Acquiring Minds Bullseye: Buying a $1m SDE Business in a Hot Industry
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Jan 9, 2025 Pete Ciaverilla, owner of Sharon's Heating and Air Conditioning in Metro Detroit, made waves by acquiring a $12M HVAC business and boosting its earnings by 50% in just three years. He discusses the challenges of transitioning the seller's family out of the business while maintaining employee morale. The conversation dives into the strategic advantages of larger acquisitions, how private equity views HVAC, and the complexities of financing—especially with minimal personal investment. Ciaverilla emphasizes leveraging buy-side advisors and navigating the unique seasonality of the HVAC sector.
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Caddying Influence
- Pete Ciaverilla's exposure to entrepreneurship came from caddying at a country club.
- Interacting with successful small business owners influenced his career path.
Industry Agnosticism
- Be industry agnostic if you're geographically focused in your search.
- Cast a wider net to uncover hidden opportunities.
Buy-Side Advisor
- Pete Ciaverilla hired a buy-side advisor, Calder Capital, to aid his search.
- Despite this, he ultimately found his acquisition through proprietary search.
