Independent sponsor · Essential services

An investor who has sat in the operator's chair.

I'm Ben Schlang. I back owners and management teams of essential services businesses with my own capital, alongside family office and independent sponsor fund partners. I bring twelve years in private equity and three and a half years as a PE-backed CFO.

Start a conversation How I invest

$3M+

EBITDA, lower middle market

Majority

Control buyouts, with founder and management rollover

3–7 years

Defined hold, exit planned from day one

2–3 at a time

Companies, so each one gets real time from me

What I look for

Focused, essential businesses with a team worth backing.

Essential services

Non-discretionary demand in healthcare services, regulated services and recurring-revenue B2B.

A winnable game

Industries where scaled players are profitable and the advantages last.

A focused model

One core service, a clear customer type and customers who stay.

A team to back

A strong management team, or a clear path to building one together.

How I work as chairman

I sit beside the CEO, not in their chair.

As a CFO, I ran the cash forecast, managed the lender relationship and saw how much a management team handles between board meetings. As chairman, I add focus, not workload.

A few priorities

We agree on three to five priorities a year, and I help protect the time to deliver them.

Lean reporting

One monthly KPI pack the business already uses to run itself. Board prep should take hours, not days.

Finance discipline

A real monthly close and clear cash visibility, built with your team, so the CEO can focus on running the business.

Real time, not check-ins

I work with two or three companies at a time, so each one gets real time from me, not a quarterly check-in.

For founders

I don't want your job.

I serve as chairman and back the leader who runs the business, whether that's you, your successor, or someone we find together.

Every deal includes founder rollover and management equity, so we share in the outcome together. Expect simple, transparent terms and a partner who has lived inside a PE-backed company.

For intermediaries

Straight answers, early.

I'll tell you quickly whether a deal is a fit, put specific terms in the LOI, and lead diligence myself with a CFO's eye.

I invest my own capital in every deal, alongside experienced equity partners including family offices and independent sponsor funds. I bring capital and lenders in early, so sellers aren't left waiting.

Let's talk about your business.

Founders, advisors and intermediaries are welcome to reach out directly. Every conversation is confidential.

[EMAIL]@crossbenchcapital.com

Westport, Connecticut · LinkedIn