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Our approach

How we think about acquiring and operating businesses.

We look for businesses that have already done the hard work. They have survived long enough to prove they are durable. They have customers who keep coming back. They have employees who know what they are doing. Our job is to provide the transition that lets all of that continue, without disruption, and with a long-term owner at the helm.

We are not looking for turnarounds. We are not looking for distressed assets. We want businesses that are fundamentally healthy and where the primary question is: who runs this next?

What we look for

Business quality
Criteria/Detail
Sector
Industrial services, environmental services, government-adjacent services
Time in business
8 or more years
Customer concentration
Reviewed closely above 25% of revenue
Revenue
Recurring or repeat
Team depth
Management or team structure below the owner
Financial profile
Criteria/Detail
EBITDA
$1.5M to $5M annually
Margins
Healthy margins consistent with the sector
Structure
SBA eligible capital structure
Financials
Clean books with auditable statements
Seller profile
Criteria/Detail
Motivation
Ready for a tsransition, whether retirement or simply the right time
Priorites
Values continuity and legacy, not just price
Trasition
Willing to support a structured handover period

What we pass on

We also pass on businesses that look right on paper but carry risks we do not think we can solve.

A business where a key license or certification is held by one employee with no guarantee they stay. A business that is heavily asset-dependent where we cannot credibly assess the condition of what we are buying. And businesses where the owner is the business, where the customer relationships, the key knowledge, and the institutional trust all live in one person's head. That is not a business we are equipped to underwrite.
If a deal does not fit, we will tell you clearly and quickly.

The process

How a deal moves

We move with respect for the seller's time and the seriousness of the decision.
01
Introduction
Typically one to two weeks
We start with a conversation. No term sheets, no pressure, no process. We want to understand the business, the people, and what a good outcome looks like for the owner.
02
Review
Typically two to four weeks
We review financials carefully and ask direct questions. We give honest feedback, including when something is not a fit for us and why.
03
Letter of Intent
Typically one to two weeks from alignment
When we are aligned on fit and value, we move to an LOI quickly. It sets out price, structure, and the transition we have already discussed, so nothing in it is a surprise. We do not re-trade after signing.
04
Due Diligence
Typically four to six weeks
Thorough but efficient. We focus on what matters: cash flow quality, customer relationships, and team stability. We avoid unnecessary complexity.
05
Close and Transition
Timeline agreed with the seller
We close and we stay. The seller supports a structured transition while we take over operations, with a plan to preserve what works and strengthen what does not.

Markets

Where we search

DC, Maryland and Virginia
Kolawole Alawaiye · DC, Maryland and Virginia
Kola is based in the DC, Maryland and Virginia corridor and anchors our search there. We are active across Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
Texas
Olaniyi · Houston
Kola is based in the DC, Maryland and Virginia corridor and anchors our search there. We are active across Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
We search in both markets and both of us evaluate every deal in either geography. We are buying one business. Whichever market it is in, both partners will be running it.

If you have a business that fits, or a deal worth a conversation, we want to hear from you.

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Harkright Investment Holdings is a Texas-based operating company. We are not a registered investment adviser. This website is for informational purposes only.

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Markets

  • Houston, Texas‍‍
    DC, Maryland and Virginia
Harkright Investment Holdings, Houston, Texas. Not a registered investment adviser. For informational purposes only.
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