For business owners

You have built something
worth protecting

The question of what comes next deserves more than a financial transaction.

For some owners, the challenge is not simply finding a buyer. It is finding the right kind of owner. The wrong outcome can leave a business over-financialized, culturally disrupted, or treated as a short-term asset rather than a long-term institution.

The alternatives

Why most exits disappoint

“Most businesses in this revenue range never find a buyer at all.”

The succession gap

Businesses without a clear successor often close, destroying value and legacy in the process. Poor planning, misaligned expectations, and a shortage of credible long-term buyers are the most common reasons.

“A sale to a competitor protects the price, not the business.”

Strategic buyers absorb

Sales to industry competitors frequently lead to layoffs, rebrandings, and the erosion of what made the business distinctive. The culture that took decades to build can be gone within months.

“Most financial buyers are structured around a finite hold period.”

Financial buyers exit

That model works well in many situations. But it is not designed for every owner or every business. If your priority is continuity, careful transition, and a long-term home for what you have built, the right successor may look quite different from a typical financial buyer.

We do none of these things. We hold for the long term, operate independently, and invest in what we own.

The process

How a deal with Accendev works

There is no template. Every transaction is different. But the sequence is usually this.

A confidential conversation

We begin with a private discussion about your goals, your timeline, and what you care about most. No preparation is required. We can sign an NDA before any details are shared, and there is no obligation at any stage.

Mutual exploration

If there is potential fit, we spend time understanding the business: its clients, its people, its financials, and what you want the next chapter to look like. We move at your pace.

Structuring a deal that works for you

We tailor the transaction to your situation, building terms around your goals, your timeline, and what a good outcome looks like for you and your business. There is no standard template.

Transition and long-term stewardship

Once complete, we spend meaningful time in the business before any leadership transition. Your team is retained. Your name stays on the door. We hold for the long term, not as a step toward an exit, but as the goal in itself.

Acquisition criteria

What we look for

We are selective. Here is what a strong fit looks like.

Company characteristics
  • Revenue of $2M to $25M
  • EBITDA of $500K or more
  • Five or more employees with established operations
  • Mission-critical client relationships (government, institutional, or industrial)
  • Recurring or contractual revenue
Sector focus
  • Defence, security, and technical services
  • Dual-use technology with mission-critical applications
  • Adjacent sectors where client criticality is high
What we value in a seller
  • A founder thinking carefully about what comes next for their business and their people
  • Someone who wants a long-term owner, not a financial buyer
Geography
  • Canada-based businesses (primary)
  • Other geographies evaluated on a case-by-case basis
Investment structure
  • Majority ownership preferred, with management retained as a meaningful co-owner
  • Minority ownership possible in select situations

We care more about genuine fit than any individual threshold. Not every business is the right fit for Accendev, and not every owner wants the same kind of successor. The goal of a first conversation is simply to understand whether there is real alignment.

Common questions

Things owners often ask

Do I have to be ready to sell right now?
Not at all. Many of our most productive conversations happen months or years before a transaction. There is no timeline pressure from our side. We are interested in building a relationship and understanding your business well before any decision is made.
Will you rebrand or restructure the business?
Our model is built on independent operations. Your business keeps its name, its brand, and its operating identity. We are not in the business of stripping out what made the company valuable. That is exactly what we are paying to preserve.
What happens to my team?
Retaining the team is a condition of our model, not a courtesy. The people who built the business are the business. We invest in developing leadership and, over time, may work with you to identify or develop a capable general manager. We do not arrive with a plan to reduce headcount.
Can I stay involved after the sale?
Yes, if that is what you want. Some founders prefer a clean break. Others want to remain in an advisory or part-time role for a defined period. We structure transitions around what works for the person selling and the business, not around a template.
Is minority ownership an option?
Yes, in select situations. We prefer majority ownership with management retained as a meaningful co-owner, but we understand that every situation is different. If a full sale is not right for you yet, it is worth a conversation to understand what structure might work.
Is this conversation confidential?
Completely. All conversations are treated with full discretion. We can execute a mutual non-disclosure agreement before any substantive information is shared. We do not publicize deals, discussions, or the identity of anyone who has contacted us without explicit permission.

The first step is a conversation

No preparation required. No obligation. Complete discretion.