Contents
- The case for acting sooner
- The case for waiting
- Judging offers on more than price
- Talking it through before you decide
- Questions
General information for practice owners, current at the time of writing (July 2026). Figures are as reported by industry sources; rules and deadlines change — check the current position and take your own advice.
The right time to sell depends on the owner and the firm. In 2026 several market signals point in the same direction, and an owner can weigh them against their own plans to decide whether to sell now or later.
The case for acting sooner
- Valuations appear to have peaked
- A strong firm may get a better price now than after waiting for a rebound that may not come
- Rising compliance burden (MTD, verification)
- The next few years demand more systems, people and investment
- Buyers still active but selective
- Higher-quality firms get the premium, and average firms face wider discounts
- Consolidators cooling on aggressive multiples
- Inflated headline prices are falling, and well-run, organised firms stand out
The case for waiting
Selling in 2026 does not suit every owner. If your firm is growing, your energy is high, and you would enjoy building through the MTD era, waiting to sell from an even stronger position can make good sense. That holds provided you use the time to reduce owner-dependency and lift value. An owner who waits without doing that work may end up selling later from a tired, under-invested position. See when to sell.
Judging offers on more than price
The right decision is personal, and the biggest number is only one part of it. Weigh your energy, your timeline and the quality of your firm. Then judge any offer on structure and fit. In a cooling market the headline price and the cash you receive can differ sharply (see roll-ups vs selling direct). Our guides on when to sell and valuation are the place to start.
Talking it through before you decide
A first conversation with us is confidential and free. It can end with a short plan to exit later from a stronger position, or with a way to reduce pressure now, such as handing over the back office so the next couple of years are calmer. We are glad to have that conversation whether or not you decide to sell.
