When considering buying a business, it’s critical to know as much as possible about tangible and intangible assets. Intangible assets play a significant role in the overall value of a business, and understanding their significance is crucial when deciding to buy a business. Keep reading to learn what intangible assets are, why they matter, and what you need to consider when buying a business with intangible assets.

As a private practitioner, you have dedicated years to building your practice and establishing yourself as an expert. Now, the time has come for you to move on and sell your practice. The thought of selling may bring mixed emotions: excitement for new opportunities, anxiety about leaving behind the familiar, and uncertainty about how to market your practice successfully. Explore the steps you can take to effectively market your private practice for sale and ensure a smooth transition.

Client retention is critical to the success of an accounting firm after a purchase or a merger with new ownership. We offer tips for retaining clients when buying an accounting practice.

The staff is one of the most important variables in the transition of an accounting practice, or any private practice, from previous to new ownership. Below, we’ll explore the benefits of staff retention and offer strategies for keeping key staff after an accounting practice purchase.

Knowing how to accurately calculate a business’s EBITDA is one of the most important factors when buying or selling a business. But what does EBITDA mean, and why is it critical for business valuation? We answer those questions and more in our guide to EBITDA valuations below.

For many owners, one of the hardest parts of selling a business is informing their staff of the sale and impending transition. If you’re considering selling your business or need to prepare your employees for the sale of your business, we’ve got some helpful tips to make the transition easier.

The US Small Business Administration (SBA) assists eligible borrowers in accessing SBA-backed financing. The loan guarantees competitive terms, lower down payments, and continued customer support, depending on the lender. It is, therefore, the best option for starting a business if you don’t have capital or if you require cash to expand an ongoing business.  

When selling a private practice, whether a CPA firm or a physical therapy clinic, it’s common to find a competitor interested in buying the business. Selling your practice to a competitor is a difficult decision, so we’ve listed the pros and cons of the transaction below to help those considering the option.

The first few days, weeks, and months after buying an accounting business can worry many as new owners try to find their footing, and old employees worry about stability. Below, we offer some guidance on key steps new owners should take after purchasing an accounting business.

How does a private practice owner know when they should move on from their business? Below, we discuss the clear signs that it’s time to sell your private practice, from exhaustion to increasing market competition.

Tax exposure is one of the biggest considerations when selling a business, such as a private practice. Below, we’ll discuss some key tax elements sellers should know when selling a private practice, including how to avoid common tax pitfalls.

Capital access is one of the most prominent hurdles startups and small enterprises face when running their businesses. The Small Business Administration (SBA) assists small businesses to stay afloat by providing financial counseling, contracting expertise, and business loans. It runs several programs and offers various resources to help these businesses to break even and remain viable. 

Do you own a private practice? Would you like to sell it someday to transition into retirement or another business opportunity? If yes, you need a broker’s opinion of value performed by a qualified business broker, or valuation expert. 

Business has been good for your private practice for the past few years, but now you feel it’s time to sell it and move on to other profitable ventures. The only hurdle is that finding a buyer is not as easy as it seems. No matter how lucrative your practice is, you need to attract serious potential buyers to have any chance of selling it for top dollar. Fortunately, we have great ideas to make it work. Please read on to find out more.

Whether you’re ready to retire, make a career change, or downsize your responsibilities from owner to employee, now may be the time to ready your practice for market. Irrespective of the reason for selling your business, the goal is that you sell it for the highest profit. When selling a home, you repair damages and boost its curb appeal to attract the best buyers and receive the highest offers. Below are the steps you should take to make your business show-ready for a sale.

Selling a business is a big decision that shouldn’t be taken for granted. Once the sale is made, you must go through a phase known as the transition period (or the handover period). During this period, you, as the existing owner, will remain with the business for a specific timeframe to help the new owner take control of it.  

The Federal Reserve’s decision to raise interest rates aims at slowing the economy without leading to recession. The increase in interest rate will also help counteract the effects of inflation while scaling back other COVID-19 pandemic-era economic supports. According to Jerome H. Powell, the Fed Chair, the Fed is moving expeditiously to restore price stability for both consumers and business owners.  

Dubbed TPA, the Third-Party Administrator is an organization responsible for managing all aspects of your employees’ retirement plans. TPAs design retirement documents in addition to preparing both employee and employer statements.  

Global mergers and acquisitions in 2021 reached new heights. In fact, the number of deals announced publicly numbered 62,000, representing a 24% increase from the previous year. Cheap credit, high corporate profits, elevated share prices, and private equity cash were just a few of the contributors to the increase in merger and acquisition activity at the tail-end of the pandemic. And we are not done yet. 

When purchasing an established business, it is important to evaluate “all of the things” that pertain to the business. This includes not only the financial details of the business to determine both the valuation and what your return on investment might be, but what risks may be associated with purchasing the business. You may also need to look at key staff members, contracts, and referral sources, among other things. So, what is this process called? Due Diligence. Essentially, think of due diligence as everything you will consider prior to signing a binding contract to purchase a business.

Generally speaking, when an investor wishes to acquire a business from its holders, the parties will agree on terms in the form of a purchase and sale agreement. The agreement will outline, among other things, the assets being transferred in an asset sale or the stock/membership interest being transferred if the investor is taking the business “turnkey.” In this way, the question of who owns the enterprise, and its assets, after the transaction has closed should be indisputable. 

Starting a business is exciting. Running a business is rewarding. But what about exiting a business? While business owners have a deep knowledge of their business and often reap huge rewards, both on a personal and financial level, most owners do not know what to do when they are ready to retire and/or sell the business. Even more, they do not know what their business is worth. To give you an idea of where to start, let's take a look at one of the most valuable tools at your disposal - your company’s EBITDA. 

If you are in the process of selling or acquiring a small company, you have probably come across the term “Seller's Discretionary Earnings” or SDE. In essence, SDE is the foundation of business valuation for small businesses. It is a crucial concept that enables savvy buyers to gain a deeper understanding of a business’s story.  

It is common sense that a business is worth more than its tangible assets, but appraising that extra, invisible value can be tricky. Elements such as reputation, customer base, existing networks, and brand recognition all contribute to the value of a business without ever showing up on the balance sheets. When a business is bought and transitioned, those nebulous, intangible assets are lumped together as something called “goodwill.” And, ironically, goodwill is often one of the largest components involved when calculating a business’s final market value.

If you have an accounting business for sale, you are likely concerned about how the sale will proceed and if the sale will ultimately be successful.

The good news is that there are many resources available to ensure the sale is a success and to make the entire process much easier for you. Below are a few helpful tips to keep in mind if you have a CPA practice for sale.

Approximately 50% of physical therapy practices are known as “onesies” and “twosies.” This means that the practice is owned and operated by one physical therapist that runs one or two clinics. Although this business structure works very well for the physical therapist who owns the business, it also means the marketplace is fragmented, and many therapists are finding it more difficult to go up against big buyers.

If there is one industry that people can feel fairly safe entering, or starting a business in, it is technology. It is no secret that technology has come a long way in just the past 10 years, and that tech experts are only going to continue the upward trend by inventing new and exciting solutions every day. However, technology companies for sale come with some unique issues and if you do not know how to handle them, you could be setting yourself up for failure. Below are the four most common issues you will likely face when purchasing a tech company.

Selling an accounting practice is something most business owners do only once. Due to the fact that most accounting practice owners have never embarked on such an experience, knowing what to expect can cause fear and skepticism in moving forward with a transaction. Fear and skepticism, in turn, can hinder the selling process and make it much more difficult to agree on terms. With that in mind, if you are about to sell your practice, below are the most common misconceptions associated with such sales and the truth behind them.

Buying a physical therapy practice can be a lucrative investment. However, regardless of the financial decisions you have made in your life, it is likely going to be stressful. It is easy to make any number of mistakes along the way, and any one of those errors could set you back, both financially and in opening your clinic. Below are the most common mistakes people make when buying a physical therapy clinic, and how to avoid them.

Certified public accountants (CPAs) have two choices when they want to start their own firm. They can start from scratch, purchasing or renting office space, and build their business from the ground up. Or, they can find an existing accounting firm for sale, purchase it, move in, and start running the business. Both options are attractive and hold many benefits for any CPA. However, below are four compelling reasons to buy an accounting firm, rather than start one up on your own.

Certified public accountants have two choices after earning their degree. They can strike it out on their own, or they can find a firm that is looking for qualified CPAs. The thought of starting a CPA firm and being in control of your own business may be too good to pass up, and it is true that this option has many benefits. However, there are also challenges that come with being independent, and it is important to understand what those are before you hang up your own sign.

A quick look at the statistics shows just how many accounting practices are going to be for sale in the next few years. In the United States, 10,000 people will be turning 65 every day for approximately the next 20 years. Additionally, approximately 60% of all CPA firm owners are over the age of 50 and therefore are starting to think about retirement and perhaps selling their firms. This means the competition for CPA firms is going to be aggressive in the coming years. Anyone thinking about selling an accounting practice must avoid certain pitfalls to give them the edge and sell their practice faster.

Valuing a physical therapy practice is part art, part science, and part math. Generally, the math and science, which we discuss below, is more easily calculated. It is the art – knowing how to sell a business and to whom – where true value is realized. For purposes of this article, we will discuss the valuation of a physical therapy practice where a controlling interest and/or 100% of assets are sold. 

In speaking to countless business owners, we know that making the decision to sell your business is difficult. In large part, fear of the unknown can create analysis paralysis and, ultimately, lead to inaction. Yes, there is much that goes into selling a physical therapy practice, but with proper planning, and the right team, most of the heavy lifting will be done for you. With that in mind, consider these two main steps now to get the ball rolling: 1) value your business and, 2) identify qualified buyers that will help you realize that value.

As exciting as it is to buy an accounting firm, you will also likely have many questions during the process. You will want to know about the current clients within that firm, the employees and whether you will need additional staff, and how you are going to market your new business. These are all valid questions, and you should ask them at some point in the acquisition process. Before you do, though, there are two important questions you need to ask yourself first.

Acquiring and retaining new clients is one of the biggest concerns for any accountant, second only to recruiting and retaining good employees. While client retention is a challenge for all accountants, it is of particular concern when purchasing an accounting firm. To ensure that you retain all, or at least most, of the current clients, follow the four tips below.

For years lawyers could not sell their law practices because it was considered unethical. The prevailing theory behind deeming the sale of a law practice unethical was tied, in large part, to the client’s right to choose a lawyer and, in practicality, generally left single-owner firms with an asset they could not sell (while large firms were merging, acquiring books of business, etc.). Today, however, it is both ethical and common to sell a law practice, but the structure of the transfer of your law practice, and, thus, the documents you prepare must take the ethical rules into account. Below are some of the most important documents to have on hand once you decide to start the process of transferring your firm to a new owner.

The prospect of owning your own accounting firm is an exciting one, but it also comes with a dilemma for CPAs. You have two options: You can either venture out on your own and build an accounting firm from the ground up, or you can buy an accounting firm that is already up-and-running. When making this decision it is important to weigh the pros and cons. Below, you’ll find a list of pros and cons when it comes to starting your own accounting firm.

One of the most common questions we get from clients or potential clients is: When is it the right time to sell my business? Before I can answer that question, I need more information from you. There are three questions I have for my clients in return:

1. How much longer do you want to work?

When making any type of business acquisition, there is much to consider, and that is certainly true when acquiring an accounting practice. Many people do not know where to start looking for an accounting practice for sale, and searching the local classifieds is not always enough. Websites such as BizQuest, BizBuySell, and PrivatePracticeTransitions.com are a great place to start. Once you find an accounting practice for sale that you think may be a good fit, you then want to make sure that it has the five essentials listed below.

Whether you are venturing out on your own and plan to start your own law firm, or your current firm is expanding, you may be thinking it is time to buy a law firm. Buying a law firm is a bold move and one of the biggest decisions you will make in your career, so it is important to first consider a few important factors. Below are some things to keep in mind when it is time to start searching for a law firm for sale.

You may already know that when selling your business, business brokerage firms can be quite helpful. Experienced business brokerage firms will screen qualified buyers and help you through the many obstacles you may encounter when trying to complete your sale. In the meantime, you can remain focused on running your business before the sale is final.

There are many reasons for buying a CPA firm. One of the main reasons many CPAs purchase an existing firm is simple: buying an accounting firm that is already up and running is much easier than starting one from scratch. Buying an existing firm, along with existing operations, also minimizes the risk associated with starting a business because the firm will (a) have existing clients (and therefore work in progress and accounts receivable), (b) have an existing space and infrastructure in place (phones, email, server, filing systems, and the like) and, last but certainly not least (c) have existing staff members. These are just a few of the most critical aspects of any accounting firm and, when combined, create an opportunity that simply is a safer bet than starting from scratch.

In the most recent issue of the Oregon State Bar Bulletin, Lee Wachocki provides a great strategic insight into the option of law firm succession planning rather than selling your practice. Our very own Justin D. Farmer contributed to the article, titled “Sales Isn’t The Only Option.” You can read the full piece by clicking here. Following is our own synopsis and comments:

“Do I need a broker to buy a business?” It’s an important question. Purchasing a business is a huge investment. It is definitely not something that can be done on a whim, or without the necessary experience and knowledge backing up the purchase. There are many things you must take into consideration when buying a business, and this is why so many buyers choose to work with a business broker before the sale is final. Business brokers bring many benefits to individuals who are looking for a company to purchase, including those listed below. Let’s examine what business brokers do for people who want to sell their firms.

You have worked hard and built your law firm into something that you are immensely proud of and that you value a lot. When it comes time to sell your firm, however, it is not the value you place on it that matters. You need to determine how valuable potential buyers will find your firm because that is what you will ultimately receive for it. While you may think it is going to be difficult to ignore your own emotions when evaluating your law firm, there are a few factors you can use to help you step back and really see how much your firm is worth. Let’s dive into how to value a law firm.

Whether you have started a law practice and are looking to expand rapidly, or you are thinking about leaving a large firm and venturing out on your own, buying a law practice – buying a business – may be right for you. Regardless of where you are in your career, it is much easier (and more cost-effective) to buy a law practice than it is to start one all on your own. Many attorneys do not even consider purchasing a law practice because they don’t realize they can, and/or they don’t know where to even start with the process. However, buying a law practice is both possible and a great avenue to pursue, for the savvy businessperson. Below are a few things to consider as you learn how to buy a law practice.

Baby Boomers are retiring en masse across all industries. And while the majority of accounting firm owners are baby boomers who are near the age of retirement (65 or older), just as many younger professionals are coming of age and seek to run their own businesses. For the former group, whether you want to retire, semi-retire (perhaps you just want the freedom to travel without firm administration hanging over your head), transitioning the ownership of your firm should be high on your list of priorities. If you want to know how to sell your accounting practice for top dollar, you will want to consider the tips below. 

TACOMA, Wash. (Oct. 3, 2018) – Justin D. Farmer, 36, Founder and President of Private Practice Transitions, Inc., a Gig Harbor-based professional business brokerage, has been named to South Sound Business magazine’s 40 Under 40 list for 2018.

I work with extremely successful and exceptionally bright professionals who, after years of hard work, have grown a business that has going concern. But like most savvy business owners, my clients come to realize that it is time to transition and “pass the baton”, so to speak, to a younger professional who can carry the business into the next generation. But selling a business is a lot of work. And certainly selling a professional service business must be harder (or so many of my clients think). Then the question remains: is it worth it? The short answer: absolutely. Sure, there are countless moving parts and factors to consider when selling a business. But with the proper planning and team in place, you can maximize your return on investment. In fact, your business may be worth even more than you think. And, fortunately, there are several rules of thumb for selling a business that you can consider. 

As we have established thus far, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is designed to help you get the funding you need to start, purchase or expand your small business. Though the SBA does not lend money directly, it does back and supervise the lending process, removing much of the uncertainty for both lenders and applicants alike. This article provides a brief overview of each of the SBA’s four main loan programs. I will be discussing each loan program in more detail at a later date.

As my first article on the Small Business Administration “Buying a Business is Easy: 5 Steps to Secure SBA Financing” received so much attention, it seems prudent to continue delving into this topic. This will therefore be the first in a small series on just that. Stay tuned.

Part one: Networking Made Easy – Part One: Expanding Horizons

Part Two: Networking Made Easy – Part Two: The Strategy

One of the most daunting aspects of striking out on your own is the inherent financial insecurity. You are exchanging constraint and stability for freedom and risk. Hesitance is normal, but it should not stop you from chasing your independence, especially when there are government agencies designed to help. One of these is the government-backed U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA’s business financing programs “[provide] small business with an array of financing…from the smallest needs in microlending – to substantial debt and equity investment capital.” The most common SBA small business loan allotment is about $130,000-140,000. Yet they range from just $5,000 to $5,000,000.

It’s no secret that the impacts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) can create a nasty minefield for physical therapists and other providers in private practice to navigate. In the attempt to universalize healthcare and reduce costs generated by the ACA, the federal government incentivized provider clumping. Hospitals, Affordable Care Organizations (ACOs), and private networks can more easily offset the accruing losses, pad that 90-day no-pay grace period, and afford the mandatory conversion to electronic medical records. So why, oh why would a physical therapist want to remain in private care?

The US currently faces a unique generational gap in its workforce.  This gap causes office discord, managerial nightmares, and networking problems, as two very different age demographics are forced to make nice with little guidance as to how closing this generation gap should work.

Congratulations, you’ve made the decision to sell your business. You’re ready for the transition. But you have more questions than answers regarding how to begin? Like many small business owners, you’re probably feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the task before you. Do you hire a consultant? Organize your books? Notify your employees and clients? What comes first? The questions can seem endless. But while getting started can be the hardest part of transitioning your business, it certainly doesn’t have to be.

Noted Seattle Attorney and Legal Business Executive Now Providing Brokerage Services

If you’re thinking of selling your private practice, one of your primary concerns likely has to do with its value. How much is your private practice worth? What can you really make by selling it? And is that monetary gain going to outweigh the hassle? You’ve heard the horror stories about failed negotiations, missing paperwork, and flaky buyers. So before you start your private firm valuation or just quietly pack your things, consider these six, often overlooked reasons why your business is worth more than you think.