Private Equity Firms in Florida

Private Equity Firms in Florida: Investment Partners in the Sunshine State

Florida is more than just sun-soaked beaches and a thriving tourism industry. It’s a rising star in the U.S. investment landscape, particularly in the world of private equity. With a strong economic foundation, favorable tax environment, and growing population of high-net-worth individuals, the state has become an attractive destination for private equity firms and professional investors alike.

In this in-depth article, we explore the top private equity firms in Florida, highlighting their investment strategies, industry focus, and track records. Whether you’re an institutional investor, wealth advisor, or a business owner looking to expand through capital partnerships, Florida offers a robust ecosystem of value-oriented firms with deep experience in buyouts, credit strategies, and long-term investments.

This guide is ideal for those making informed decisions about where and how to invest or partner with leading firms in Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Boca Raton, and other fast-growing business hubs in the state.

Why Florida Is a Hotbed for Private Equity Activity

Over the past decade, Florida has seen exponential growth in financial services, including private equity, venture capital, and real estate investment. Its business-friendly tax policies, absence of state income tax, and burgeoning tech and health sectors have made it a magnet for institutional and individual investors alike.

Major cities such as Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Boca Raton have emerged as key locations for private equity offices, where professionals deploy capital across various sectors including:

• Real estate

• Industrial and manufacturing

• Aerospace and defense

• Food and beverage

• Retail and restaurant services

• Automotive

• Healthcare and medical services

• Government and space technology

These cities offer an ideal combination of local entrepreneurial energy and access to global markets, making them attractive to family offices, small-cap companies, and institutional funds seeking long-term value.

List of Top 15 Best Private Equity Firms in Florida

Below is a list of the top private equity firms in Florida, known for their strong track records, transparent partnerships, and deep expertise in small capitalization to large-scale transactions.

H.I.G. Capital (Miami)

H.I.G. Capital is one of the most well-known and influential private equity firms in Florida and one of the largest in the United States. Headquartered in Miami, H.I.G. specializes in lower middle market companies, offering a wide array of capital solutions including equity, credit, and real estate.

H.I.G. manages more than $50 billion in assets and has completed hundreds of investments globally. The firm invests across various industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, business services, technology, and consumer products. Their hands-on operational approach and deep sector expertise allow them to add value beyond capital. With a global footprint and a team of experienced professionals, H.I.G. continues to drive growth for businesses at all stages.

Trivest Partners (Coral Gables)

Founded in 1981, Trivest Partners is one of the oldest private equity firms in the Southeast and a leader in founder-owned business investments. Based in Coral Gables, Trivest focuses on lower middle market companies and has completed more than 400 transactions.

The firm is known for its strong track record in industries like business services, healthcare, automotive aftermarket, consumer products, and food and beverage. Trivest’s investment model emphasizes partnership and transparency, making them a preferred choice for family-owned businesses seeking strategic growth capital without losing control of their legacy or culture.

Sun Capital Partners (Boca Raton)

Sun Capital Partners is a global private equity firm headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, with an emphasis on turnaround and operational improvements. The firm has acquired over 400 companies across North America and Europe, focusing on industries such as industrial manufacturing, packaging, retail, automotive, and consumer services.

Sun Capital is known for its ability to revitalize underperforming companies by implementing strategic changes, cost efficiencies, and growth initiatives. Their value-creation model centers on transformation, making them a top choice for companies needing both capital and performance enhancement.

Comvest Partners (West Palm Beach)

Comvest Partners has over $9 billion in invested capital and focuses on middle-market companies across North America. The firm provides both private equity and credit solutions, making it versatile in its approach to deal structuring.

Comvest’s sector focus includes healthcare, financial services, transportation, consumer goods, and industrial services. The firm works closely with portfolio company management teams to create operational value, improve governance, and support strategic growth.

Banyan Investment Partners (Miami)

Banyan Investment Partners is a lower middle market private equity firm headquartered in Miami. The firm invests in businesses with strong leadership teams, consistent revenue streams, and opportunities for sustainable growth.

Banyan takes a value-oriented approach, often partnering with family-owned or founder-led companies in need of succession planning or growth capital. Industries of focus include professional services, distribution, and manufacturing. The firm is known for fostering long-term relationships based on transparency, fairness, and aligned goals.

Ballast Point Ventures (Tampa)

Based in Tampa, Ballast Point Ventures is a growth equity firm focused on the Southeastern U.S. The firm primarily invests in early-stage and growth-stage companies across sectors like healthcare, software, specialty retail, and consumer products.

Ballast Point provides expansion capital to companies with a proven track record of revenue growth and scalable business models. Their deep regional knowledge and hands-on support make them an attractive partner for entrepreneurs looking to grow without giving up full control.

KLH Capital (Tampa)

KLH Capital is a lower middle market private equity firm that targets companies with enterprise values between $10 million and $100 million. KLH specializes in recapitalizations, management buyouts, and growth equity investments.

Industries served include light manufacturing, business services, value-added distribution, and industrial services. KLH is distinguished by its operational expertise and commitment to supporting leadership teams through customized strategies and active involvement.

New Water Capital (Boca Raton)

New Water Capital is a private investment firm that partners with lower middle market companies undergoing rapid change or transition. The firm invests in consumer products, value-added distribution, specialty manufacturing, and business services.

New Water Capital is known for its ability to act swiftly and decisively. The firm’s flexible approach to ownership structures allows it to meet the unique needs of family-owned and privately held businesses facing succession or operational evolution.

Boyne Capital (Miami)

Boyne Capital is a private equity firm focused on lower middle market companies with revenues between $10 million and $100 million. Boyne invests in a variety of sectors including aerospace, government services, healthcare, business services, and logistics.

Boyne emphasizes operational improvement and long-term value creation. Their team supports portfolio companies with both strategic insight and practical execution resources, helping them scale sustainably.

Hidden Harbor Capital Partners (Fort Lauderdale)

Hidden Harbor Capital Partners is a private equity firm that specializes in control investments in North American lower middle market companies. The firm targets sectors such as automotive services, chemical manufacturing, industrial services, and packaging.

Hidden Harbor is uniquely positioned with an internal team of former executives and operators who work closely with management teams to implement value-enhancing changes. Their execution-focused strategy appeals to businesses seeking hands-on investors with real-world operating experience.

Palm Beach Capital (West Palm Beach)

Palm Beach Capital is a private equity investment firm that provides growth capital to lower middle market companies in sectors such as aerospace, logistics, real estate services, and staffing. The firm seeks to back strong management teams and offers flexible deal structures, including minority and majority investments.

Palm Beach Capital’s strength lies in their collaborative and partnership-oriented investment style, offering more than just financial support to portfolio companies.

Farlie Turner & Co. (Fort Lauderdale)

While best known for its investment banking services, Farlie Turner & Co. also manages private equity investments in lower middle market businesses. The firm’s expertise in strategic advisory, recapitalizations, and mergers and acquisitions positions it as a value-added partner for companies in transition.

Farlie Turner is especially active in the healthcare, business services, and industrial sectors, where it leverages deep market knowledge to help clients and portfolio companies achieve transformational growth.

Clearwater Capital Partners (Orlando)

Clearwater Capital Partners combines wealth management with private equity investment, offering personalized services for both institutional and individual investors. The firm’s private equity arm focuses on industries like hospitality, logistics, retail, and healthcare services.

With a keen focus on capital preservation and steady returns, Clearwater emphasizes long-term partnerships and prudent investment strategies tailored to the evolving goals of its clients.

Turning Rock Partners (Miami)

Turning Rock Partners is a relatively new but fast-growing private investment firm that targets underserved lower middle market companies. The firm combines structured credit with equity capital, creating customized financing solutions for companies in sectors like power and infrastructure, government contracting, and technology services.

Their flexible investment model and focus on stability and operational improvement make them a standout in niche markets requiring specialized attention.

Black Diamond Capital Partners (Tampa)

Black Diamond Capital Partners focuses on small capitalization companies and specializes in growth investments, generational transitions, and recapitalizations. The firm targets industries such as food processing, chemical distribution, energy services, and automotive components.

Black Diamond is known for its pragmatic approach to investing and its emphasis on relationship building, long-term planning, and operational integrity.

Key Strategies Among Florida’s Leading Private Equity Firms

Across Florida’s investment landscape, several strategies are common among top-performing firms:

• Buy-and-Build: Acquiring a platform company and expanding through strategic add-ons.

• Control Buyouts: Taking majority stakes to implement operational improvements.

• Growth Equity: Providing capital to companies ready to scale without full buyouts.

• Credit Solutions: Offering structured debt or mezzanine financing to growing firms.

• Real Estate-Backed Investing: Integrating property assets with operating company investments.

These strategies are deployed across a range of industries, reflecting Florida’s economic diversity and the versatility of its investor base.

The Role of Family Offices and Wealth Advisors

Florida’s rising population of high-net-worth individuals and retirees has led to a boom in family offices and wealth advisory firms partnering with private equity groups to deploy capital in long-term growth vehicles. Many of these partnerships focus on generational wealth transfer, succession planning, and private company buyouts.

These relationships emphasize fair, honest, and transparent investments, with many families opting for direct investment opportunities alongside established private equity firms.

To sum up:

Florida’s position as a growing private equity hub is no longer speculative—it’s reality. With deep pools of capital, a favorable business environment, and access to global trade routes, the Sunshine State continues to attract top-tier private equity firms.

Whether you’re a business owner in search of a growth partner, an individual investor looking for lower middle market exposure, or a wealth advisor navigating evolving investment strategies, Florida offers a rich ecosystem of professional firms equipped to deliver performance and partnership.

As the landscape continues to evolve, one thing is certain: the top private equity firms in Florida will remain instrumental in shaping the state’s business future—investing in, expanding, and transforming companies across every industry.

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