Investing in Founder & Family-Owned Businesses

Garden City Equity is a people-first holding company that buys & grows exceptional businesses.

Selling your business can be simple.


Our purpose is people - we strive to provide good jobs where workers thrive.
We provide fair & straightforward exits for business owners.
We grow businesses through shareholder relationships.

5,000 subscribers and growing…

Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter featuring top articles on business, finance, culture, and tech.

Why partner with Garden City?


Do Nothing

Remaining independent misses out on all the benefits of a strategic and financial partnership.

  • Protect Team
  • Protect Culture
  • No Liquidity
  • Little/No Financial Diversification
  • Stuck in the Operations
  • Carry Home Stress
  • Maintain Risk

Private Equity

Not all investors or buyers for your business are created equal. To many, it’s just a transaction.

  • Provides Liquidity
  • “Second Bite” at the Apple
  • Rip & Replace Team & Culture
  • Flips Your Company in 3-5 years
  • Terms Could Make Equity Worthless
  • Focused on Value Protection

Garden City Partnership

We work with founders to protect the culture and legacy of their organization while providing peace of mind.

  • Protects your Team
  • Protects your Culture
  • Provides Liquidity
  • “Second Bite” at the Apple
  • Flexible Deal Structure
  • Forever Home for your Business
  • May Become a Chairman & Advisor
  • Focused on Value Creation

Our process is proven.


We acquire extraordinary businesses.


Strong Profits

We seek $3-10M+ of annual net earnings

Competitive Edge

A uniqueness that sets you apart

Solid Team

Strong non-owner management team

Enduring Operations

7+ years of profitable operations

Healthy Margins

10%+ net margins are required

High Integrity

Reputation for being honest & fair

We are 200+ families partnering as one.


Dan Cathy

Chairman, Chick-fil-A

Pat Gelsinger

CEO, Intel

Horst Schulze

Founder, Ritz Carlton

Cheryl Bachelder

Former CEO, Popeyes & KFC

Governor Bill Haslam

Pilot Flying J & Nashville Predators

Maggie Wilderotter

Board of DocuSign, Lyft, Costco, HPE, & Tanium

Drew Brees

Professional Athlete & Entrepreneur

Governor Jeb Bush

Former Governor of Florida

Kathryn McLay

CEO, Walmart International

Dale Jones

Board Director, Chick-Fil-A & Northwestern Mutual

John Maxwell

NYT Best Selling Author & Entrepreneur

Tim Tebow

Professional Athlete & Entrepreneur

Pat Russo

Board Member, General Motors, HPE, KKR, Merck

Donald Miller

Author & CEO, Storybrand

John Ingram

Chairman, Ingram Industries, Inc.

Dennis Muilenburg

Former CEO, Boeing

Rick Smith

Former CEO, Equifax

Chris Tomlin

Music Artist & Entrepreneur

David McCormick

Former CEO of Bridgewater Associates

Mike Fisher

Former NHL Player & Entrepreneur

Colt McCoy

Professional Athlete and Entreprenuer

Scott Sperling

CEO, THL Partners

Terry Looper

CEO, Texon

Bear Rinehart

Lead Singer, NEEDTOBREATHE

Webb Simpson

Professional Golfer

Shay Mooney

Lead Vocalist, Dan + Shay

CJ Fitzgerald

Former Managing Director, Summit Partners

Bud Brigham

Oil & Energy Entrepreneur

Matt Holliday

MLB World Series Champion

Greg Lernihan

Cofounder of Convergint Technologies

Derek Carr

NFL Professional Athlete

Thomas Rhett

Singer & Songwriter

Mark Ingram

Heisman Trophy Winner & NFL Professional Athlete

Cam Jordan

Professional Athlete

Rob Cousins

Managing Partner, JP Morgan Private Equity

Paul Allen

Founder, Embark

Refer us a deal

Scout a deal for us and we'll make it worth your while! We pay referral rewards of $125,000 – all you have to do is intro us!