A CPA firm in Aurora, SD typically sells for 1.0x to 1.4x revenue (under $2M); 4-8x EBITDA (over $2M). On $500K - $10M of revenue, that usually means $200K - $3M of owner earnings applied against that multiple. WETYR is an operator-buyer: we can make a direct, confidential offer and close in 30 to 75 days without your business ever going on the open market.
The Aurora, SD market for CPA firms
Aurora sits in Brookings County, in the Great Plains, and is a smaller market where owners often assume no serious buyer is looking, which is usually wrong. Aurora is an established Great Plains community, and demand for CPA firms tracks that base of local homeowners and businesses. AI augments compliance work; trust and advisory layer compounds with relationship age Owners in and around Aurora who built a real book of business, licensed staff, and dependable cash flow have a genuinely valuable asset, whether or not a broker has ever knocked on the door.
According to U.S. Census County Business Patterns, roughly 8 CPA firms operate in Brookings County, where the median household income is $64,438 and the median home value is about $227,800. That is the local pool a buyer weighs when valuing your business, and the household base that drives demand for your work. In a market that size, a well-run CPA firm with clean books is a genuinely scarce asset.
We do not only buy in Aurora proper. We source CPA firm deals across the surrounding Great Plains area, including Elkton (6 miles), Brookings (7 miles), Volga (8 miles), White (8 miles), Bruce (15 miles). What we see most often here is an owner ready for a change because of a partnership split that needs a clean resolution, who does not want the whole Aurora market, their crew, or their customers to know the business is for sale. A direct, confidential sale is built for exactly that.
We also buy CPA firms near Aurora
What your CPA firm is worth
Valuation starts with normalized earnings, not revenue. We take your Aurora profit-and-loss, add back owner salary above a market replacement, one-time costs, and personal expenses run through the business, and arrive at SDE or EBITDA. That earnings number is multiplied by a range driven by the factors below. For CPA firms the working range is 1.0x to 1.4x revenue (under $2M); 4-8x EBITDA (over $2M).
What lifts your multiple
95%+ client retention, fiduciary trust, license requirement. Recurring or contracted revenue, low customer concentration, a team that runs without you, and clean, current books all push toward the top of the range.
What compresses it
Heavy owner dependence, messy or cash-based books, one customer over 20 percent of revenue, expired or transferring licenses, and deferred equipment or facility investment.
Taxes and what you keep when you sell in South Dakota
South Dakota is one of the few states with no state personal income tax. That directly changes what you walk away with: when you sell your CPA firm, the gain on the sale is not taxed at the state level, so a Aurora owner typically keeps more of the proceeds than an owner selling the same business in a high-tax state. It is one reason Great Plains owners often net more on an identical sale price.
Whatever the state rules, the biggest levers on your after-tax proceeds are deal structure and a clean earnings picture. On a direct sale to WETYR there is no broker commission taken out of the price, and we walk through the tax treatment with you, alongside your own CPA, before you sign anything.
Who buys CPA firms in South Dakota
Private equity platforms and strategic consolidators (Accounting Practice Sales (APS), Poe Group Advisors, Accounting Broker Acquisition Group) are the loud buyers, but they screen hard, move slowly, and re-trade at diligence. WETYR is the quieter alternative: an operator-buyer that acquires directly, keeps it confidential, and does not need to syndicate your deal to a committee. We also advise owners who want to run a competitive process, in which case we help you approach the right strategic and financial buyers on your terms instead of a public listing.
| Factor | WETYR (operator-buyer) | PE platform | Individual buyer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical offer basis | 1.0x to 1.4x revenue (under $2M) | Highest headline number | Financing-dependent |
| Time to close | 30 to 75 days | 6 to 12 months | 3 to 9 months |
| Stays confidential | Yes, no public listing | Committee and advisors see it | Usually broker-marketed |
| Fees to you | $0, we buy as principal | Broker 8 to 12% if listed | Broker 8 to 12% |
| Re-trade risk at diligence | Low | High | Medium to high |
| Who runs it after close | WETYR operates it | Installs their own team | New owner learns the business |
How a confidential sale works
- 1. Conversation. A 30-minute confidential call about your Aurora business and your goals. Diagnostic, not a pitch.
- 2. Indicative range. You send basic financials; we return a value range and whether we are a direct fit, usually within a day.
- 3. Offer and terms. If it is a fit, a written offer with clear structure. No obligation to proceed.
- 4. Diligence and close. Focused, respectful diligence and a close in 30 to 75 days. Your staff and customers learn on your timeline.
Get a confidential valuation
Tell us a little about your CPA firm in Aurora, SD. We reply with an indicative value range and whether we are a direct fit, within one business day. No obligation, no listing, nothing public.
Aurora, SD CPA firm sale FAQ
What is a CPA firm in Aurora, SD worth?
Most CPA firms trade at 1.0x to 1.4x revenue (under $2M); 4-8x EBITDA (over $2M). The number that matters is your normalized owner earnings (SDE or EBITDA after adding back one-time and owner-specific costs), multiplied by a range set by size, recurring revenue, licensing, and how dependent the business is on you. On roughly $500K - $10M of revenue we typically see $200K - $3M of earnings. Send the numbers and we will give you an indicative range within a day.
How long does it take to sell a CPA firm in Aurora, SD?
A direct sale to WETYR can close in 30 to 75 days because there is no listing, no broker marketing cycle, and no auction. A brokered or PE-marketed process usually runs 6 to 12 months and puts your confidential financials in front of dozens of strangers. Location does not change the mechanics; readiness of your books does.
Do I have to list my business publicly to sell it?
No. That is the single biggest fear owners raise, and the reason many never start. WETYR buys directly and privately. Your staff, customers, and competitors do not find out unless and until you decide to tell them. Nothing goes on BizBuySell, no sign goes up, no teaser circulates.
What does WETYR charge to sell my CPA firm?
When we buy directly, you pay us nothing; we are the principal, not a broker taking 8 to 12 percent of your proceeds. When we advise on a sale to a third party, fees are agreed up front and disclosed in writing. Either way you know the economics before anything moves.
What makes a CPA firm sell for a higher multiple?
95%+ client retention, fiduciary trust, license requirement. Concretely: recurring or contracted revenue, a team that runs the day-to-day without you, clean books, and current licensing (State CPA license, AICPA standards). We tell you honestly which levers are worth pulling before a sale and which are not worth the delay.
Sell your CPA firm in Aurora, SD
Confidential 30-minute call with the operator who would run it, not a broker who lists it.