You Built a Sustainable Enterprise.
Let’s Secure Its Full Market Value.
No upfront retainers, no financial double-talk. Just confidential lower-middle-market M&A advisory, clear SDE valuations, and direct access to pre-vetted institutional and strategic buyers for Northern California's industrial sectors.
Stan Cortland
Principal & Managing Director
A Practical Approach to Valuing and Selling Complex Operations.
When evaluating an industrial, manufacturing, or specialty contracting firm, looking strictly at a tax return misses the real story. Traditional financial metrics don't automatically capture equipment depreciation schedules, C-20/C-36 licensing transitions, or the underlying value built into your recurring commercial maintenance accounts.
Stan Cortland spent over 37 years building, scaling, and successfully exiting operational businesses, including one of the country's largest commercial dealerships. We approach your exit from an owner’s perspective, not a spreadsheet-only view. We know how crews run, how logistics networks operate, and exactly where your company's real value lives. It's a professional partnership built entirely on operational reality.
- 37+ Years Experience
- Former Industrial CEO
- Certified Valuation Analyst
- Confidentiality Expert
Built on Shared Risk, Backed by Performance.
100% Success-Fee Based
We don't charge upfront retainers, marketing setup costs, or ongoing monthly administration fees. If we don’t bring a qualified buyer to the table and successfully close your transaction, you don't owe us a dime. Our interests are completely aligned with yours.
Defensible SDE Normalization
Your true cash flow isn't just the net profit line on your tax return. We perform exhaustive Seller’s Discretionary Earnings (SDE) adjustments, adding back owner salaries, personal benefits, and one-time capital expenses so strategic buyers see your company’s real earning power.
Strict "Blind" Confidentiality
Protect your crew, your suppliers, and your local reputation. We market your business using highly generalized "blind teasers." Your exact location, company name, and proprietary data are locked tightly in an NDA-gated digital data room, visible only to buyers who have verified their proof of funds.
Specialized M&A for the Backbone Industries of the Western US.
Eliminating generic corporate estimates. We deliver defensible valuation and institutional M&A execution for owner-operators across five core industrial sectors.
Contractor & Specialty Services
HVAC, Commercial Plumbing, Commercial Roofing, Electrical, Solar Installation, and Utility Service Fleets. Specializing in C-20, C-36, C-10, and C-39 licensed operations across Northern & Central California.
Industrial & Precision Manufacturing
5-Axis Aerospace CNC Machining, Precision Tooling, Component Fabrication, Machine Shops, and Custom Metallurgy Production.
Heavy Industrial Material Supply
Precast Concrete Fabrication, Structural Steel Assemblies, Engineered Wood Products, Architectural Metalwork, and Heavy Staging Yards.
Industrial Distribution & Wholesale
MRO Supply, Commercial Machinery Wholesalers, B2B Logistics Nodes, High-Bay Warehousing, and Specialized Industrial Components.
Construction Material Distribution
Specialty Utility Piping, Commercial Lumber Yards, Commercial HVAC Stocking, and Heavy Infrastructure Material Supply.
Active Buyer Corridors Across 6 Western States
Representing lower-middle-market founders and private equity acquirers across California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Idaho.
Own an industrial or trade business in one of these sectors?
Discover how SDE add-backs, C-license transitions, and operational multiples apply specifically to your company.
Active Listings
Explore our select portfolio of lower-middle-market businesses for sale. Execute an NDA to access full financial statements and valuation detail.
Glazing Contractor & Glass Company
Santa Clara County, CA
20+ year established residential and commercial glass company with high-margin custom shower door division. Turnkey handover due to retirement.
Specialty Residential Construction
Los Angeles County, CA
50-year turnkey patio, deck and outdoor living construction business. Stable 7-person skilled crew, exceptional self-sustaining organic referral pipeline.
Residential & Commercial HVAC
Riverside County, CA
Profitable turnkey HVAC trade business delivering ~$150k SDE. Extremely lean operations, low fixed overhead, and excellent local reputation.
Commercial Door & Frame Manufacturer
Alameda County, CA
$5.6M revenue architectural woodworking and metal door manufacturer. Union labor moat, high margins, massive plant scalability.
Synthetic Rock Technology & Formula License
Placer County, CA
$10M proprietary synthetic rock manufacturing technology, chemical formulas, and installation systems. 50-year trade heritage in luxury aquatic builds.
Digital Marketing & Brand Activation Agency
Lake County, IN (Chicago Metro)
$450k turnkey digital marketing platform & community engagement engine. $120k revenue, strong local client base, Down Payment Assist qualified.
Our 5-Step Exit Process
A disciplined roadmap from current operations to capital liquidity.
Proprietary Valuation
We map out your true asset list and normalize 3 years of financials to build a valuation range that holds up under buyer due diligence.
Anonymized Marketing
We craft a high-impact, blind Confidential Information Memorandum (CIM) that tells your story without revealing your name.
NDA-Gated Vetting
Prospective private equity groups or strategic buyers must execute binding NDAs and present verified proof of funds before seeing your data.
Negotiation & Structuring
We look past the headline price to optimize earn-outs, working capital adjustments, and owner transition periods.
Structured Escrow & Close
We coordinate with escrow, handle agency protocols, transfer specialty licenses, and guide the deal across the finish line.
Preparing for an Exit Requires Time. Let's Start the Conversation Early.
The most secure exits are planned well in advance. Let's find out exactly what your business is worth today through a no-cost, confidential evaluation with zero pressure.
Guaranteed Confidentiality
No public listings or identifying details are released without explicit written consent.
48-Hour Response
Stan personally reviews all initial inquiries within two business days.