Acquiring a business in Ottawa.

A search for a profitable business in Ottawa, $1–3M EBITDA, where the owner is ready to transition to a young, motivated operator who will lead the company through its next stage of growth. Long-term operator hold.

What I’m looking for

  • Size$1–3M EBITDA · $4–15M enterprise value
  • GeographyOttawa region
  • ProfileProfitable, owner-operated, succession-driven sale
  • IndustriesCommercial & B2B services, established trades, distribution, healthcare services, manufacturing
  • EdgeAI-resilient core; operations measurably improvable through technology and process discipline

What I’m avoiding

  • Pure SaaSSmall niche SaaS businesses without a further moat (e.g. hardware) will be eaten by AI
  • Restaurants & retailMargins, capex cycles, customer-acquisition risk
  • Declining marketsStructural headwinds dressed as turnarounds
  • Asset-heavyCapital-intensive industries requiring continuous reinvestment

Local owner

An Ottawa native investing for the long term. Not looking to flip the business in 5 years.

Legacy preserved

Continuity for employees, customers, and the brand the seller built. Long hold, no breakup.

Fresh energy

Younger operator with the capacity to lead the next stage of growth, supported by a senior advisory board.

Julian Picard
An Ottawa native returning home to acquire and operate.

I grew up in Orleans, playing and coaching soccer for the Gloucester Hornets and curling with my father at the Navan Curling Club. I spent the last 10 years starting my career in Toronto, studying finance at the University of Toronto, and working with some of Canada’s top operators and investors through the Creative Destruction Lab.

My early work with investors and M&A advisors first surfaced an interest in buying and operating businesses, and that has been the through-line ever since: working closely with founders and senior operators to launch new products, manage large programs, and help established businesses improve processes with modern technology. I’ve worked with founders and operators across industries including telecommunications, trades, industrials, insurance, B2B SaaS, and more.

I’m now looking to return home and acquire and run a single business for the long term.

01
Intro conversation
A relaxed, confidential first chat. With an owner, I want to understand the business — its history, people, and where it’s headed.
02
Fit & information
If there’s mutual interest, we sign an NDA and exchange basic numbers and context to confirm fit on both sides.
03
Structure together
We shape terms around what the owner wants — price, timing, seller financing, transition, and the future of the team and brand.
04
Diligence & close
Confirm the details, arrange financing, and complete a clean handover with continuity for employees and customers.
Contact me
julian@julianpicard.ca
Introductions, deal leads, and conversations all welcome.