First Turn Capital | M&A Advisory & Investment Banking
Your First Turn
Toward the Growth
You Deserve
We are a boutique investment bank and M&A advisory firm that helps business owners maximize value and achieve successful outcomes, whether you're preparing to sell, evaluating options, or planning for the future.
Notable Transactions
A Track Record of Success
Plastics Manufacturing Co.
$40 Million
Acquired By
Private Company
Concrete Construction Co.
$85 Million
Acquired By
Publicly Traded Company
Audio Visual Co.
$23 Million
Acquired By
Publicly Traded Company
Fire Suppression Mfg
$35 Million
Acquired By
Private Equity Firm
Plastics & Polymer Co.
$32 Million
Acquired By
Private Equity Firm
Transportation & Logistics
$160 Million
Acquired By
Government Agency
Aviation Tech & Logistics
$200 Million
Acquired By
IPO Capital Raise
Renewable Energy Infrastructure
$60 Million
Acquired By
Buy-Side Acquisition
Formwork Rental Co.
$46 Million
Acquired By
Private Equity-Backed Strategic
*Represents combined transaction experience of our partners prior to and during their tenure at First Turn Capital.
Services
What we do for business owners
Investment banking
Recapitalizations, ownership transitions, and transactions beyond a full sale.
Investment bankingCapital solutions
Growth capital and debt structured around how the business actually runs.
Capital solutionsStrategic advisory
Valuation and planning for owners who are not ready to sell yet.
Strategic advisory
Why First Turn
Senior bankers who speak your industry.
Senior bankers, start to close
The people in your first meeting run the process through closing.
Fluent in operating businesses
We read backlog, WIP, and equipment lists the way a buyer will.
Advice not tied to a product
We are paid to get the transaction right, not to sell you something.
Confidential from the first call
Buyers sign an NDA before they learn your name.
Testimonials
What our clients say
We partner closely with business owners at every stage, whether they are weighing a sale, raising capital, or planning for what comes next.
Most testimonials are anonymous due to NDA and confidentiality agreements.
Testimonials may not be representative of the experience of other clients and are not a guarantee of future performance or success.
They didn't sell us anything. They helped us think it through.
“I came in with more questions than answers. They didn't rush the conversation. They gave me data, helped me process the options, and made sure I was making the right decision for my business.”
They told me not to sell yet… and they were right.
“I was ready to sell my business to a buyer I had lined out before I talked to Chad at First Turn Capital but he brought me five more buyers all competing to buy my business and increased my valuation by over 30%!”
A partner that works with you, not over you.
“First Turn took the time to understand how we operate. They weren't just trying to close a deal. They helped shape a plan that fit our goals and timeline.”
Exactly the kind of guidance we were looking for.
“The process felt clear, respectful, and aligned from day one. They understood our industry and helped us work through a turning point in our company's story.”
Know where you stand and what matters most.
“I wasn't looking to sell but wanted clarity on my company's value. First Turn gave me the insight and context I needed to plan confidently for the future.”
They helped us explore capital without giving up control.
“We were growing fast and needed outside funding. First Turn helped us evaluate different structures and landed on a path that preserved ownership and gave us flexibility.”
What does an investment bank do for a business owner?
An investment bank runs the sale or capital raise for you. That generally means valuing the business, preparing the materials buyers read, finding and qualifying buyers, managing a confidential competitive process, and negotiating price and terms through closing, so you can keep running the company while the transaction moves forward.
When should I talk to an M&A advisor?
Earlier than most owners expect. Twelve to twenty-four months before a planned sale gives time to clean up financial records, reduce dependence on the owner, and address issues a buyer would discount. A conversation even earlier can help with succession planning or with deciding whether to sell at all.
How is my business valued?
Value generally depends on adjusted earnings, how predictable those earnings are, customer concentration, the depth of the team below the owner, and the condition of equipment and facilities. Buyers weigh those factors against other businesses they could buy, so two companies with similar revenue can be valued very differently.
Do you work with owners who are not ready to sell?
Yes. Many conversations start years before a sale. We help owners understand what their business may be worth, what buyers would examine, and which changes could matter most, so they can decide on timing with better information. There is no obligation to go to market.
What types of companies do you work with?
We work with owners of established, privately held businesses, many of them family-owned, across aggregates and quarries, paving, steel fabrication, manufacturing, construction, infrastructure and utilities, and the specialty trades. Most are industrial or service companies where the people, equipment, and customer relationships are what a buyer is really acquiring.
Do you also advise buyers?
Yes. Alongside sell-side work, we advise companies and investors looking to acquire businesses, helping them identify targets, evaluate fit, and structure offers that sellers can take seriously. The same understanding of what owners care about shapes how we approach every acquisition search.