A private investment firm, built to hold.

01 — Capital

Patient, committed capital for owner-operators who have built something meaningful.

02 — Operations

Three decades of operating experience — from the plant floor to the boardroom.

03 — Continuity

A commitment to preserving what you've built while helping write its next chapter.

01 · About

Operator-led. By design.

LVN Capital Group is a Charlotte-based private investment firm focused on acquiring, building, and scaling founder-owned businesses across the Southeast. We provide patient, committed capital to owner-operators who have built something meaningful and are looking for the right partner to take it further.

We invest in simple, proven business models with strong fundamentals, loyal customers, and defensible market positions — the kind of companies that form the backbone of the American economy but are often overlooked by institutional capital.

For sellers, we offer more than liquidity. We offer continuity: a commitment to preserving what you've built while helping write its next chapter.

1.1

Operator DNA

LVN's experience runs deeper than a balance sheet. Its founder has managed P&Ls, led people, and integrated and scaled multi-unit businesses firsthand. The guidance here goes well beyond a board seat.

1.2

Patient Capital

We aren't bound by fund timelines or forced exit windows. We invest with a long-term perspective, letting businesses grow on their own terms — without the artificial deadlines that compromise decisions and culture.

1.3

Trusted Partnership

Selling a business is one of the most significant decisions an owner will ever make. We approach every relationship with transparency, respect for legacy, and a genuine commitment to seeing your people thrive.

Jose R. Costa, Founder of LVN Capital Group
Jose R. Costa Founder
1.4 — The Founder

Built by an operator.

LVN is led by an operator who has spent his career building, transforming, and scaling businesses — and who applies that experience directly to the companies the firm backs.

Across more than three decades, Jose R. Costa has led multi-unit consumer businesses through growth, transformation, and value creation — including Whistle Express, Bojangles, For Eyes, Driven Brands (MAACO, CARSTAR, Drive N Style), and Burger King Latin America & Caribbean — alongside many of the world's premier private equity firms.

Connect with Jose on LinkedIn  ↗
02 · What We Do

Selective, by design.

LVN Capital Group acquires controlling interests in established, profitable businesses across the Southeast, with selective interest in adjacent markets. We target companies generating $10M–$50M in annual revenue, with consistent profitability built over five or more years.

We focus on businesses that are founder- or owner-led with no clear succession plan. In many cases, sellers aren't looking for a financial buyer — they're looking for a partner who understands their business, their people, and the community they've served. That's exactly who we are.

2.1

Geography

Primarily the Southeast; open to adjacent markets for the right opportunity.

2.2

Financial Profile

$10M–$50M revenue · $1M–$5M EBITDA · sustained profitability over 5+ years · target margins of 15%+ · strong, predictable cash flows with low capital intensity.

2.3

Business Characteristics

A simple, understandable model with clear unit economics. A defensible position through brand, customer relationships, or local scale. A diversified customer base, in a large, fragmented market with room to consolidate.

2.4

People & Ownership

Founder- or owner-led, with no succession plan. A seller motivated by liquidity, legacy, and continuity — not distress. A team that wants to stay, grow, and professionalize. A 6–12 month post-close transition to ensure knowledge transfer.

2.5

Target Sectors

Non-commodity manufacturing and value-added production · automotive services, distribution, and specialty manufacturing · business and consumer services · healthcare services and ancillary businesses (non-provider preferred).

What we don't pursue

We're selective by design. We don't invest in restaurants, bars, or hospitality concepts; IT or pure software; retail and apparel; pre-profit or startup companies; unionized workforces; or highly regulated, reimbursement-dependent models.

03 · Portfolio

Two complementary tracks.

LVN's perspective is built on three decades of operating and investing across consumer industries. Our record reflects two complementary tracks: the businesses our founder has operated and scaled, and the institutional partnerships through which we invest alongside leading sponsors.

3.1

Operating Track Record

Companies our founder has led, transformed, and scaled as an operator.

  • Whistle ExpressCEO
  • BojanglesOperator
  • Driven BrandsMAACO · CARSTAR · Drive N Style
  • For EyesOperator
  • Burger KingLatin America & Caribbean
3.2

Investment Partnerships

Co-investments and positions held alongside leading institutional sponsors — spanning private equity, infrastructure, real estate, healthcare, credit, and emerging technology.

  • 3G CapitalPrivate Equity
  • Roark CapitalPrivate Equity
  • Harvest PartnersPrivate Equity
  • OaktreeCredit
  • MidOcean PartnersPrivate Equity
04 · Contact

Every inquiry, answered personally.

We're always interested in connecting with business owners, intermediaries, and investment professionals who share our values. We know reaching out takes courage, and we treat every conversation with the discretion and respect it deserves.

Nothing on this website constitutes an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy securities.