About

 

bell lap

⌙ Sport. The final lap of a track and field or velodrome cycling event. This bell signifies the final push, the highly strategic, approach to the finish line - the pinnacle of the event.

⌙ Business. A firm based in Bend, Oregon delivering M&A advisory services to small and lower mid-market outdoor recreation and active lifestyle industries. Helping business owners through the final push, the highly strategic, approach to the finish line.

 
A bird's eye view of two surfboarders paddling across vibrant seawater

Bell Lap Advisors advises founders, entrepreneurs, families, and Private Equity professionals on M&A for outdoor recreation and active lifestyle.

Bell Lap Advisors is solely focused on outdoor recreation and active lifestyle businesses. Our clients represent cycling, camping, hiking, ski and snow sports, trail running, motorsports, RV, fishing, overlanding, climbing, skateboarding, yoga, paddle sports, and more. We solely focus on small and lower mid-market businesses with most of our transactions being between $5-100m USD in size, and we have experience closing deals with buyers and sellers in the USA, Canada, EU, Australia, and Asia.
Based in Bend, Oregon, when we aren’t working, we are experiencing the outdoors ourselves. Our team of entrepreneurs, executives, and investment banker understands a business is not widget and is more than it’s EBITDA and Balance Sheet. By being highly-focused and experiences in these industries, we are able to craft a clear story to maximize the value of the business, from brand position, consumer segmentation, channel strategy, supply chain resources, intellectual property, and more. We are driven to help our clients achieve a best-in-class transaction for price, terms, values, and legacy.

Our Values

Logo of scales

BALANCE

We believe in optimizing the life experience and strive for healthy balance for ourselves and the clients we advise. We use modern technology for maximizing efficiency and flexibility in scheduling, travel, and mobility for a virtual workspace.

Logo of a handshake

TRUST

Trust is earned through knowledge, judgment, integrity, and discretion. We understand that without earning our clients’ trust, we cannot be effective advisors.

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CREATIVITY

By keeping an open mind and staying curious, we explore ways to drive value for our clients in all areas of their business and finding new categories of potential buyers in unique areas.

Logo of two mountains close together

COMMUNITY

We work in outdoor and active lifestyle categories because this is our passion, our lifestyle, and our community. We aim to be a positive impact on this community and the values it represents.

Industry Focus

  • Cycling and Mountain Biking

  • Paddle Sports and Watersports

  • RV and Adventure Van Conversions

  • Powersports and Moto

  • Ski and Snow Sports

  • Camping and Hiking

  • Overlanding and Auto Accessories

  • Hunting and Fishing

  • Yoga and Fitness

  • Trail Running

  • Surf and Skate

  • eBikes and Micromobility

  • Adventure Travel and Gear Storage

  • Climbing and Mountaineering

  • Wake and Wind Sports

  • A banner featuring many outdoor activities such as camping, fishing, ATV riding, skateboarding, biking, etc.
 

This is Our Passion

While our team has experience and perspective from many industries (including technology, health and wellness, and natural food and beverage), our sole focus at Bell Lap Advisors is in the active lifestyle and outdoor recreation industries. Why? Because this is our passion. It’s where we spend our lives, both in work and play. We feel that devotion and passion help us to understand the industry at the highest level. Spending our time in this industry has allowed us to build a strong network and deep relationships so we can more quickly and efficiently to contact decision-makers at various businesses, holding companies, Private Equity Funds, and Family Offices to run a competitive process and make as little noise in the market as possible, leading to a top outcome while being a discrete process.

  • Price tag

    Branded Hard & Soft Goods Consumer Products

  • Storefront

    Retailers & Distributors

  • A product being delivered in a box

    Manufacturers & Suppliers

  • A computer

    Technology

  • A network

    Professional Service & Logistics

“I appreciate the time spent learning about my values and my business goals, and then creating unique solutions without imposing other’s philosophies on our business.”

⌙ Jenn // Founder @ Machines for Freedom

You can find us at many industry events:

While we are industry focused and our clients share that in common, our engagements cover a wide range of sizes, and backgrounds.

The following represents a few common client profiles: 

  • A pop-up camper

    “First Bite”

    • Growing, profitable business

    • Founder has developed the business as far as their skills allow

    • Seeking to bring capital and strategic value to the business to accelerate growth and professionalize the business

    • Owner seeking wealth diversification since the majority of their net worth may be in the business

    • Founder open to selling all or a significant stake in the business to gain an actively-involved partner to help operate the business.

    • Post-transaction, may stay with the company in a more focused role doing what they are good at and enjoy, or move away from the business entirely

    • Seeking a strategic or financial investor/acquirer

    • Privately-held business in the USA, Canada, or EU

    • Want a partner with aligned values and the best outcome for price, terms, and timing

  • A cyclist rides her bike in a rocky area

    “Succession”

    • $5-100+ million Gross revenue, and profitable

    • Founder at the limit of their abilities

    • Founder, shareholders seeking liquidity, wealth diversification

    • Owner is ready to step away from the business, retire, or move away from day-to-day operations, post-transaction, may move to a board-level role

    • Seeking a strategic or financial acquirer

    • Privately-held business in the USA, Canada, or EU

    • Want a partner with aligned values and the best outcome for price, terms, and timing

    • Seeking wealth diversification, generational financial security

    • Want to working with new owners to replace their roles and responsibilities

    • Looking for a proper steward for the business to maintain values and future success

  • A father and daughter biking together and smiling

    “Platform”

    • Private equity group, family office, holding company, conglomerate, or prominent industry business seeking to build a platform in outdoor recreation or add acquisitions to their current platform

    • Looking for industry-specific guidance on which segments to potentially enter

    • Seeking strategic value in addition to revenue; product mix, sales channel expertise, supply chain resources, geographic expansion, marketing skills, etc

    • Want to understand the underlying trends and drivers

    • Need help identifying target businesses to acquire

    • Seeking Introductions to business owners and decision-makers