prepare for the unexpected.
by marc rosenberg
cpa firm mergers
potential deal breakers in a merger negotiation can crop up at any time – and unexpectedly. but here are 15 that seem to occur more often than others. in most cases, one firm wants something, the other firm doesn’t and the two can’t agree on how to resolve the conflict. be prepared. read more →
with 5 specifics on price and 5 on compensation.
by marc rosenberg
cpa firm mergers
there can be an almost unlimited number of terms that both sides in a merger of accounting firms can haggle over. and sometimes they do.
more on cpa firm firm mergers: do cpa firm mergers really work? | 6 steps to handle staffing problems in a merger | 13 ways cpa firm mergers can go wrong | nuances and idiosyncrasies: the top 12 issues that complicate mergers | talking merger? the basic 7-item agenda for the first meeting | 10 special implementation issues in a merger of equals | in merger talks: 13 essential questions small firms must ask larger firms
but these days, only 15 really matter. get past these 15 and you’re on track to close a reasonable deal. still, be warned: the devil’s in the details. read more →
6 metrics to measure success. procrastinators’ 3 myths. and 5 steps you can’t skip.
by marc rosenberg
cpa firm mergers
as a generation of aging baby boomer partners marches towards retirement, thousands of firms are seeking the only exit strategy available to them – merge into another firm. thus has a voracious appetite for mergers been created at all size levels, particularly:
do mergers work?
well, that’s what doing a merger successfully is all about – asking the “right” questions.
look at the reasons why the merger was done in the first place and see if those goals were met.
good examples of the “right” questions: read more →
do the math and don’t be afraid to pay more or ask for more.
by marc rosenberg, cpa
partners in accounting firms are familiar with the rule of thumb that a cpa firm’s goodwill is worth one times fees; however, like many other “rules of thumb,” this notion is often incorrect.
when buyers begin to think about how much they will pay for a smaller firm, they often have the “1 x fees” concept in mind. then, when sellers are bold enough to ask for a price in excess of one times fees, buyers often balk because they feel that the asking price is too rich.
and nine of the the thorniest issues.
marc rosenberg, cpa, has been in the middle of cpa firm mergers for years. he’s seen deals run off the rails for many reasons.
here are 13 of the most common… read more →
by marc rosenberg, cpa
cpa firm mergers
throughout the merger process, you should be probing for nuances and idiosyncrasies of the other firm so that the concerns get on the table. here’s a checklist of a dozen: read more →
the ultimate success of a merger is directly proportional to the effort made by both firms.
according to marc rosenberg, of cpa firm mergers, each firm must ask lots of questions, agree on as many merger implementation issues as possible before the merger takes place and openly share as much of their “dirty laundry” as possible. “don’t assume anything,” rosenberg says.
in merger talks between well-matched firms of similar size, the best deals seem to start with the right agenda at the first meeting. it’s a seemingly simple seven-item agenda. but the discussions are rarely simple. nor should they be.
agenda for the first meeting: read more →
after the deal is done in a cpa firm merger.
sometimes, making the deal can be the easy part. marc rosenberg, author of cpa firm mergers, is here to remind you there at least 10 issues – specific to mergers among equals – that can’t be overlooked:
when a larger firm comes calling, a small firm rarely has much negotiating room. mostly, it’s a take-it-or-leave-it decision.
but increasingly, small firms are posing more probing questions.
marc rosenberg, in cpa firm mergers, suggests starting with a baker’s dozen 13. they are:
and 23 additional details to hammer out.
all things being equal, in a merger between firms of relatively equal size and weight, not all things are equal. here marc rosenberg, author of cpa firm mergers, lists the thorniest questions that crop up most frequently.
the most critical issues read more →
how a larger firm worries about the smaller firm’s issues.
mergers between larger cpa firms have their own special issues, as marc rosenberg, author of cpa firm mergers, discovered when he interviewed the partners of one of them. they are:
one question: for initial buy-in, should you write a check or transfer wip and a/r?
there’s a lot to worry about in any cpa firm merger deal. but in one deal between two small firms, when marc rosenberg, author of cpa firm mergers, interviewed one firm’s partners, he heard seven major issues. they are:
with a 32-point checklist.
by marc rosenberg
how to negotiate a cpa firm merger
since mergers happen between partners as much as firms, the partners of each firm must walk into the deal with eyes wide open. a structured interview process helps to produce open, honest and brutally candid responses. here are 32 questions you shouldn’t ignore. read more →
