Check out our frequently asked questions to learn more about Mission Capital Partners and its small-business strategy.
1. HOW LONG HAS MISSION BEEN IN BUSINESS?
Mission was founded on January 1, 2010.
2. WHERE DOES MISSION INVEST?
Mission Capital Partners invests nationwide in building micro-market service companies with talented operators looking to make the entrepreneurial leap.
3. IN WHAT TYPES OF FIRMS OR INDUSTRIES DOES MISSION INVEST?
Mission invests in operators who have experience in service-oriented industries in US markets. Using our Three Pillar methodology, we launch and establish businesses with our operating partners quickly. Once the business is established, we seek to grow the business profit while creating pathway to transition the business to the operators when the operator is ready.
4. IN WHAT SIZE FIRM DOES MISSION TYPICALLY INVEST?
Mission invests in the operator to build a business with the potential to produce between $1million and $5 million in annual revenue, have between 3 and 10 employees, and generate at least $250,000 of EBITDA.
5. HOW MUCH CAPITAL DOES MISSION TYPICALLY INVEST IN A FIRM?
Mission typically invests between $200,000 to $500,000 per firm.
6. HOW DOES MISSION ADD VALUE TO A SMALL BUSINESS?
Mission adds value by providing not only financial capital, but also the intellectual, emotional, relational, and strategic capital required to launch and establish service companies. Because Mission partners have all been entrepreneurs or small-business owners themselves, their solutions and guidance works practically and in the real-world. From key hires to developing best practices, to the right software and infrastructure combinations, the partners at Mission provide high-level strategies and tactics to start up and establish the business quickly. In addition, the Mission strategic plan has a multi-year time horizon that incorporates a growth plan and real estate acquisition.
7. HOW LONG DOES MISSION TYPICALLY REMAIN INVESTED IN A FIRM?
Mission does not go into an investment with a particular timeframe in mind. However, it has historically remained invested for an average of 5-7 years.
8. WHAT IS A CONTROL INVESTOR?
In general, a control investor is a group that invests capital and, in return, expects to be involved in major decision-making for the company, including executive personnel, strategic direction and the eventual sale of the business.
9. ARE THE MISSION PARTNERS CONTROL INVESTORS? IF SO, DO THEY TAKE A CONTROLLING INTEREST IN EVERY FIRM IN WHICH THEY INVEST?
Yes. The Mission partners are control investors that takes controlling interests in every firm. However, our investment philosophy is to maintain, enhance and support the operating partner and the management team. The operating partner is still in the driver’s seat – because they are on the field handing the day-to-day management of the business– but Mission is there on the sidelines sharing real-time intelligence about market conditions and key performance indicators. When our partner companies win, we win—ultimately creating wealth for all parties.
10. WILL MISSION TAKE OVER AND RUN MY COMPANY?
No, but we will guide you so that you have the experience to drive optimal performance of the company. Mission works as a partner to provide a set of tools, processes, best practices and human resources that equip our operators to work on their business to drive long-term value. When our operators have the experience and knowledge to run the business independently, we create a transition plan to exit.
11. WILL I RECEIVE ANY IMMEDIATE COMPENSATION?
Yes. Operators typically receive a salary and bonus for their work in the business along with a percentage of the company earnings.
12. WILL I GET ANY FUTURE UPSIDE TO PARTNERING WITH MISSION?
Yes. Mission partners structure investments so that operators gain equity over time and, as their experience grows, with the plan of transitioning the business to the operator when the operator is ready.
13. WILL THIS BE A PRIVATE COMPANY?
Yes. Mission partners invest exclusively in private companies, and an investment by Mission partners is a private investment.
14. HOW IS MISSION’S INVESTMENT TYPICALLY STRUCTURED?
Mission uses private capital to seed the business and get it operational. The Mission partners will take an equity position and transition equity to the operator as the operator gains experience.
15. HOW MUCH TIME DOES IT USUALLY TAKE FOR MISSION TO START-UP AND ESTABLISH A BUSINESS? WHAT IS THE PROCESS?
We invest in talented operators. Before we launch a business, we work with our operators on fundamental entrepreneurial training, culture, and best practices. During the operator’s training, we lay the groundwork in the marketplace to develop lead flow for sales. We meet regularly and determine together when we are ready to launch. Depending on the market and the operator, we can be ready to launch in as few as 90 days. Mission creates a unique strategy for each operator, but our goal is to be cash positive within 90 days to six months. From there we will work together to further establish and grow the company until the operator is ready to run the company independently.
16. ARE THERE ANY “DEAL KILLERS” THAT WILL CAUSE MISSION NOT TO INVEST IN A FIRM?
Mission leadership holds in high regard the value of our personal and professional integrity, and we hold our potential future partners to this same high standard of excellence. Aside from that, the criteria previously mentioned and an obvious desire to learn new business practices, there are no carte blanche “deal killers.” Like any relationship, our process will involve getting to know each other and, therefore, a certain degree of “chemistry” and positive personal dynamics will need to accompany the desirable service mix, market position, growth opportunities to ensure a good fit.
17. WHAT IS THE BACKGROUND OF MISSION’S PARTNERS?
The Mission partners all have experience working in both small businesses and significantly larger organizations. They take the best practices learned at these larger businesses and employ them in the Three Pillars methodology to drive the initial phase of value creation at the company. The benefit of the Mission partnership is that each partner works together in a collaborative effort to ensure specialized skill sets are put to their best use with each of our partner companies.
18. WHO ARE MISSION’S MENTORS, AND HOW WILL THEY HELP ME?
Mission understands that new ventures need steady lead-flow for sales, strong processes for service delivery, and solid financial literacy. Our mentors are industry experts who help problems solve and hold the firm operators to account for company outcomes. Mission has access to both domain experts and C-suite executives across many industries and verticals, and we leverage this mentor network to open new doors and accomplish company initiatives. When combined with our Three Pillars methodology for profitable growth, high-level mentorship, and vast inventory of organizational resources, we mitigate risk and maximize performance—making success that much easier.
19. CAN’T A LOAN FROM MY BANK ACCOMPLISH THE SAME THING MISSION IS OFFERING, WITHOUT THE HASSLE?
Dollars are not enough to ensure success. At Mission, we believe the real value lies in the intellectual, emotional, relationship and strategic experience that goes beyond the financial capital. A bank cannot offer you non-financial capital. You need advice on how to best launch and scale your company—from hiring your team and enterprise technology solutions, to HR procedures and insurance policies. You need lead-flow and financial understanding that can establish your business quickly, expertise in selecting the right software, hardware and infrastructure combinations, and the branding and marketing strategy required to reach target audiences. And, finally, you need someone you can trust who will tell it to you straight, be it the need to shut down an underperforming product/division, reorganize along business lines or provide management support to make tough personnel decisions. In short, you need a partner who can amplify your upside while minimizing your downside risk—by applying proven, scalable strategies to ensure you get it right the first time.
20. IS A MISSION INVESTMENT BETTER, OR WORSE, THAN A BANK LOAN FOR START-UP?
At Mission, “partner” means just one thing—everything. For us, “partner” means we’re all in. Your success is our success, and your challenges are our challenges. We come alongside, hitch ourselves to your wagon and start pulling. Within the first week, your load will already feel lighter, as we provide the support, systems and expertise to help carry out of those tasks you shouldered alone. Our Three Pillars methodology will help you create sustainable and profitable growth.
Mission understands the mind of the entrepreneur, but more importantly we understand their heart. You want to start your own business because you want the success and satisfaction that comes from building something of lasting value. More importantly, you want the opportunity to control your own destiny. How you build the company from the beginning matters -- do you control your company, or does your company control you?
At Mission, our promise is to partner with talented operators to dramatically reduce the mistakes and expenses that come from inexperienced start-up, to accelerate your revenue growth within a short period of time, and then set you up to professionally manage the business independently. Our influx of cash, intellectual capital, professional networks, industry best practices, brand and marketing optimization, and advanced reporting and infrastructure systems enable firms to launch and establish quickly with both healthy top-line revenue and bottom-line profitability. To achieve this, the Mission partners take a controlling interest in the company and become catalysts for driving the growth of the partnership with the operator. So, here’s the 800-pound gorilla trade-off you need to ask yourself—can Mission help my business reach my professional and personal goals faster than if I go it alone?
21. IF I’M INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE, WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP?
If you’re interested in partnering with Mission, the next step is to familiarize yourself with our investment criteria and Three Pillars methodology. Then, ask yourself if you’re ready to build a company so you can begin working on your business. Once you’ve done this, submit a form via our Contact page or contact any of Mission’s partners.
