640 I Analyzed 5,000 Accounting Firm Sales - 9 Things To Know [We found some surprising trends]

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/
📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firm and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter

☎️ Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968!
📧 Email me! [email protected]

In this episode, I dig into data from 5,000 accounting firm listings to see what firms are actually selling for, what drives higher multiples, and which common M&A assumptions don’t hold up. I also break down medical spas as a potential accounting niche in 🐝 Niche of the Week and map out how I would enter that market. Then I answer to your questions in 📞 Accountant Support.

📄 Grab the Accounting Firm Acquisitions spreadsheet I talked about: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1HHxl5KGG-3zApXRbpok8Hkacvn4vE6D_/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=100194317059241398669&rtpof=true&sd=true

💰 Today's Sponsors
Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes
Soraban: https://hubs.ly/Q04cNLF80
MakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats
Canopy: Go to https://www.getcanopy.com/jason and schedule a demo to see for yourself, and Canopy will send you a $75 gift card after your demo
Financial Cents: sign up at https://hubs.li/Q03mLr_x0 and use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users.
Karbon: https://karbonhq.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=jason-staats

// Chapters:
00:00 - 5,000 Accounting Firm Sales
01:15 - Accounting Firm M&A Data
02:35 - Multiples Are Rising
03:30 - Does Firm Size Matter?
05:45 - Virtual Firm Premium
06:25 - Why Owners Sell
07:15 - Geography and Firm Value
07:45 - Most Firms Sold Are Small
08:55 - Financing Firm Acquisitions
09:20 - Buyer Demand Is Rising
09:40 - Which Services Sell Best?
10:35 - The 1.5x Multiple Myth
14:55 - More M&A Surprises
16:50 - What Firms Actually Sell For
17:40 - 🐝 Niche of the Week
18:00 - Medical Spas
19:05 - Are Solo Med Spas Too Small?
20:20 - The Better Med Spa Client
21:25 - Targeting More Mature Med Spas
23:05 - Finding Med Spa Clients
28:30 - Med Spa Referral Channels
30:10 - The Swear Jar
32:30 - Accounting Cornerstone Foundation
32:35 - 📞 Accountant Support
32:55 - Puzzle Acquired by Accrual
35:00 - How Fast Should Your Firm Grow?
41:55 - Claude Skills Security
44:35 - Claude Pro and Client Data
46:40 - Automating QBO Deposits
48:55 - Can Instead Replace UltraTax?
51:55 - App Recommendations
52:00 - Accounting Firm Sales Data

🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!
X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa