Most accounting and bookkeeping firms in Canada change hands at a multiple of their normalized earnings, typically EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization), adjusted for owner add-backs. The multiple itself depends on your size, location, growth trajectory, and how much the business depends on you, the owner.
Accounting and bookkeeping firms are valued on recurring client revenue, client retention, and how transferable the relationships are. A base of recurring monthly and annual engagements, high retention, and staff who manage the client work lift value; concentration in seasonal tax work and relationships tied to the owner weigh it down.
Pushes the number up
- Recurring monthly and annual engagements
- High client retention and renewals
- Staff who manage the client relationships
- A diversified client base across industries
Pulls the number down
- Revenue concentrated in seasonal tax work
- Clients tied to the owner personally
- Key-person dependence on the principal
- Manual processes that are hard to transfer
You put in your numbers. We show you two things.
Market data: Sector-specific transaction multiples based on aggregated business transaction reports. Updated quarterly.
Peer benchmarks: Estimates from verified owners in your sector and size range. See what similar businesses are worth, and compare your own expectations against market data and transaction multiples.
Takes about three minutes.
No pitch. No account required. Just your numbers in, and market context out.
Get My InsightsAccounting and bookkeeping firms are valued on normalized earnings and the strength of recurring client revenue. Retention, staff coverage, and how transferable the relationships are all move the number. Clariva shows the benchmark range for your size and province.
Firms are often discussed as a percentage of recurring fees as well as a multiple of earnings; high retention and staff coverage push toward the higher end. Enter your numbers to see your range.
Yes. Firms built on recurring monthly and annual engagements have predictable cash flow, which buyers reward over seasonal, one-off tax work.
No. The estimate is for benchmarking and context only, and does not replace a formal business valuation. For a transaction, work with an M&A advisor or a Chartered Business Valuator (CBV).
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Not financial advice. Clariva is a data aggregation and compilation tool. All ranges shown on this platform are derived from publicly available transaction data and anonymized user submissions, and are provided for informational and benchmarking purposes only. Nothing on this platform constitutes a formal business valuation, financial advice, or a recommendation to buy or sell. Consult a qualified M&A advisor, Chartered Business Valuator (CBV), or legal counsel before making any financial or transactional decisions. Individual data is never shared or sold. Anonymized, aggregated insights may be used for industry research. You can request deletion of your data at any time by emailing tanner@clariva.ca.