Buying, Selling or Running an Accounting Practice in Perth or Western Australia in 2025
Western Australia is a unique marketplace for accounting practices. While the eastern states often dominate headlines, Perth and WA offer a strong, stable environment for practitioners looking to buy, sell, or grow a practice. With its mix of metropolitan and regional economies — spanning mining, agriculture, tourism, and professional services — WA continues to generate consistent demand for quality accounting services.
Whether you’re thinking about buying an accounting practice in Perth or Western Australia, or you’re already running one and wondering how to take it to the next level, the west offers more opportunity than many realise. For anyone considering succession, sale, or expansion, this is a market worth watching closely — and it’s exactly the kind of insight we track every day at Rob Knights through our practice broking and accounting firm valuation work.
Why Consider Perth & WA For Your Practice
There are plenty of reasons why Perth and Western Australia stand out for accounting practitioners:
A diverse economy – WA is no longer a one-trick pony. While resources still carry weight, today’s economy is far more balanced, with strong activity across SMEs, professional services, tourism, and agriculture. That mix underpins steady demand for accountants right across the state.
A thriving metro base – Perth is built on small-to-mid sized businesses. From tradies to corporates, there’s a steady stream of clients looking for trusted advisers. For buyers scanning accounting firms for sale in Perth, that’s a solid base to work with.
Regional opportunities – Regional centres like Bunbury, Geraldton, and Kalgoorlie continue to rely heavily on accountants. These practices often come with long-standing, loyal clients and less direct competition. For those open to relocation, they can offer excellent value .
Room for every size of firm – Whether you’re a sole practitioner, a multi-partner firm, or part of a national network, WA offers space to operate and grow. From small bolt-ons to full-scale acquisitions, this is a market with options.
It’s that mix of metro growth and regional loyalty that makes WA a unique environment for practice broking.
It’s that mix of metro growth and regional loyalty that makes WA one of the most interesting markets for accountants. Whether you’re looking at accounting practices for sale in Perth or thinking about how your own practice stacks up on an accounting practice valuation, the west offers real opportunity for those prepared to step in
What Buyers Should Keep In Mind
When you’re looking at an accounting practice in Perth or regional WA, the headline numbers only tell part of the story. The real value is often hidden in the detail. Here are the factors buyers need to weigh up:
Location & client profile – Perth firms usually service a broad SME base — professional services, retail, trades — while regional practices may lean more on agriculture, resources, or tourism. The spread of clients isn’t just about revenue today; it’s about how resilient that fee base will be when the economy shifts. That resilience is what ultimately drives stronger accounting firm valuations.
Staff & culture – Let’s be blunt: finding and keeping good people in WA is tough. The mining sector pays well, and Perth’s mid-tiers are always circling. In the regions, the talent pool can be razor thin. A practice with a capable, loyal team that isn’t over-reliant on the principal will always attract more attention from buyers.
Systems & processes – Buyers now expect to see cloud platforms, documented workflows, and digital client engagement. Firms still tied to outdated systems risk discounted valuations because of the time and money needed to modernise. Practices that have already invested in tech are easier to integrate and far more attractive in the practice broking market.
Growth opportunities – Many WA firms still under-leverage areas like advisory, wealth management, and niche specialisations. For a buyer with the right appetite, that’s upside waiting to be unlocked. This is where you can turn a steady firm into a real growth engine.
Competition & market dynamics – Perth’s mid-tier firms remain highly active, acquiring smaller firms and poaching talent. That raises the bar for everyone else. Smaller firms looking to sell need to be clear about their point of difference — client relationships, personal service, or niche expertise. That clarity makes a big difference when an accounting practice is sold.
Geography & travel – WA is vast. A regional firm can mean loyal clients and less competition, but also long drives, flights, or even relocation. Buyers need to be honest with themselves about the lifestyle implications of servicing clients outside the metro area.
Economic cycles – WA’s economy is more diversified than it once was, but resources still shape the business climate. Firms with clients spread across industries are better positioned to ride out the ups and downs. Heavy exposure to one sector can leave a practice vulnerable when cycles turn — and buyers will factor that into any accounting practice valuation.
Looking for Advice as a Melbourne Practice Owner?
We work with firms across the country, and WA practitioners often tell us:
“We’re doing well, but finding good staff in Perth is tough.”
“We want to grow, but we’re not sure how to stand out against larger mid-tier firms.”
“We’re thinking about succession, but we don’t know the right timing.”
Sound familiar? You’re not alone. WA practices are often solid, profitable, and well-regarded — but growth and change rarely happen without a deliberate plan.
You might be at a crossroads: do you scale, sell, merge, or stay the course?
That’s where a good strategy session (yes, like the ones we run) can help. We’ll look at the numbers, the goals, and your lifestyle, then give you the clarity to move forward.
Key Trends We’re Seeing
When it comes to valuations, Perth and WA practices generally hold their own against the eastern states, but with their own local flavour. Buyers here aren’t spoilt for choice, so when a good firm comes to market it tends to attract strong attention.
Consistent buyer interest – While the market isn’t as crowded as Sydney or Melbourne, there’s steady demand for well-managed firms, especially those in Perth with clean, stable fee bases. In practice broking terms, that scarcity works in your favour.
Strong average multiples – Firms with diversified clients and healthy profitability usually achieve strong multiples, particularly where debt is low. This is exactly what pushes accounting firm valuations higher.
Resilient client bases – Long-standing relationships are common, especially in regional WA, where clients often stick with the same adviser for decades. That loyalty gives practices continuity — and buyers confidence.
So what drives the very best results when an accounting practice is sold?
Well-documented systems – Firms already running cloud platforms with structured workflows are far easier for a buyer to step into. They also tend to fetch better multiples at accountancy practice valuation time.
Diversified client mix – Spreading clients across industries and fee brackets protects against WA’s economic cycles. It’s one of the most important factors in benchmarking accounting practices.
Good staff retention – An engaged team that isn’t overly reliant on the principal is gold. Buyers know client relationships will survive a transition, which makes these firms far more attractive.
Sustainable profitability – At the end of the day, consistent recurring revenue remains the cornerstone of strong accounting firm valuations.
If you’re not sure where your own firm stands, our DIY Practice Valuation Toolkit is a great place to start. And if you’re preparing for sale, our Benchmarking Reports will show you exactly how your numbers stack up against other firms in your size range, service profile, or region. That’s the kind of insight that can make all the difference when you’re weighing up succession or sale.
If you’re wondering what these trends mean for the value of your own firm, our accounting practice valuation service will give you a clear, tailored picture of where you stand in today’s WA market.
Useful Products for Your Practice
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June 2026 Charge Rates & Salaries Survey
Price range: $495 through $1,265 incl. GST This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
Sell or Buy a Practice Without a Broker – Complete Toolkit
$995 incl. GST -
Information Memorandum Template
$165 incl. GST
Frequently Asked Questions
Valuations for accounting firms in Perth and across WA generally stack up well against the eastern states. Good firms — those with clean, consistent fee bases, diversified clients, and strong profitability — are achieving healthy multiples. The main difference? There are fewer practices on the market, so buyers don’t have endless choice. That scarcity means well-run firms often hold their ground better than people expect.
Let’s be honest — finding and keeping good staff in Perth can be tough. The mining sector pays big dollars, and mid-tier firms are constantly on the hunt for talent. In the regions, the challenge is even greater. That said, firms with a strong culture, flexible work options, and a clear career pathway tend to attract and hold staff — and that stability is a big tick for buyers looking at WA practices.
It’s not just mining. While resources remain a major player, Perth firms service a broad SME base across trades, professional services, hospitality, construction, and agriculture. Regional firms often lean heavily on farming and tourism. Buyers look closely at this mix because a diversified client base — spread across industries and fee brackets — provides resilience when the WA economy inevitably ebbs and flows.
Definitely. Regional practices often come with incredibly loyal clients and far less competition than metro Perth. Buyers who relocate or manage regionals well can enjoy stable fee bases and strong community ties. The flip side? Travel, relocation, or lifestyle adjustment. But for many, that’s part of the attraction.
Remote work has been a game-changer in WA. Cloud-based systems now mean firms in Bunbury or Geraldton can service clients just as effectively as those in the Perth CBD. For buyers, that makes regional firms more attractive than they used to be. It also helps with staff recruitment — offering flexibility can be the difference between keeping someone and losing them to a competitor.
Good practices don’t hang around — in Perth or anywhere else. The buyer pool is smaller in WA, but so is the supply of quality firms. That balance means solid practices, especially those with strong systems and stable staff, tend to move quickly. Regional practices may take longer, but the right firm always finds a home.
Most buyers are local, but interstate interest is definitely on the rise. Some eastern states firms see Perth as a chance to expand nationally, while others are attracted by the lifestyle and lower competition. But in regional WA, locals usually dominate — community ties and relationships matter.
The resources sector still shapes the WA economy, but it’s not the whole story. Practices tied too closely to mining can feel the pinch when the cycle turns. Buyers usually prefer firms with a mix of industries — agriculture, tourism, SMEs — to smooth out the bumps. Diversification is key to both stability and valuation.
Buyers want to see:
Clean, diversified client bases.
Solid profitability without heavy reliance on one or two clients.
Staff who can manage relationships without leaning on the principal.
Cloud-based systems and documented processes.
Opportunities for growth in advisory, wealth, or niche sectors.
In WA, add lifestyle to the mix — a regional firm with loyal clients and a beachside postcode can be a surprisingly strong drawcard.
On the whole, they’re smaller. Perth firms tend to be small-to-mid sized, servicing local SMEs and family businesses, while the really big firms are less common than in Sydney or Melbourne. For buyers, this means more opportunities to pick up tight, profitable firms with strong relationships, rather than sprawling corporates.
The biggest mistakes we see? Waiting too long to plan succession, being overly reliant on the principal, running on outdated systems, and having revenue tied to one or two clients. All of these scare off buyers or push down value. Sellers who address these issues ahead of time nearly always achieve stronger outcomes.
It’s critical. Buyers expect cloud-based systems as standard now. Firms still tied to desktop solutions or manual processes risk discounted valuations because of the investment needed to modernise. In a state as geographically spread out as WA, cloud adoption is also essential for remote servicing and staff flexibility.
Yes. Metro firms in Perth generally attract higher multiples because of broader client bases and deeper buyer pools. Regional practices may be valued slightly lower, but their strengths lie elsewhere — loyal clients, less competition, and lifestyle appeal. Geography shapes price, but it’s only one part of the equation buyers weigh up.
The outlook is strong. Compliance work will always underpin demand, but advisory, wealth, and sector specialisation offer genuine growth paths. Succession pressure will remain a big driver of sales, particularly as older principals retire. Buyers entering the WA market now will find opportunities to build, provided they’re prepared to invest in staff, systems, and diversification.
What practices are selling for, and what is moving the numbers
Michelle’s monthly note on practice valuations, buyer activity and the conditions we are seeing across accounting, financial planning and legal firms.
