We Work with the Few
Who Think in Generations

BluGrowth exists for owners who have already built something worth buying and want to make it worth keeping.

We help owner-led manufacturers and industrial distributors design resilience, strengthen cash flow, and prepare for expansion or exit—without giving up control.

Our clients are not looking for shortcuts. They are building companies that endure through markets, leadership transitions, and generations.

Benchmark the 10%

Resilience is not grit. It is the deliberate design of systems that prevent reliance on heroics.

At BluGrowth, we use the Resilience Hierarchy, a practical model based on the Theory of Constraints, to identify and resolve the single limitation holding a company back.

Each level of the hierarchy builds on the one before it:

  • Survival: Liquidity and cash discipline

  • Control: Reliable data and operational visibility

  • Reliability: Quality, delivery, and customer trust

  • Professionalism: Management depth and accountability

  • Scale: Strategy deployment and sustained momentum

  • Innovation: Optionality and modernization

  • Legacy: Governance and succession

Companies move up and down these levels over time. The discipline lies in knowing where you are and focusing on what matters most next.

Practical for machine shops, fabrication, precision machining, contract manufacturing, and industrial distribution, especially in high-mix/low-volume (HMLV) environments.

How We Work

Constraint-First Focus

We cut through noise to identify the single bottleneck throttling performance; the lever that frees cash and unlocks growth.

90-Day Fix Sprints

We execute focused projects that fix the constraint in 90 days, delivering immediate impact and momentum without wasted effort.

Hands-On Expertise

Our advisors bring decades in industry and practical experience with the very constraints we address — giving you operator-level insight, not theory.

Objective & Independent

We work only for you, the owner. We’re not tied to banks, brokers, or buyers. Our recommendations are unbiased and aligned with your interests.

  • A Value Creation Advisor is the team that helps you professionalize your investment in your own business. In private equity, VCA teams make portfolio companies perform by allocating capital wisely, fixing constraints, and compounding growth.

    At BluGrowth, we do the same for owner-operated manufacturers and distributors — without equity dilution or fund fees. You already own the hardest part: the business. We bring the discipline to help it break out of the flat middle.

    Want more detail? See our [Lifecycle page →] for the full explanation.

Start with Clarity:
The 2-Week Industrial SMB Assessment

Before you commit to a sprint, know exactly what’s holding you back.

Rapid diagnostic across Sales, Operations, and Finance to pinpoint the constraint, quantify impact (OTD, WIP, FPY, EBITDA), and produce a prioritized 90-day sprint.

In just two weeks, we run a rapid diagnostic to uncover the single constraint throttling your business. You’ll know where cash is trapped, how it affects your financing position, and what fix will create the biggest impact. No wasted time. No guesswork.

  • Clear diagnosis of your #1 constraint

  • Impact analysis (cash flow, margins, lender credibility)

  • Prioritized action plan for a 90-day fix

  • Objective perspective from experts with decades of industry experience

By the end of two weeks, you’ll have clarity, confidence, and a plan. Some owners stop here. Most roll straight into a 90-day sprint with a clear plan on how to fix.

Learn more
Joe Surber

30+ years in industrials and B2B • $250M P&L leadership • MIT & McKinsey-trained • Six Sigma Black Belt

Our origin story

When we worked inside global industrials and top-tier private equity, we saw firsthand how firms decide which businesses are worth betting on. The real edge wasn’t just money. It was the discipline to identify and fix the single constraint throttling performance — and the leadership to execute with focus.

For years, owner-operators assumed those advantages were only available if they sold equity. The truth is, you don’t need to wait for an exit to access them.

At BluGrowth, we bring capital partners, proven management processes, and experienced leadership capacity together in one place. And because we’re independent — not a bank, not a broker, not selling a financial product — we work directly in your interest. Our mission is simple: help you realize the value of your business today, while building toward the legacy you’ll leave tomorrow.

Proof in Action

“Within 60 days, cash moved, margins ticked up, and we recapitalized at a much better rate.”

— President, $20M Manufacturer

Over 30 years, we’ve helped more than 120 organizations increase earnings by an average of 74% within three years.

EBITDA margin: 22.5% → 24.7% (+220 bps)

Working capital % sales: 15% → 8% (cash released)

Pipeline coverage: 1.3× → 2.6×

Financing terms: Tight → Improved (lower cost of capital)

Ready to become a 10%?

Most firms talk about exit value. We focus on value now.

If growth feels harder than it should, let’s uncover the constraint holding you back.

Take the FREE Assessment