Family office private investment firm
Clearwell Group
- HeadquartersTampa, FL S1
- Websiteclearwellgroup.com
- Last verifiedNovember 3, 2026
At a glance
| EBITDA range | $2M+ S2 |
|---|---|
| Deal types | Platform, Add-on, Minority S3 |
| Geography | Southeast US, Florida S3 |
| Sectors | Construction Services, Landscaping, Environmental & Waste, Industrial & Manufacturing |
What Clearwell Group buys
Clearwell Group is a Tampa family office whose direct investment program buys founder and family businesses in the Southeastern United States, with a particular focus on Florida. The firm also manages money, plans estates and advises on giving for client families, but the private equity program is the part that buys companies. It looks for $2 million or more of EBITDA and mostly takes control, though its releases say it also makes meaningful minority investments. Recent buys lean toward field services: traffic control, site development, commercial landscaping with an environmental division, and industrial boiler repair.
Deals are made through private funds that Clearwell advises, and the firm says it has no set deadline for selling a company. Founders and managers usually keep a significant stake and keep running the business, with lenders such as Patriot Capital, Northcreek Mezzanine and Centerfield Capital helping fund recent deals. Clearwell has grown holdings through add-ons before, including two for Iron Container and several for Valor Environmental, so a smaller company could fit alongside a current holding.
Recent deals
Announced in the 24 months before November 3, 2026.
| Date | Company | Type | Sector | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2025 | Flash-RiteCentral Florida traffic safety and control company founded in 1997; leadership keeps a significant stake, with Patriot Capital and Northcreek Mezzanine as capital partners | Platform | Construction Services | Source |
| September 2025 | Gaskins LeCrawExit of a Duluth, Georgia civil engineering and land surveying firm | Exit | Accounting & Professional Services | Source |
| April 2025 | Advanced Drying SystemsExit of a Tampa water damage restoration and mold remediation company serving Florida and Louisiana | Exit | Source | |
| Jan 2025 | Steadfast AllianceRecapitalization of a Florida commercial landscape and environmental services company; the president and management keep a significant stake | Platform | Landscaping | Source |
Portfolio by sector
From the firm's portfolio page S2.
Commercial Landscape Maintenance
- Steadfast Alliance
Industrial Services
- National Boiler Service
Infrastructure Services
- Flash-Rite
- Clear Companies
Manufacturing
- Iron Container
Past investments: Gaskins LeCraw, Advanced Drying Systems, Valor Environmental, Compass Surgical Partners, Encoda
Greymont’s take
How Clearwell Group fits a seller
Clearwell suits Southeastern founders, especially in Florida, who want to sell a majority but keep a real stake and keep running the company. In both of its 2025 platform deals, Steadfast Alliance and Flash-Rite, the leadership team stayed in place and kept significant equity, and mezzanine or bank lenders helped fund the purchase. Owners of trade and field service businesses, such as landscaping, traffic control, site work or environmental services, match what it has bought recently.
Because Clearwell is a family office without a fixed fund life, it may be more patient than a typical buyout fund, though it still sells: it exited Advanced Drying Systems and Gaskins LeCraw in 2025. Owners should ask how long Clearwell expects to hold the business, how much of the price is paid in cash at closing versus rolled equity, and how decisions are shared between the family office and management.
Questions owners ask
What size and type of company does Clearwell Group buy?
Its private equity page asks for Southeastern companies with $2 million or more of EBITDA. Its releases say it makes control and meaningful minority investments in the Southeastern United States, with a focus on Florida.
Do owners keep a stake after Clearwell invests?
Usually, yes. In the January 2025 Steadfast Alliance recapitalization and the December 2025 Flash-Rite deal, the existing leaders kept running the company and kept a significant ownership stake.
Does Clearwell have a deadline to sell its companies?
It says it does not. Its private equity page describes patient capital with no artificial time constraints, which sets it apart from a traditional fund that must sell within a fixed period.
Has Clearwell invested in environmental services?
Yes. It built Valor Environmental, an erosion control services company, through several combinations and sold it in 2024. Its current holding Steadfast Alliance runs an environmental division that handles wetland mitigation, pond maintenance and stormwater work alongside landscaping.
Sources
- S1Clearwell Group home page Accessed November 3, 2026
- S2Clearwell Group: Private Equity (goal, investment criteria, approach and portfolio, two pages) Accessed November 3, 2026
- S3Clearwell Group Completes New Platform Investment in Flash-Rite (December 22, 2025) Accessed November 3, 2026
- S4Clearwell Group Completes Successful Recapitalization of Steadfast Alliance (January 22, 2025) Accessed November 3, 2026
- S5Clearwell Group Successfully Exits Investment in Valor Environmental (July 9, 2024) Accessed November 3, 2026
- S6Clearwell Group acquires South Carolina-based Nu-Life Environmental (March 19, 2019) Accessed November 3, 2026
- S7Steadfast Alliance: Environmental Services Programs Accessed November 3, 2026
- S8Clearwell Group: News Accessed November 3, 2026
- S9Clear Companies home page Accessed November 3, 2026
Compiled by Greymont Advisors from public sources, including the firm’s own website and press releases. Greymont is not affiliated with Clearwell Group. Figures are as reported on the dates shown and may have changed. Request a correction