The right transaction starts with the right decision.
Whether you're ready to sell, want liquidity without a full exit, are planning 1–3 years out, or are looking to acquire, we help Southeast owners in the $10-$100MM range understand their options, then execute when the time is right. If you're here to sell, that gets our full attention — not a shared calendar with buy-side clients.
Four ways owners usually start this conversation.
You don't have to know which service you need. You just need to recognize your own situation.
"I'm ready to sell."
You want a real, competitive process, not a listing. That's our full-time focus.
"I want liquidity, not necessarily a full exit."
A recapitalization or minority investment can free up value while you stay involved.
"I'm 1–3 years out and want to prepare."
You want to know what to fix now, before a single buyer conversation happens.
"I'm looking to acquire, not sell."
You want an operator's eye on red flags, not just a deal originator.
Let's start the conversation.
If you're exploring a sale, planning for succession, or evaluating your options, we're here to help you think through it, privately and professionally.
How we work with you, and when we won't.
Sell-side advisory gets our full attention; the others support it. Fees across all four are primarily success-based — and if you're not in our range, we'll say so plainly instead of taking the meeting anyway.
Sell-Side Advisory
A 6–12 month competitive process built to drive multiple, not just offers.
We specialize in helping lower middle market business owners successfully sell their companies. Our team prepares each business for market, identifies qualified buyers, including strategic acquirers and private equity firms, and manages every step with discretion. We focus on maximizing value while ensuring the process respects the owner's legacy and long-term goals.
Our approach starts before a single buyer conversation happens: normalizing your financials, building the story buyers actually pay for, and identifying what would compress your multiple if left unaddressed. We run a competitive process against a real, curated buyer list, not a mass mailing, because competition is what drives outcomes, not volume.
Buy-Side Advisory
Operator-led acquisition support — we know which red flags actually matter.
We guide lower middle market companies and investors through acquisitions that add capacity, customers, or capability, drawing on our own experience as operators to know which red flags actually matter. We never represent both sides of the same transaction — sell-side clients stay our first priority.
Recapitalization & Strategic Investment
Take meaningful liquidity off the table without walking away.
Selling your company doesn't have to mean selling all of it. A recapitalization or minority investment from a private equity partner can let you take chips off the table while retaining an ownership stake and staying involved in what comes next. We help you evaluate whether that structure makes sense, what it means for control, and what it sets up for an eventual full exit.
We focus on companies generating $10-$100MM in revenue. That isn't an arbitrary cutoff — at this size, transaction structure, buyer competition, and diligence depth materially change the outcome. If your business is outside that range, we'll tell you directly, and point you to a better fit, rather than take a meeting we both know won't go anywhere.
Not ready to sell? That's exactly when planning matters.
We work with owners 12 to 36 months before a transaction to identify what would move value or jeopardize a deal, long before a buyer ever sees the business. Some of our best client relationships never end in a transaction at all — they end in an owner deciding, with real information, that now isn't the right time. That's a good outcome too.
Where the value is
We identify what's actually moving your multiple, whether that's margin, customer concentration, recurring revenue, or working capital discipline, and what order to address it in.
What a buyer would flag
Owner dependency, management depth, customer concentration, and financial reporting are the issues that surface in diligence. We'd rather find them now, on your timeline, than have a buyer find them on theirs.
What the process actually looks like
Most owners have never been through a sale. We walk through what a transaction really involves, what happens after closing, and how much liquidity is actually enough.
What your real options are
A full sale isn't the only path. We help you weigh a full exit, a partial sale, a recapitalization, or internal succession, individually or in combination.
Not sure where you fall? Take the readiness assessment →
Advice from people who have been on the other side of the table.
Blackland's perspective comes from more than banking transactions. Fourteen years in global banking and alternative investments, and thirteen years personally owning and operating logistics, warehousing, and distribution businesses, making payroll, managing working capital, and living with the consequences of our own operating decisions. That experience changes the questions we ask during a transaction.
Frequently asked questions.
Many of our clients are second- and third-generation owners who have never been through a sale process before. Here are some basic answers; for more, visit our Blog or reach out directly.
I've never sold a business before, where do I start?
Most of our clients are first-time sellers. We begin with a confidential conversation to understand your goals, timeline, and concerns. From there, we guide you through each step of the process in a clear, practical way, without jargon or pressure.
What is my business worth?
Value depends on earnings, growth profile, industry dynamics, and risk factors such as customer concentration or owner dependency. We help you understand how buyers will evaluate your business, and how to position it to maximize value.
How long does it take to sell a business?
Most transactions take between 6 and 12 months from initial preparation to closing. Timing depends on readiness, buyer interest, and complexity. Our role is to keep the process moving while maintaining discretion.
Will my employees or customers find out I'm selling?
No. We run a highly confidential process. Buyers are carefully vetted and required to sign non-disclosure agreements before receiving any sensitive information.
Do I need to have perfect financials before starting?
Not at all. Most businesses need some level of preparation. We help identify gaps, normalize financials, and present your business in a way that builds buyer confidence.
What if I'm not ready to sell yet?
That's often the best time to start a conversation. Preparing 12–36 months in advance can significantly improve your outcome. We'll give you straightforward feedback on timing and next steps.
What types of buyers will you approach?
Depending on your goals, we engage strategic buyers, private equity firms, family offices, and qualified individual buyers. We tailor the process to achieve the best combination of value, fit, and certainty.
How are you different from a business broker?
We focus on strategy, structure, and execution, not just marketing a listing. With experience in global banking and as business owners ourselves, we manage complexity, anticipate issues, and negotiate from a position of strength. See the full comparison →
How do you get paid?
Our fees are primarily success-based, meaning we're compensated when a transaction closes. In some cases, we charge a modest upfront fee for preparation work. We're transparent about all fees from the outset. See the full fee structure →
What happens after the deal closes?
We remain available to support the transition, including thinking through communication with employees, customers, and vendors, as well as helping you navigate what comes next.
Can I take liquidity off the table without giving up the whole company?
Yes. A recapitalization or minority investment lets you take meaningful liquidity off the table while retaining an ownership stake and staying involved. We help you evaluate whether that structure makes sense for your situation and what it means for control.
Does the highest offer always make the best deal?
No. We've seen higher offers fall apart over a financing gap, or a buyer gut the management team within a year of closing. We screen every buyer on financial capacity, strategic fit, management and employee continuity, and closing discipline before they ever get in front of you, not just price.
What if my children aren't interested in taking over the business?
That's one of the most common situations we see, and it doesn't mean a sale is your only path. We help families weigh internal succession, a strategic sale, private equity, recapitalization, and partial liquidity, individually or in combination.