At Emerson Endeavors, we help local businesses grow!
More specifically, we look to either Buy or Partner With locally-owned businesses in the Greater Philadelphia area. Learn more below!
Keep scrolling to learn more!
About Us
I’m Dave Emerson 👋 Father of three, loving husband, and accomplished business owner living here in Delaware County. I’m the Owner of Emerson Endeavors; a family operation that buys and/or partners with local businesses.
Having successfully launched, scaled and sold my property management business in the Poconos (Pocono Rentals & Management –> AvantStay), I am now focused on reinvesting into local businesses to help them reach their full potential!
Care to learn more? Feel free to shoot me a message or check out my blog below! I answer all messages 😃
Why Emerson Endeavors?
Entrepreneur at Heart
Born into a family of entrepreneurs, Dave pursued a Double Major in Entrepreneurship & Finance at Muhlenberg College. This collegiate experience laid the foundation for his entrepreneurial path and endeavors ahead.
Ad Agency Experience
For 5+ years, Dave worked at several Ad Agencies in the Greater Philadelphia area, learning how to effectively run successful marketing campaigns to help brands drive leads, sales and revenue. (Bed Bath & Beyond, Planet Fitness, GNC, & other notable brands)
Launch, Scale, Exit
In 2019, Dave launched Pocono Rentals & Management – an Airbnb rental management solution in the Poconos. We grew to 85 homes, 20+ employees and over $4 million in annual gross revenue before being acquired by AvantStay in 2024 (7-figure exit).
Path 1: Selling Your Business
We purchase operationally sound and profitable local business in the Greater Philadelphia area. From there, we look to build on what you have created, preserving your legacy and working to achieve new heights!
Typically, the businesses we buy fit the following criteria, but we also understand every business is different and we would happily consider opportunities that fall outside the below parameters.
- Location: Greater Philadelphia Area
- Revenue: up to $5 million annually
- Team Structure: 3+ employees, preferably with a manager in place
- Company History: 8+ years in operation
- Industry: open to all industries (with the exception of food services)
01.
👋 Intro Meeting
We like to start with a open (no pressure!) conversation, learning more about the business and yourself. We want to understand what your goals are, as well as sharing ours, to make sure we might be a good fit!
02.
🤔 Evaluation
If we mutually decide there might be a good fit, we would next want to review the business finances (previous ~3 years) to help us assess the profitability and craft a fair-market offer for what you’ve built!
03.
💰 Offer
After a few follow up questions, we will likely be ready to make you an offer! This is not a take-it-or-leave-it offer, and this process is typically collaborative to help ensure it meets all parties interests.
04.
🔄 Transition
If the offer is accepted (yahoo!) we then enter “due diligence” phase where we more thoroughly evaluate the business, understand it’s inner workings, and prepare for the official closing date.
Frequently Asked Questions: Selling
Q: “How long does the whole process take?“
A: roughly 3 months from “first conversation” to “business sold!”, but largely depends on how quickly the Buyer and Seller want to operate
Q: “How much is my business worth?”
A: Depends on the business! Commonly, the businesses value is derived off a multiple of your “Seller’s Discretionary Earnings”, or profits. Typically, this falls within the 1-3x multiple range, but the multiple applied largely depends on the healthiness of the business and industry. You can learn more here!
Q: “How long will I have to stay involved after the sale?”
A: Depends on the business and your preference. We always prefer a transitional period where the seller can advise on the business operations after the sale is complete, but this is typically a period of 30-45 days.
Q: “Do you take on the company’s debts as well?”
A: We do not. In nearly all cases we purchase the assets of your business in an Asset Purchase Agreement (APA). This includes things like contracts, employees, the lease on the building, inventory, etc.
Q: “Am I locked in to doing the deal? If I want to back out, can I?“
A: Nope, not until the business is fully sold. We use a “non-binding” Letter of Intent (LOI) that allows either party to back out during due diligence if they wish (but if we’re in it this far that’s certainly not the plan!).
Q: “Will my customers, clients or employees find out I’m selling?”
A: Not from us! Discretion is very important, and we use a Non-Disclosure Agreement with all our clients before we enter the due diligence phase.
Q: “What happens to my staff after I sell?”
A: We look to keep the entire team in place. Much of the value of the business is tied to the staff and their ability to perform their duties on an ongoing basis. We evaluate your businesses profitability with the team in place, keeping the operations flowing as smoothly as possible.
Q: “Is this Private Equity”
A: Not exactly. It’s “private” in the sense that we’re a private, family owned business, but we’re not what is commonly associated with “private equity”. We’re not backed by generational wealth or wall street, but instead we’re simply looking find opportunities to help move businesses forward (not backwards!).
Path 2: Growth Partnership
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together!”
By bringing on a Growth Partner, you’d be looking to join forces with us! Oftentimes, the skills required to run a business are different than the skills required to grow a business. You may be the best plumber in Delaware County, but that might not translate to running payroll. Or hiring employees. Or running an ad campaigns. Or interfacing with a new field management software.
You need more time, but you also need expertise.
This is where we come in! Instead of paying someone to do a job, you’re bringing in a partner to work with you and take ownership of part of the business. Someone who has a stake in the company’s success and, quite frankly, gives a damn!
Earned, Not Given
You didn’t get where you are by making bad decisions, and I wouldn’t expect you to rush into a partnership. Honestly, I’m in the same spot—I wouldn’t want to team up with someone I’m not aligned with. That’s why I believe in a 3-6 month Evaluation Period. It gives us both a chance to prove value and make sure the working relationship feels right before committing to anything formal. Talk’s cheap, and actions speak louder than words!
Not Any ‘Ol Partner
The goal isn’t to have a partner, it’s to have the right partner! Not only someone who shares in your vision, but one that compliments your skill-set and brings distinct value.
Below is what Emerson Endeavors offers. By no means do we need to check all these boxes for you (you may be an excellent operations manager!) but these are the arenas where we believe we bring the most value to help advance your business.
⚙️ Operations
I was 100 miles from my business with three little kids and a remote team. Clear “standard operating procedures” (SOPs) were paramount — allowing my team to handle the day to day, freeing up my time to work on the business (not in it!)
💬 Marketing
I know how to grow a business. Agency work taught me the tools; running my own businesses showed me how to apply them. Building a brand voice, managing ad campaigns, setting up CRM email lists – I’ve done a lot!
🌐 Technology
One of my biggest wins was integrating with Property Management Software. Automating messages, syncing listings, streamlining reviews, and so much more. The right tech unlocks growth. Less sticky notes, more systems!
💰 Finance
At the end of the day, it’s about making money — that’s how we know we’re creating value. Many owners just watch their bank balance, but we need a clearer picture. Knowing the numbers drives growth, and that’s how we’ll measure success too.
How It Works
Every potential deal is structured specifically to the business’ needs, but below is an example of how a process may flow. In many ways, business partnership is like a marriage, and we’ll weave that analogy throughout.
👋 Phase 1: Introductory Conversation/s (ex: Dating)
Let’s get to know each other! What’s working? What’s not? How might we be able to help? This likely occurs over a series of conversations, helping to make sure we’re a good fit for one another. If all is aligned and well, we will move forward with the next phase.
🧐 Phase 2: Evaluation Period (ex: Engaged)
During the Evaluation Period, I come on board as a contractor to begin working in your business over a stated period of time (typically 3 months). This allows us to begin understanding the business, working alongside you and moving the needle on progress! At the conclusion of the Evaluation Period:
🚫 No Partnership…
If you do not see a meaningful impact, or do not want to move forward with partnership for any reason, I would only ask to be compensated for my time over the Evaluation Period, which will be stated and agreed upon beforehand.
🤝 Partnership!
If we do decide to work with one another (yahoo!), we will be off to the races! We’d work collaborative to solve business problems with a focus on growth. Additionally, I will not charge you for my time commitment during the Evaluation Period.
🤝 Phase 3: Partnership and Beyond (ex: Married)
At this phase we’re officially partners! To further protect the business and your ownership interest, we typically structure our deals with the following provisions.
Vesting Schedule: Emerson Endeavors ownership will be vested over a period of time, not given all at once at the conclusion Evaluation Period
Shotgun Clause: As a majority owner, you would have the ability to buy out Emerson Endeavors shares at an agreed upon strike-price.
While we have no reason to believe a partnership would go awry, this language is to protect your business interest. This way, if things do change in the future, your ownership stake is preserved!
Frequently Asked Questions: Partnership
Q: “How much equity (ownership) do you typically take?“
A: A minority share, typically around 10-30%, dependent on the agreement and business.
Q: “What happens if we’re partners and split on a decision?”
A: Emerson Endeavors would hold a minority position in the company, leaving you with a majority stake. This keeps you retaining operational control of the business and, your “vote” would supersede ours.
Q: “Do you review the business’ finances before partnership”
A: We would, yes. From our perspective, we want to make sure we’re investing our time into a business that we can truly help, and understanding the financials and overall health of the business is an important component of that.
Q: “If we decide to partner first, can you buy the business later?”
A: Yes, this is an option provided that it’s mutually agreed upon.
Q: “Do you subcontract out the work or will you be doing it all?”
A: On occasion, yes, we will use subcontractors. Some work will require a high level of specificity and by using contractors we can produce better results.
Q: “Why can’t I just pay a consulting fee?“
A: Our goal is to be “hands-on” solving business problems and driving performance forward. We want to share in that success by being an active owner.
Q: “Do you get a salary after the Evaluation Period concludes?”
A: Typically there is some level of compensation allocated on an ongoing basis. This might come in the form on a salary, but could also come in the form on a revenue share, dividend, commission, or bonus. But yes, there would be an agreed-upon, and reasonable compensation structure.
Q: “What areas of the business will you oversee?”
A: This would be agreed upon at the onset. Our expertise tends to lie within Marketing, Operations, Finance and Technology, but by no means would we need to be at the helm of all those categories.
Q: “How involved will actually be?”
A: Very. We might not be working on the business every day, but we will be working to achieve success. Remember, if we’re not satisfying our responsibilities then our stock may not vest and/or you could terminate our partnership via the Shotgun Clause.
Blog
Click below to learn more about doing a deal, our philosophies, and more!
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Contact Us
If you are considering selling your business, or coming together as partners, we’d love to have a conversation!
Call/Text: (484) 444-3323
Email: Dave@Emerson-Endeavors.com
Hoping to hear from you soon!
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