Why I’m Looking at Boring Businesses

I’ve spent my career building businesses online, and lately the businesses I can’t stop thinking about are the ones you drive past every day here in Minnesota. The heating and cooling company with a fleet of trucks, the landscaping crew that’s been mowing the same neighborhoods for twenty years and the family-run service shop with customers who wouldn’t dream of going anywhere else.

They’re not flashy and they’ll never go viral, and that’s exactly why I love them.

The Biggest Handoff Minnesota Has Ever Seen

According to a report from the Center for Rural Policy and Development, 53% of Minnesota business owners are over 55, and more than 52,000 businesses are expected to change hands or close in the next five to ten years. Together those businesses employ roughly 600,000 people and bring in about $124 billion in revenue.

Here’s the part that keeps me up at night. Only 19% of owners in that research were working on a written succession or exit plan, and most owners have 80% to 90% of their wealth tied up in their business. Nationally, McKinsey projects about six million small business ownership changes by 2035. That’s a lot of life’s work that deserves a thoughtful next chapter.

Why Boring Is Beautiful to Me

Established local businesses already have the hardest things to build, which are steady demand, loyal customers and a real team. What many of them are missing is modern marketing and systems. I see websites that haven’t changed in a decade, quote requests that never get a follow-up call and schedules that live in one person’s head.

That gap is where I can help the most. I’ve generated more than $7M in revenue and personally managed more than $2M in ad spend, and I build the follow-up, reporting and AI systems that let a business grow without everything running through the owner.

The best businesses to grow are the ones that already work and simply haven’t been marketed to their full potential.

What I’m Looking For

• Based in Minnesota. I want to be close to the businesses I partner with and the communities they serve.
• About $500K to $3M in yearly revenue. Big enough to have a real team and steady customers, and small enough that better marketing and systems make a big difference.
• A proven track record. Ideally at least five years in business with consistent profit.
• A team that does the work. Businesses where skilled employees serve customers every day, with an owner who’s ready to step back from the daily grind.
• Lots of happy customers. Revenue spread across many customers is healthier than one big account.
• Everyday essential services. Home services, trades, local business services and route-based companies are especially interesting to me.

What I Bring Beyond the Purchase

Selling a business you built is deeply personal, and I take that seriously. My goal is to honor what you created, keep great teams together and protect the reputation you’ve earned in your community. From there, I bring the marketing, advertising and AI systems that help a strong business reach more of the customers who need it, along with great managers to run the day-to-day.

If You’re Thinking About Stepping Back

That same Minnesota research found that only about 30% of business sales close on the first attempt, and owners worry a lot about confidentiality and how employees and customers will react. I understand that completely, so every conversation with me is private and comes with zero pressure.

Whether you’re ready now or just starting to think about the next few years, I’d love to hear your story. Brokers and advisors working with Minnesota owners are welcome to reach out too.