Buying a practice

The Institute is developing a resource for members directed specifically towards assisting them when they are contemplating buying an accountancy practice.

Until that resource is available, the following links may prove helpful.

These and other resources may also be available from the Knowledge Centre.

• Tools

  Succession Planning Toolkit

  In 2006 the Institute published a Succession Planning Toolkit. Although the Toolkit is directed towards the member who is seeking to exit practice, it contains practical information equally relevant to the purchase of an accountancy practice. It is available from the Institute's Knowledge Centre.

• Articles

  Checklist to buying a public practice (Australia)
  Author: Leonie Beach. Charter. February 2010, p. 34-35. 

  New directions: starting over your career (Australia)
  Author: Tony Malkovic. Charter. September 2009, p.32-36.

  Build, buy (or sell)? It's a seller's market for CPA firms (USA)
  Author: John R Ezell. Journal of Accountancy. April 2007.

  Due Diligence Before Buying or Selling an Accounting Practice (USA)
  Author: Joel Sinkin. The CPA Journal. February 2005.

  Keep mergers on track (USA)
  Journal of Accountancy. February 2002

  Let's make a deal (Canada)
  Author: Steve McIntyre-Smith. CA Magazine, June-July 2006.

  Buying and Selling an Accountancy Practice in the 21st Century (Ireland, pdf)
  Author: Des O’Neill. Accountancy Plus, Iss.3, Sept. 2004. pp.42-46

  Financial Facts & Money Matters: How much is a small CA practice worth? (Canada)
  Author: Richard Crosson. Beyond Numbers, May 2002.

  How to value an accounting firm (USA)
  Author: P. Dermot O'Neill. The National Public Accountant, August, 2003.

  5 Booby Traps of Accounting Practice Sales (USA)
  Author: Troy C. Patton. Accounting and You, 2008.

• Books

  Building a profitable online accounting practice (USA)
  Author: Jack Fox. Wiley, 2001.
  
  How to value, buy, or sell a financial advisory practice (USA)
  Authors: Mark C. Tibergien, Owen Dahl. Bloomberg, 2006.

• DVDs

  Buying An Accounting Firm – DVD (Canada)
  Presenter: McIntyre-Smith, Steve. MFA Group.
  A preview of this DVD is available on YouTube.