For Sellers
A fair valuation, a fast close, and a team that honors what you built. Full exit or flexible partnership, on your terms.
Your Life's Work. Sold Right.
Close in 60 Days
100% Confidential
Founder-Friendly Terms
Flexible Exit Structures
About ID AutoWorks
We're Building the Network the Industry Needs.
Independent auto repair is a $90 billion industry, and it's deeply fragmented. Thousands of great shops are owned by operators approaching retirement with no clear succession plan and no clean exit.
ID AutoWorks was built to solve that. We acquire strong independent shops across the Southeast, invest in their operations, and unify them under a standard that builds long-term trust — for sellers, for employees, and for customers.
For Operators
Network-backed resources, purchasing power, and operational infrastructure. Your team focuses on quality; we handle the rest.
For Customers
A trusted brand experience delivered consistently across every location in our growing network.
Rollover Equity
Sell Today. Own What It Becomes.
Most acquirers ask you to walk away with a check. We offer a structured alternative: take the majority of the proceeds in cash now, roll a portion into the parent network, and participate when it grows. Same shop, same team, real second bite.
At Close, on a $2.0M Deal
Illustrative example
60% Cash at close
$1,200,000
Wires inside the 60-day target. Yours, free and clear.
40% Rollover equity
$800,000
Becomes shares in the parent network. Stays in the game.
At the Liquidity Event, the Rollover Keeps Working.
When the network sells, refinances, or recapitalizes, your rolled equity converts to cash. Owners who took the all-cash exit do not participate. The chart below shows the delta on the same $2.0M starting deal under a hypothetical 2× appreciation.
Option A
All Cash Exit
Cash at close$2,000,000
At liquidity event$0
Total proceeds$2.0M
Option B
Cash + Rollover Equity
Cash at close$1,200,000
Equity at liquidity (2× illustrative)$1,600,000
Total proceeds$2.8M
+ $800K
40% more total proceeds at a 2× liquidity multiple. Stronger network exits scale the delta further.
Illustrative example based on a $2.0M starting deal, a 60/40 cash-to-rollover split, and a hypothetical 2× appreciation at the network's liquidity event. Real outcomes depend on network performance, hold period, deal structure, taxes, and timing. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Not a guarantee. Consult your CPA and counsel before structuring a deal.
Exit Structures
More Than One Way to Exit Well.
Three structures. Choose the one that fits the life you want next. We are happy to walk through the trade-offs.
Full Exit
100% cash at close. Step away clean on a defined timeline.
- All cash, no equity rollover
- Transition period of 30 to 180 days
- Optional consulting arrangement
- No earnout required
Partial Exit + Stay On
Take most of the value off the table. Stay involved as an owner-operator without the daily weight.
- 60 to 80% cash at close
- Rollover equity in the parent network
- Defined role and compensation
- Equity converts at future liquidity events
Earnout Structure
Maximize total proceeds by tying part of the price to performance milestones you help deliver.
- Base cash at close
- Earnout over 12 to 36 months
- Transparent, measurable targets
- Often combined with rollover equity
Plain-English Answers
Common Questions on Rollover Equity.
Most sellers haven't seen this structure before. Here are the four questions we hear first.
What does "rolling equity" actually mean?
Instead of taking 100% of the sale price in cash, you take part of it as ownership in the parent company that buys your shop. You become a shareholder in the network. If the network grows in value, your shares grow with it. When the network sells, refinances, or recapitalizes, your shares convert to cash.
Will I still have a say in how my shop runs?
If you stay on, yes. As an owner you have skin in the game. Most rollover owners stay involved for one to three years and then transition out at their pace. The team you trained keeps running the shop.
Why would I roll equity instead of taking all cash?
Three reasons. First, your second bite. The chart above shows the delta at a 2× exit. Second, tax treatment. Properly structured rollovers can defer capital gains under IRC Section 351 or similar provisions. Third, you stay in something you helped build, without the daily operational weight.
When do I see the rollover proceeds?
Cash portion wires at close, typically inside sixty days. Rollover equity sits in the parent company and converts to cash on a defined liquidity event. We will walk you through expected timing in plain language before you sign anything.
Have a question we did not answer? Book a 30-minute confidential call. No commitment.
Book a CallAcquisition Criteria
What We Look For.
We are selective on purpose. If your shop fits most of the criteria below, we should talk. Outside the lines but close? Reach out anyway.
Revenue
$1M to $10M in annual revenue. Profitable over the past three years. Sustainable margins. Not a turnaround story.
Location
Georgia, Florida, the Carolinas, Tennessee, Alabama. Adjacent Southeast geographies considered case by case.
Team
ASE-certified technicians who plan to stay. Tenure matters. Talent is the hardest thing to replace, and we invest in retaining it.
Reputation
Strong reviews. Repeat customers. A brand the community trusts. The intangibles matter as much as the financials.
Systems
Modern shop management software. Digital DVI. Equipment in working order. We can upgrade what needs upgrading.
Profile
Owner-operated. Healthy operating margins. An owner who cares about what happens next, not just the check.
Our Process
Simple. Transparent. Built to Close.
Four steps. Sixty days. No surprises. You can stop the process at any point.
01
Week 1
Initial Conversation
A 30-minute call, fully confidential. We learn about your shop. You learn about us. No P&L required at this stage.
02
Weeks 2 to 3
Valuation & LOI
You share financials under NDA. We deliver a written valuation and a Letter of Intent with a real number and clear terms.
03
Weeks 4 to 7
Due Diligence
Our team verifies what you have shared. The number on the LOI is the number we close at, barring material findings.
04
Week 8 to 9
Close & Transition
Funds wire. Documents sign. We work with you on a transition plan that respects your team, your customers, and the brand you built.
Our Team
250+ Years of Combined Automotive & M&A Experience.
We're operators and investors who've been in the industry. Not financial buyers who need to learn the business after the deal.
Michael Gaenzler
Chairman
25+ years of global automotive leadership. Veteran of Bosch and Rexroth. Understands the dedication it takes to build an independent shop.
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Dale Bailey
Chief Executive Officer
Proven turnaround executive. Led successful operations and integrations with a focus on preserving team culture and customer relationships.
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Cecil Bullard
Board Director
40+ years in auto repair as a shop owner and industry coach. Has advised thousands of shop owners on operations, succession, and growth.
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Gary Letkemann
Board Director
Fixed operations expert who led service departments at major automotive groups. Deep expertise in shop efficiency and technician retention.
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Phil Thorogood
Board Director
Led major automotive M&A transactions at Cox Automotive. Expert in post-merger transitions that protect shop culture and people.
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D'Angelo Mitchell
VP, Business Development
Strategic architect behind our Southeast roll-up. Passionate about helping retiring shop owners achieve a smooth, dignified exit.
LinkedIn ↗Start a Conversation
Find Out What Your Shop Is Worth.
A 30-minute confidential call. NDA from word one. No pressure, no committee, no broker.
- 100% confidential. NDA covers the conversation from day one.
- Written valuation inside 14 days of receiving financials.
- Sixty-day target from signed LOI to wire transfer.
- Your team and customer relationships stay intact.
- You can stop the process at any point. We will not push back.
Direct contact
info@idautoworks.com