When Companies Look to Expand — or Exit
Mayer Schwartz of Swift Acquisitions
In construction and related industries, selling a business doesn’t always have a clear path. Founders retire, the next generation moves on to other things. And finding the right buyer — or the right acquisition — isn’t something most business owners are set up to handle on their own.
Mayer Schwartz kept running into both sides of that problem through Swift Staffing — owners ready to sell, and clients looking to buy. That overlap led to Swift Acquisitions.
The idea grew out of conversations the company was already having every day through staffing and recruiting. Swift was already working closely with business owners across construction, healthcare, home care, and other service industries.
About six months after launching, Swift Acquisitions had already completed its first deal and built a pipeline of 18 active listings.
The buyer network includes more than 3,500 contacts, along with hedge funds and private equity groups looking for opportunities. For smaller companies, this can mean access to buyers they might not otherwise reach on their own.
Sellers pay nothing until a transaction closes. Swift takes a commission at closing, removing the upfront risk for owners who aren’t sure whether a deal will actually come together.
Part of the demand is coming from owners preparing for retirement.
“You know, we have people who retire,” Schwartz said. “The kids don’t want to be involved in the actual companies.”
The industries vary widely — healthcare facilities, home care companies, construction businesses, and other privately owned companies. Schwartz also described industry groups built through the staffing side of the business, including one network of roughly 850 ABA agency owners.
For some buyers, acquisitions are becoming a faster way to expand than building entirely from scratch.
“One way is if I hire additional teams and employees,” Schwartz said. “Other ways are if a company acquires additional companies.”
Because the business grew out of staffing, the two sides often overlap. Schwartz described one buyer who purchased a company through Swift Acquisitions and later came to Swift Staffing for hiring support as the business expanded.
“Swift is your growth partner,” Schwartz said.
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