30 Recent Practice Sales: Who, What and Why Unpacked

 Published November 2025

DMY's latest six-monthly release of Market Data and Insights for accounting practice sales has just been released here:  DMY Latest Market Data - November 2025. It contains data and insights on 30 practice sales^# over the last 12 months including selling prices,  levels of buyer activity, retention terms and how long sales are taking as well as the key trends from our last nine Market Data releases going back to 2021.

In this article, we take a closer look at the profile of the 30 practice sales that underpin this Market Data: service lines, levels of fees sold, age of sellers, reasons for selling and the gender of buyers and sellers.

Demand for practices remains high and competition intense with a diverse pool of buyers both local and interstate, large and small. Sellers cannot be complacent though. Whether you are planning to buy or sell,  this is a valuable read to build your understanding of the market and set yourself up for a successful outcome. 

Key Findings

 1. Not surprisingly, the majority of practices sold focus on core tax and accounting services with differing levels of business advisory. There is also healthy demand for finance function/bookkeeping practices.

Fees Sold

 2. The majority of practices sold were between $0.5m - $1m in fees. 30% of the practices sold had fees over $1 million with the largest having fees of c.$4.5 million. 

The majority of practices sold will always skew towards smaller practices (<$1 million) given the sheer volume of these across Australia and the propensity for larger practices to be better equipped for internal succession planning.  The largest practices DMY currently have in market are three practices with fees of $4.6 - 6 million. 

2. 40% of sellers are aged under 60 which reflects a consistent trend we have seen since COVID where more and more owners are electing to sell earlier in their careers and for reasons other than imminent retirement.

Over five years ago the large majority of sellers were over 60 but with it becoming increasingly more challenging to successfully run a small practice  - particularly finding and retaining talented accountants and managing regulatory complexity - we don't anticipate the current trend will reverse.

Our youngest seller this period was aged just 30 and had built a successful finance function and bookkeeping practice in a short time frame before deciding to move overseas for family reasons and to pursue new business opportunities.

2. 57% of sellers have been selling to retire. Other reasons include a career or lifestyle change and a medium term transition to retirement. 

The retirement percentage of 57% is almost on par with the percentage of sellers aged in their 60s or above and is reflective of sellers retiring earlier.  Other key reasons driving the selling decision include a career or lifestyle change either within or outside of the accounting industry and a medium term transition to retirement where the owner is choosing to continue on with the buyer for an extended period (for example, up to 5 years).

 2. Around 23% of sellers are female with another c. 13% representing a cohort of mixed sellers.  A significant gender gap remains with buyers with just one out of 30 being female (with another c. 23% representing a cohort of mixed buyers).

A total of around 36% of sellers come from the female cohort and mixed sellers cohort (last period almost 40% were female).  There remains a significant gender gap amongst buyers but we are pleased to see that there were seven buyers this time with strong female representation in the mixed buyers cohort, along with one female buyer. While this is still low we retain confidence that the percentage of female buyers will increase over the medium to long term as we encounter plenty of successful female practice owners with strong growth aspirations.

The Wrap

Sellers are a diverse bunch! Plenty fit the "traditional" profile of male,  fees under $1 million and ready to retire.  However plenty aren't.  Around 36% of sellers are female or from the mixed cohort, and it's no longer unusual to see sellers aged in their 30s and 40s. Running a successful accounting practice is complex and requires energy and commitment.  As a result more and more owners are electing to either retire earlier to enjoy the fruits of their labour or make a career or lifestyle change that no longer involves running a public practice.

Sellers should go to market being able to clearly articulate: why they are selling, what success looks likes,  and what their ideal role is post sale (be that a transition role or something more enduring). 

Buyers who take the time to understand the seller's perspectives and provide flexible solutions to meet their needs, will stand out from the pack and be better placed to compete and win. 

To discuss these findings in more detail and what they mean specifically for your situation, contact DMY’s Directors below: