top of page

Every founder’s path is different.

Whether you’re staying independent, scaling with PE, preparing for liquidity, or just seeking clarity, PE Insiders meets you where you are.

PE Insiders Services

Private equity is pouring unprecedented capital into the lower middle market. Most of the companies drawing interest are founder-led businesses—built over years, deeply rooted in culture, and supported by teams founders feel personally responsible for.

 

Many founders have watched peers go through transactions and heard every outcome imaginable—from life-changing success to cultural breakdown and regret. This creates hesitation and mistrust. Valuation becomes not just about money, but about protecting people, legacy, and control.

 

At the same time, many founder-led businesses lack the operational discipline required to thrive under private equity ownership. The rigor, metrics, and processes PE firms expect often aren’t fully in place, making post-transaction life harder than anticipated.


Private equity firms face their own challenge: truly mature, scalable platform businesses are increasingly scarce. As a result, firms invest earlier, backing companies that still require meaningful operational evolution before they’re ready to scale.


Founders can hire experts for pieces of the process—tax, legal, transaction support—but no one is responsible for navigating the entire game from the founder’s point of view.


That’s the gap.


PE Insiders exists to help founders navigate private equity on their terms—maximizing what matters most, whether that’s enterprise value, culture, legacy, team retention, or clarity on whether to engage at all.

​

The team at PE Insiders has helped founders unlock hundreds of millions of dollars from their businesses over the last decade.

​

We are a consutling firm with a flexible model to help founders unlock the potential of their business. Bewow are three sample engagement models to consider.

Chips ON the Table

For founders who want to grow faster, strengthen margins, and scale smarter — while staying fully independent.

You’ll get access to the Private Equity Playbook and implement it at your own pace, bringing discipline, structure, and clarity to how your business runs.

​

What we do:

  • Build a custom PE-style growth plan focused on revenue, margin, and scalability

  • Design KPI dashboards and reporting systems to create transparency and accountability

  • Introduce PE-proven processes for budgeting, forecasting, and goal setting

  • Help leaders adopt a performance rhythm that drives results without bureaucracy

  • On-demand advisory support to guide execution as you go

 

What you get:

  • A clear growth roadmap built on PE best practices

  • Improved profitability and process discipline

  • A leadership team aligned around metrics and accountability

  • A more valuable and scalable business — without changing ownership
     

Outcome: A high-performing, independent company that runs with PE-level discipline — but remains entirely founder-led.

Private Equity Incubator (PEI)

For founders who want to experience PE-level growth and rigor without giving up control. Over 18 months, we implement the Private Equity Playbook inside your business — the same systems, cadence, and expectations used in top-performing portfolio companies.
 
What we do:

  • Establish PE-style operating rhythm — financial reviews, KPI dashboards, accountability cadence

  • Assemble a world-class board of advisors to guide growth and add discipline

  • Conduct leadership & talent evaluations to strengthen the team

  • Implement strategic planning and 90-day execution cycles

  • Quantify culture as part of enterprise value

 
What you get:

  • A business that runs like a PE portfolio company with a stronger, more accountable leadership team

  • Measurable performance and cultural health

  • Clarity on whether PE ownership is right for you

  • World class board of advisors

  • Ongoing operator mentorship

 
Outcome: A PE-ready company with increased valuation and optionality — you can confidently choose to stay independent or pursue a transaction.

Chips OFF The Table

For founders who plan to sell or recapitalize, this engagement helps you close performance gaps, strengthen operations, and position the company for a premium valuation — well before you engage bankers or buyers.

 

This isn’t about building a data room. It’s about building a stronger business that can stand up to (and shine under) private equity diligence.

 

What we do:

  • Assess business readiness through the eyes of a PE investor — uncovering the gaps buyers will find first

  • Implement targeted operational and financial improvements to strengthen reporting and scalability

  • Conduct mock diligence sessions to stress-test the business before real buyers do

  • Lead reverse diligence to identify buyers who fit culturally and strategically based on the founders goals

  • Partner with your advisors (tax, legal, etc.) to ensure the story, numbers, and operations align

​

What you get:

  • A stronger, more resilient business before you ever go to market

  • Higher valuation multiples and lower deal friction

  • Confidence that you’re ready for PE-level diligence

  • A sale to a partner who fits your values and long-term vision

​

Outcome: A business that performs — and sells — like a PE-backed company, giving you leverage, choice, and peace of mind when you take chips off the table.

Explore Your Options

Every founder’s journey is different. Some are just starting to think about private equity, others are evaluating growth or potential exits, and some are deep in the process.

​

If you’re not sure where you fit—or what your next steps should be—we offer one-off consulting sessions tailored to your situation.

 

We’ll help you:

  • Understand your options and potential outcomes

  • Gain insight into broad market trends and valuation realities

  • Identify the steps needed to position your business for success

  • Clarify how PE engagement might impact your culture, team, and legacy

 

Think of it as a founder-focused reality check—no pressure, no obligations—just guidance to help you make informed decisions and chart a path forward that works for you.

​

bottom of page