Younger Entrepreneurs Drive Record SBA “Blue Collar” Business Acquisition Loans to Hedge Against Artificial Intelligence

SBA-backed business acquisition loans totaled $8.17 billion in 2025, reflecting strong activity among younger entrepreneurs.

Andrew Kurzrok, a 37-year-old millennial, exemplifies a growing wave of younger buyers acquiring blue collar small businesses from retiring baby boomers to build AI-resistant careers. This trend may indicate a growing interest in ownership of plumbing, HVAC, and manufacturing firms, which are considered by some to be more stable amid technological disruption.

Kurzrok purchased Hopewell Sheet Metal Manufacturing, a 45-year-old company in Hagerstown, Maryland, in September 2025. SBA-backed business acquisition loans hit a record 6,915 loans totaling $8.17 billion that year, up from just over $5 billion in 2023. However, 85% of boomer-owned businesses that enter the market fail to sell, often due to a lack of assets or transferability. Andrew Kurzrok notes that buyers may need to evaluate between 100 and 1,000 businesses to close one deal, underscoring the complexity of these acquisitions.

Sellers are advised by some experts to start preparing their businesses for sale three to five years before exit, while buyers are encouraged to conduct thorough due diligence to improve outcomes.

While Montana is not specifically mentioned, this trend could resonate in the state’s rugged economy, where durable, hands-on trades hold long-term value. Entrepreneurs in Montana might find acquiring established blue collar businesses a prudent path to economic resilience amid evolving market pressures.

Millennials Are Now Buying Blue Collar, AI-Proof Small Businesses
By John Schroyer, Forbes

Many thanks to Ben T.  for sharing.