4 mins read

How to Succesfully Sell Your CPA Firm

Sometimes, not always the best thing to do is head for the door and sell. When it comes to CPA firms, things can be taken such an awful downturn that the owner wants nothing more than to hand it to someone else. However, it is important to make sure that the selloff takes place correctly.

Why is this so important? It’s important for a few reasons, one reason is due to attempt to keep the reputation of the owner intact. Another crucial reason is the receive the highest profit possible on the business. A high profit not only put more money in your pocket, but it makes the exit more sensible in the eyes of others who may be observing the business situation.

Tips to Get a Higher Profit

Here are a list of things that can be done to make sure that a higher profit is more common to achieve:

A. setting a high value on the company

B. issues within the company

C. avoid having a weak SDE

D. appointing the right people to be in the firm

E. having the right timing

Not setting a low value on the firm is always solid advice. Set a decent common sense cost on the firm, taking into all the hard work that went into creating and growing the organization. Many times a firm can be worth a great deal more than what the owner may expect.

Prior to selling the firm make sure that most, if not all employee issues are resolved. Sometimes it could be a matter of a small settlement arrangement to iron the differences. Yes, many matters can be swept away by going this route. Or a change in positions/titles. Whatever the case, try not to leave these issues open when trying to sell the firm. It may appear to be costly when attempting to resolve quarrels, however in the long run it is worth it.

Just imagine, if at the last minute a potential buyer decides not to purchase the firm, due to ongoing disputes. Weighing the options, makes a huge difference. Courageously decide what needs to be done to squash the arguments and then do it. To be honest, is it fair for a brand new buyer to have to try to resolve disagreements among associates that he/she are not even familiar with?

SDE means Seller Discretionary Income. It is a gathering of all the right information needed to determine the actual profitability of a company. Having a high yearly pretax benefit, makes the owner look responsible and savvy when it comes to his/her accounting practices. During sale negotiations this type of company income will come up and it will make a difference, when it comes to how much a buyer offers.

Often a seller will be asked, ‘Do you need help selling your accounting firm?’ Answering this question can go either way. A seller may feel comfortable and know that he/she can succeed on their own, while others may seek help immediately. If a professional is brought into the picture, one of the first things that will be looked at are the associates. Are the best most qualified employees working there. Having unqualified associates working in the firm, can scare away serious buyers.

Also, it has to be recognized if the seller is putting the firm on the market at the very best time. A professional seller will be able to know immediately if the time is right. Sometimes the time is right, when it comes to the market, but it isn’t a good time for the seller, due to things that may be going on in his/her life. Sitting down and speaking with a professional seller can help sort out all of this.