Professional services · Learn Hub

Buy or sell a professional services firm — the right way.

Free guides, playbooks and courses for buying or selling an accounting, consulting, insurance or agency business in Canada — client books, non-competes and approvals included.

Get a free valuationBrowse professional services listings

The fastest way in.

Three places to start, picked by the Deavo editorial team for professional services buyers and sellers.

Guide
Where value hides in a services firm

A recurring fee base transfers; a founder’s personal relationships often don’t. Buyers price that difference.

Read →
Playbook
Selling an accounting or law practice

A start-to-finish walkthrough: client transition, non-competes and regulatory-body approval.

Read →
Course
Valuing a services firm

A short self-paced track on why billable-hour firms price differently than product businesses.

Read →
Sector snapshot

Professional services, by the numbers.

3.0–5.0×
Typical SDE multiple
6–12 mo
Avg. time to sell
#1
Diligence snag: client concentration

Figures are illustrative ranges based on comparable Canadian transactions, not a valuation, deal or investment opinion — a human reviews any number you rely on.

№ iThe Learn Hub

Search, and you shall find.

Popular:Valuing a services firmAre non-competes enforceable?Client consent & file transferBook-of-business retention clawbacksRegulatory approval to sell
3 curated resources·1 guide·2 articles·0 checklists—all free
№ iiBrowse by format

However you like to learn.

Eight free formats covering every stage of a professional services deal.

2 articles

Articles

Short reads answering one services-firm question at a time.
1 guide

Guides

Step-by-step walkthroughs for buying or selling a practice or book of business.
Coming soon

Courses

Self-paced tracks that follow a professional services deal, start to finish.
Free · ask any time

Ask an Expert

Plain-language answers, or send a question of your own.
Coming soon

Glossary

Plain-English definitions for professional services M&A terms.
Updated with the benchmarks

Data & Statistics

Sector benchmarks sourced from Statistics Canada & ISED.
Coming soon

Videos & Podcasts

Deavo staff explaining services-firm deals in plain English.
Free · no spam

Newsletter

One short update when we publish something worth your time.
№ iiiStart with your situation

What are you dealing with?

Each path bundles the guides, articles and expert answers that actually apply to you.

I’m ready to sell my practice
Explore this path →
I don’t know what it’s worth
Explore this path →
I’m buying a book of business
Explore this path →
Diligence is overwhelming
Explore this path →
How do I finance the purchase?
Explore this path →
Non-competes & client consent
Explore this path →
Inside a path: “I’m ready to sell my practice”
01Article
Client contracts and non-competes
02Guide
Selling an accounting or law practice in Canada
03Expert Answer
“Are non-competes enforceable in Canada?”
№ ivFresh from the library

Editor’s picks.

See what’s new →
Editor’s pick
Valuing a services firm: revenue vs. SDE
Guide · 8 min read
New
Financing a practice acquisition (incl. CSBFP)
Article · 6 min read
Coming soon
Due diligence for professional services firms
Video & podcast · in production
№ vFrom Ask an Expert

Questions people are asking.

All answers →

Answered by Deavo staff. Nothing here is a valuation, legal or financial opinion — a human reviews any number or document you rely on.

01How much is my accounting practice worth?Valuation→02Are non-compete agreements enforceable in Canada?Legal→03Do clients have to consent to a file transfer?Trust & Records→04What is a fair retention clawback on a book of business?Valuation→05Does my professional body have to approve the sale?Regulatory→
Ask your own question →
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Not sure where to start?

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Find my starting pointBrowse all professional services resources

Sources

Every regulatory requirement and figure referenced on this professional services page traces to a primary source. Links were last checked on the dates shown.

  1. 01
    Canada Revenue AgencyGovernment
    Selling a business
    canada.ca·Checked Aug 14, 2026
  2. 02
    Treadstone LawLegal commentary
    Are Non-Compete Clauses Enforceable Against Regulated Professionals Selling a Practice in Ontario?
    treadstonelaw.ca·Checked Aug 14, 2026
  3. 03
    Treadstone LawLegal commentary
    How Long Can a Seller's Non-Compete Last in an Ontario Business Sale?
    treadstonelaw.ca·Checked Aug 14, 2026
  4. 04
    Treadstone LawLegal commentary
    Are Your Contracts Assignable?
    treadstonelaw.ca·Checked Aug 14, 2026
  5. 05
    Business Development Bank of CanadaIndustry
    How to sell your business
    bdc.ca·Checked Aug 14, 2026
  6. 06
    Treadstone LawLegal commentary
    Buying & Selling a Business
    treadstonelaw.ca·Checked Aug 14, 2026

Deavo is an advertising and listings platform, not a brokerage, law firm or valuation firm. This page is general information, not legal, tax, accounting or valuation advice, and rules differ by province. Confirm anything you rely on with a qualified professional before you act on it.