3 min read

ProHome International: A Confidential Sale to a Long-Term Private Equity Partner

Written by August 21, 2026

Doreen Morgan is the owner and managing broker of Sunbelt Business Brokers – Atlanta, where she has spent two decades guiding Main Street and lower-middle-market business owners through successful sales valued from $750K to $75M. A proven dealmaker, Doreen has personally closed 300-plus transactions since 2005 across B2B services, heavy construction, healthcare, franchising, manufacturing, specialty distribution, and technology. Before acquiring Sunbelt Atlanta in 2015, she sharpened her M&A...

Picture of Doreen Morgan Doreen Morgan August 21, 2026

Transaction Snapshot

ProHome International

Sell-Side Advisory | Franchisor Home Warranty & Construction Services | Wichita, Kansas

Client

ProHome International, LLC

Headquarters

Wichita, Kansas

Dealmaker

Doreen Morgan

Announced

January 2019

110

Qualified Buyers

Letters of Intent

18 Months

Launch to Close

Franchisees

Buyer

Greybull Stewardship

Private equity investment firm

The Company

Building a Category That Did Not Previously Exist

Founded in 1993 in Wichita, Kansas, by husband-and-wife team Jack and Sue Salmans, ProHome International created a specialized category in residential construction: third-party warranty management for new-home builders.

Rather than requiring builders to operate an internal department for homeowner warranty calls after closing, ProHome acts as a liaison between builder and buyer, managing pre-closing walkthroughs, warranty call-back requests, and coordination with the subcontractors responsible for repairs.

Platform Highlights

1993

Company founded

Franchisees across the system

3 Countries

United States, Canada and United Kingdom

100+ Markets

Builders and homeowners served

Over more than two decades, ProHome grew into a national and international franchise system serving thousands of builders across more than a hundred markets.

Just as important as its geographic scale was the culture surrounding the network. Many franchisees had been part of ProHome for more than a decade, and the founders viewed those long-standing relationships as a defining consideration in any future sale.

The Founders' Objective

Preparing a Founder-Led Franchise System for Its Next Chapter

After 26 years of building ProHome, Jack and Sue Salmans began preparing for retirement. Their goal went beyond simply achieving a clean exit.

They wanted a buyer capable of investing in the company's next stage of growth while preserving the relationships and franchise network they had spent decades building.

The Process

Creating Real Competition Among Qualified Buyers

Sunbelt Atlanta, led by Dealmaker Doreen Morgan, built a targeted buyer universe spanning private equity firms and strategic acquirers active in franchising and business services.

During the 18-month engagement, the process reached 110 qualified buyers under strict confidentiality, protecting ProHome's franchisees, builder relationships, and competitive position throughout the sale.

The outreach generated five letters of intent, giving ownership the ability to compare multiple credible buyers instead of evaluating a single take-it-or-leave-it offer.

That competitive environment allowed the founders to evaluate buyers on more than valuation alone, including cultural fit, investment philosophy, expected ownership horizon, and plans for the franchise system.

Selecting the Right Partner

Ownership ultimately selected Greybull Stewardship because of its track record and notably longer-than-average hold period, an important consideration for founders who wanted stability for long-tenured franchisees.

The Buyer's Perspective

ProHome fit Greybull's strategy of investing in established founder-built business services companies and added another franchise platform to a portfolio already experienced in B2B services and franchising.

Why the Buyer Fit Mattered

More Than a Financial Transaction

Long-Term Orientation

A longer ownership horizon aligned with the founders' desire for continuity.

Franchise Experience

Greybull already had experience investing in franchise platforms.

Relationship Stewardship

The approach supported continuity for franchisees and builder relationships.

Growth Capital

The buyer had the resources to support the platform's next stage of growth.

Market Context

Industry Tailwinds Behind the Deal

The transaction took place against a recovering and expanding housing market, creating favorable conditions for businesses tied to new-home construction and builder services.

Projected growth in U.S. construction starts for 2017

$713B

Projected total U.S. construction starts

67.5%

Share of broader home warranty revenue held by the four largest firms in 2016

ProHome occupied a differentiated niche within that market. While larger home warranty providers focused primarily on structural warranties sold to homeowners, ProHome specialized in warranty call-back management sold directly to builders and developers.

Lessons for Sellers

Key Takeaways for Business Owners Considering a Sale

01. Build a category, not just a company.

ProHome created a specialized service category rather than competing directly in an established market, helping build a defensible position.

02. Start the transition years in advance.

Preparing early gave the founders enough runway for a thorough process instead of forcing a rushed retirement sale.

03. Cast a wide, confidential net.

Reaching 110 qualified buyers created meaningful competition while protecting franchisees and customer relationships.

04. Competition creates leverage beyond price.

Five letters of intent allowed the founders to evaluate buyers on cultural fit, ownership horizon, and long-term plans for the franchise network.

Planning Your Exit?

Thinking About Selling Your Franchise, Home Warranty, or Residential Services Business?

ProHome International's story shows how a competitive sale process can help founders identify a buyer who aligns with both financial objectives and the long-term future of the business. Sunbelt Atlanta runs confidential sale processes for privately held companies with no upfront fees.

Get a Business Valuation Talk With a Dealmaker

About Sunbelt Atlanta

Experienced Guidance From Valuation Through Closing

Since 1998, Sunbelt Atlanta has helped business owners across Georgia and the Southeast sell their companies confidentially and on their own terms. With more than 1,250 businesses sold, a no-upfront-fee, success-driven approach, and experience across industries including franchising and home warranty services, Sunbelt Atlanta's team of Dealmakers guides owners through every stage of a sale.