By Will Burnett
At Owner Resource Group, we’ve always believed that numbers tell only part of the story. While EBITDA (how fun!), margins, and market position all matter, the single most important factor we evaluate when underwriting an investment is the people behind the business. A great company doesn’t run itself. It’s built, shaped, and sustained by the leaders, operators, and teams who show up every day with purpose.
Before we ever sign a letter of intent, we invest a large amount of time getting to know the founders, management teams, and employees who make a business what it is. It’s the foundation of our process.
This people-first philosophy is about alignment. When we partner with a business, we’re committing to a multi-year journey together, and the quality of that journey depends entirely on shared values. We’ve seen firsthand that businesses led by strong, motivated teams outperform even the most attractive financial models. We make sure the people who got us here are the ones who benefit from where we’re going – through management ownership programs, collaborative decision-making, and a real commitment to preserving company culture and legacy.
Our job isn’t to swoop in and take over. It’s to be a resource for the people who’ve already built something great.
We ask ourselves a few questions: Do we believe in this team? Do we trust their vision? Can we add real value to their mission? And will we have fun working together? When the answers are yes, the financial opportunity follows.
That’s what makes underwriting at ORG different. We’re not just buying businesses, we’re investing in the people who built it.