Accounting Practice Sales

"When it came time to sell my accounting practice in 2006, ProHorizons was referred to me by my dad - who is also in the business brokerage industry. He said that ProHorizons had the specific talent and experience needed for the accounting industry. He was absolutely correct! I listed my business with ProHorizons in May and had a check in hand by the end of July! Every step of the way, ProHorzions was there to answer questions, calm my fears, and provide professional counsel. Even though I am now in the mergers & acquisitions business brokerage business myself, I still refer any accounting firm buyers or sellers to ProHorizons."

"ProHorizons is a a terrific choice for anyone selling their CPA firm. They are experienced, knowledgeable and honest in evaluating such firms and provide a thorough program which assists CPA's in the sale of their firms. I would recommend ProHorizons as a great source for services."

“Now that a few weeks have passed since we closed on the sale of my CPA practice, I want to share a few thoughts with you.  I’ve been extremely impressed with the professional value of ProHorizons recommendations and careful guidance as the transaction progressed from understanding my practice, to finding potential buyers, to the final sale. Top drawer.  During sensitive negotiations the value of you and your company’s experience was very evident.  Both I and the buyer were able to fully understand the implications of proposed transaction considerations, and mutually make good decisions.  If I had another CPA practice to sell, without question, I would select ProHorizons.  Thanks for your personalized services.”

"Across the board ProHorizons exceeded our expectations.  Our practice was located in a rural community and we weren't sure if we could sell it.  ProHorizons was able to generate a handful of interested buyers and even brought us three different offers.  Throughout, they were attentive to us and complete professionals as they advised us of our options and helped us negotiate a deal that met our goals.  There is no doubt that ProHorizons is the firm of choice when selling an accounting practice."

"From what I've seen, I would say ProHorizons provides the best brokerage service in the industry.  They were professional, responsive, knowledgeable and very smart about timing their involvement--sometimes very active in guiding the transaction and sometimes stepping back and letting things run their course.  The result was a transaction that served both my needs and the buyer's needs, bridging our differences to close the deal and best insure the continued success of the practice.  When it comes to results, ProHorizons is tops!"

"I have to confess when ProHorizons first contacted me I tried to blow them off.  I wasn't convinced my practice was saleable.  After a few years of conversations with ProHorizons, I decided to see what they would accomplish, but I still wasn't entirely convinced.  I can say I was pleasantly surprised and quite impressed with the results.  My practice sold in a much shorter time frame than I expected and for a good price.  ProHorizons was professional, accessible, involved every step of the way and a great aid to the buyer regarding financing, which resulted in my being entirely cashed out.  I don't think I could have sold my practice without the assistance of ProHorizons.  I know it definitely would not have happened so quickly and the terms would not have been as good."

“Thanks for everything you did to make the sale of my practice possible. I was glad we found a buyer for both segments of my business and we did not need to split it into two companies. Now I am enjoying my "retirement" working in my son's business."

"We were impressed with how many prospective buyers ProHorizons was able to bring to the table. As for the process of selling, Ken Berry's knowledge, professionalism and responsiveness were excellent. ProHorizons was actively involved every step of the way and worked closely with us and our prospective buyers to create a positive sale and sales experience for all involved. Thank you again for all your help. We really appreciate it."

“Working with ProHorizons made the sale of my practice much less difficult. The process was fast and smooth. There were no surprises. ProHorizons played a valuable role in completing the sale. John Ezell coached me all the way to the closing. I would recommend using ProHorizons to any friend or colleague considering buying or selling a practice."

“Within a few days of listing with ProHorizons, I was introduced to three prospective buyers.  There were other feelers along the way, but I eventually sold to one of those initial introductions.  Throughout the sales process, Rick Harrison of ProHorizons was involved to whatever degree I required.  He provided me with the latitude I wanted, but was there when I needed input and counsel.  He was objective, spoke with candor, and helped the buyer and I reconcile our differences.  If I were to sell again, I would use ProHorizons and I am comfortable recommending them to any friend or colleague.”

"The process was pretty much what I expected. My biggest difficulty was in letting go of my relationship with the clients and the income stream. ProHorizons played a valuable role in finding an appropriate buyer and being available to consult with me through the closing. By the way, I would be pleased to act as a reference."

“ProHorizons helped me buy into a terrific tax practice 4 years ago, and has always been honest and giving of their time. They are experts in the field of accounting practice sales and purchases and are a great asset to any CPA looking to buy or sell an accounting practice.”

"Making a decision to purchase an accounting firm is very complex.  ProHorizons gave me answers to specific questions that assisted me in making the right decisions on how and when to move forward with the purchase I have now made.  Had it not been for their guidance we would not have been able to resolve issues necessary to create what is now an effective "win, win" deal."

“I have been looking to buy a practice and have been working with ProHorizons and their competitors. ProHorizons has always been very responsive when I call or email. Some of the other firms don't even acknowledge a call or email."

"ProHorizons played an integral part in facilitating our transaction. Our biggest challenge was finding a firm that was the correct fit for our existing business model. ProHorizons provided us with the necessary information regarding each prospective firm that enabled us to close on a transaction that will complement our existing practice. ProHorizons was very helpful in assisting our partners in becoming educated with regard to the entire process."

"I would definitely recommend Successful Practice Sales if you are interested in either buying or selling an accounting or tax practice. Being business advisors ourselves, we feel we already know a lot about buying and selling businesses - which we do. However it is a wise investment of your time and money to read this book to discover the nuances associated specifically with a CPA practice. After reading this book and attending an online webinar put on by Pro Horizons - I retained one of their consultants to assist me in evaluating different practices for sale. They been great in helping me decide on a practice and we are in the latter stages of acquiring a practice."

"Reading Successful Practice Sales was a launching point for me in buying a CPA practice this year. ProHorizons was the broker who I worked with in buying a CPA practice. They were very helpful and the insight they provided in this book was very helpful as well. John and Ken used their knowledge base gained from personal experience to really outline what a successful practice sale entails, for both the seller and the buyer. If you are looking to buy a CPA practice, this book will help delineate and streamline the major issues and challenges that are presented in the practice purchasing process. I couldn't imagine buying a CPA practice without reading this book."

"I recently received a copy of Successful Practice Sales and was very impressed with the clarity the book brings to a very complex process. I also had the unique pleasure of meeting the authors recently, and was impressed by their knowledge and expertise. For a changing CPA industry and in these economic times, having this collection of such extensive knowledge and wisdom gained over the author's last 15 years in the industry is fantastic. I especially appreciated Chapter 7, which outlines to potential pitfalls and how to avoid them in the process of buying or selling a practice. This is a great overview and will get you started on the right path."

"Successful Practice Sales is the best book of its kind. It lays out -- in a practical, step-by-step way -- the process for buying or selling your tax or accounting practice. But more than showing you the 'how,' it also explains the 'why.' There are a lot of fears and uncertainties in buying or selling -- particularly selling. John Ezell is there for you at every step of the way. Don't consider your next big move without this book."

"We don't know if you can sell your accounting practice on eBay, but we do know that you shouldn't. The fact is, though, that as many Baby Boomer accountants look to retire and the market toughens, practice sales are going to become both more frequent and more complicated than they already are. John Ezell of ProHorizons, an accounting firm consultant and brokerage, has spent years helping clients with selling practices (as well as buying and merging them). In his new book, Successful Practice Sales, Ezell parts with a number of valuable models, processes and tips on buying, selling, merging, financing and avoiding the pitfalls associated with each."

"In Successful Practice Sales: The Complete Guide to Buying, Selling or Merging Your Accounting, Consulting or Tax Practice, CPA John R. Ezell and consultant Ken Berry present guidance for accountants on both sides of the equation. They sketch the process of analyzing whether to buy or sell a firm and assessing the pros and cons of a specific transaction. The book also provides a glossary, document samples and checklists for performing due diligence and for obtaining financing, and it lists the state societies. It's big help in a small package."

"I engaged John Wilson of ProHorizons to procure a buyer for my practice in Palm Springs. The desert has seasonal challenges that do not appeal to all. Prior to that, my exit plan was doing nothing, yet expecting my buyer to walk through the front door. THAT DOESN'T WORK. John is a great resource, from the assembly of listing data, to the final execution of an agreement. The right buyer was in my door in 30 days! Of particular importance, John was a great resource for the bank financing, so instrumental to our transaction. John was in contact the entire time, which was greatly appreciated. I am pleased to endorse ProHorizons for those who desire to buy or sell an accounting practice."

“I had listed my practice for sale with another broker prior to engaging ProHorizons. In comparison, I was very pleased with the caliber of buyers ProHorizons brought to the table, the multiple offers I received, and the pace at which everything moved forward. ProHorizons was attentive to my needs, responsive to my questions, and did a lot of the work the other broker wouldn’t take on. ProHorizons made the process much easier for me and accomplished what the other broker couldn’t and in a much shorter time frame.”

“We engaged Ken Berry at ProHorizons to sell our accounting firm. He did a great job of thoroughly packaging and presenting our firm, which was critical due to our size and the complexity of our client base. Ken talks about delivering a high level of service and he is serious: he was by our side and working on our behalf from the moment we hired him through the close of the transaction. He was a great resource of knowledge and experience for both us and the buyers throughout, but particularly so as we entered the complicated final stages just prior to closing. Of course, the most important measurement is that he sold our practice in a manner that assured our clients and our staff would have a compatible home and Dick would be able to consult on a part-time basis with the new owners for several years. We would recommend, and have recommended, Ken and ProHorizons to any peers or colleagues looking to sell their accounting firm.”

"When I made the decision to sell my bookkeeping practice, I thought about trying to do it myself for a split second before realizing that with the right broker, I would have a better chance of finding the right buyer as well as (hopefully) be less stressed as there would be someone to guide me through this strange process. I was referred to ProHorizons through an out of state broker and I am constantly grateful for that referral. Not only did they market my business and find me buyers (which they did admirably) but they also really got to know me and my practice well. They listened to my concerns and priorities and their belief in and emphasis on finding the right fit took the pressure off of me to choose a buyer I wasn't thrilled about. Finding the right buyer was incredibly important because I wanted to find someone who would work well with my clients and my team of workers (otherwise no one would be happy and the whole thing would fall apart). Through ProHorizons’ effort they introduced me to 12 candidates before introducing me to the buyer I eventually sold to who I felt was really a good fit. The most important thing to me was that at no time did I feel pressured or forced to make a decision before I felt comfortable doing so. ProHorizons simply kept working on my behalf until the right buyer was found and the practice was sold. Running a business is stressful, selling a business while running it is additionally stressful, Ken & his team helped make the process way less stressful. I shudder to think about going through that process again without their assistance and I most highly recommend them to any tax, accounting, or bookkeeping practice owner in need of their services. Worth Every Penny!!"

It has been five months since my sale closed and, in looking back, I cannot overstate how pleased I am with the job Ken Berry and ProHorizons did on my behalf. Throughout Ken was very accessible and responsive to my every need and even helped walk me back from some emotional moments that would have been challenging to navigate alone. Ken did all the work in finding and screening buyers, working with the buyer and bank financing, negotiating the core terms of the sale, helping the buyer structure due diligence review, providing templates for offers and final contracts, and so much more. At the point my sale closed, there had been 12 buyers interested and I received offers from three of them. I only met and spent time with those three serious candidates, because Ken screened the other nine out before they took up my time. I have to confess that I worked with a different brokerage company prior to ProHorizons and, in that experience, I had to do just about everything Ken did (screen buyers, negotiate directly with buyers, etc.) with very little support from or access to the broker.  What a waste of my time and energy!  ProHorizons was definitely a breath of fresh air and I wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone looking to sell or buy a practice.”

My experience with Pro Horizons was excellent! I worked with Ken Berry and he provided guidance, information, support, and was a true professional. I still check in with him from time to time but when I was preparing to sell my business he was there through everything. His communication skills are exceptional. His familiarity with my line of work made a huge difference and he worked to make sure my deal was more than competitive. I never regretted choosing Ken or Pro Horizons as my broker. If you are looking at selling your business or, if you're looking to purchase a business, Ken Berry is absolutely the go-to guy.

My experience with Pro Horizons has been great and excellent. They are very knowledgeable and a great resource to have when it comes to buying/selling an accounting/ tax firm. They are very timely and know the process and provide a great assistance when it comes to a transaction. More importantly, they are very ethical and professional and provide support with analyzing the information and provide guidance in helping you to make a wise decision in buying or selling. I highly recommend ProHorizons to anyone who is looking to buy or sell their firm as they are a great broker with talent, experience and knowledge.

It's a pleasure to recommend ProHorizons to anyone who is in need of a broker to sell their CPA firm. They are very knowledgeable about the process and brings their expertise to your transaction every time. They also goes above and beyond just listing and then standing back; they are hands-on and help both you and the potential buyer to understand the process and to conclude a successful transaction. We couldn't have done it without ProHorizons.

ProHorizons provided excellent service in the selling of our tax prep business. Ken Berry identified potential buyers, discussed them with us, made the contacts and, eventually, facilitated a sale that exactly fulfilled our requirements.