Why Now is the Peak for UK Accountancy Practice Valuations
If you are a partner or a sole practitioner running an accountancy firm in the UK right now, you might feel like you’re on a never-ending treadmill of compliance, MTD updates, and the perennial hunt for talent. But I have some news that might make that morning coffee taste a little bit better: you are […]
Is Your Practice at its Valuation Peak?
If you’ve been keeping an eye on the UK accountancy market lately, you’ll know things are moving fast. It feels like every other week there’s news of another accountancy practice merger or a private equity firm snapping up a regional firm. We are currently right in the middle of what many are calling the "2026 […]
Preparing for Companies House Reporting Shifts
If you’ve been in the game as long as I have, you’ll know that the only constant in the UK accountancy profession is change. Usually, it’s a bit of tax code tinkering or a new software update that promises to save you ten minutes a week. But what’s coming down the tracks from Companies House […]
Companies House Reporting Shifts: Transparency vs Privacy for Your Firm
Transparency is coming to the small business sector, and let’s be honest, not everyone is popping champagne about it. If you’ve spent years keeping your margins close to your chest and your "abridged" accounts as vague as a teenager’s weekend plans, the latest shifts at Companies House might feel a bit like someone’s just turned […]
Accountancy Practice Valuations UK: 5 Reasons 2026 is the Peak Year to Sell
If you’ve been keeping a close eye on the market lately, you’ll know that the landscape for accountancy practices for sale has shifted significantly. As we move through 2026, I’m seeing a unique "perfect storm" of factors that are driving accountancy practice valuations in the UK to what many experts: myself included: believe is a […]
7 Mistakes You’re Making When Selling Your Accountancy Practice UK (and How Reverse Due Diligence Saves the Deal)
Selling your life’s work isn't just a financial transaction; it’s an emotional milestone. For many a retiring accountant, the process of offloading a firm they've spent decades building can feel like a minefield. You’ve looked after your clients, managed your team, and kept the books straight: but when it comes to the practice sale, the […]
Does a 1.2x GRF Multiple Still Matter in 2026? The Truth About Practice Valuations
For decades, the "1.2x Gross Recurring Fees (GRF)" multiple was the gold standard. If you were looking to sell your practice, you’d look at your total annual fees, multiply by 1.2, and there was your number. It was simple, predictable, and, frankly, a bit lazy. Now that we’ve reached 2026, the landscape of accountancy mergers […]
MTD for ITSA: What Practice Owners Need to Know
If you’ve been in the game as long as I have, you’ll know that the goalposts for the accountancy profession in the UK don't just move, they occasionally get dug up and replanted in a different stadium. Right now, in June 2026, we are standing in the middle of one of the biggest structural shifts […]
MTD ITSA: The August 7th Crossroad for Your Practice Value
The HMRC "soft landing" for MTD ITSA (Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment) penalties is a bit of a double-edged sword, isn't it? On one hand, there’s a collective sigh of relief echoing through the corridors of every selling accountancy firm in the UK. On the other, as someone who spends all day […]
Accounting Firm GRF Multiples in 2026: Secrets Revealed on What’s Actually Being Paid
If you’ve been keeping an eye on the market, you’ve probably heard the whispers. "1.2x is the new 1x," or "Private equity is driving everything to 2.0x." But as we move through 2026, the reality on the ground for the average retiring accountant in the UK is a bit more nuanced. I’m Peter Watson, and […]