Duling Investment Group, LLC acquires and operates businesses people rely on: services and products that remain necessary regardless of trends or cycles. We take over what already works, preserve what made it valuable, and write the next chapter with discipline and long-term ownership in mind.
A simple model with one objective: find a strong small business, acquire it, and operate it for the long term. Instead of starting from zero, an operator commits to buying an existing, proven company, then steps in as full-time CEO and grows it patiently.
Identify a high-quality, established business with consistent performance.
Partner with capital advisory firms to perform extensive diligence.
Structure a purchase using mix of equity and SBA-backed debt.
Step in as a hands-on owner-operator, accountable for day-to-day execution.
The Baby Boomer generation holds $78 trillion in assets, and many are preparing to retire and sell the successful small businesses they spent a lifetime building. We exist to be the right buyer for one of them.
A generation of owners who built durable companies over decades are now looking to transition. Many want a successor, not a financial engineer: someone who will carry their work forward.
We prioritize businesses grounded in real-world operations, where relationships, execution, and physical presence matter. Less exposed to automation risk, less dependent on regulatory shifts.
The best businesses aren't always sold to the highest bidder. Owners often choose the buyer they trust to protect their people, reputation, and legacy. We position ourselves to earn that trust.
We are not building a portfolio for optionality. We are acquiring one business at a time to operate with full focus. All energy goes into strengthening the company's legacy.
Established, profitable businesses with a history of steady performance: recurring demand, simple operations, loyal customers, and clear opportunities for operational improvement. We favor durability over complexity, and consistency over rapid growth.
This is not a broad sweep. It is a focused search to find the right business, not just any business. Direct, patient, and personal, grounded in the conviction that the right company is found through meaningful conversations, not cold lists.
We build direct relationships with owners, brokers, and intermediaries, prioritizing off-market opportunities over competitive auctions.
We move quickly to determine fit: business quality, owner goals, and alignment with our long-term operating approach.
A hands-on approach, assisted by professional capital advisors, to understand the business at the ground level, not just through financials.
A smooth transition that maintains continuity for employees and customers, with a full-time operator stepping in from day one and support from the former owner during a predetermined transitionary period.
We communicate clearly and move with integrity. Sellers know who they are dealing with, how decisions are made, and what to expect at every stage.
Our approach is grounded in long-term ownership. We are not optimizing for a quick exit. We are building a business that performs through economic cycles.
Great businesses are built by great people. We prioritize retention, continuity, and respect for the teams already in place.
“One operator, fully accountable, dedicating time and capital to a single business. Bringing focus, alignment, and long-term commitment.”
Mark Duling is the founder of Duling Investment Group, LLC, a search fund pursuing a durable small business in growing U.S. cities. He is searching for a long-established service or essential operations company, with a place in its community that's been earned over decades.
Mark is a serial entrepreneur who founded a six-figure rare coins and precious metals business at age 12. He recently completed his Master of Science in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at USC Marshall School of Business, where his focus turned to small business acquisitions as a path to building something lasting.
His goal is to continue the owner's legacy while bringing fresh energy to professionalize operations and enhance the customer experience. He intends to step in as full-time CEO and operate the business personally for the long term, financing the acquisition through an SBA 7(a) loan with the equity portion largely committed via angel investors.
If you care about what happens to your business after you step away, we should connect. We're not just buyers; we're successors.