Other Accounting Services: SBA business acquisition loan data
233 SBA 7(a) loans since FY2018 financed the purchase of an existing business classified as Other Accounting Services (NAICS 541219), totaling $182M. Median loan $500,000, 23% lower than the all-acquisition median.
Financing one? Read the guide: How to get an SBA loan to buy a CPA firm
The purchase agreement decides what you bought, not the loan approval.
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Reading this industry's numbers
- Deal size. The loan excludes the buyer's equity and any seller note and may include working capital. A loan request far above $950,000 would be in the top quarter of SBA acquisition loans in this industry.
- Share of all acquisitions. This industry is 0.5% of all SBA-financed business purchases, ranking #48 of 300 industries tracked.
- Geography. California leads with 40 loans; the top five states account for 40% of the industry's acquisitions.
- Jobs. Lenders reported 2,096 jobs supported across these loans, about 9.0 per acquisition, a rough proxy for the size of business changing hands.
Other Accounting Services acquisitions by year
| Fiscal year | Loans | Total approved | Median loan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2018 | 7 | $3.1M | $450,000 | |
| FY2019 | 18 | $6.5M | $287,500 | |
| FY2020 | 14 | $8.9M | $406,000 | |
| FY2021 | 35 | $33.1M | $680,000 | |
| FY2022 | 14 | $9.9M | $435,750 | |
| FY2023 | 35 | $26.3M | $410,500 | |
| FY2024 | 32 | $30.5M | $474,000 | |
| FY2025 | 50 | $34.9M | $500,000 | |
| FY2026 | 28 | $28.3M | $813,900 |
How often do these acquisition loans fail?
Of the 74 Other Accounting Services acquisition loans approved from FY2018 to FY2021 (the seasoned cohort, every loan at least about five years old), 2 have been charged off by the SBA, a rate of 2.7% by loan count and 5.9% by dollars. 39 have already been paid in full.
For comparison, the charge-off rate across all SBA 7(a) acquisition loans in the same cohort is 3.5%, so Other Accounting Services is 23% lower than the acquisition-loan average. Non-acquisition 7(a) loans (every other stated purpose) approved FY2018 to FY2021 charged off at 6.2%.
"Charged off" is the SBA's final loss action on a defaulted loan after collection efforts. It lags default by a year or more, which is why only older cohorts are measured. It is not the same as a delinquency rate, and loans still outstanding can still fail. See charge-off in the glossary.
The purchase agreement decides what you bought, not the loan approval.
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Top states
| # | State | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 40 | 17.2% | $37.2M | |
| 2 | Texas | 19 | 8.2% | $15.2M | |
| 3 | Washington | 12 | 5.2% | $7.8M | |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | 12 | 5.2% | $7.4M | |
| 5 | North Carolina | 11 | 4.7% | $13.7M | |
| 6 | Arizona | 9 | 3.9% | $8.3M | |
| 7 | Florida | 9 | 3.9% | $8.2M | |
| 8 | Michigan | 9 | 3.9% | $8M | |
| 9 | Massachusetts | 9 | 3.9% | $4.3M | |
| 10 | New York | 8 | 3.4% | $5.8M |
Most active lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Live Oak Banking Company | 59 | 25.3% | $60.7M | |
| 2 | United Midwest Savings Bank National Association | 19 | 8.2% | $21.1M | |
| 3 | The Huntington National Bank | 18 | 7.7% | $9.7M | |
| 4 | Citizens Bank | 6 | 2.6% | $3.8M | |
| 5 | U.S. Bank, National Association | 5 | 2.1% | $2.7M | |
| 6 | Banner Bank | 4 | 1.7% | $3.9M | |
| 7 | The Bancorp Bank National Association | 4 | 1.7% | $3.3M | |
| 8 | Salem Five Cents Savings Bank | 4 | 1.7% | $1.1M | |
| 9 | First Internet Bank of Indiana | 3 | 1.3% | $6.6M | |
| 10 | Beacon Bank and Trust | 3 | 1.3% | $3.3M |
The purchase agreement decides what you bought, not the loan approval.
Request Engagement AssessmentAlex Lubyansky leads every engagement.
Franchise brands in Other Accounting Services
1% of acquisition loans in this industry involved a franchised unit. Brands with the most SBA-financed resales:
| # | Brand | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jackson Hewitt Tax Service | 2 | 66.7% | $720K | |
| 2 | Padgett Business Services | 1 | 33.3% | $775K |
Questions buyers ask
How much is a typical SBA loan to buy a business in Other Accounting Services?
Median $500,000 across 233 acquisition loans (FY2018 to FY2026); the middle half ran $259,000 to $950,000. That is 23% lower than the $645,250 median for all SBA-financed acquisitions.
Which lenders finance the most Other Accounting Services acquisitions?
Live Oak Banking Company (59), United Midwest Savings Bank National Association (19), The Huntington National Bank (18), Citizens Bank (6), U.S. Bank, National Association (5).
Are businesses in Other Accounting Services often franchised?
Rarely. Only 1% of acquisition loans in this industry involved a franchised business; most are independent operators.
How risky are SBA loans for buying a business in Other Accounting Services?
Of 74 seasoned loans (FY2018 to FY2021), 2.7% charged off, 23% lower than the 3.5% benchmark for all SBA acquisition loans.
What loan terms are common for Other Accounting Services acquisitions?
Median term 10 years, average initial rate 8.18% at approval (blended across years and fixed/variable structures). Terms longer than 10 years usually indicate real estate was included in the purchase.
Seller note standby terms and third-party consents are reviewed before closing.
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