Valuations for law, accounting, consulting and advisory firms.
For partnership transfers, equity buy-outs, group restructures and succession matters. Methodology calibrated for partner-dependent service businesses.
Professional services firm valuations require methodology that handles partner dependency, work-in-progress accounting, client relationship transferability and the recurring-versus-project revenue split. Oliver Group prepares evidence-led valuations for law firms, accounting practices, consulting firms, financial advisory businesses and adjacent professional services.
Professional services-specific factors
Partner remuneration normalisation is almost always required: partners often draw above or below market salary depending on profit-distribution arrangements. Client concentration affects risk and the supportable multiple. Recurring revenue (managed clients, retainer engagements) is valued differently from project-by-project work. The transferability of client relationships to new ownership is a critical assumption that the report addresses explicitly.
Methodology considerations
Capitalisation of maintainable earnings is the primary method, with normalisation of partner remuneration to market. Revenue multiples are useful as a cross-check, particularly for firms with strong recurring revenue. The work-in-progress and trust account analysis sits in the financial summary section.
Common engagement types
- ·Partnership entry and exit valuations
- ·Equity buy-out of departing partner
- ·Firm sale to consolidator or successor firm
- ·Related-party transfer to family entity
- ·Group restructure or demerger
- ·Pre-sale benchmark for partnership planning
Common questions.
How is partner remuneration normalised?+
Partner draws are typically adjusted to market salary for an equivalent role, with the difference treated as a profit distribution. The methodology and quantum is documented and reasoned in the report. Where partners draw below market, the adjustment increases maintainable earnings; where above, the adjustment decreases it.
Do you value sole-practitioner firms?+
Yes, with explicit attention to personal goodwill versus transferable enterprise value. Sole-practitioner firms often have a large personal goodwill component that does not transfer; the valuation methodology reflects this.
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Small Business Valuation
$1,495 + GST
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