What we buy
What we buy in Boise, and what we do not
Swabian Acquisition buys an established business in Boise and the wider Treasure Valley: $1 million or more in annual revenue, no ceiling, preferably B2B or commercial services, operating five or more years. It will not buy restaurants, retail, franchises, startups, turnarounds, or businesses whose value is mostly real estate. If you fit, contact Jeff Richardson directly at (208) 890-4649.
What are the criteria?
| Criterion | What I mean | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Boise first, then the rest of the Treasure Valley: Meridian, Nampa, Eagle, Caldwell, Kuna, Star and Garden City. Also the wider southwest of Idaho: Ada, Canyon, Gem, Payette, Owyhee, Boise, Elmore and Washington counties | I live here and want to own something I can drive to. About ninety minutes from Boise, no further. |
| Revenue | $1 million or more per year, no upper limit | Enough to support professional management and pay you a fair price |
| Type | B2B and commercial services preferred | Business customers, repeat work, and contracts hold up better than foot traffic |
| Age | 5 or more years operating | I am buying a track record, not a plan |
| Management | A team already in place, or a business a good manager can run | Who runs it after close is something the seller and I decide. It does not need to exist yet. |
| Property | The business, not the building | A service company that owns its shop is fine. We handle the real estate separately, by lease or purchase. |
What will I not buy?
- Restaurants. Thin margins, high turnover, and a business that changes the day the owner leaves the kitchen.
- Retail. I do not want to compete with the internet for foot traffic.
- Franchises. The franchisor sets the rules and approves the buyer. I want to answer to customers and employees, not a franchise agreement.
- Startups. No operating history to buy.
- Turnarounds. I want a business that works, not one that needs rescuing.
- Real-estate-heavy businesses. If most of the value is the building or the land, you should sell to a real estate buyer and get paid properly for it.
Not because these are bad businesses. They are not what I know, and I would rather say so plainly than waste your time. If your company is a hybrid, say a service business that also owns its shop, that is fine. We can talk about buying the operating business and leasing or buying the property separately.
What kinds of businesses fit best?
Boise and the Treasure Valley have more of these than most people guess. Ada and Canyon counties had 422 plumbing and HVAC contractor establishments, 358 electrical contractors, and 642 landscaping companies in 2024, and about 370 janitorial companies in 2025 [BLS QCEW]. Most are owned by the person who built them. Examples of what fits:
- HVAC, plumbing, and electrical contractors with commercial accounts
- Landscaping and grounds maintenance for commercial properties
- Janitorial and facility services
- Medical equipment service
- Industrial calibration and testing
- Commercial irrigation
- Fleet compliance and inspection
- Cemetery management
- Architectural and drafting services
- Route-based and contract-based services: anything with a customer list that renews without a sales call
- Other B2B services with repeat customers and a few good long-term contracts
One note for the trades. In Idaho, plumbing, HVAC, and electrical contractor licenses belong to the person, not the company, and do not transfer with a sale [Idaho contractor licensing rules]. That is a transition detail we plan for early: a licensed employee, a hire made before close, or you staying on as the qualifier for an agreed period. It is not a reason to say no.
How can you tell if you fit?
- Your business is in Boise, elsewhere in the Treasure Valley, or the wider southwest of Idaho.
- Revenue was $1 million or more last year, and that was not a fluke.
- You have been operating five years or longer.
- Most of your customers are other businesses, property owners, or institutions.
- The business would keep running for a few weeks if you took a vacation, or you can see how it could.
- You are thinking about selling in the next few years, even if not this year.
If you checked most of these, call me. If you checked some, call me anyway and I will tell you honestly whether it makes sense.
What if you are close but not exact?
Ask. The location and the exclusions above are firm. The rest describes what I expect to find, not a gate. If your revenue dipped under $1 million in a slow year, or you have four years of history instead of five, or your work is a mix of commercial and residential, a 30-minute call will sort it out faster than guessing. Call (208) 890-4649 or email jeffrey.richardson@swabian.co.
Questions people ask
Does Swabian Acquisition buy businesses outside the Treasure Valley?
No. I buy in the Treasure Valley and the wider southwest of Idaho: Ada, Canyon, Gem, Payette, Owyhee, Boise, Elmore and Washington counties. That is about a ninety minute drive from Boise, which is the point. I want to be able to get to the business in a morning, and I am not looking further afield than that.
What size and type of business is Swabian Acquisition looking for?
At least $1 million in annual revenue, with no upper limit, operating five or more years, preferably a B2B or commercial services company. Trades, field services, maintenance, testing, calibration, and similar work all fit. I will not buy restaurants, retail, franchises, startups, turnarounds, or businesses whose value is mostly the real estate.