A steady hand for the next stage
Thinking about selling your business? Let's talk.
You've spent years building something. Anchorcairn Group helps owners of established businesses move from hands-on ownership into retirement, on a timeline that works for you, with your name, your people, and your legacy kept intact.
We acquire businesses and the commercial real estate they operate from. We're long-term owners, not flippers. Every conversation is confidential, and there's never any pressure.
About us
Built to help owners hand off what they've built, the right way.
A cairn is a stack of stones that marks the trail for whoever comes next. That's how we think about ownership transitions. You've laid the foundation. Our job is to make sure the path forward is clear for you, your family, and the people who work for you.
Anchorcairn Group is an operator-led company. We acquire established businesses, and the commercial property they operate from, and we run them for the long term. Our team comes from hands-on field work, including deep experience in construction, so we understand crews, customers, schedules, and what it really takes to keep a business going.
Currently looking for deals in: South Dakota, North Dakota, Colorado, Arizona, Iowa, Minnesota, Wyoming, Montana, and Utah.
A steady hand
We step in carefully and keep what's working: your name, your team, and the way you take care of customers.
Long-term owners
We buy to keep and grow. There's no plan to flip your company or break it apart.
Straight talk
Clear answers, honest feedback, and no surprises, from the first call through closing and beyond.
How we help
Your transition, your terms.
Every owner's situation is different. We'll work out a plan around what matters most to you. Here are some of the ways we can structure it.
Step back at your own pace
Stay on part-time for a period after the sale if you'd like, to introduce us to customers and help your team through the change. Or make a clean break.
Options for your real estate
Own the building or land your business runs from? You can sell it to us along with the business, or keep it and lease it back to us for ongoing income.
Flexible deal structure
We'll talk through timing, payment structure, and your role so the deal fits your goals for retirement and your family.
Your people and your name
Your employees and your reputation are why the business is worth buying. Our approach is to keep both.
What we look for
Established businesses with good people and a reputation worth keeping.
Businesses
Established, owner-led service businesses, including construction and the trades (general contractors, electrical, mechanical/HVAC, plumbing, concrete, roofing), and other essential local service companies.
Real estate
Commercial property, including the buildings, shops, and yards that businesses operate from. We can buy the real estate with the business, or separately.
Location
We're currently looking for deals in SD, ND, CO, AZ, IA, MN, WY, MT, and UT. Good businesses and properties just outside those states are still worth a conversation.
It could be a good fit if:
- You're thinking about retirement or stepping back in the next few years
- You don't have a family member or key employee lined up to take over
- You care what happens to your employees and customers after you leave
- You own the property your business runs from and want options for it
How it works
A straightforward process, one step at a time.
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1
Have a conversation
A no-obligation call or visit. You tell us about your business, your property, and what you want for yourself, your family, and your people.
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2
Share the basics, confidentially
If it makes sense to keep going, we sign an NDA and you share some financial and operating information so we can understand the business.
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3
Agree on terms
We put together a written offer, typically a letter of intent, covering price, structure, real estate, timing, and your role during the transition.
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4
Due diligence and closing
Our advisors and yours work through the details, and we close on a schedule that works for you.
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5
A smooth hand-off
We work alongside you, part-time if you choose, so customers, employees, and suppliers have continuity and confidence in what's next.
Common questions
Questions owners usually ask.
Will this stay confidential?
Yes. Reaching out doesn't commit you to anything, and we won't contact your employees, customers, or vendors without your permission. Before you share anything sensitive, we're happy to sign a non-disclosure agreement.
How long does a sale usually take?
It depends on the business and how quickly information can be pulled together. A sale typically takes several months from first conversation to closing. If you're thinking a few years out, it's still worth talking now, because starting early gives you more options.
How do you decide what my business is worth?
We look at things like earnings history, customer base, equipment, any real estate involved, and how much the business depends on you personally. We'll walk you through how we arrived at any offer, and we encourage you to have your own accountant or advisor review it.
Can I stay involved after the sale?
Yes, if you'd like. Many owners stay on part-time for a while to introduce us to key customers and help employees through the change. How long, and how involved you are, is something we agree on together. If you'd rather make a clean break, that's fine too.
What about the building or land my business is on?
You have options. We can buy the real estate along with the business, or you can keep it and lease it to us, which can provide steady income in retirement. We'll talk through what makes the most sense for you and your family.
What happens to my employees and my company name?
Our intention is to keep both. We buy businesses to own and run them long term, and the people who know the work and the customers, along with the name they trust, are a big part of why a business is worth buying.
Are you a broker or private equity fund?
No. We're not brokers, and we're not a fund looking to resell your company in a few years. We're operators who acquire businesses and property to own for the long term.
I'm not ready yet. Should I still reach out?
Yes. Plenty of good conversations start years before a sale. There's no pressure, and talking early can help you figure out what a transition might look like.
Get in touch
Let's have a confidential conversation.
Send a note, call, or email. Whether you're ready now or just starting to think about what's next, we'd like to hear about your business.
- Email: deals@anchorcairn.com
- Phone: 605.709.4149
- Currently looking for deals in: SD, ND, CO, AZ, IA, MN, WY, MT, and UT
Everything you share stays confidential.