No Better Time. No Better Team.

Early summer is the ideal time to begin the sales or transition process if you are considering an exit from your accounting firm within the next one to two years. Timing is important because selling a practice can take several months, and most accounting firm transactions are completed in the fourth quarter — after the October 15 tax extension deadline.

So right now, is the right time.

It costs you nothing to find out what your firm is worth and learn more about the active buyers in todays market. Let our team at Sunbelt Midwest start working on this for you. We have more experienced team members than any other company who could support this effort on your behalf. The Sunbelt team includes 5 CPA’s on staff, 12 MBA’s, 23 Certified Business Intermediaries (CAI) and 45 Business Advisors – most of whom are prior business owners. All our advisors are also licensed real estate agents; more expertise if there is a real estate component to your practice that you want to sell. We will bring experience industry experts in to work on your exit strategy.

We have helped 58 owners sell their accounting practice since 2020: that’s experience and expertise you should have working on your exit. Overall, we’ve sold over 2000 businesses.

As part of a No-Cost Value Range Assessment, we’ll help you think through the following:

Are your financials clean, accurate, and defensible?

Buyers — especially private equity — will scrutinize every line item. Inconsistent records, owner add-backs that can't be supported, or a weak balance sheet.

Can the business operate without you?

Does your company run on your relationships, approvals, and presence? Buyers pay premiums for firms with capable management, associates and documented processes.

Do you know what your business is actually worth?

Have you undergone a real business valuation process in the past? This isn’t what you think it's worth — it means what a sophisticated buyer in today's market would pay.

The second two points are especially important. Consider:

Is selling and staying your goal? Many accounting practice owners want to sell their business and stay on permanently and concentrate on what they love the most – taking care of clients and doing the day-to-day planning and service work they enjoy.

What’s your timeline for a complete exit? If you want to sell and exit, your willingness to stay on and transition the practice can have a big impact on what a buyer is willing to pay. Many deals require ownership to continue working for a minimum of two or three years.

Do you have all the RIGHT data? Business valuation is for most owners — who have 80–90% of their personal wealth tied to their enterprise — one of the most consequential financial exercises they’ll ever undertake. Our professionally developed valuations, grounded market data and deal comps meaningfully improve your odds of getting the most out of your business.

Nationally, approximately 70% of business sale transactions fail to close.

Selling your business is likely the largest and most complex financial transaction of your life. A casual conversation with your financial planner or a rough draft of your will is not exit planning. Selling your business is a lot more than an accounting transaction. Real exit planning means assembling a team of specialized advisors: a financial planner, perhaps an outside tax consultant, a transactional attorney, and critically, an M&A advisor who has actually structured and closed deals in your industry.

Take advantage of our 90-day Guarantee

Because of our experience, capabilities, connections and market presence, we can guarantee that once you list your business with us, you’ll get ten qualified buyer leads with the first three months. Have the confidence that your business and future are in the right hands.

A high sale price alone isn’t the goal; we holistically structure deals to account for price, terms and taxes, ultimately maximizing what you net in the sale of your business. Our data-driven, research-backed valuations reveal the true worth of your company – not just for your next steps, but in a way that aligns with what banks and lenders will recognize and approve.

All this takes time. And the right time is now.

The time to act is now, so you can be ready for the current high demand. The accounting industry is in a rare window — elevated valuations and active buyers are creating real opportunity. Getting an exit plan in place is one of the most important steps you can take to protect and maximize the sale of your business.

This is the time of year to get the work started.

Get a confidential valuation conversation going with us so you can clearly understand the value of your firm in today’s marketplace.

All it takes to get started is brief phone call. Get started right now.

Call Matt Sobieski, CPA Sunbelt Business Advisors Accounting Practice Specialist 612-964-8884