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Founder Draper Hinks |
Last year we were very busy with vendors wanting to avoid having to take on MTD for their clients. This large wave of vendors has died down, and we have had time to catch our breath.
Should you want to buy, please contact us so we can make sure we know how much you want to buy and where the fees should be based.
We look forward to hearing from you. My email address is n.draper@draperhinks.co.uk. |
Nicola Draper What does a vendor look for in a buyer?
It is not uncommon for us to be selling an accountancy practice and have more than one buyer interested in buying the fees. That being the case, as a buyer, you need to understand what it is that the vendor wants from a buyer.
Would it surprise you to hear that the most important thing a vendor wants, is to sell to a buyer that is the best “fit”. This is not the same thing as the buyer offering the most money. Often the decision is an emotional one and not a financial one. The vendor is more likely to sell to a buyer that they like, where they have things in common, have the same outlook, the same ethos and having the same accountancy packages will help but that is well down the list. Spend time getting to know the seller and look for synergies and commonalities. It really matters!
Practices for Sale
| Reference | Area | Amount | Description |
| 808/260601 | Shropshire | £50,000 | Vendor looking to retire. Total of top 10 clients’ fees £29,014. Buyer needs to be FCA/ACA or FCCA/ACCA or FMAAT/AAT or CTA qualified. The practice is not VAT registered. There are no staff and no premises, so the fees need to be transferred to the buyers’ office locally. |
| 810/260608 | Herefordshire | £64,410 | Tranche of fees for sale as the vendor wants to downsize. Total of top 10 clients’ fees in tranche £14,618. The practice is VAT registered. Buyer needs to be FCA/ACA or FCCA/ACCA or FMAAT/AAT or ACMA or CIMA qualified. The buyer needs to be local as the practice is not paperless and clients visit the office. |
| 814/260615 | Devon | £155,000 | Vendor wants to have more time to spend with family and pursue other interests away from accountancy. The buyer needs to be qualified.3 employees and 1 sub-contractor – ideally the vendor would like the buyer to keep them. Leased premises, not a condition of the sale that the buyer takes them on. Top 10 clients’ fees total £26,035. |
Here is a testimonial from a vendor whose practice we sold in 2025:-
I decided to retire and work on new challenges outside of accountancy. I had various emails from Draper Hinks over recent years. Working with Draper Hinks was always straightforward, informative and the team was always available for advice.
First impressions were that they were likeable, friendly, open and honest. The process offered was simple, logical and well explained. I was worried that the buyer would not keep all the staff, the office and of course the clients.
Working with a broker gives you access to potential buyers on a confidential basis and they filter out any unsuitable buyers. The most difficult part of selling was just making the decision to sell. I am now looking forward to having more leisure time. Also working in a completely different environment that will be outdoors and physical.
I will miss the staff and some of the clients, but I will not miss the relentless workload. I would certainly recommend Draper Hinks.
David Cook FCA (Permission given to use his name)
Sometimes it’s no-ones fault that completions are delayed
Read our Vendor’s story with details of multiple paid
Details of another deal done in 2025
| Fees sold | £350,000 | Where | Surrey |
| Qualified | FCA | Age | 67 |
| Time scale | 6 months | Type of Practice | Sole Practitioner |
| Payment | 3 tranches | How paid | 50%, 25% & 25% |
| Multiple | 1 x fees | When paid | Completion, 12 months & 24 months |
| Offers | 2 offers | Office & staff | Kept office and staff |
| Results | Vendor worked post sale as a consult, retired on time diminishing capacity over next 2 yrs | ||
Income Multiples Paid in the last 12 months
| 2025 | Quarter | Average income multiple paid | Lowest income multiple paid | Highest income multiple paid | Lowest income multiple offered | Highest income multiple offered |
| Quarter 2 | Apr – Jun | 1.016 | 0.85 | 1.20 | 0.50 | 1.20 |
| Quarter 3 | Jul – Sept | 1.021 | 0.57* | 1.20 | 0.57 | 1.20 |
| Quarter 4 | Oct – Dec | 1.02 | 0.66* | 1.25 | 0.66 | 1.25 |
| 2026 | ||||||
| Quarter 1 | Jan – Mar | 1.06 | 1.00 | 1.25 | 1.00 | 1.30 |
NB None of the above figures are to be reproduced in any way without express permission from Nicola Draper.
* One off payment made with no clawback.
Please check out our website www.draperhinks.com where you can:-
- Download our Draper Hinks Buying Fees eBook.
- Read our monthly Blogs giving regular market commentary.
- Read our Vendor’s stories about their experiences of selling their practices.
We regularly post on LinkedIn so if you have not already connected with us please visit our page or email Marie Large on m.large@draperhinks.co.uk.
If you are thinking about buying, then email Tim Bentham our Buyer Liaison Manager at t.bentham@draperhinks.co.uk.
Alternatively call us anytime on 01788 816440.