I recently finished reading the NYT article, “In Search of a Boring Business“, an article that highlights the appeal in investing in stable, low-risk companies that, while not glamorous, offer consistent returns. Similar to the strategy laid out in full in Walter Deibel book Buy then Build, there is a statistically compelling reason to purchase successful businesses in industries that might seem “boring”, but are critical to any community and often enjoy limitless demand and relatively light competition.
I love this view because it agrees with my experiences growing up in a blue-collar home. Looking back, almost every uncle or aunt owned their own company, and those that didn’t were typically more stressed out than those that did. My father ran a concrete company for over 40 years and didn’t even start a website until late 2015; he just always had a steady string of work.
I, on the other hand, decided to take a typical millennial route and go to a four year college before signing up to work for various large Fortune 500 companies. All along the way, my entrepreneurial father would cheer me on, and restate over and over that I was making the right decisions.
Now in 2025, I’m not so sure that he didn’t have the right idea all along, and many people are starting to think the same way. There’s no surprise that so much talent is flocking to take over these “blue-collar” companies when the news is filled with expanding CEO pay along with massive layoffs at some of the exact same companies.
However, in the gold rush of the “silver tsunami”, something seems to be missing. As brokers clamor for sellers – and buyers flood the market with offers, sellers are often being overwhelmed into selling before they have a chance to think through the downstream ramifications of the change.
I agree with the immense value in these “boring” businesses. They provide steady cash flows and have established customer bases, making them prime candidates for acquisition. However, the success of such acquisitions isn’t solely based on financial metrics; it heavily depends on the alignment between the buyer and the existing business culture. All too often I read horror stories of financial ruin, where the new buyer is left with a company that loses key customers, employees, or internal cohesion because the transition didn’t really take.
I built ETA Match to assess this critical transition by ensuring that sellers can find buyers that match with them on a deeper compatibility that ensures business strategies and acumen are aligned.
Our platform utilizes personality assessments to match sellers with buyers who share similar values and management styles. This alignment ensures that the transition is smooth, preserving the company’s legacy and maintaining employee morale. By focusing on personality compatibility, we mitigate potential conflicts and set the stage for continued success under new ownership.
In essence, while “boring” businesses may not grab headlines, they offer stability and reliability. With ETA Match facilitating personality-aligned acquisitions, both buyers and sellers can navigate the transition confidently, knowing that the business’s future is in capable and compatible hands.
