Brent Looney

Our Story

A family looking for the right business to call our own.

My wife Livia and I live in San Francisco with our two boys, Lucas and Teo — BLLT, if you line up our initials. This isn't a portfolio play or a side project. We're looking for one business to own and run together, long-term. Show up five days a week, learn the operation, be present in the community it serves.

Before this search, I spent a decade at SmartBiz Bank — eventually as COO. We were the largest SBA lending marketplace in the country. I ran a team of 80 across sales, origination, and marketing and helped put more than $2 billion in loans in front of small business owners. That job gave me a close-up view of what running a small business actually looks like — the good parts and the hard ones. I watched a lot of transitions over those years. Some went well. Some didn't. I have a pretty clear sense of why.

Now I want to be on the other side of that table.

"We're not looking for something to flip in five years. We want to own a business, run it well, and take care of the people in it."

Livia and I are excited to come see your business, meet your team, and figure out whether there's a real fit. If there is, we want the people who built it to feel good about where it's headed — employees still there, customers still well-served, and you able to step back knowing it's in good hands.

On price — we want to pay something fair. Not the lowest number we can get away with. We want you to feel like you got a real deal, because that's the right way to start.

What we are not

We're not private equity. We're not a search fund. This isn't something we're going to sell in a few years. We're looking for a business to own and run — full stop. The goal is for your employees to still be there in ten years, your name to still be on the truck, and the business to be in better shape than when we found it.

Acquisition Criteria

What we're looking for.

Geography

San Francisco, Marin, Napa, Sonoma, Alameda, San Mateo, and Contra Costa counties. We're Bay Area natives and want to be close to the business we're running.

Business Size

$2M – $15M in annual revenue, depending on the industry. We're flexible — what matters most is a healthy operation with room to grow.

Business Profile

10+ years in operation. An established position in the local market. A team that plans to stay. A business with enough structure that it doesn't live entirely in the owner's head.

Industries — hover to see examples

Trades & Construction Services +
Examples include
- Garage door service & installation
- Fencing & gates
- Painting (interior & exterior)
- Flooring & tile
- Roofing
- Concrete & masonry
- Waterproofing & restoration
- Specialty subcontractors
Essential Field Services +
Examples include
- HVAC (heating, ventilation & air conditioning)
- Plumbing
- Electrical
- Pool service, repair & construction
- Pest control
- Fire suppression & safety systems
- Generator service & maintenance
- Elevator maintenance
Landscaping & Grounds Maintenance +
Examples include
- Commercial landscaping
- Residential landscaping
- Irrigation installation & repair
- Tree service & arborists
- Lawn care & maintenance contracts
- Grounds management
B2B Service & Maintenance Contracts +
Examples include
- Commercial cleaning & janitorial
- Security systems & monitoring
- Equipment maintenance & calibration
- Copier & office equipment service
- Window cleaning & building services
- Uniform & linen supply
Distribution & Route-Based Services +
Examples include
- Specialty food & beverage distribution
- Building supply distribution
- Vending machine routes
- Direct store delivery
- Wholesale distribution with recurring customers
Light Manufacturing & Specialty Fabrication +
Examples include
- Metal fabrication & welding
- Cabinet & millwork
- Signage & graphics
- Specialty coatings & finishing
- Custom manufacturing
- Equipment repair & rebuilding

Don't see your industry listed? Reach out anyway — the list above isn't exhaustive.

The Owner We're Looking to Meet

Someone who has built something real and is starting to think about what comes next. Someone who cares about their employees and wants to know they'll be looked after. Someone who wants their business to keep going — not just be sold.

We're familiar with CSLB licensure and comfortable navigating RMO and RME transition structures.

The Process

What to expect, step by step.

We've tried to keep this straightforward. Here's what working with us looks like from first conversation to when you hand over the keys — and what happens after that.

Phase 1 — Getting Acquainted

Introduction

An informal conversation — coffee, a call, whatever works. No commitment from either side, and everything we talk about stays between us.

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Learn Your Business

You walk us through how it works — the operation, the team, what goes into the day-to-day, and what your vision for it has been. We listen more than we talk.

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NDA + Preliminary Financials

If it feels like there's a fit, we sign a mutual NDA and you share high-level financial information — enough for us to put together a real offer.

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Phase 2 — The Deal

Letter of Intent

We put our offer in writing. If it works for you, this kicks off formal due diligence. We typically get from NDA to LOI within two or three weeks of receiving financials.

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Due Diligence

60–90 days to really get to know the business. We go deep on financials, operations, employees, licensing, and everything it takes to run and grow it well. We're building our operating plan alongside you during this phase.

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Closing

About 90 days after the LOI, we close. Our attorney, Mark Dittrich of Groundswell Law, handles the transaction from first term sheet through the finish line.

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Phase 3 — The Transition

Active Ownership

We're in the business full-time from day one — learning, managing, working alongside you through the handoff. Plan on 60–90 days of full-time overlap before we're fully up to speed.

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Ongoing Partnership

You step back — free to retire, but available as an advisor when we need you. The goal is a handoff that's smooth enough that your customers and employees barely feel it.

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How We Work

Direct, honest, and built for continuity.

Straight talk from the start

We'll tell you what we think the business is worth and how we got there. If something doesn't add up in the numbers, we'll say so. If there's no fit, we'll tell you quickly and not waste your time.

A fair price — not a lowball

We want to pay a number that reflects what you've actually built. We're not going to come in low and hope to grind you down in negotiation. That's not how we want to start a relationship.

Serious, ready capital

We're putting in $500,000 to $1,000,000 of our own money, depending on the deal. The rest comes from bank financing and sometimes seller participation. We have what we need and aren't waiting on anyone's approval to move.

One decision-maker

There's no committee, no fund to report back to. You deal with me. When we say we're ready to move, we mean it.

A team already in place

Our transaction attorney, Mark Dittrich of Groundswell Law, specializes in small business acquisitions and has been through this many times. We're not figuring it out as we go.

Continuity — full stop

Your trucks keep driving. Your team stays. Your name stays. We're not coming in to shake things up. We're coming in to run what you've built — carefully.

"Long-term owner-operators. We show up, we do the work, and we take care of the people who built this alongside you."

Common Questions

Things sellers often ask us.

What happens to my employees? +

They stay. The team is the business — we're not buying assets, we're buying what you've built. One of the first things we focus on is making sure your people feel secure during the change. That's not something we treat as a footnote.

Will you change the name or brand? +

No. Your name took years to earn. We're not going to swap it out for ours.

Is this conversation confidential? +

Yes. We don't share that anyone is exploring a sale — before or after an NDA is signed. If your employees or customers were to find out you're talking to buyers, it won't be through us.

How long does the whole process take? +

From first conversation to closing is typically four to six months. Due diligence runs 60 to 90 days, and we target closing about 90 days after the LOI. We move at whatever pace makes sense for you — if you need more time to feel comfortable, we'll take it.

Do you require seller financing? +

Not always — but we're open to it. A seller note can work well for both sides, and when it makes sense we'll explain our thinking clearly. We're not going to try to push financing on you as a way to underpay.

What if I'm not sure I'm ready to sell yet? +

That's actually the best time to reach out. Early conversations don't commit either of us to anything. A lot of good deals start as a casual conversation well before anyone's ready to move. If you're just thinking about what comes next, that's reason enough to talk.

How do you determine what a business is worth? +

We look at earnings, revenue trends, your position in the market, the strength of customer relationships, how dependent the business is on you personally, and comps in your industry. We share our thinking — not just the number — so you understand how we got there.

Are you open to off-market conversations — before anything is listed? +

Yes — and we prefer it. Some of the best situations start before a business ever hits a listing site. No brokers, no clock running, no pressure. Just a conversation.

A family looking for the right business to call our own.

What we're looking for.

What to expect, step by step.

Direct, honest, and built for continuity.

Things sellers often ask us.

Let's start a conversation.