Start by writing down exactly what you want to buy: the geography, the size of practice, the service mix and what you need from the selling owner during the transition. That profile tells you which opportunities deserve a call and which to pass on. Then look in more than one place, because some practices are listed publicly and some owners are open to a conversation without ever having listed their firm.
GrowthHook, the succession and M&A division of Hook Alliance, works with firms that are growing through acquisition and merger, as well as with owners thinking about a sale. Seeing both sides helps us know what a seller needs to hear before they will take a buyer seriously.
What should a buyer define before looking?
The clearer your profile, the faster you can say yes or no to an opportunity. These are the points we ask buyers to settle first, in order of how often they decide a fit:
- Geography. Where you can serve clients and manage staff well. A practice that already works remotely can widen the map.
- Size. The range of practice you can take on, measured in clients, professionals and staff as well as revenue.
- Service mix. For a CPA firm, the balance of tax, audit, advisory and bookkeeping work. For a law firm, the practice areas and the kind of clients behind them.
- The owner transition you want. Whether you need the seller to stay on for a period, hand over gradually or step away at closing.
- How the firm runs. Systems, staffing and the way clients are served, and how easily that fits your own way of working.
Write it down and share it with your advisors. A buyer profile that lives only in one partner's head tends to drift from deal to deal.
Where do practices for sale come from?
| Source | What you find there | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| State bar and CPA society classifieds | Owners advertising a practice for sale or open to a merger, often without naming the firm | Replies usually go through a confidential reply process, and an NDA comes early |
| Practice sale listings | Firms listed for sale through intermediaries | Other buyers see the same listing, so speed and a clear profile matter |
| Your own relationships | Owners you already know, and the attorneys, CPAs and advisors around them | Slower, and often a good fit |
| Quiet outreach to owners who have not listed | Owners who may be open to the right conversation at the right time | Handle it respectfully and confidentially, and accept "too early" as an answer |
You are rarely the only buyer. Firms also advertise their own interest in acquiring practices on the same boards sellers use, which is one more reason a well prepared first approach counts.
How should a buyer approach a seller?
The first message sets the tone for everything after it. What tends to work:
- Refer to something specific. If the owner placed an ad, mention it and one real detail from it. A generic note reads like a mass email.
- Offer confidentiality before they ask. Say you are glad to sign a confidentiality agreement before getting into specifics.
- Make one small ask. A short call is easier to agree to than a meeting or a data request.
- Respect how they want to be reached. If an owner asks you to call a mobile number and not the office, do exactly that.
- Ask the basics early. Why now, how big the team is and what role the owner wants after a sale or merger. The answers make the first call useful.
If the owner says it is too early, a respectful check-in later is the right next step.
What should a buyer have ready?
Your own attorney for the confidentiality agreement and the deal documents. Your CPA for financial review and the tax side. Your lender or financing source, if the acquisition needs funding. And a plan for the people: how clients will be introduced to your team, and which staff you most need to keep.
That last part is where Hook Alliance can help beyond the introduction. When an acquisition creates a hiring need, or the right people need to be kept through a change, RecruitHook is part of the same relationship.
We are clear about our role. Hook Alliance is an advisor, opportunity originator and strategic connector. We are not a registered broker-dealer, investment banker, law firm or licensed financial advisor, and we do not give legal, tax or valuation advice. Where a transaction requires licensed services, appropriately licensed professionals handle those parts.
Frequently asked questions
Will a seller know who I am before we sign anything?
Not necessarily. Early conversations can happen without names on either side. Identities are shared when both sides agree, usually under a confidentiality agreement.
Do you work with buyers of law firms as well as CPA firms?
Yes. GrowthHook talks with buyers and sellers of CPA firms, law firms and other professional practices.
Can you help us hire after an acquisition?
Yes. RecruitHook helps with key hires and with keeping the right people through a transition.
Is GrowthHook a business broker or investment banker?
No. We are an advisor and connector, and we work alongside appropriately licensed professionals where a transaction requires them.
Looking for the right firm to acquire? Learn more about GrowthHook or request a confidential conversation.