I take over. You step back. Your legacy continues.

Step back from your business without letting it go.

I take over marketing, sales, and growth. You keep a steady monthly income, an ownership stake, and a name that keeps growing.

Jon Hyatt
Jon HyattStrategic Growth Partner · Owner, SI Associates
eXp REO Certified
5xUnits managed at SI, 40 to 200
4.7xEstimated business value
10 yearsStructured monthly exit
MajorityOwnership the owner kept
The challenge

The question every owner faces

You have spent years building a business with real customers and a good name. Now you are thinking about stepping back, and there is no obvious next owner.

No successor

No family member or key employee is lined up to take over.

Growth stops with you

When you stop working, the business stops growing and the income stops.

The lump-sum trap

A lump-sum sale can mean a big tax bill and a buyer who does not care what you built.

Your terms

You want to step back on your terms, not walk away from your life's work.

The answer. I take over marketing, sales, and growth. You step back, keep a steady income, and your name stays on something that keeps growing.
Proof

Case study: SI Associates

SI Associates is a Bangor property management company. Its owner wanted out but had no exit plan, and the business ran on him and on paper. I stepped in to run operations and growth.

5xUnits managed40 to 200
4.7xBusiness valueAbout $75K to $350K+
TeamStaffing0 employees to a professional team
DigitalSystemsPaper to AppFolio

Units managed, 2019 to 2025

402019
552020
822021
1152022
1482023
1752024
2002025
BeforeAfter
Units managed40About 200
Estimated valueAbout $75,000$350,000+
OperationsOwner did everythingProfessional team
SystemsPaperDigital (AppFolio)
Exit planNone10-year structured exit
The structure

How the SI deal was structured

No lump sum. No handing over the keys. A partnership built on growth.

No lump-sum buyout

A 10-year monthly consulting arrangement gives the owner steady retirement income and spreads it out over time.

Equity earned, not handed over

I earned 25% to 35% equity, tied to growth milestones.

Owner keeps the majority

The owner retained majority ownership and receives income from it.

Optional advisor role

The owner can stay connected as an advisor or step away completely.

Legacy protected

The business, its name, and its clients stayed intact and kept growing.

Downtown Bangor, Maine
Built in Bangor.Photo: Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What's next

SI's cleaning division

SI Associates is launching a residential cleaning division, and I want to build it with people who already know the work. If you own a local cleaning company and are thinking about retirement, I would like to talk about partnering with you or acquiring your business, using the same model that worked for SI.

What you get

  • Steady monthly income instead of one taxable lump sum
  • You keep an ownership stake in the business you built
  • Your crew, clients, and name stay in good hands
  • Step back gradually, or step away completely
  • Room to stay on as an advisor if you want to

What I bring

  • Built-in demand: SI Associates manages about 200 units, and every move-out and turnover needs cleaning
  • A real estate network of agents, landlords, and property managers who need reliable cleaners
  • Marketing systems and lead generation that run without you
  • NEPQ sales training for consistent, low-pressure selling
  • Experience moving a paper business to digital systems
  • A track record: SI grew 5x in units under this model

The same approach fits other businesses that serve homeowners, landlords, and agents: trades, maintenance, and home services that plug into a real estate ecosystem.

Two paths

How a deal works

Choose the path that fits where you are.

Succession partnershipFractional partnership
Best forOwners ready to retire in the next few yearsOwners who want to grow, not leave
Who runs growthI take over marketing, sales, and growthI run growth, you run operations
How you're paidMonthly payments over 10 yearsYour business grows; you keep the profits
EquityI earn a minority stake on milestones; you keep the majorityI earn a minority stake tied to revenue milestones
Your roleAdvisor, or step awayYou stay in charge day to day

Every business is different, so the final terms come from your numbers and your goals. Your attorney and CPA should review any structure we agree on.

Strategic partnership deckSee the fractional partnership model
→
The process

Your timeline

Five steps, at your pace.

1
Step 1

A confidential conversation

We talk about your business, your timeline, and what you want for yourself and your people.

2
Step 2

Look under the hood

We review the numbers, the customers, and how the work gets done today.

3
Step 3

Agree on a structure

Payments, equity milestones, and your role, put in writing and reviewed by your advisors.

4
Step 4

Transition

You introduce me to your team and clients, and I start on marketing, sales, and systems.

5
Step 5

Grow and step back

The business grows, your payments continue, and you choose how involved you stay.

Fit check

Is this for you?

This works best when most of these are true.

  • You are 5 to 10 years from retirement, or ready to step back now
  • You have no clear successor lined up
  • You don't want to sell to a competitor who will gut what you built
  • You want to keep earning while working less
  • You want the business to last long after you step away
FAQ

Questions owners ask

Straight answers.

Do I have to sell everything?

No. In the SI model the owner kept majority ownership. I earn equity by hitting growth milestones.

How do I get paid?

Through a monthly consulting arrangement, 10 years at SI, instead of one lump sum, plus income from the stake you keep.

What happens to my employees and customers?

The goal is to keep the team, the name, and the client relationships intact and grow from there.

Do I have to stay involved?

Only if you want to. You can stay on as an advisor or step away completely.

Is this better for taxes than selling?

Spreading payments over time can avoid a large one-year tax hit. Your CPA should confirm what fits your situation.

Is the first conversation confidential?

Yes. Nothing about your business is shared with anyone.

Let's talk

No pressure, no sales pitch.

Just a conversation about protecting what you've built and what the next ten years could look like.

Jon Hyatt
Jon HyattStrategic Growth Partner