For Jeffrey Law and Matthew Lao, merging their accounting firms wasn’t just about succession or growth. It had a deep focus on finding the right partner and creating a structure that worked for both.

A competitive market for accounting practices can be good for buyers and sellers, but Kev Ryan says some emerging behaviours risk putting price ahead of positive, sustainable outcomes.

The easiest firm transactions begin years earlier, before the owner ever decides to sell, with client engagement letters.

For accounting firm owners planning an exit, a successful sale is often less about size or price than it is about culture, timing and long-term fit.

For accountants seeking acquisition-led growth, and sellers looking for an acquirer, a deeper knowledge of the finance process makes everything easier.

When selling an accounting firm, clean books aren’t enough. Buyers dig deep into HR compliance, leave liabilities, culture and leadership because messy people processes can quickly erode value. This story explores why due diligence starts with people, how leave entitlements can impact price and why strong culture and transparent HR systems build buyer confidence, protect legacy and ultimately drive better deal outcomes.

Having recently returned from a four-week holiday to Europe, Victoria Berry is very happy with the situation of the firm she once owned. Her staff are well managed and happy. Her clients are confident and comfortable with the level of attention and expertise they’re experiencing. Even the hundreds of daily emails to the business are being looked after … by somebody else.

There are numerous issues that can strike late in a business transaction, turning a done deal into a dog’s breakfast. But if you know what to look out for and where the solutions lie, there’s no reason your firm’s sale or merger can’t go all the way. Here are five of the biggest deal killers.

Having run his regional Victorian firm for several decades, Kevin Paynter was facing burnout, health problems and an uncertain future. SELLERS helped him find a buyer, a future for his clients and staff, and a more gentle transition to retirement.

Selling or merging your business is a big, exciting, life-changing decision, but it’s also a complex process. Over the years, I’ve seen lots of great deals succeed, and a few fall apart, because of the ways the big challenges were handled. If you’re at all concerned about the future of your firm, here are the five things you’ve got to get right.

There’s a whole lot of extra work involved in accounting these days, Glenn Stephens, partner at Mackay-based firm CE Smith & Co, says. From constantly changing taxes and legislation, to surprise disruptions and the process changes they bring, to the fact that customer expectations are rising by the minute, there’s more work than ever for an accountant to do.

If you’re an accounting firm owner whose identity and passion is closely linked to your business, the concept of selling can be frightening. Fortunately, there’s a much better way that makes those final few years in business engaging and rewarding.