MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

How to Merge Two Solo Accountants

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two men standing and shaking hands

A list of 21 issues to consider.

By Marc Rosenberg
CPA Firm Mergers: Your Complete Guide

When considering a merger of sole practitioners, there are numerous critical issues to negotiate. Twenty-one, in fact.

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1. Method/system for splitting the profits. Keep in mind that if you devise a system that essentially revolves around making each solo a profit center, as if they still had their own firms, it will tend to discourage the two of you working together as one firm.
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With Apax Sale, CohnReznick Starts Building a National Platform

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First rollup: Smith Schafer & Associates.

By CPA Trendlines Research

CohnReznick has closed its funding deal with Apax Partners, formally planting one of the world’s largest private equity firms inside the upper tier of the U.S. accounting profession.

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The transaction, three years in the making, positions Apax as the majority owner of CohnReznick’s non-attest business, while the firm’s audit and attest services remain separate.

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PE Deal Tracker for Feb. 2026: 57 deals in 60 days

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February 2026 produced 21 recorded transactions — second only to January.

The accounting profession’s private equity wave shows no sign of cresting.

By CPA Trendlines Research

The 57 private-equity-backed accounting transactions recorded in the CPA Trendlines PE Deal Tracker™ through the first two months of 2026 represent more than three times the 18 deals logged in the same period a year ago, as the PE phenomenon continues to gather speed.

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February didn’t beat January’s record pace but it came in second, even if down 42%. Still, the underlying rate remains roughly double the 2025 monthly average of 12.1 deals. READ MORE →

Thirteen Things to Ask in a Merger of Equals

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Overhead view of 4 hands putting together 4 puzzle pieces

How about an executive committee from both firms?

By Marc Rosenberg
CPA Firm Mergers: Your Complete Guide 

Mergers of equals or firms close to equal (some call these sideways mergers) are much less common than mergers in which there is a clear survivor. But they do occur.

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Quite simply, there are two reasons mergers of equals are uncommon:
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Merging in a Smaller Firm: 33 Questions to Ask

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Young businesswoman using smartphone and tablet at outdoor cafe

BONUS: a telephone screening form.

By Marc Rosenberg
CPA Firm Mergers: Your Complete Guide

Even though these questions are primarily intended for larger firms to ask smaller firms, some of the questions may be appropriate for the smaller firm to ask larger firms. These are general questions; based on your review of the other firm’s data, you will certainly have specific questions to ask in addition to those below.

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An important goal of these interviews is to get open, honest and brutally candid responses. At most firms, this is virtually impossible if you interview two or more partners together. Only rarely, where two or three partners appear to be “joined at the hip,” is it acceptable to do group interviews.

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