A Framework for transitioning from an owner-operated company to a management-run company

ACE stands for Acquira Certified Enterprise. An ACE is a company that adheres to a change management framework that emphasizes culture, systems, and servant leadership.

An ACE is a systematized company that grows under its own power.
An ACE is a management and budget-run company with accountability generated through regular P&L meetings.
An ACE is a company that believes in growing servant leaders.
An ACE is a company that improves its community.
An ACE is a company that improves the lives of everyone in its orbit.

To find out how integrated your business is, take this quiz:

Accelerator Testimonial

ACE helps you build your leadership team and educate them in the following areas:

Forming the leadership team, and keeping its member engaged, committed, and aligned
Defining and living by your Mission, Vision and Values
Creating departmental missions and departmental Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for each department
Designing compensation and bonus structures
Maintaining a forward-looking org chart
Building an advisory board of companies 3-5 years ahead of you
Strategic Planning – for the short-term (1-3 year), mid-term (4-7 years) and your long-term BHAG (10+ years)
Making data-based decisions around resource allocation
Running off-site workshops that create OKRs/Rocks and ensuring the leadership team delivers on them
Running board presentations

Creating job descriptions with deliverables that are linked to procedures with success metrics
How to implement structured communication, including team meetings, one-on-one meetings and performance reviews
Creating and maintaining an employee handbook
Onboarding & training procedures
Hiring procedures
Designing career progression paths
Creating a culture where ideas flow in all directions
Conducting regular P&C audits
Human Resources Management Systems – Payroll, Time-tracking, Paid leave, etc.
Organizing events and off-site leadership sessions

Scheduling and dispatch procedures, scripts, and KPIs
Customer Service training, procedures, checklists and KPIs
Procedures, checklists, and KPIs for technicians
Warehouse and inventory software, procedures, checklists, and KPIs
OSHA and EPA Compliance
Equipment maintenance procedures, checklists, and KPIs
Fleet procurement procedures, checklists, and KPIs
Conducting operational audits
Implementing ERP for Operations and Finance

Bidding and estimation procedures, scripts, and KPIs
Project management training, procedures, checklists and KPIs
Procedures, checklists, and KPIs for builders
Purchasing/Procurement procedures, checklists and KPIs
Warehouse and inventory software, procedures, checklists, and KPIs
OSHA and EPA Compliance
Equipment maintenance procedures, checklists, and KPIs
Fleet and equipment procurement procedures, checklists, and KPIs
Conducting operational audits
Implementing ERP for Operations and Finance

Understanding revenue and creating financial forecasts based on AR, WIP and backlog.
Cash flow Management – Ensuring the company never runs out of money
Building a price book in order to keep gross margins in the top 75th percentile in the industry
Creating segmented income statements to understand contribution margin by segment and what work the business should focus on
Calculating Expected Value on capital allocation projects
Completing financial budgets for each department and keeping department head accountable
Reducing SG&A and turning fixed costs into variable costs where possible
Reducing the cash conversion cycle
Reducing cost of capital

Creating and promoting customer personas and honing value propositions
Branding for the company (new website, and promotional materials)
Creating a multi-channel, scalable customer acquisition strategy that utilizes digital and traditional channels (typically local SEO, PPC, TV ads, direct marketing)
Process and training for a scalable sales prospecting strategy done offshore
Building the KPIs for the sales department, creating and iterating on training, scripts, and holding call review meetings and lead pipeline meetings
Process for validating new markets and new products

Why We Created ACE

During our first acquisitions, many of our partners were not ready to take over a business. They were overwhelmed and this led to a low quality of life. They became owner-operators, just like the sellers.

This Framework was battle tested on several businesses and has led to a completely different owner experience and a significantly improved company culture.

If you’d like to learn more, schedule a call today

ACE Integration

The Acquira Certified Enterprise (ACE) Framework is a change management system designed to integrate, systematize, and grow newly acquired businesses, with a special emphasis on culture, systems, and servant leadership.

ACE Integration is the perfect tool for post-acquisition growth.

The ACE Integration process typically takes at least one year to complete. We highly recommend on-site coaching from and ACE Certified Integrator. This would include four in-depth workshops, as well as six additional “Solution Visits” from Framework Specialists.

As an Accelerator customer, you will receive access to all of our training materials, including our extensive systems and procedures.

If you like integrator support, it is available typically as part of our equity participation in a deal.

Our Track Record

30+ companies

$50M+

Since 2015, Acquira has acquired over 30 companies and invested in more than $50 million worth of small businesses.

In the last year, we’ve created one roll-up that we plan to take public in 2023. We know how to acquire businesses, implement systems, build culture, and create companies that allow owners to grow their own wealth and freedom.

That’s why we created The ACE Framework, a change management framework designed to grow an ownership-run business into a management-run business.

Meet The Coaches & Integrators

Our coaches have backgrounds in entrepreneurship, investment banking, private equity, and business operations. We’re here to help ensure that each business we work with is posed to make the biggest positive impact possible for its owners, employees, and community.

Quinn Huffman

Director of Operations

Quinn has served as Director of Operations and Director of Acquisitions for Acquira. He was the interim General Manager for a midwestern plumbing company and has overseen the integration of a number of home services businesses that Acquira has worked with.

Brian Stroh

Integrator

Brian has worn multiple hats over the years, from founder & CEO of his own companies to a management consultant where he delivered on-site Change Management Consulting, identifying constraints and creating plans to correct, metrics to measure and accountability to resolve.

Hayden Miyamoto

Co-Founder

Hayden is the co-founder of Wired Investors, Kingmakers, and Acquira. He has boot-strapped several 6 and 7-figure businesses and invested in over 30. He has deep experience developing systems to scale businesses. He is an investor and adviser and sits on the board of several companies.

Case Studies & Learning Material

How to Transition from an Owner-Run to a Management-Run Business?

What You’ll Learn The difference between an owner-run company and a management-run company.How resources, priorities, and processes work together to make your business more efficient.Why culture and core values are integral to forming a management-run company. The vast majority of the businesses that Acquira works with are owner-run when we…

How To Run Great Workshops

What You’ll Learn The purpose and ideal cadence for regular workshopsThe most effective way to run a workshopWho should attend a workshop and whyWhat should be communicated in a workshopHow to adapt on the fly When Acquira’s team first walked into the offices of the Southeastern HVAC company, it was…

How To Build An Effective Leadership Team For A Company Of Any Size

What You’ll Learn What a leadership team doesWho should be on a leadership team and whyHow to identify potential leadersHow to make sure all members of the leadership team are on the same pageWhy everyone needs critical numbers Effective leadership is one of the most important pillars of any organization.…

Case Study: How Company Culture Can Be Used To Grow A Business

What You’ll Learn: How the Acquira leadership team helped improve a $3 million+ company by cultivating its existing culture.How investing in people culture can improve overall morale and efficiency.Why a new buyer should strive for a complete understanding of the business they buy.How understanding a company’s culture can reveal growth…

Effective One on One Meetings: How to Drive Team Harmony Post-Acquisition

What You’ll Learn: Why you need to fix one-on-ones with your new teamWhat to do before and during a one-on-one meetingWhat to discuss during 1:1s with your new employeesQuick do’s and don’ts for workplace one-on-one meetingsHow to use 1:1s to turn employees into positive change initiators Introduction Acquisitions are great;…

How To Implement An SEO Strategy For Your Business

What You’ll Learn: Starting from level zero to create an effective SEO strategyHow to dominate the search engine result pages in your industryHow to find the keywords your ideal customer is using to search for youPositioning your business as a trustworthy authority on the internetAvoid wasting your content creation effort…

Why Every Business Needs An Operating Model: Demand Planning and Forecasting

What You’ll Learn What an Operating Model isThe first steps in designing an Operating ModelHow those steps were applied to a real businessUsing the Operating Model to determine ROI on core sales positionsHow to use the Operating Model to create clarity, delegate responsibility, and define scorecardsUsing an Operating Model to…

Uploading a Brain: A Training Sequence For Career Progression

Last week we talked about how you can download an owner's brain to create an employee skills matrix. This week, we're going to explain how to upload that knowledge in order to create an effective training sequence for the business. By clearly defining the role of each individual within an…

6 Reasons Why You Should Be Designing A Systematic Framework For Your Business

Before we dive into the benefits of creating and polishing a systematic framework, let’s define it, and understand where the concept came from. What is a Systematic Framework? A systematic framework is a process that people or machines follow when performing a repeatable activity or activities. Systematic frameworks can be…

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