Industry deep-dive
How to Buy a Financial Services Business
By Michael Freedman, Florida licensed business broker · Reviewed October 22, 2026Bookkeeping firms, tax practices, insurance agencies, and advisory books with extremely sticky recurring clients.
Why buyers like this industry
- Clients almost never switch accountants or agents; retention above 90 percent is normal.
- Revenue recurs annually or monthly by design.
- A generation of practitioners is retiring with no successor.
- Books of business are among the most financeable assets in small business.
What drives value in this category
- Client retention through the last ownership transitions
- Recurring fees versus one-time engagements
- Client concentration and average fee per client
- Staff credentials and whether they stay
- Compliance record and licensing transferability
Red flags to check
- Clients are personally loyal to the retiring owner.
- Key licensed staff have no reason to stay.
- Fees have not been raised in years, masking churn risk on increase.
- Any compliance or E&O claim history.
Who this suits
Buyers with finance, accounting, or insurance backgrounds, or operators willing to retain licensed staff.
Michael Freedman
Florida licensed business broker. 14+ years buying and selling businesses, 1,000+ evaluated, $100M+ in deals closed and advised on.
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