Accounting / CPA firm value at a glance
Estimate your accounting firm's value
Applies the cited SDE multiple band for your trade, then positions you inside it using recurring revenue, customer concentration, owner dependence, years operating and trend. Educational estimate, not an appraisal.
Educational estimate, not an appraisal or an offer. Ranges come from published closed-sale data and broker/adviser reports cited on each trade page; the adjustment weights are our own documented heuristic (see Editorial policy). Real estate, inventory and working capital are excluded.
Get the full valuation brief (printable)
Your inputs and range, the cited multiples behind it, the buyer type active at your size, three changes that move the multiple, and next steps - on this page, ready to print or save as a PDF.
Published accounting firm multiples by deal size
| Deal size / buyer | Multiple | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Main Street sales, 2021-2025 (sold) | 1.61x-2.66x SDE (median 2.04x); revenue 0.92x-1.17x | |
| All industries, Q2 2026 (context) | Under $500K deals: 2.0x SDE; $2M-$5M: 4.0x EBITDA; $5M-$50M: 5.8x EBITDA | IBBA / M&A Source / Pepperdine Market Pulse, Q2 2026 highlights |
What moves the multiple for a accounting firm
Key metric buyers ask for: Recurring fees (tax, bookkeeping, advisory), client retention after transition, fee per client, realization, staff credentials.
Pushes you toward the top of the range
- Recurring annual engagements rather than one-off work
- High client retention and low concentration
- Staff who can serve clients after the owner steps back
- Modern software and remote-capable workflows
Pushes you toward the bottom
- Clients loyal to the owner personally
- Heavy seasonality with low-fee 1040 work
- A client list that must be consented to before tax information changes hands
How buyers value a accounting firm
Small practices are usually priced at roughly one times annual fees, with part of the price paid over time and adjusted for how many clients stay. PE-backed platforms buy larger firms on EBITDA through an alternative practice structure that keeps the attest firm majority CPA-owned.
Rule of thumb on revenue: About 0.9-1.2x annual fees (BizBuySell sold middle half 0.92-1.17x, median 1.02x); payment is often tied to client retention. Use it only as a sanity check; buyers pay for cash flow they can finance.
Worked example: Hart & Associates CPAs (fictional)
Fictional business for illustration. Revenue $900,000, SDE $330,000. 700 recurring tax/bookkeeping clients, two staff accountants, owner age 66.
| Position in the cited range | Implied value | Multiple of revenue |
|---|---|---|
| At the low end (1.6x) | $528,000 | 0.59x |
| Midpoint (2.04x) | $673,000 | 0.75x |
| At the high end (2.7x) | $891,000 | 0.99x |
Who buys a accounting firm at each size
Other CPAs and regional firms (often with retention-based payouts); PE-backed accounting platforms (for larger firms or through their member firms). See who is buying accounting firms for named acquirers and their sponsors.
| SDE / EBITDA size | Most likely buyer | How they usually pay |
|---|---|---|
| Under ~$300K SDE | Individual CPA or local firm | SBA or bank loan plus buyer cash; sometimes a seller note |
| ~$300K-$1M SDE | Regional firm | SBA loan, seller note, or cash from a larger buyer |
| $1M+ EBITDA | PE-backed accounting platform | Mostly cash at close; rollover equity and earn-outs are common |
Thinking about selling your accounting firm?
See the step-by-step sale process, license transfer rules and documents buyers will ask for.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a CPA firm worth?
Accounting and tax practices sold on BizBuySell from 2021-2025 went for a median 1.02x revenue (middle half 0.92-1.17x) and 2.04x SDE. Terms matter as much as the multiple: many deals pay over time based on client retention.
Can a non-CPA or PE firm own my firm?
Not the attest practice in most states. The Uniform Accountancy Act model requires a majority of ownership to be held by CPAs, so PE deals split the business into a CPA-owned attest firm and a separate advisory company.
Can I share client tax returns with a prospective buyer?
Only carefully. IRS rules (26 CFR 301.7216-2) allow limited disclosure in connection with the sale of a tax practice, and diligence should run under a written confidentiality agreement. Many sellers also get client consent.
Is this an appraisal?
No. It is an educational estimate built from published data. Lenders, courts and the IRS may require a credentialed appraisal; see appraisal vs estimate.
Sources
- BizBuySell Valuation Benchmarks - Accounting & Tax Practice (accessed 2026-09-23)
- BizBuySell - Business valuation multiples by industry (sold Q3 2021-Q2 2026) (accessed 2026-09-23)