merger

how to use snail mail to find sellers for mergers

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with four steps and a sample letter.

by marc rosenberg
cpa firm mergers

in all areas of mergers and acquisitions, it’s always much more difficult to find sellers than buyers. this is certainly true in the case of cpa firms. cpa firm merger consultants and brokers can do a great job finding buyers, but they are limited in their ability to dig up sellers. this is because the vast majority of all mergers and sales take place when buyers or sellers who “know each other” get together on their own without the help of a consultant.

one way to identify sellers is to conduct a snail mail solicitation. the steps in the process are: read more →

how to plant seeds for mergers

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veteran buyers say that for every firm they merge with, they had discussions with 10 others.

by marc rosenberg
cpa firm mergers

firms that are serious about merging in smaller firms on a regular basis understand that conducting mergers is all about planting seeds.

a buyer has to have this attitude:

every day of every year, at least one firm decides to test the merger waters. if our efforts to identify sellers are made continuously throughout the year, every year, sooner or later, we will find at least one interested merger candidate and probably more than one. read more →

the 21 steps in every merger deal

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checklist: for every step in the merger negotiations, there’s a possible misstep.

by marc rosenberg
cpa firm mergers

it’s important to understand the flow of the entire merger process.

every merger has its unique aspects. it’s impossible to choreograph, from a to z, exactly how the process for all mergers will work. most steps occur in the same order from one deal to the next. but then, all mergers are different. your mileage may vary.

still, there are at least 21 steps that need to happen. and one can’t happen without the other. take a look…

read more →

the 13 big reasons firms merge

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and 13 potential sticking points with conflicting agendas.

by marc rosenberg
cpa firm mergers

whether you’re looking to acquire a smaller firm, merge upward into a larger one or join forces with an equal, answering this basic question honestly and objectively is key to laying the groundwork for a successful merger. read more →

15 deal breakers and non-negotiables in mergers

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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 →

today’s 15 essential deal points in accounting firm mergers

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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 →

do cpa firm mergers really work?

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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:

  • sellers who are sole practitioners (remember, 30,000 of the u.s.’s 45,000 aicpa-member firms are solos and a huge percentage of those are at an advanced age) and multipartner firms billing under $2 milllion a year.
  • buyers with annual revenues of $3 milion and more.

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 →

6 steps to handle staffing problems in a merger

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and the top 8 questions every staffer will ask.

aquila
aquila

by august aquila
creating the effective partnership

to get your employees’ commitment to the merger, they must understand how it impacts them personally and see the opportunities for themselves.

let’s assume that the announcement for the upcoming merger or sale is handled properly. in other words, it was not leaked or there were no rumors on the street. you can be sure that once the announcement is made, employees start thinking about one thing — how does this event affect me? this is about self-preservation; it’s an emotional and psychological question that everyone will ask themselves. read more →

talking merger? the basic 7-item agenda for the first meeting

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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 →