Private equity is betting big on landscaping and blue-collar businesses. Here's why fragmented service models, recurring revenue, and AI disruption are turning these overlooked sectors into M&A goldmines.

Most founders focus on revenue growth or profit margins — but the smartest investors pay attention to Return on Invested Capital (ROIC).

ROIC measures how efficiently your business turns every dollar of capital — both your money and borrowed funds — into real after-tax profit. It’s the ultimate test of whether your company is compounding value or just burning cash in motion.

For established businesses, a ROIC north of 15% is considered strong; for acquisition entrepreneurs, 20–30%+ is the real target. High ROIC means your capital is working harder than your competitors’, which directly translates to faster wealth creation and stronger buyer demand when it’s time to sell.

At Breakwater M&A, we help entrepreneurs understand and improve ROIC before they buy or exit a business — because efficient capital turns good operators into great investors.

The EBITDA margin is one of the first numbers buyers check when reviewing your business. It strips away financing and tax effects to show true operating profitability. Learn what it means, the gold standard benchmark, and how to improve it before selling.

The current ratio is a simple way to measure whether your business can comfortably pay its bills. Buyers use it as a quick check of financial stability. Learn what it means, the gold standard benchmark, and how to improve it before selling.

The asset turnover ratio shows how efficiently your business turns assets into sales. A higher ratio signals lean operations — and that’s exactly what buyers want to see. Learn the gold standard benchmark, why it matters in M&A, and how to improve it before going to market.

Discover what a sell-side M&A advisor really does during a business sale. Learn how they guide owners through valuation, marketing, negotiations, and closing, ensuring a smooth, successful transaction while maximizing value. Perfect for first-time sellers with $2M–$20M in revenue.

Most startups fail—so why not buy one that already works? In this video, Morgan from Breakwater M&A explains why buying an existing business may be the faster, more strategic path to entrepreneurship.

At Breakwater M&A, we use a confidential, strategic process to market your business and attract the right buyers. In this video, Morgan explains how we find financial, strategic, and entrepreneurial buyers—and how we maximize value while protecting your privacy.

A Letter of Intent (LOI) sets the tone for a successful deal. In this video, Morgan from Breakwater M&A explains how to structure an LOI that outlines key terms, protects both parties, and increases the chances of getting your offer accepted.

Seller financing is a common deal structure used to bridge the financing gap in business acquisitions. In this video, Morgan from Breakwater M&A explains how seller financing works, what typical terms look like, and how both buyers and sellers can benefit—when it’s used correctly.

When buyers and sellers can’t agree on a business’s value, an earn-out can help bridge the gap. In this short video, Morgan from Breakwater M&A explains how earn-outs work, why they’re used in M&A deals, and how to structure them fairly. Learn how tying part of the purchase price to future performance can protect buyers and give sellers upside—when done right.