Acquisition criteria
Duck Creek Capital seeks established lower-middle-market businesses in the United States with durable cash flow and clear opportunities for long-term growth.
Our published criteria
These criteria describe our current focus. They do not create a commitment to review, pursue, value, finance, or acquire any company. Every opportunity is considered on its own circumstances.
Financial profile
$5M–$50M in annual revenue
We focus on established businesses operating at lower-middle-market scale. Revenue helps frame size, but it does not by itself establish value, profitability, or fit.
$1M–$7M in EBITDA
Our published earnings range is based on EBITDA—earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. Reported EBITDA may require normalization and verification during evaluation.
Consistent profitability
We look beyond a single strong period to understand whether earnings and cash flow are repeatable. Financial statements, tax returns, working-capital needs, capital expenditures, and unusual items can all affect that assessment.
Durable cash flow
Cash generation supports operations, reinvestment, financing, and resilience. A buyer will ordinarily examine how accounting earnings convert to cash and what investment the company requires.
Business model and market position
Recurring or repeat revenue
Long-standing customer relationships, contracts, subscriptions, replenishment cycles, or repeat purchasing can make future demand more understandable. The quality and concentration of that revenue still matter.
Strong market position
We seek businesses with a clear role in their markets and a differentiated offering. Position can be supported by customer loyalty, capabilities, reputation, service quality, intellectual property, know-how, distribution, or other defensible strengths.
Established operating history
Our focus is established businesses with a meaningful operating history and proven offering, not startups built mainly around an untested concept.
Clear growth opportunities
We look for realistic avenues to strengthen the business over time. Growth potential must be assessed alongside execution risk, required investment, management capacity, and market conditions.
Geography
Duck Creek's published acquisition focus is established businesses across the United States. We do not claim industry, state, or city preferences that are not stated on the current site.
How we consider the whole business
Financial performance is a starting point. We may also consider customer relationships and concentration, management capabilities, employee and supplier dependencies, owner involvement, operational needs, working capital, capital expenditures, legal and regulatory matters, the company's market position, and the owner's transition goals. These are common evaluation areas, not additional public thresholds or automatic exclusions.
For a fuller explanation, read What Business Buyers Look For Before Making an Offer and How Buyers Value a Business.
A business does not need a polished sales package to start
An owner can begin with a concise, high-level overview. Approximate ranges are appropriate at the first stage. If the opportunity appears aligned, more detailed information can be organized and reviewed later. Owners should not alter records or present one-time improvements as permanent performance.
Not sure whether you fit?
If the company is near the stated ranges or its circumstances require explanation, use the qualification form to provide context. Duck Creek may need more information to determine whether a conversation makes sense.
See whether your business fits
Start with a high-level, non-confidential overview. Duck Creek Capital will consider the information against its acquisition criteria and determine whether a direct conversation makes sense.