Creek Equity launches Michigan succession push for founder-owned firms

Creek Equity unveiled a new effort to buy Michigan founder- and family-owned businesses as older owners retire or step back. The Bloomfield Hills firm is targeting companies with $1 million to $10 million in EBITDA and says it wants to keep them locally owned for the long term.

Why it matters: - Michigan has a large succession gap. About 23% of business owners are 65 or older, and roughly half of businesses have no formal succession plan. - Creek Equity says its approach gives retiring owners a buyer that intends to keep the company in Michigan, retain employees and leadership, and avoid a forced sale or closure. - The initiative is aimed at preserving local ownership and jobs in businesses that may otherwise change hands outside the state.

What happened: - Creek Equity announced the Creek Equity Michigan Succession Initiative, a dedicated effort to acquire established founder-owned and family-owned Michigan companies. - The Bloomfield Hills investment company said it is targeting owners who plan to retire or step back over the next several years. - Scott Zack, owner of Creek Equity, said the firm wants to be the first call an owner makes years before retirement, not just weeks before a sale. - Creek Equity invited owners, advisers, and intermediaries to submit a note about a company at the company contact page.

The details: - Creek Equity is looking for Michigan companies with $1 million to $10 million of EBITDA. - The firm is focused on essential-service businesses with durable, recurring revenue in business services, logistics, the built environment, and consumer brands. - Creek Equity wants founder-led or family-owned companies that already have a management team or a clear path to one. - The firm usually seeks control positions, but it can also consider a meaningful minority stake if an owner wants a partner instead of a buyer. - Every submission is read, and the first conversation is with Scott Zack directly. - Creek Equity has published a free Succession Planning Guide for Michigan Business Owners at the guide, including 14 articles and a five-year checklist. - Creek Equity also published its Investment Principles in October 2026 at the firm's site. - Creek Equity says it invests its own capital rather than a fund with a fixed life, which lets it hold companies for decades instead of a typical five- to seven-year window.

Between the lines: - The initiative is as much a succession solution as an acquisition strategy. - Creek Equity is signaling patience and continuity, which may appeal to owners who care about legacy, employees, and local control more than maximizing a quick exit. - The focus on Michigan-only deals also positions Creek Equity as a specialist in a market where many owners may be approaching retirement without a formal exit plan.

What's next: - Creek Equity will review incoming submissions and start direct conversations with owners and advisers. - The firm is likely to pursue acquisitions over the next several years as retiring Michigan owners begin to look for transition options. - Creek Equity will continue promoting its succession resources and investment principles as part of the initiative.

The bottom line: - Creek Equity is betting that Michigan’s retirement wave will create demand for a buyer that can move fast, stay local, and hold businesses long term.