A letter to Business Owners from Dale
After decades of executive leadership and corporate transactions, Dale turned his focus to the trades. In this letter, he shares why helping honest, hardworking American business-owners exit with clarity, fairness, and real value has become his top priority, and why these deals matter more than any he’s done before.
navigating big decisions, high stakes, and personal transitions.
Friends,
For over 40 years, I’ve worked on international campaigns for major packaged goods manufacturers and helped lead billions of dollars in financial transactions around the world. I’ve seen how deals are structured, how capital flows, and how value is created.
But once I saw what was happening in the field services world, I knew I had to focus everything I had on this one thing.
Too many hardworking business owners, whether roofers, landscapers, plumbers, HVAC pros, electricians, or more, are being taken advantage of when it’s time to sell. They are up against sophisticated buyers who bury bad terms in financial jargon and structure deals to benefit themselves. What looks like a win on the surface is often anything but. These deals are loaded with leveraged buyouts, deferred payments disguised as “tax efficiencies,” and equity rollovers that strip away control and real value.
This work is too hard to have the end be anything less than fair.Not long ago, I spoke with a 75-year-old union leader who spent his life in the trades. His father led the union before him. He managed a team of over 150 plumbers and pipefitters. When he asked what I do, I told him plainly: we help field services business owners exit on terms that respect what they’ve built.
Because what’s usually happening out there is unacceptable. Owners sign deals that lead to job cuts, fractured cultures, and regret. Many feel embarrassed by the outcome and keep it to themselves. But I won’t.
I’ve partnered with a group of buyers who operate differently. They use their own capital and solid financing tools instead of loading the business with debt. They build on what’s already working rather than tearing it apart. They retain teams, invest in people, and offer straightforward terms with real transparency.
It works. Hundreds of owners have chosen this better path; they’ll tell you themselves how it turned out.
At IronClad Exits, we’re here to help you finish strong. With fairness, clarity, and a deal that honors the legacy you’ve built.
Because this is more than just business. It’s about your people, your values, and doing right by everyone who helped you get here.
— Dale Eldridge, Founder, IronClad Exits
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