Seller guide

How to sell a CPA or accounting firm in the Rio Grande Valley

For RGV CPA firm owners planning succession: who buys, what drives value, Texas firm ownership rules, private equity structures and a prep plan.

Take the readiness scorecard →Call (956) 658-1446

By Spencer Gareiss, Delta BrokersLast reviewed November 12, 2026

Quick answer

Buyers pay for recurring clients, staff who stay and work that does not depend on you. Document recurring revenue by service, build a second layer of managers, and understand Texas ownership rules for CPA firms. Then compare offers from larger firms, private equity backed platforms and individual CPAs in a confidential process.

Who buys cpa and accounting firms businesses in the Valley

  • Large regional and national CPA firms, some backed by private equity, that merge in local firms and keep partners and staff.
  • Private equity backed accounting platforms using an alternative practice structure, where attest work stays in a CPA-owned firm and advisory and tax work moves to a separate company.
  • Texas firms expanding into the Valley to add tax, audit and advisory capacity near the border.
  • Smaller local firms and individual CPAs buying a practice, often with bank or SBA financing.
  • Out-of-market firms making their first Valley acquisition to serve clients they already have here.

What raises your price

  • Recurring revenue from monthly bookkeeping, payroll, tax and advisory clients.
  • Managers and senior staff who can serve clients without the owner.
  • A diversified client base with no single client driving revenue.
  • Specialties such as cross-border, agriculture, health care or nonprofit audit work.
  • Modern practice management, cloud workflows and documented procedures.
  • Clean peer review history for firms that perform attest work.
  • Realistic billing rates and collections, with low write-offs.

What lowers your price

  • All key relationships held by one or two partners near retirement.
  • Revenue concentrated in tax season with thin year-round work.
  • Staffing gaps with no pipeline of new accountants.
  • Peer review issues or open board complaints.
  • Outdated software and paper-based workflows.

How deals are priced

An advisor's indicative ranges put practices under $1M of revenue at roughly 2x to 4x EBITDA, firms with $1M to $5M of revenue at about 4x to 6x, and scalable platforms above $5M at about 7x to 10x or more (Aventis Advisors). Most private equity deals include deferred payments or earnouts tied to client retention. Small deals vary widely.

Pricing sources: Aventis Advisors: Accounting Services M&A, valuation multiples

Licensing and closing risks

  • CPA firms are licensed by the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy. A majority of a firm's ownership must belong to CPAs or people licensed in another state (Texas Occupations Code 901.354(a)).
  • Non-CPA owners are allowed only if the firm names a Texas-resident license holder responsible for the firm license, and each non-CPA owner is actively involved, passes a board ethics exam and follows board rules (Texas Occupations Code 901.354(b)).
  • Because of these rules, private equity buyers usually use an alternative practice structure, keeping attest work in a CPA-owned firm and moving other services to a separate company. Your attorney should review how that structure affects you.
  • Client engagement letters, confidentiality obligations and record retention need a plan for transfer or consent.
  • Most deals pay part of the price over time based on client retention, so define how retention is measured.

Sale-readiness scorecard

Answer eight yes or no questions. Your score and the items to fix first update as you go. Nothing you click is saved or sent anywhere.

  1. Could your managers serve your top clients for a tax season without you?

    Owner dependence lowers value.

  2. Is a large share of revenue recurring?

    Recurring clients drive the multiple.

  3. Is no single client a large share of revenue?

    Concentration adds risk.

  4. Is your TSBPA firm license and peer review current?

    Buyers check both early.

  5. Do you understand Texas CPA firm ownership rules?

    They shape which buyers can own what.

  6. Are engagement letters current for every client?

    They support the client transition.

  7. Are your workflows cloud-based and documented?

    Buyers pay for scalable firms.

  8. Do you know how long you want to work after the sale?

    Partner terms are part of every offer.

0 of 8 ready (0 answered)

Answer the questions above to see where you stand.

Your preparation checklist

  1. 24 months out: decide whether you want to stay on as a partner after the sale and for how long.
  2. Break revenue down by service line, client and season.
  3. Move clients to monthly or recurring engagements where it makes sense.
  4. Develop managers who handle client relationships, not just production.
  5. Update engagement letters and pricing.
  6. Move to cloud-based workflows and document your procedures.
  7. Confirm your TSBPA firm license, individual licenses and peer review status are current.
  8. Clean up your own books and separate owner compensation.
  9. Identify specialties, such as cross-border or agriculture work, and show the revenue tied to them.
  10. 6 to 12 months out: build a confidential buyer list across regional firms, private equity platforms and local CPAs, then go to market.

How long a sale takes

As a planning assumption, expect about 6 to 12 months from going to market to closing. Timing around tax season matters, and many deals close after a busy season so buyers can see the client transition.

The Rio Grande Valley angle

A major Valley firm has already merged into a national platform, which put the region on buyers' maps. Many Valley firms have partners nearing retirement and face staffing gaps, so a sale can solve succession and hiring at the same time. Hidalgo County grew from about 872,753 residents in 2020 to 921,549 in 2025 (U.S. Census Bureau estimates via FRED), which keeps business formation and tax work growing.

Thinking about selling? Start with a free, confidential consultation

Talk with a Delta partner about your cpa and accounting firms business. We will tell you plainly what buyers will look at, what your business may be worth, and what to fix first. No obligation, and nothing you share leaves us.

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Delta Brokers is a business brokerage, not a law firm or CPA firm. Rules, agency practice and market multiples change, and small deals vary widely; confirm every requirement with the agency named and with your own attorney and CPA before you act. Last reviewed November 12, 2026.

Sources

Sources reviewed November 12, 2026
  1. Aventis Advisors: Accounting Services M&A, valuation multiples
  2. Texas Occupations Code 901.354, Firm Ownership
  3. Texas State Board of Public Accountancy
  4. U.S. Census Bureau via FRED: Resident Population in Hidalgo County, TX
  5. Coleman Report: SBA procedural notice on citizenship and residency requirements for 7(a) and 504 loans (Feb 2026)

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can private equity buy my CPA firm in Texas?
Not outright. Texas requires a majority of a CPA firm's ownership to be held by CPAs. Private equity buyers usually use an alternative practice structure, where attest work stays in a CPA-owned firm and tax and advisory move to a separate company. Have your attorney review the details.
What is my accounting firm worth?
An advisor's ranges put practices under $1M of revenue at roughly 2x to 4x EBITDA and firms with $1M to $5M of revenue at about 4x to 6x. Recurring revenue, staff depth and client retention move you within those ranges, and part of the price is often paid over time.
Will my staff and clients be taken care of?
Buyers usually want your team, because staff shortages are one reason firms buy other firms. You can negotiate employment terms, titles, workload and client service commitments in the letter of intent. A competitive process with several buyers gives you more leverage on those points.
When should I sell around tax season?
Many owners start the process after a busy season so the numbers are fresh and close before the next one, giving the buyer time to meet clients. The right timing depends on your client mix, so plan it 12 to 24 months ahead.
Can a buyer use an SBA loan to buy my business?
Often, and SBA loans are common for smaller deals, but the rules changed. Since March 1, 2026, SBA 7(a) and 504 loans require every direct and indirect owner of the borrower to be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national living in the U.S., so green card holders can no longer use SBA financing (Coleman Report on the SBA notice). This matters most when your best buyer is an individual CPA who needs a loan. Delta's guide on the SBA citizenship rule and your buyer explains what this means for your buyer pool.
What does Delta Brokers charge, and are you my lawyer or CPA?
Delta Brokers is a veteran-owned sell-side M&A firm in McAllen. Our fee is tied to the sale of the business only, and we never earn real estate commissions. We are not a law firm or a CPA firm, so you will still want your own attorney and tax advisor. Our job is to prepare the business, find and qualify buyers, create competition, and manage the process to closing.