“From School Dropout to Successful Entrepreneur”
By
Job Meijer
Date
25 November, 2024
In short
Arpentus had the privilege of assisting Metech in its sale to BOMA.
He left school at the age of 13, started as an entrepreneur in 2004, introduced his own brand of Meijer sweeping and scrubbing machines, built a profitable business—and eventually sold it. Job Meijer can still be found behind his desk at Metech in Barneveld, but no longer as the owner. His explanation is simple and clear: “Metech was my baby; but when a child grows up, it leaves home.” Arpentus provided valuable support during this process.
Studying was never Job’s thing. Barely after getting his driver’s license, he started a maintenance and trading business. One day, while servicing a sweeper, he decided to specialize in them. He became a dealer. “I didn’t have much market knowledge. But I thought: you don’t have to sweep with a broom anymore, and you don’t get dust up your nose. I can sell that.” This characterizes Job, a self-made man who built a successful business.
Rapid Growth
After a while, Metech introduced the Meijer line of sweeping and scrubbing machines. Initially, Metech gained name recognition by supplying and servicing refurbished machines, later followed by its own product line—robust, conventional machines for industrial use. They clearly met a market need. Sales skyrocketed. The team grew to twenty people. And then? “Then it was time for reflection,” says Job. “I had other projects and investments besides Metech. All exciting challenges, but I realized I couldn’t do everything at once. So in 2020, I started thinking about preparing Metech for sale.”
Selling Your Company
Job loves mergers and acquisitions. He’s also “a real dealmaker.” But he’s very clear: “You can’t just sell your own company. You only sell your life’s work once. And it’s not just about finding a buyer and negotiating. There are so many other aspects involved that I don’t fully understand.”
Getting Help
So Job—alerted by an entrepreneur in his network—brought Arpentus into his sales plans. The first task: preparing an information memorandum. “That’s important. Everything in it, you don’t have to explain to potential buyers. Arpentus paid a lot of attention to that. They thoroughly interviewed me in three sessions. Then they came up with a valuation of the company.”
Excellent Teamwork
That BOMA (a supplier for cleaning companies and part of the PFS Group) showed interest in Metech was no surprise. The two organizations already knew each other. One thing led to another. Soon, Job was accompanied by Arpentus during the negotiations. “We understood each other very well. If one of us missed something, the other picked it up. If I moved too fast, Arpentus stepped in. It was a great collaboration.”
Patience and Expertise
Job learned that a sales process requires time, patience, and expertise. Agreements had to be reached on everything—from financial and tax matters to legal terms. “When it came to the fine print, we received a lot of support from the lawyers Arpentus brought in. Both BOMA and we wanted to proceed carefully. That places specific demands on the parties you involve.”
Looking Ahead
The deal was closed, and 38-year-old Job let go of “his baby.” Metech is in good hands with BOMA. As before, Job can still be found at the Barneveld office. He looks back with satisfaction on an intense period. The result is impressive: “The sale of my company offers great perspective for everyone and gives me the space to pursue new ventures.”
