I'm Actively Looking to Buy.
If you own or represent a service business that fits this profile, lets talk. I move fast, communicate directly, and treat sellers with respect.
Who I Am
Mark Kreuz is a Chicago-based operator and business consultant actively acquiring small service businesses in the Midwest. With a decade of enterprise operations experience at ALDI National IT, including 1,200+ installations and enterprise system deployments across seven U.S. divisions, and an active consulting practice working directly with service business owners through Dont Shut Down, he brings both the operational knowledge to run these businesses and the financial understanding to close the right deal. He moves fast, communicates directly, and treats sellers and their people with respect.
What I'm Looking For
A focused buy box. Clear criteria. Fast answers on fit.
Industries
Septic and waste services, excavation, infrastructure services, and similar commercial service businesses.
Location
Primary focus: Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana. Will consider exceptional opportunities in surrounding Midwest states.
Revenue
$1M to $5M annually.
EBITDA
$300K to $1M.
Preferred
- Owner retiring or planning to transition
- Established customer base with recurring service revenue
- Simple asset-based business model
- Recession-resistant demand
- Not heavily dependent on new construction
Deal Structure
Open to SBA financing, seller financing, and creative deal structures.
Deal Killers
Heavily construction-dependent revenue, no verifiable financial records, active litigation.
Sourcing Land for Tunnel Car Washes
Separate from the service business buy box above, I scout land nationally for express tunnel car wash development as part of a partnership with an established car wash development team. They handle acquisition, design, construction, and operations. I source qualified parcels in approved markets across the U.S. If you are a broker, landowner, or bird dog anywhere in the country with a parcel that fits the criteria below, send it over.
The Four Pillars (all required)
Population
30,000+ people within a 3-mile radius. 50,000+ is even better and tolerates more competition.
Competition
No more than one true tunnel-style competitor within a 1-mile radius. Self-serve and single-bay washes do not count.
Traffic
13,000+ vehicles per day on a true arterial road. Strong visibility from the road is required.
Parcel
0.5 to 1 acre, deep rectangular shape, zoned by right for car wash use. No special use permits.
Bonus Criteria
- Going-home side of the road (right-hand side for evening commute)
- Adjacent to multi-family housing (apartments, townhomes)
- Speed limit 45 mph or under (55+ is a near-disqualifier)
- Extra-large frontage for visibility
- Proximity to retail anchors like Walmart or Circle K
Deal Killers
Visibility blocked by significant grade change, funky parcel shapes, special use permit required, more than one true competitor without supporting population.
How It Works
Submit a parcel with location, zoning verification, traffic counts, and any documentation you have. The development team reviews for fit. If approved, they handle LOI, due diligence (around 120 days), and construction (6 to 9 months). I am the local point of contact through the municipal process. Existing buildings on a parcel are fine if a scrape-and-build pencils out.
How I Work
What sellers and brokers can expect from the first conversation forward.
Direct Conversation
No runaround. No committees. You talk to the buyer.
Fast Answer on Fit
I will tell you quickly whether the deal works.
Confidential Process
Your information stays private. Always.
Respectful Transition
I take care of the business and its people.
Have a deal that fits?
Send me the basics: business type, location, revenue, and asking price. I will respond within one business day.