Family office
Willcrest Partners
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, CA S5
- Websitewillcrest.com
- Last verifiedNovember 3, 2026
At a glance
| EBITDA range | $2M to $7M S2 |
|---|---|
| Deal types | Platform, Minority S5 |
| Geography | North America S5 |
| Sectors | IT Services & MSP, Software & SaaS, Insurance Brokerage, Accounting & Professional Services, Industrial & Manufacturing |
What Willcrest Partners buys
Willcrest Partners is a San Francisco family office that puts long-term capital into established, profitable companies. Its partners have run businesses as well as invested in them: Bret Forster led Pearce Services as chief executive for about ten years after Willcrest bought it from a retiring founder in 2014. Its main deal is a majority recapitalization, and its engineering page says it is also open to minority deals. It looks for niche B2B services, technology-enabled services and specialty industrial companies, and it has published two current themes: engineering services for utilities, data centers and industry, and a tech-enabled tax accounting platform.
Its core range is $2 million to $7 million of EBITDA, with at least three years of profits for engineering targets. The tax accounting plan aims lower, at $500,000 to $5 million of EBITDA. Willcrest keeps a small portfolio and cites an average hold of more than 10 years. Its latest deal, Requordit in August 2025, was the first company placed in Willcrest Holdco, a long-term holding company for tech-enabled business services.
Recent deals
Announced in the 24 months before November 3, 2026.
| Date | Company | Type | Sector | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2025 | RequorditFounder-led Hyland OnBase partner for document and workflow automation that also sells its own AP and AR software; the first company in Willcrest Holdco | Platform | IT Services & MSP | Source |
Portfolio by sector
From the firm's portfolio page S3.
Industrial & Manufacturing
- Precision Aerospace
Insurance Brokerage
- Birch Risk Advisors
IT Services & MSP
- Requordit
Past investments: Pearce Services, Spear Power Systems, Worldwide Healthstaff Solutions
Greymont’s take
How Willcrest Partners fits a seller
Willcrest fits an owner who wants a long-term owner rather than a buyer planning a resale in four or five years. Its holds run past a decade, and its partners have taken operating roles at portfolio companies, so a seller should expect hands-on help with systems, hiring and add-on deals. The Pearce story on its site shows the approach: Willcrest bought the company from a retiring founder, and a Pearce executive credits the team with new incentive plans and a cloud CRM system that freed up staff time.
Because Willcrest invests family office money rather than a fund, deal size and terms depend on the partners' own appetite. An owner should ask how much of the price is paid at closing, whether Willcrest would take a minority stake if the owner wants to keep control, and who would run the business day to day after the sale.
Questions owners ask
What size company does Willcrest Partners buy?
Its criteria call for $2 million to $7 million of EBITDA with strong gross margins. For its tax accounting platform it lists a lower range of $500,000 to $5 million of EBITDA, and engineering targets should have at least three years of profits.
Does Willcrest buy IT services companies?
Yes. Its August 2025 purchase, Requordit, is a Hyland OnBase partner that consults on and builds document and workflow automation, and it also sells its own accounts payable and receivable software. Requordit was the first company in Willcrest Holdco, its holding company for tech-enabled business services.
How long does Willcrest keep its companies?
Its engineering services page cites an average hold period of more than 10 years. Willcrest bought Pearce Services in 2014, one partner ran it for about a decade, and its portfolio page says the company was later sold to CBRE Group.
Sources
- S1Willcrest Partners home page Accessed November 3, 2026
- S2Willcrest Partners: Investment Philosophy and criteria Accessed November 3, 2026
- S3Willcrest Partners: Portfolio Accessed November 3, 2026
- S4Willcrest Partners: About Us (senior team) Accessed November 3, 2026
- S5Willcrest Partners: Engineering Services (thesis, criteria and Pearce track record) Accessed November 3, 2026
- S6Willcrest Partners: Tax Strategy (tax accounting platform thesis) Accessed November 3, 2026
- S7Willcrest Partners Acquires Requordit (EIN Presswire, August 5, 2025) Accessed November 3, 2026
- S8Birch Risk Advisors home page (tax insurance and tax credit transfer) 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 Willcrest Partners. Figures are as reported on the dates shown and may have changed. Request a correction