Case Examples
HVAC Services Company — Southwest Florida
ESOP Transition
After four years of fielding calls from private equity buyers, Jason Schreyer had a clear answer: no. He'd watched friends sell to financial buyers and lose everything they'd built — the employees, the relationships, the culture - and he wasn't going there.
What he wanted was an exit that took care of the 53 people who helped him grow Sunset Air & Home Services from a $5M company to a $15M company over 25 years. An ESOP gave him exactly that.
Business type: HVAC service and equipment replacement
Location: Fort Myers, Florida
Revenue at transition: ~$15M annually
Employees: 53
Transition type: 100% ESOP
Vesting schedule: 3 years
Outcome: Employees became owners, with culture and team intact. Legacy secured.
"The people that got me here — I want to make sure they're well taken care of."
— Jason Schreyer, Founder
Source: Business Observer Florida
Resources
ESOP Feasibility Guide:
A plain-English overview of how ESOP transitions work, who they're right for, and what the process looks like from valuation through close. Ideal for founders who are just starting to explore their options.
Business Valuation Primer:
Understand what drives the value of your business and what buyers — internal or external — will look at before they make an offer. A starting point for any founder thinking about their exit timeline.
ESOP 101 Fact Sheet - Owners and Advisors
ESOP Fact Sheet - Small Business
ESOP Fact Sheet - Bank
Owner Readiness Quiz
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