Who We Are
Carrying Place Holdings is led by Scott Stirrett, a Canadian entrepreneur, author, and experienced organizational leader. Scott founded Venture for Canada, a national charity that has raised more than $80 million and helped over 10,000 young Canadians build entrepreneurial skills and gain meaningful work experience.
Over more than a decade, Scott built and led Venture for Canada through the day to day realities of running a growing organization. He hired and managed teams, oversaw budgets and payroll, built systems, navigated difficult personnel decisions, developed major customer and partner relationships, and ultimately helped transition leadership to a successor. For his contributions to entrepreneurship and opportunities for young Canadians, Scott received the Meritorious Service Medal from the Governor General of Canada.
The name Carrying Place comes from a historic Canadian term for a portage, a place where people carried goods and canoes between waterways. It reflects the importance of stewardship, continuity, and helping something valuable move successfully from one stage to the next.
Scott is now focused full time on acquiring and leading one enduring Canadian business, building on its success while supporting its employees and customers for the long term.
Why Carrying Place
1
Respect for Sellers
Scott spent more than a decade building Venture for Canada and ultimately transitioned leadership to a successor. He knows that handing over something you have built is about much more than price. Employees, customers, reputation, and the future of the company matter.
2
Long Term Orientation
Carrying Place is seeking one business to own and operate for the long term. The goal is to protect what already works, support the people who made the company successful, and invest steadily in its future.
3
Operator Led
Scott spent more than a decade building and leading Venture for Canada. That meant hiring and leading teams, managing budgets and payroll, building systems, dealing with difficult personnel decisions, solving problems when things went wrong, and being accountable for results.
4
Canadian Network
Scott has built relationships with business owners, operators, advisers, lenders, and professionals across Canada. He can draw on that experience and expertise when needed while remaining the principal decision maker and full time operator.
Are we the right fit for your business transition?
Business Profile
What We Are Looking For
We are looking for an established, profitable business in Ontario, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, or Nova Scotia with a strong operating history, loyal customers, repeat or recurring demand, and a capable team.
We are particularly interested in companies with consistent cash flow and a clear reason customers continue to rely on them year after year.
Scott was born in Hamilton, Ontario, raised in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, and has longstanding ties to both Ontario and the Maritimes.
Financial Profile
Target Size
Our primary focus is businesses generating approximately $1 million to $3.5 million in EBITDA, a common measure of annual operating earnings.
We are flexible on size for the right company, particularly where there is a strong customer base, an established team, and a good long term fit.
Sector Focus
Businesses We Are Interested In
We are interested in strong business to business service and specialized industrial companies with loyal customers, repeat demand, and products or services that customers rely on.
This can include inspection, testing, maintenance, safety, training, specialized manufacturing, equipment services, and other essential business services. We are open to companies across a range of industries.
Owner Fit
Who We Hope to Work With
We are looking to work with owners who care about what happens after the sale.
The best fit is an owner who wants a fair transaction, a respectful transition, and a buyer who will protect the company’s reputation, employees, customers, and legacy.
Our Values
For an owner, selling a business is personal. Our values guide how we approach the transaction, the transition, and the responsibility that comes after.
01
Stewardship
We believe a good business should be cared for, not treated as a short term trade. Reputation, relationships, and operating knowledge deserve respect.
03
Clarity
We believe in being direct, prepared, and respectful. Owners and advisors should know where we stand, what we are evaluating, and what a good transition could look like.
02
Canadian
We believe enduring Canadian businesses deserve owners who understand their role in local economies, customer relationships, and community life.
04
Founder Respect
We understand what it means to build something over many years. A sale should respect the judgment, effort, relationships, and sacrifices that made the business valuable in the first place.
Start a Conversation
If you own a business, advise business owners, or know of a company that may be a fit, Scott would be glad to hear from you.
Carrying Place Holdings is looking to acquire and operate one strong Canadian business for the long term. We welcome confidential conversations with owners, brokers, lawyers, accountants, lenders, and investors. You can also email us at scott@carryingplaceholdings.com.
