February 16th, 2026. Another tax season. Another 80-hour week staring you down.
If you're a CPA or accountant in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, or Polk County, you know exactly what I'm talking about. The late nights. The client emergencies. The endless emails during family dinners. The feeling that every January through April is a blur of stress, caffeine, and extension requests.
You've built something remarkable. A profitable practice. A loyal client base. A reputation that took decades to earn.
But here's the question nobody's asking you: What if you didn't have to do this anymore?
What if instead of grinding through another tax season, you were sailing Tampa Bay on a Tuesday morning? Taking that trip to Europe you've postponed for 15 years? Finally saying "yes" to that golf invitation without checking your calendar first?
That's not a fantasy. It's exactly what CPAs across the Tampa Bay area are doing right now: quietly, confidentially, and on their own terms.
Let me show you how.
Let's get something straight right away: You're a champion.
Building a profitable accounting practice in Florida: through recessions, tax law changes, software disruptions, and everything else the last decade threw at you: puts you in rare company.
Most small businesses fail. Yours didn't. You created recurring revenue, cultivated trust, and became the person clients call when their financial lives are on the line.
That alone is worth a nod of respect. 👏
But here's the unfiltered truth that most successful CPAs aren't told until it's too late: The best time to exit is when you're still winning: not when you're burned out, health-compromised, or forced to sell under pressure.
Right now, in February 2026, the market for accounting practices in Tampa Bay is hot. Buyers: especially younger CPAs, regional firms, and private equity-backed consolidators: are actively seeking established practices with predictable revenue and sticky clients.
Translation: Your 80-hour weeks have value. Real, bankable, life-changing value.
To see how this works, consider these three hypothetical examples of how a confidential exit might look for a Florida practice (illustrative only):
A solo practitioner near the Franklin Street corridor. 35 years in business. ~$750K in annual revenue. Could sell quietly to a younger CPA who wants an established book plus a mentor-style transition period. The seller might step back into a light advisory role (say, 10 hours a week) and spend winters in Sarasota: by choice, not necessity.
A husband-wife team running a boutique firm specializing in small business clients. Burned out from tax season marathons and ready to travel. Could be a strong fit for a regional firm looking to expand north of Tampa. A common structure might include a 12-month transition, some seller financing to reduce buyer risk, and a purchase price that supports retirement goals.
A small practice with deep roots in Pinellas County. The owner wants out but worries about client care and staff stability. In a typical scenario, the seller could prioritize a buyer who commits to retaining the team and keeping a local presence. The outcome might be a clean exit: financial security, peace of mind, and weekends back.
What these examples have in common (illustratively): A proactive sale timeline, a controlled process, and confidentiality from start to finish.
Most accountants I talk to have thought about selling. But they hesitate. Here's why: and why those reasons often backfire:
Tax season comes. Then extension season. Then year-end. Then next tax season. The cycle never ends, and five years disappear.
Your clients need great service. The right buyer can provide that: and you can structure a transition that protects relationships while giving you an exit.
Neither do most sellers. That's exactly why talking to a Tampa business broker who specializes in professional services is your first move: not your last.
Good. Neither do I. Confidentiality is non-negotiable in these deals. We control who sees your information, when, and how.
Here's the thing: You don't have to be 100% ready. You just have to be open to the conversation. Many of my CPA clients started our discussions two years before they actually sold: and that head start made all the difference in terms, buyers, and outcomes.
If you're seriously considering an exit: or even just curious what your practice might be worth: here's the roadmap smart CPAs in Tampa Bay are following:
Before you list anything, talk to anyone, or make any decisions, you need to know: What is my business worth?
A licensed business broker (not a residential real estate agent, not an online calculator, not a buddy's guess) can walk you through a professional valuation based on your revenue, client retention, profitability, and market conditions.
At Lobo Business Sales LLC, this initial conversation costs you nothing. No upfront fees. No obligation. Just real numbers and straight talk.
Once you know your number, we help you quietly position the practice for sale. That means:
All of this happens confidentially. Your staff doesn't know. Your clients don't know. Your competitors don't know.
This isn't Zillow. We don't blast your practice on public listing sites where every tire-kicker and competitor can see your financials.
Instead, we tap into our network of pre-vetted, qualified buyers: people actively looking for practices exactly like yours in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, or Polk counties.
We control the process. You control the outcome.
When the right buyer emerges, we handle negotiations, due diligence, and closing logistics. You stay focused on running the practice (and maintaining confidentiality) until the deal is done.
Then? You transition on a timeline that works for you: whether that's 30 days, 6 months, or a year of part-time consulting while you ease into retirement.
And here's the best part: We only get paid when you do. Success-based. No risk to you.
Here's what separates the CPAs who exit successfully from those who end up stuck, stressed, or selling under duress:
✅ They start the conversation early. Even if they're not selling tomorrow, they're planning today.
✅ They treat the sale like a business decision, not an emotional one. You've advised clients on exits for years. Now it's your turn.
✅ They work with a licensed, experienced business broker. Not a generalist. Not a DIY platform. A specialist who understands professional services, confidentiality, and how to sell my business in Tampa the right way.
✅ They protect their downside. No public listings. No upfront fees. No unnecessary risk.
✅ They focus on legacy and fit. They want buyers who'll take care of their clients, their staff, and the reputation they spent decades building.
Does that sound like you?
I'm Dave Britton, and I help CPAs and accounting professionals across Tampa Bay exit on their terms: quietly, strategically, and successfully.
I'm not here to pressure you, rush you, or sell you something you don't need. I'm here to have a real conversation about what's possible, what your practice is worth, and what your next chapter could look like.
Whether you're ready to sell next month or just exploring your options for two years from now, let's talk.
No upfront fees. No public listings. No drama. Just strategy, confidentiality, and results.
📞 Call me directly: (813) 395-9552
🌐 Learn more: LoboBusinessSales.com
📧 Email: Dave@LoboBusinessSales.com
Here's the truth, and I'm going to say it plainly:
You didn't build an accounting practice to work 80-hour weeks until you physically can't anymore.
You built it to create value. To serve clients. To provide for your family. To have options.
And right now, in February 2026, you have an option most business owners would kill for: the ability to exit at the top, on your terms, with a buyer ready to pay you what you've earned.
So the question isn't "Can I sell?"
The question is: "What am I waiting for?"
Let's find out what your practice is worth. Let's map out what an exit could look like. Let's have the conversation you've been putting off.
Because somewhere between this tax season and the next one, your dream of sailing Tampa Bay on a Tuesday morning could become your reality.
But only if you take the first step.
👉 Call Business Broker Dave today: (813) 395-9552
Or visit LoboBusinessSales.com to schedule a confidential consultation.
Your next chapter is waiting. Let's make it happen. 🐺⚓️