CPA / Accounting Firm businesses typically sell for 0.9–1.5× gross revenue (revenue-based pricing dominates) in 2026. This guide covers verified cpa / accounting firm valuation multiples, key value drivers, typical deal structures, and market trends for brokers and buyers.
Last verified: 2026 | Sources: IBBA Market Pulse, BVR, BIZCOMPS transaction database
| Metric | 2026 Range |
| SDE multiple | 0.9–1.5× gross revenue (revenue-based pricing dominates) |
| EBITDA multiple | 5–8× EBITDA (larger firms with recurring revenue) |
| Revenue multiple | 0.9–1.5× annual gross fees |
| Average deal size | $200K–$5M |
| Time to sell | 6–12 months |
| SBA eligible | Yes — SBA 7(a) eligible for practices under $5M |
70–80% seller-financed or SBA; earnout tied to client retention (12–24 month retention clause standard); buyer typically licensed CPA
↑ Rising — PE aggregators (Aprio, Citrin Cooperman, CohnReznick) actively acquiring CPA firms at 6–10× EBITDA. Small practices (under $1M revenue) selling at revenue multiples to sole-practitioner buyers.
CPA firms typically sell for 0.9–1.5× gross annual revenue for smaller practices ($500K–$3M revenue). Larger firms above $5M revenue with strong recurring revenue may achieve 5–8× EBITDA. The industry historically uses a revenue multiple ('1× gross fees') as the standard pricing rule of thumb.
Most CPA and accounting firms sell in 6–12 months. The primary bottleneck is finding a licensed CPA buyer or firm willing to acquire. Practices listed in Q1 (post-tax-season) sell faster than those listed mid-season.
Accounting practices are traditionally priced on gross revenue because ownership structures (partner draws) make EBITDA difficult to normalize across practices. The 'rule of thumb' of 1× gross fees reflects the industry's historical buyer-seller pricing convention, not a discounted cash flow analysis.
A client retention clause (or earnout) adjusts the sale price based on how many clients stay with the practice after the transition. Common structure: seller receives full price if 90%+ of clients stay for 12–24 months after close; price adjusts downward below that threshold.
Yes — SBA 7(a) loans are commonly used to purchase CPA firms under $5M in transaction value. The SBA requires the buyer to have relevant experience (CPA license preferred) and will finance up to 90% of the acquisition price with 10% down.
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