| name | deal-sourcing |
| description | Research and qualify CPA firm acquisition targets using broker networks, public records, and market intelligence |
Deal Sourcing
Systematic identification, research, and qualification of CPA firm acquisition targets in the Houston market.
Process
1. Source Identification
- Monitor APS.net listings for new Texas CPA practices
- Scan BizBuySell for "CPA firm" + "Houston" + "Texas"
- Check Houston CPA Society member directory for retirement-age owners
- Review TX State Board of Public Accountancy for firm status changes
- Track competitor acquirers to identify market activity
2. Initial Qualification
Filter targets against Dark Factory criteria:
- Gross revenue: $100K-$1M preferred range
- Employee count: 5-15
- Owner age: 55+ (approaching retirement)
- Location: Houston metro area
- Practice type: tax preparation, bookkeeping, advisory
3. Financial Pre-Screen
Apply the Dark Factory valuation model:
Buy price = 0.4x gross revenue
Post-AI EBITDA = 75-80% gross revenue
Exit = 7x EBITDA
Minimum ROI threshold: 10x
Maximum payback period: 12 months
4. Due Diligence Research
For qualified targets:
- Verify 3-year revenue trend (stable or growing)
- Check for pending litigation or regulatory actions
- Confirm SBA 7(a) eligibility
- Research owner background and motivation to sell
- Identify client concentration risk (no single client > 20% revenue)
- Assess technology stack and automation potential
5. Output Format
Each sourced deal produces a deal card:
Deal ID: [broker listing ID]
Revenue: $[X]
Buy Price: $[X] (0.4x)
Post-AI EBITDA: $[X]
Exit Value: $[X] (7x)
ROI: [X]x
Confidence: [high/medium/low]
Next Action: [specific step]
Data Sources
- APS.net (primary broker)
- BizBuySell.com
- Houston CPA Society
- TX State Board of Public Accountancy
- LinkedIn (owner profiles)
- Texas Secretary of State (entity filings)