market is hot, and there's no shortage of private equity firms and corporations willing to buy your business. We're another option, with a different approach that differs in the ways that actually matter to you and your team.

Ascend Group A private equity fund A larger competitor
How long do they keep it?
Forever

We're buying one business to run, not to resell. There's no fund life or exit date behind us.

Three to seven years

Because the fund has to return money to its investors on a schedule.

Permanently, folded in

It usually becomes part of the parent company rather than staying its own operation.

Who runs it after closing?
One of us, on site

Full time, and we move to where the business is.

A hired manager

Reporting to the fund, or you for a while if you agree to stay.

A regional manager

Someone who already runs another location and adds yours to their territory.

What happens to the name?
It stays

You built the reputation, and it's worth money.

Often rebranded later

Kept at first, then rolled into a new brand once the platform takes shape.

Usually retired

In favor of theirs, generally within a year or two.

What happens to your team?
Everyone gets an offer

At the same pay or better. They're most of what we're buying.

Depends on the model

Headcount follows the operating plan and the cost targets.

Overlapping roles cut

That's often the reason for the deal.

Who decides?
The two partners you meet

There's no committee above us.

An investment committee

One you'll likely never meet.

Corp dev, then the board

A corporate development team runs the process, then their board signs off.

How is it paid for?
Our own money

Plus capital from a small group of likeminded investors, and potentially a bank loan if the deal makes sense.

Investor money plus debt

Significant debt gets placed on your company to make the returns work.

Their balance sheet

Cash they already have on hand.

What do they want from you after?
Whatever you want

Ninety days, a year, or forever. It's your call.

A multi-year commitment

Often tied to hitting targets.

A short handoff

Then they're done with you.

How many of these will they do?
One, then a few nearby

Over the years, and yours is the foundation.

Dozens across the fund

Yours is one line in a portfolio.

Several a year

Yours is a market entry.

Plenty of good people work at your large competitors and private equity funds (including some of our team). For some owners those are the right buyers. We're describing what the structures tend to require (from our experience), and the trade-offs and considerations with each.

Our commitment.

01

No clock

Nobody can make us sell your business on someone else's schedule, because there's no one above us to answer to.

02

No committee

The people you meet on the first call are the people who decide.

03

No gutting

We're focused on building a sustainable business for the long term, not maximizing cash flow in the short term. Your team, brand, culture, and customer relationships are the foundation we'll build from.

04

No disappearing

We'll be involved from day one as an active partner alongside you, taking what we can off your plate so you can focus on what you enjoy most.

Ask any buyer these questions before you sign.

If a buyer won't answer them plainly, in writing, that tells you what you need to know. We'll answer them on the first call.

Will you commit in writing to keeping my people at their current pay?
How long do you intend to own this business?
Who exactly will be running it?
How much debt will be on the company post-close?
Who has to approve this deal besides you?

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