Liquidity now. Upside later.
KONE acquires control while the founder remains involved. Economics can combine fixed consideration with retained equity or performance-linked upside, so the founder participates in value created after the transaction.
For accounting firm owners
Choose the transition that fits your life — not just the transaction.
Whether you want liquidity and a second growth chapter or a clean path to retirement, KONE starts with your goals, your clients, your team and the economics of the business.
01 / Target profile
We are looking for durable businesses, not distressed situations.
These are guidelines rather than hard rules. The quality of the business, the client base and the fit with the owner matter more than a perfect spreadsheet range.
Recurring clients100+Monthly or repeat engagements preferred
Annual revenue$200K–$500K+Initial acquisition profile
Normalized SDE / EBITDA$70K–$200K+After normalizing owner compensation
Founder pathStay or exitStructure around the owner and business
02 / Two seller paths
Stay invested in the upside — or complete the handoff.
The right structure depends on what you want after closing.
Full liquidity. Defined transition.
For founders planning retirement, recovering from burnout or moving to a new chapter, KONE can evaluate a traditional 100% sale with an agreed transition period — for example, several months of handover before the founder steps away.
03 / How we evaluate
Fair value starts with business quality.
A valuation multiple is an output. We first understand what sits underneath the earnings and what must survive the transition.
01
Revenue quality
Recurring revenue, pricing, service mix, customer concentration and durability.
02
Client-base quality
Retention, client profile, geography, referral sources and churn.
03
Normalized earnings
Operating earnings after normalizing owner compensation and one-time items.
04
Team & dependency
Leadership depth, employee stability and the work that currently depends on the founder.
05
Systems & compliance
Accounting workflows, tax processes, software, data access, licensing and controls.
06
Growth potential
Pricing, marketing, cross-sell, capacity, local density and operating improvement.
04 / After the transaction
Preserve client trust. Remove unnecessary founder dependency.
KONE standardizes workflows, management reporting, client communication and growth systems while keeping qualified professionals accountable for the work. The goal is a stronger business that does not rely on one person for every decision.
See the operating system →05 / New revenue layer
Your accountants already see business signals.
Because accounting teams regularly see client P&Ls, cash flow and operating patterns, they are often the first to notice when a client may need help beyond accounting. With client permission and clear compliance rules, KONE can turn those signals into useful introductions to vetted providers — creating commission revenue for the firm and an incentive layer for the accountant who surfaces the opportunity.
01Accountant identifies a relevant client signal
02Client is offered an optional specialist introduction
03Vetted partner delivers the service
04Referral economics create incremental revenue
06 / Confidential conversation
Start with only what you are comfortable sharing.
A first note can be as simple as annual revenue, approximate SDE/EBITDA, client count, service mix and whether you want to stay involved or transition out.
07 / FAQ
Questions owners ask first.
Do I have to sell 100% of my company?
No. KONE can evaluate a founder-partnership structure where KONE acquires control and the owner retains economic upside, or a full-sale structure when the owner wants complete liquidity and a defined transition out.
Can I fully retire after selling?
Yes. For owners who want to retire, are burned out or want a new direction, KONE can evaluate a traditional full-sale transaction with an agreed handover period, often structured around the needs of the business and client relationships.
What happens to my team and clients?
Continuity is evaluated deliberately. Strong teams, reputation, service quality and client relationships are core assets that KONE aims to preserve while improving the operating system around them.
What information is useful for a first conversation?
Recurring clients, annual revenue, normalized owner earnings or EBITDA, geography, service mix, client concentration, team size, growth history and your preferred transition path are usually enough to begin.