For the owners
who built something
worth protecting.
Sell-side and buy-side M&A advisory for privately held companies with $2 million to $75 million in revenue. Two principals on every engagement, from the first conversation to closing.
Who we are
Salt Creek Advisory is a family-owned, Chicago-based investment bank founded by brothers Jack and Connor Pitts. We advise owners who are selling, acquiring, or planning a transition, and we run every engagement ourselves.
About the firm →What we do
Sell-side advisory
A structured, competitive process that puts every qualified buyer at the table at the same time, with the same information.
How a sale works →Buy-side advisory
Target identification, confidential outreach, and negotiation for owners and platforms making acquisitions. We also work with investors and acquirers directly.
What buy-side advisors do →Sector depth in five practice areas, with a growing focus on HVAC and accounting firms. All practice areas →
How we work
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Principals on every engagement.
Jack and Connor do the work personally. There is no hand-off to a junior team after the first meeting.
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A success fee, and nothing before it.
No retainer and no upfront fees. We are paid when your transaction closes.
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A competitive process.
Buyers sharpen their offers when they know they are not the only option. Putting every qualified buyer in the same process is where a better price and better terms come from.
The principals
Meet the principals →
Jack Pitts
Co-Founder & Principal
Private equity at Blue Wolf Capital and Kingfish Capital before Salt Creek.
Connor Pitts
Co-Founder & Principal
Investment banking at Brown Gibbons Lang, then more than 40 early childhood education transactions at Cadence Education.
Senior advisors
Our senior advisors are experienced operators and bankers with more than 45 acquisitions between them. They work with us part time and get involved when a deal falls in their space.
- Gary Dennis Multi-Site Services & Roll-Ups Co-founder and former CEO of Mammoth Holdings, grown through more than 30 acquisitions into one of the largest express car wash platforms in the country.
- Steve Malley HR & Tech-Enabled Services Former Chief Global Partnerships Officer at Vensure Employer Solutions, with more than 15 acquisitions in HR and employment services.
The people you meet on the first call are the people who run your deal to close.
Insights
All insights →Sell-Side M&A Process: A Guide for Lower Middle Market Business Owners
Read the guide → Owner Guide · September 23, 2026What You Keep After Selling Your Business
Read the guide → Owner Guide · August 7, 2026M&A Advisor Fees: What a Sale Actually Costs
Read the guide →
The most important conversation
starts with a simple one.
Whether a sale is six months away or six years, the conversation is worth having early. Start with a confidential two-minute valuation, or send us a confidential note.