How a Tech Executive found a scalable manufacturing business with Baton
Ann Li
February 27, 2025 ⋅ 3 min read
Joel Ifill, a former tech executive with a background in welding engineering and a passion for revitalizing U.S.-based manufacturing, sought a business that offered both profitability and scalability. His journey highlights how Baton became more than just a platform for market comparables – it became the key to unlocking a strategic acquisition.
About the buyer
Name: Joel Ifill
Previous Roles: Welding Engineer, CTO of a startup
Current Role: Co-owner of Elite Industrial Sales
Business Interests: Manufacturing, Digital Transformation
The challenges
Joel, having grown weary of the venture capital treadmill, sought a business with positive cash flow and growth potential. He and his partner set out with a clear thesis: to find a niche manufacturing business in the Los Angeles area that they could scale. Their initial search involved:
Internal Due Diligence through Consulting: Leveraging Joel's consulting work with aerospace firms to uncover potential acquisition targets.
Marketplace Browsing for Comparables: Using online marketplaces to gather data and assess business valuations.
Why Baton?
Initially, Joel turned to Baton to pull market comparables for a potential acquisition he was already considering. However, he soon realized the businesses listed on Baton offered superior opportunities.
"We pulled some comparables, and wait a second... These numbers are better than the one we're looking at," Joel recalls, highlighting the moment he shifted his focus to Baton's listings.
From industry research to closing
Here's what Joel's Baton journey looked like:
Data-Rich Platform: Baton's platform provided a wealth of information and useful metrics, allowing Joel to quickly filter and identify businesses that aligned with his criteria.
Exceptional Data Room: Impressed by the comprehensiveness of the seller's data room, Joel gained confidence in the business's potential.
Efficient Due Diligence: Baton facilitated a streamlined due diligence process, enabling Joel and his partner to conduct thorough financial and market analysis, as well as assess the fit with the sellers.
Advisor Support: The Baton advisor played a crucial role in guiding both the buyers and sellers through the acquisition process, smoothing out any friction, and ensuring a clear path to closing.
"It was great at identifying businesses in our segment that had the indicators I was looking for at a quick glance, without having to pull an NDA," Joel noted, emphasizing the platform's efficiency.
The outcome
Joel and his partner successfully acquired Elite Industrial Sales, a manufacturing business that aligned with their vision for growth and digital transformation. They are now focused on scaling the business and leveraging its positive cash flow to acquire additional companies.
Joel's advice
"Don't fall in love first. Run your due diligence process. Understand the numbers. Understand the risks," Joel advises other prospective buyers.
He believes that there are more businesses for sale than there are buyers and encourages others to take action and pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. He also emphasizes the importance of finding a business you'll enjoy running.
Thinking About Buying a Business?
If you're a prospective business buyer seeking a platform that offers comprehensive data, streamlined processes, and expert support, explore Baton today.
"I looked at some of the competitors, BizBuySell, et cetera, but a lot of them, they just kind of feel like a real estate listing... I was very presently surprised by Baton. It was just much more information-rich and just much more depth behind the data there."