Buying or selling a CPA practice requires a broker who understands client retention earnouts, revenue multiples, and post-close transition risk — not a generalist.
Find Accounting/CPA Firm Deals Without a BrokerAccounting and CPA firm transactions involve unique deal mechanics including client revenue multiples, 12–24 month earnouts tied to retention, and SBA financing. The right broker understands these structures, knows how to value recurring tax and bookkeeping revenue, and can protect both parties during a sensitive founder-exit process.
Brokers who exclusively or primarily transact CPA and accounting firms. They understand client concentration risk, revenue multiples, and earnout structures specific to practice sales.
Best for: Sellers with $1M–$5M in revenue seeking maximum valuation and qualified buyers from PE roll-ups or regional CPA acquirers.
General lower middle market brokers with demonstrated experience selling professional services firms including accounting, legal, or consulting practices.
Best for: Sellers in markets where no pure accounting specialist operates, or buyers seeking geographically specific acquisition targets.
Advisory firms that facilitate platform and add-on acquisitions for private equity-backed accounting consolidators pursuing multiple simultaneous CPA firm acquisitions.
Best for: Larger CPA firms with $3M–$5M revenue seeking equity rollover, growth capital, or a partnership with a PE-backed platform.
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How many CPA or accounting firm transactions have you closed in the last three years, and what was the average deal size?
Accounting firm deals require specialized knowledge of client retention earnouts and revenue multiples. General business sales experience is insufficient for this industry.
How do you value recurring tax and bookkeeping revenue differently from one-time engagements or advisory project revenue?
Buyers pay premium multiples for predictable recurring revenue. A broker who cannot distinguish billing types will undervalue or misrepresent the practice.
What is your process for maintaining client and staff confidentiality during the sale process?
Premature disclosure to clients or staff can trigger attrition before close, destroying value and potentially killing the deal entirely.
Do you have relationships with SBA lenders who have funded CPA firm acquisitions and PE-backed accounting roll-up buyers?
Access to qualified buyers with ready financing — SBA or PE-backed — significantly reduces time to close and improves deal certainty.
Most CPA firms sell at 0.9x to 1.4x gross revenue. Firms with high recurring revenue, diversified client bases, and staff CPAs who maintain client relationships command the upper end of that range.
A specialist broker adds value by identifying qualified buyers, structuring earnouts, and managing confidentiality. Direct sales are possible but carry higher risk of mispricing and client exposure during negotiations.
Most accounting firm sales take 12–24 months from preparation to close, including 6–12 months of pre-market readiness work and a 6–12 month transition period post-close.
Yes. CPA firms are SBA 7(a) eligible. Buyers typically finance 80–90% through SBA loans with the seller carrying a subordinated note for the remainder, often tied to client retention performance.
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