Lansing runs on buildings that have to be spotless every single morning, from the state office complexes around the Capitol to the medical towers on Michigan Avenue to the classroom and lab space that feeds off Michigan State University in neighboring East Lansing. If you own a commercial cleaning or janitorial company here and you are starting to think about what comes next, Investera Holdings would like to talk. We are a Michigan family-operated buyer that acquires service businesses and keeps them running. We are not a broker looking for a listing and we are not a passive fund parking money. We buy companies like CT Cleaners and Optimal Facility Services, install a professional management layer, and operate them for the long haul.
Why Lansing owners are thinking about selling now
The Lansing janitorial market is unusually stable because so much of the demand comes from institutions that never close. State government keeps hundreds of thousands of square feet of office and public space in the tri-county area that has to be cleaned to a standard every night. Sparrow, now part of University of Michigan Health, and McLaren Greater Lansing added modern facilities that demand medical-grade cleaning and infection protocols. Property managers around Frandor, the downtown core, and the Delta Township corridor renew nightly service contracts year after year. That recurring, contract-anchored revenue is exactly what makes a well-run cleaning company valuable, and exactly what we are looking to own.
At the same time, most cleaning owners in this market are hitting the same walls. Labor is the whole game, and finding, training, and keeping crews through a Mid-Michigan winter is relentless. Margins get squeezed when a big contract goes out to bid, and the owner is usually still the person answering the 5 a.m. call-out when someone does not show. If you have built real routes, real supervisors, and real client relationships but you are tired of being the safety net, selling to an operator who will actually run the company, rather than strip it, may be the cleanest exit you can make.
Who we buy in the Lansing area
We are deliberately narrow about what we buy, because we intend to keep and operate every business we acquire. For a Lansing commercial cleaning company, the profile that fits us looks like this:
- Recurring or contract revenue, meaning nightly, weekly, or monthly janitorial routes and standing service agreements, not one-off move-out or post-construction jobs.
- Roughly $500K or more in annual revenue or seller discretionary earnings; if you are a little under that but growing, we still want to hear from you.
- A capable team already in place, with supervisors, crew leads, and cleaners who run their routes without the owner physically on site every night.
- A solid local reputation across Ingham County, shown by retained accounts, references you are proud of, and low contract churn.
- An owner who is open to a clean handoff, whether that means walking away after transition or staying on in a defined role for a season.
If most of that describes your company, the rest of the conversation is about fit and price, and it stays private. If you are missing one piece, tell us anyway; close is fine, and we would rather learn about a good Lansing cleaning business early than miss it.
What makes selling to Investera different
No broker fees. We are the buyer, not a middleman, so there is no listing commission and no success fee skimmed off your proceeds; the number we agree on is the number that matters to you.
A confidential process. Your crews, your competitors around Lansing, and your accounts hear nothing until you decide they should; early conversations happen directly between you and our family, under NDA.
Creative deal structures. Whether you want a clean cash sale, a seller note, an earnout tied to contract retention, or a phased transition, we can shape terms around your goals instead of forcing you into one template.
Operators, not a fund. We do not raise outside money to flip your company in three years; we install a general manager, keep your name and crews, and run the business as owner-operators for the long term.
How the process works
The path is designed to respect your time and your confidentiality. It starts with a short, private conversation, with no obligation and no listing agreement, where you tell us about the routes, the client mix, and what you want out of a sale. If there is mutual interest, we sign an NDA and look at a few years of financials and a contract summary so we can put a real, defensible offer in front of you, expressed as a range tied to your seller discretionary earnings. From there we agree on structure, complete straightforward due diligence, and set a transition plan that protects your accounts and your people. Most clean deals in this size range move from first call to close in a matter of a couple of months, not a year.
We will take care of what you built
What happens after closing is the part that separates us from a financial buyer. We put a dedicated general manager and a management layer in charge so the company keeps running the day after you hand over the keys. Supervisors keep their crews, clients keep their nightly service, and the phone still gets answered. We invest in the boring things that make cleaning companies durable: scheduling systems, quality checks, hiring pipelines, and equipment. Your reputation in Lansing is an asset we are buying, so we protect it. The goal is continuity, not a fire sale; the same business, run with more structure behind it.
Learn more about what we buy, see how we acquire commercial cleaning / janitorial businesses, or read about Investera Holdings.
Frequently asked questions
How much is my commercial cleaning business worth in Lansing?
Most healthy commercial cleaning and janitorial companies trade in a range of roughly 2.5 to 4 times seller discretionary earnings, with the multiple driven by contract quality, client retention, and how well the business runs without you. That is a typical range, not a guarantee; we look at your actual routes, margins, and churn before putting a number in writing. The stronger your recurring contracts and your supervisor bench, the closer you sit to the top of that range.
Will my clients and crews find out I am exploring a sale?
No. Everything starts under NDA and stays between you and our family. We do not contact your accounts, your competitors, or your employees, and nothing is announced until you are ready and the deal is done. Confidentiality protects your business value, so we treat it as non-negotiable.
Are there any broker fees or commissions?
None. Because we are the direct buyer and not a broker or an intermediary, there is no listing commission and no success fee taken out of your proceeds. You are not paying anyone to introduce us; you are talking to the people who will actually own and operate the company.
Can I stay involved after the sale, or do I have to leave?
Either works. Some owners want a clean break after a short transition; others want to stay on for a season to hand off relationships or keep a defined role. Because we install our own general manager, you are not trapped; you can hand over as much or as little as you want, on a timeline we agree on together.
How long does the whole process take?
For a business in this size range, a straightforward deal typically runs a couple of months from first conversation to close. It moves faster when your financials and contract list are organized, and we set the pace with you rather than rushing you toward a deadline.
What areas around Lansing do you buy in?
We buy throughout Greater Lansing and Ingham County, including East Lansing, Okemos, Holt, Mason, Delta Township, and DeWitt. If your routes cover the tri-county area or reach into neighboring communities, that is a fit; a wider service footprint usually makes a cleaning company more attractive, not less.
Start a confidential conversation
If you own a commercial cleaning or janitorial company in Lansing or anywhere in Ingham County and you have even started to wonder what a sale might look like, start a confidential conversation with Investera Holdings today. One call, no broker, no pressure, just a straight discussion about your business and what comes next.