How Much Is My Accountancy Practice Worth?
Get a free, indicative valuation based on real market data. No documents needed — it takes around 60 seconds.
Updated April 2026Completely confidential
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Everything we ask, you already know. No documents or financials needed. Takes around 60 seconds.
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See what businesses like yours are selling for, based on up-to-date valuation multiples in your sector.
Indicative valuation range
£3.4m – £3.8m
£2.5m£5m
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Speak with an advisor who understands your market, can give you a more accurate valuation, and help you find the right buyer when you're ready.
How are accountancy practices typically valued?
Accountancy practices are most commonly valued using a multiple of gross recurring fees (GRF), which reflects the annual value of your ongoing, repeatable client work such as accounts preparation, tax returns, bookkeeping and payroll. For smaller, owner-managed practices, GRF is the standard measure because it captures the predictability of the income a buyer is acquiring. For larger practices with multiple staff and an established management layer, buyers may instead use a multiple of adjusted earnings (EBITDA), which measures profitability after removing owner-specific costs and one-off expenses. In both cases, the multiple applied depends on the quality and profile of your practice, not just the headline revenue figure.
What multiples do accountancy practices sell for?
GRF multiples for UK accountancy practices typically range from 0.8x to 1.7x gross recurring fees. Where your practice falls within that range depends on factors including the quality of your fee base, client retention, your technology stack, and how dependent the practice is on you personally. Practices with high-quality, cloud-based client portfolios have been achieving multiples at the upper end of the range, with some reaching 1.4x or higher. For larger practices valued on EBITDA, multiples typically sit around 5x to 6x, though private equity-backed transactions at the larger end of the market have reached 14x to 15x. When we speak with buyers, the practices that attract the strongest offers are those with a high proportion of recurring fees, a digitally engaged client base, and a team that can operate without the owner being involved in every piece of work.
What factors affect the value of an accountancy practice?
Recurring fee quality. Not all fees are valued equally. Buyers pay the most for predictable, recurring compliance work such as annual accounts, tax returns, bookkeeping and payroll. Ad hoc or project-based fees, such as one-off consultancy or tax investigations, carry less weight because they may not repeat under new ownership. Practices with a high proportion of fixed-fee monthly retainers are particularly attractive.
Want a more accurate picture?
An online calculator is a useful starting point. Speak with our team to understand what your accountancy practice could realistically achieve.
Common questions about accountancy practice business valuations
Yes. Smaller sole-practitioner practices are typically valued on a GRF multiple, with the final figure largely driven by the quality and transferability of the client book. As practices grow beyond roughly £500,000 in fees and have a team in place, buyers start to look at profitability through an EBITDA lens, and the multiples available tend to increase. Multi-partner practices with established management structures, documented processes and diverse service lines are particularly attractive to private equity-backed acquirers who are actively consolidating the sector.
The accountancy M&A market has been exceptionally active in recent years, driven by private equity consolidation and strong demand from individual buyers looking for reliable recurring fee income. However, the market is becoming more selective. The introduction of MTD for Income Tax is prompting a wave of practice owners to consider selling, which means supply is increasing. For practices that are digitally prepared, well-staffed and profitable, buyer demand remains strong and multiples are historically high. The risk of waiting is that increased supply from MTD-motivated sellers shifts the balance towards buyers, particularly for practices that have not invested in modernising their systems.
Most accountancy practice sales take between six months and two years from initial valuation to completion. The timeline depends on the size and complexity of the practice, the structure of the deal, and whether the buyer requires a transition period with the outgoing principal. Many sales include a handover period of three to twelve months, during which the seller introduces clients and supports the transition. Having clean financial records, up-to-date letters of engagement, and documented workflows will help the process move more efficiently.