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Stop Trying to Look Like Private Equity

Stop Trying to Look Like Private Equity

Be yourself when buying a business

Jack Carr
June 01, 2026

Welcome to the JackQuisitions newsletter,

The buyers winning acquisition deals right now aren’t pretending to be PE firms. Instead, they’re taking steps to show that they’re credible operators with operational experience and a clear path forward.

I recently sat down with SBA lender Alan Peterson to unpack what this entails.

Ready For Your Next Acquisition?

Check out these acquisition opportunities that caught my eye this week:

Oklahoma HVAC business with $1.4M cash flow, recurring service revenue, and a trained team already in place.
Fast-growing Colorado cleaning and hospitality business with $260K EBITDA, recurring STR revenue, and minimal owner involvement.
49-year landscaping company with recurring HOA contracts, loyal customers, and strong growth potential through sales and marketing expansion.

Fill Slow Weeks Without Adding Overhead

One of the biggest missed opportunities in the trades is letting your schedule slow down simply because nobody is proactively working the phones.

That’s exactly what QuickStaffers helped Guardian Pest Services fix.

By adding a part-time outbound caller focused on follow-ups, past customers, and seasonal promotions, Guardian kept technicians busy during slower months without adding major overhead.

In just 3 months, they saw:

37% increase in booked appointments during off-peak seasons
$12K/month revenue boost from fuller technician schedules
More upsells and premium service upgrades from proactive outreach

Instead of letting techs go home early, they kept the board full with consistent outbound follow-up.

If your schedule slows down between busy seasons, QuickStaffers can help you stay ahead of it.

The Fastest Way to Lose Credibility in a Deal

One of the biggest mistakes I see from first-time buyers is trying too hard to look institutional.

You see it all the time:

A brand new holdco website. Aggressive “$1 billion roll-up strategy” language. A fake PE-style name.

The problem is sellers, brokers, and banks can see right through it.

The buyers actually winning deals right now are the ones presenting themselves as credible operators. They look like people who can step into a business, lead a team, solve problems, and continue what the owner built.

That matters more than ever in today’s market.

A lot of sellers are emotionally attached to their companies. They spent decades building relationships with employees and customers. They don’t want to hand the keys to somebody pretending to be private equity after listening to a few podcasts.

They want confidence.
They want authenticity.
They want to believe the business is going to be taken care of.

That’s why preparation matters long before the LOI stage.

The serious buyers show up with:

A bank prequalification letter
A clear acquisition strategy
A polished resume or management summary
Real operational experience they can speak to confidently

And just as important, they communicate all of that clearly online.

The first thing most brokers and sellers do now is Google you.

They look at your LinkedIn.

They check your website.

They try to figure out whether you’re serious or just another tire kicker.

If your background is in operations, talk about operations.

If you’ve managed teams, budgets, P&Ls, or projects, make that obvious.

Too many buyers undersell themselves because they fail to communicate their actual experience.

You don’t need to pretend you’re private equity.

You need to prove you can operate.

That’s what closes deals.

Tell Me What You’re Thinking

Be a real operator, communicate your actual experience clearly, and build trust through authenticity instead of trying to look like private equity. That’s the winning strategy.

Happy hunting,

Jack

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