Search Fund HVAC Consolidation in the Midwest
The Challenge
A funded searcher was pursuing a buy-and-build strategy in residential and light commercial HVAC services across the upper Midwest. The fragmented nature of the trades sector meant thousands of potential targets, but most lacked any digital footprint beyond a basic website. The searcher needed to quickly identify owner-operated businesses with $1M–$5M in revenue, strong service contract bases, and founders approaching retirement — all with a lean two-person team.
Our Solution
Banker Buddy built a custom target universe of HVAC businesses across six Midwestern states, enriched with estimated revenue bands, employee counts, years in operation, and owner age proxies. We applied proprietary filters for service mix (install vs. maintenance-heavy), licensing status, and Google review sentiment as a proxy for reputation quality. The result was a ranked outreach list with verified contact details and suggested talking points for each owner.
Results
- ✓Mapped 1,800+ HVAC businesses across 6 states
- ✓Delivered a shortlist of 220 high-fit targets within 3 weeks
- ✓Searcher closed initial platform acquisition within 5 months
- ✓Completed 3 tuck-in acquisitions in the following 9 months
- ✓Combined platform reached $14M in run-rate revenue
“As a solo searcher, I don't have a team of analysts. Banker Buddy essentially became my deal sourcing department — I went from cold-calling random HVAC companies to having warm, prioritized conversations with owners who fit my exact criteria.”
Founder & CEO, Search Fund — HVAC Platform
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