Accounting and Business Services

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September 19, 2024

by a searcher from Boston University - Questrom School of Business in Boston, MA, USA

We have had some interesting accounting and related business services firms come up and I am starting to look at the space more closely. This is the industry I come from, but I would not mind connecting with others that have acquired accounting firms (or related business services - corporate finance, bookkeeping, advisory services, etc ) or are pursuing a strategy to roll up smaller firms.

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Reply by a searcher
from Bowling Green State University in Surrey, BC, Canada
For some small firms (ie. nonaffiliated), there can be significant client attrition - clients who may have moved or had their needs change but kept using the guys out of ease, or loyalty, or inertia, are likely to look around when the business changes hands.
I've seen deals structured that includes an adjustment for client turnover at a defined rate at the end of two years - a twist on an earn-out.
100% agree with ^redacted‌'s comment! - this is my 5-years of tax seasons talking
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Reply by a searcher
from University of Denver in Boston, MA, USA
I've bought 3 bookkeeping and tax firms. Its hard to find a good one for your first acquisition, but then you grow organically steadily. I think it's a great category for searchers. You can search "acquiring minds accounting" in Google and see me, Chris Williams, Michael Young, Gretchen Roberts and others who did a podcast about buying firms.
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