Investment criteria
What we look for in a business.
A clear picture of the businesses we are looking to acquire or invest in, so you can judge the fit before we speak.
Could your business be a fit?
The starting points are the work you do, the customers who return, the team around you and your plans as an owner. Black Tier does not currently publish a minimum turnover or profit threshold.
Questions to ask yourself
- What proportion of work comes from repeat clients?
- Who carries responsibility beyond the owner?
- What would you like the next stage to change?
The criteria at a glance.
- Sectors
- Construction and building servicesContractors and the specialist businesses that fit out, maintain and look after buildings.
- Location
- In and around LondonAn initial focus that lets us stay close to the businesses we own.
- Ownership
- Owner-managed businessesTypically founder- or family-owned, where the owner is thinking about the next stage.
- Owner situations
- Succession, gradual exit or growth investmentA full sale, a staged handover, or investment while you carry on running the business.
The businesses that suit us best tend to have…
- 01
A trading history
An established business with a track record of delivering work and getting paid for it.
- 02
Repeat or recurring clients
Relationships that bring work back, rather than a pipeline that starts from zero each year.
- 03
A team beyond the owner
People who already carry part of the day-to-day, even if the owner remains central.
- 04
Room to improve
Systems, processes or reporting that could be stronger — this is where we can help most.
Full sale, phased transition or investment.
Owners often ask how the three routes differ. This is a starting point for the conversation, not a set of terms: which route suits depends on the business and on what you want.
| Aspect | Full sale | Phased transition | Investment |
|---|---|---|---|
| What changes | Ownership passes to the group in one step. | Ownership and responsibility move across in agreed stages. | The group invests alongside you; the shape of any stake is agreed case by case. |
| Your role | A handover period can be discussed if you would like to stay on for a while. | A role that narrows over time, towards an end point agreed in advance. | You carry on leading the business, with practical support from the group. |
| Often suits owners who | Are planning to retire or move on, and want continuity for clients and the team. | Want to step back without a cliff edge, while a management layer is built. | Intend to stay and want a partner and capital behind the next stage. |
| The first conversation covers | Timing, continuity for clients and the team, and your involvement after completion. | The stages, who carries the day-to-day, and what “done” looks like for you. | What the investment is for, your role, and where the group could help. |
| Read more | Succession & retirement | A gradual exit | Investment to grow |
On the criteria
Do you publish a minimum business size?
Not at this stage. Rather than set an arbitrary threshold, we would prefer to have a short conversation and tell you honestly whether the business fits.
What if my business is outside London?
Our initial focus is in and around London. If you are further afield it is still worth a conversation — we will tell you plainly whether the location works.
Think your business might fit?
Tell us a little about your business and what you are considering. There is no obligation, and nothing moves forward without your agreement.