Episode 389: From Startup to PE Exit in Three Years with Josh Davis

From ten years of entrepreneurial struggles to PE exit in three years, Josh Davis shares proven strategies for scaling through acquisitions, building proprietary systems, and navigating the identity shift that follows a successful exit.

In this episode of the DealQuest Podcast, host Corey Kupfer sits down with Josh Davis, CEO of JL Davis Enterprises, a five-time founder, business acquirer, and turnaround expert with multiple exits including to a US private equity-backed firm. Josh built one of Canada's fastest-growing logistics startups alongside his wife Loretta, scaling it from the ground up before it was acquired by one of North America's largest transportation companies just three years after launch.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

In this episode, you'll discover how to scale a company through strategic acquisitions without outside capital, why building proprietary software became a major competitive advantage, and what the post-sale transition really feels like when you stay on as CEO. Josh shares the visionary and integrator partnership dynamic that creates breakthrough results, why most post-exit entrepreneurs struggle with minority investments, and what freedom means when you deliberately keep your family office smaller than outside investors want.

JOSH'S JOURNEY:

Josh's entrepreneurial drive started early watching both grandfathers build successful businesses. On his mother's side, his grandfather ran a construction company, warehouse business, and real estate ventures. On his father's side, his grandfather was a successful mining entrepreneur who became Josh's closest mentor. But Josh also saw his parents go through financial struggles and divorce, which made him view entrepreneurship as the path to stability rather than risk.

In his early twenties, Josh dropped out of business school when his grandfather became sick with cancer. He spent two years learning about business and understanding how to acquire distressed mining properties. After his grandfather passed, Josh got exposure to acquisitions, due diligence, and integration through his grandfather's connections. But for the first ten years, he didn't understand the real importance of building teams, building systems, and building a real company.

THE TURNING POINT:

At twenty-eight, Josh made a deliberate decision to actually learn how to be an entrepreneur. He read every business book he could find, connected with mentors, and joined a private peer advisory group with seasoned entrepreneurs in their sixties, seventies, and eighties. That group has been a game-changer for thirteen years.

A few years later, he married his wife Loretta. Their skills were completely opposite. Josh was the visionary with strengths in leadership and sales. Loretta brought systems, processes, and operational excellence from her commerce degree at one of Canada's top universities. The combination created the breakthrough.

BUILDING THE LOGISTICS COMPANY:

When Josh and Loretta launched their logistics company, they realized the Canadian transportation industry was old school with manual processes and paper systems. They couldn't find software that fit their needs, so they hired four developers and built their own. After eight months, they launched custom software that tracked gross profit per head, enabled profit-sharing structures, and attracted top talent.

The second key was acquisitions. They bootstrapped with bank debt and systematically acquired distressed transportation and warehousing businesses, bringing in their own software, systems, and team members. After developing their operating system for acquisitions, each deal got easier.

THE PE EXIT:

The conversation about selling started when Loretta raised it. She was pregnant with their first child and knew she didn't want to run operations in a 24/7 transportation logistics business. They had also hit a capital constraint since the low-margin business required more capital every time they grew. They engaged an M&A advisor and found a well-capitalized US private equity-backed firm with Canadian roots in North American transportation.

POST-SALE TRANSITION:

Josh describes post-exit life as giving a child up for adoption and living in the same house. He stayed on as CEO for two years, and having financial backing from the larger entity was a huge relief. But when the transition ended, his partners were gone, his wife had been out for two years, and the company had become more corporate. The day he told the team was emotional, and when his email was finally turned off, the quiet was striking.

KEY INSIGHTS:

Josh's original plan post-exit was to take small equity positions and sit on boards. What he found was that he actually likes getting his hands dirty, and working with founders who weren't ready for the advice proved challenging. Some founders would realize they didn't want to do the work and would ask Josh to buy them out instead. That misalignment led JL Davis Enterprises to pivot toward full acquisitions while being highly selective about minority investments.

FREEDOM AND FAMILY OFFICE:

Josh and Loretta deliberately keep JL Davis Enterprises smaller than outside investors want because they prefer the freedom to choose who they invest in and which organizations they support. Without outside capital, they can make investments directly to help kids at risk and support causes they care about.

Perfect for entrepreneurs considering acquisitions as a growth strategy, founders preparing for PE exits, business owners figuring out what comes after they sell, and anyone interested in how the visionary and integrator partnership creates breakthrough results.

FOR MORE ON THIS EPISODE:https://www.coreykupfer.com/blog/joshdavis

FOR MORE ON JOSH DAVIS:
https://jldavisenterprises.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/scaling-with-josh-davis/

FOR MORE ON COREY KUPFER:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreykupfer/
https://www.coreykupfer.com/

Corey Kupfer is an expert strategist, negotiator, and dealmaker. He has more than 35 years of professional deal-making and negotiating experience. Corey is a successful entrepreneur, attorney, consultant, author, and professional speaker. He is deeply passionate about deal-driven growth. He is also the creator and host of the DealQuest Podcast.

Get deal-ready with the DealQuest Podcast with Corey Kupfer, where like-minded entrepreneurs and business leaders converge, share insights and challenges, and success stories. Equip yourself with the tools, resources, and support necessary to navigate the complex yet rewarding world of dealmaking. Dive into the world of deal-driven growth today!

Episode Highlights with Timestamps:
[00:00] - Introduction: Josh Davis' journey from serial entrepreneur to PE exit and family office
[05:55] - First entrepreneurial experiences and the first ten years of learning
[10:36] - The sailing storm that taught lessons about leadership and preparation
[14:00] - The turning point at 28 and joining a private peer advisory group
[19:32] - Building the logistics company from startup to PE exit
[24:59] - Growth through acquisitions and developing a repeatable integration playbook
[31:27] - How the PE exit conversation started and engaging an M&A advisor
[36:47] - The two-year transition structure and deciding to step down
[46:56] - Lessons from minority investing and pivoting to full acquisitions
[50:12] - What freedom means: the ability to choose and support the next generation

Guest Bio: Josh Davis is a five-time founder, business acquirer, and turnaround expert with multiple exits including to a US private equity-backed firm. Known for scaling underperforming companies fast, Josh blends grit, faith, and operational excellence to help founders grow with clarity and purpose. As Co-Founder and CEO, he built one of Canada's fastest-growing logistics startups, scaling it from the ground up before it was acquired by one of North America's largest transportation companies just three years after launch.

Today he runs JL Davis Enterprises alongside his wife Loretta, acquiring businesses and consulting founders on how to scale, build high-performance teams, and prepare for exit. Grounded in faith and family values, Josh brings a no-fluff, people-first approach to business. He's been named one of Canada's Top 40 Under 40 and believes true success means building a business that serves your life, not the other way around.

Host Bio: Corey Kupfer is an expert strategist, negotiator, and dealmaker with more than 35 years of professional deal-making and negotiating experience. Corey is a successful entrepreneur, attorney, consultant, author, and professional speaker deeply passionate about deal-driven growth. He is the creator and host of the DealQuest Podcast.

Show Description: Do you want your business to grow faster? The DealQuest Podcast with Corey Kupfer reveals how successful entrepreneurs and business leaders use strategic deals to accelerate growth. From large mergers and acquisitions to capital raising, joint ventures, strategic alliances, real estate deals, and more, this show discusses the full spectrum of deal-driven growth strategies. Get the confidence to pursue deals that will help your company scale faster.

Related Episodes: 
Episode 366 - Jodi Hume: Founder Exits and the Emotional Journey Behind Major Business Decisions: Explore the psychological dimensions of exits and what founders need to prepare for beyond the transaction.

Episode 336 - Devan Gonzalez: Building a Franchise Empire Through Visionary-Integrator Partnership: Learn how complementary skill sets between business partners create breakthrough results.

Episode 350 - Tom Dillon: When NOT to Take Venture Capital Money: Discover alternative funding sources and how to evaluate whether outside capital is right for your business model.

Episode 332 - John Martinka: Acquisition Entrepreneurship and Building Companies Worth Buying: Master the fundamentals of acquiring and operating businesses for long-term success.

Episode 302 - Laurie Barkman: Preparing for a Successful Exit with Business Transition Insights: Learn the practical steps for getting your business exit-ready.

Social Media: 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreykupfer/
Website: https://www.coreykupfer.com/

Follow Josh Davis:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scaling-with-josh-davis/
Company: https://jldavisenterprises.com

Keywords/Tags: PE exit, private equity acquisition, startup to exit, logistics company sale, family office investing, post-exit transition, scaling a business, turnaround expert, visionary integrator partnership, business acquisition strategy, bootstrapping, growth through acquisitions, proprietary software, integration playbook, founder identity, post-sale transition, minority investments, consulting founders, high-performance teams, entrepreneurship, dealmaking