Buying An Accounting Practice Checklist -

Before looking at listings, define your "Ideal Firm Profile" to avoid mismatched acquisitions that lead to high client churn.

: Secure pre-approval. Expect down payments of 10–20%, with the remainder often covered by bank loans or seller notes. 2. Deep Due Diligence buying an accounting practice checklist

: Decide if you require a local brick-and-mortar presence or if you are open to a remote-first practice with lower overhead. Before looking at listings, define your "Ideal Firm

: If the current owner is the sole point of contact for major accounts, retention risk skyrockets. Look for firms where staff already manage relationships. Look for firms where staff already manage relationships

: Verify active licenses in all operating jurisdictions and review history for professional liability claims or ongoing HR disputes. 3. Valuation & Deal Structure Is Buying an Accounting Practice Right for You? | AICPA

: Firms generating at least $500k in revenue attract broad interest; those over $2M are often targets for private equity consolidation.

Due diligence for an accounting firm is not a standard audit; it is a search for "red flags" in the client base and staff culture.