AJS Capital Private Equity
AJS Capital is a hybrid advisor + investor platform. In addition to advising owners on exits and acquisitions, we also invest directly in businesses that are a strong strategic and cultural fit.
We work with owners who are:
Thinking about a full or partial exit
Planning succession
Burned out or ready for the next chapter
Or looking for the right partner to help grow the business
We don’t just provide capital. We bring structure, systems, and operator-level thinking.
We invest in and partner with exceptional small and mid-sized businesses.
Not Just Capital. Not Just Advice. Real Partnership.
Most buyers are either:
Financial buyers who don’t operate
Or operators who don’t structure deals well
We are both.
AJS Capital invests alongside capital partners (including our own capital) and stays actively involved in:
Strategy
Structure
Systems
Governance
And long-term value creation
Our goal is simple:
Build stronger businesses, not just close transactions.
What We Look For
We are focused on established, profitable, well-run businesses with real cash flow and real opportunity.
Situations We Like
Succession situations
Burned-out owners
Owners lacking growth capital
Partnership transitions
Management buy-outs
Financial Profile
EBITDA / SDE: $300K – $2M
Consistent, provable cash flow
Healthy margins
Business Profile
Strong fundamentals
Defensible market position
Opportunity to professionalize or scale
Industries We Avoid
Restaurants
Retail
Cannabis
Liquor stores
Highly speculative or trend-driven businesses
flexible structures, aligned outcomes
We do not force every situation into the same box.
Depending on the business and the owner’s goals, we are open to:
100% buy-outs
Phased exits
Earn-outs
Majority or minority recapitalizations
Management buy-outs
Partner buy-ins
In many cases, the best outcome is:
The owner exits gradually while the business gets stronger.
Transition periods are flexible and based on:
The quality of the team
The nature of the business
And what actually reduces risk for everyone involved
What We actually bring
We are not passive investors.
We bring:
Operator-level thinking
Systems and process
Financial discipline
Governance and structure
Market and growth strategy
Professionalization
Our focus is:
Reduce risk. Increase clarity. Build durable value.
Why Work With AJS Capital
Selling or partnering in a business is not just a financial transaction. It’s a personal and operational transition.
How that transition is handled matters.
Here’s what makes working with AJS Capital different.
“Our Goal is not to win a deal. It’s to create a good outcome.”
🧩 1. We Think Like Owners, Not Just Buyers
We’ve been on both sides of the table.
We understand:
What it takes to build a business
What it feels like to let go of one
And what actually breaks businesses during transitions
This leads to:
More practical structures
More realistic timelines
And fewer unpleasant surprises
🏗️ 2. We Care About Structure, Not Just Price
The best outcome is not always the highest headline number.
It’s the deal that:
Actually closes
Actually works
And actually protects everyone involved
We focus heavily on:
Deal structure
Risk allocation
And long-term stability
🤝 3. We Are Flexible, Not Formulaic
We don’t force every owner into the same outcome.
We regularly work with:
Phased exits
Earn-outs
Partial liquidity
Ongoing involvement
Management transitions
The right structure depends on:
The business
The team
And the owner’s goals
🧠 4. We Bring More Than Capital
Capital is easy. Good stewardship is not.
We bring:
Systems and process
Governance and discipline
Strategy and execution
And a long-term mindset
Our goal is to leave the business stronger than we found it.
🧭 5. We Are Honest About Fit
Not every good business is right for us.
If your business is:
Better suited for a market sale
Or not aligned with our investment focus
We will tell you — and help you pursue the right path, even if that path is not with us.
long-term owners, not flippers
Our default mindset is buy and hold.
We are not looking to:
Financial engineer short-term exits
Or flip businesses for quick wins
We want to:
Build better companies
With better structure
And better long-term outcomes
Important Note on fit
Not every good business is the right fit for AJS Capital to invest in directly.
If your business is:
Better suited for a full market sale
Or not aligned with our investment focus
We can still help you through our business brokerage and advisory platform.
Sometimes the best outcome is:
Not selling to us — but selling the right way.
submit your business for review
If you are:
Thinking about a full or partial exit
Exploring succession
Or looking for the right partner
Start with a confidential review.
All submissions are confidential. No obligation. No pressure.