CPA Firm Merger and Acquisition – A Gem of an Idea

Finding the Right Firm to Merge with is Like Choosing the Perfect Stone

Thought Leadership and a Guest Post From Phil Whitman, Whitman Business Advisors LLC

When purchasing a diamond, the buyer will typically consider the four Cs – Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat weight. If we translate the criteria to practice acquisition or merger, the Cut of the diamond might compare to the Culture of the firm; Color to the brand image or reputation of the firm in the marketplace; Clarity to the specialty niches or practice focus; and Carat weight would, naturally, compare to the size of the firm and its revenues.

We are not talking about diamonds, however. We are talking about mergers and acquisitions of CPA firms. An M&A deal has an exclusive set of critical Cs. These might include:

Phil has identified more than 66 Cs of Mergers and Acquisitions. Together they offer insight into every dimension of a merger or an acquisition from the point of view of both the buyer and the seller or both the larger and the smaller firm. If there is a merger or an acquisition in your future, you can contact him at pw@whitmanbiz.com.