Ninety percent of the accounting industry is tied to compliance services in areas such as accounting, audit and tax, but don’t look there for encouraging signs of industry performance.

Equale & Cirone LLP, a firm based in Bethel, Conn., is combining with Friedberg, Smith & Co. PC, a firm in Bridgeport, Conn., to form Cirone Friedberg LLP, effective November 1.

K·Coe Isom is growing its footprint in California by acquiring Schmidt, Bettencourt & Medeiros in Turlock, the firm’s sixth location in the state.

Sikich LLP is acquiring Stanfield & Associates, a Chicago-area firm that specializes in doing outsourced accounting for family offices that provide wealth management for high net worth individuals and families.

BDO USA LLP has expanded its presence in Virginia by adding the Norfolk-based firm McPhillips, Roberts & Deans PLC, effective November 1.

Mankato-based accounting firm Abdo, Eick & Meyers has merged in Workforce Resources Inc.

My friend Al is a sole practitioner with seven staff members and a thriving audit practice, besides the typical tax and small business tax clients. He is getting older, and while he has no plans to retire and is actively trying to grow his practice, he periodically meets with larger firms to see if there is an interest in acquiring his practice when that day comes. By doing this he stumbled on a fantastic business development formula.

Pricing the accounting firm in an acquisition

Armanino LLP is expanding its presence to Dallas by combining with Travis Wolff, effective Jan. 1, 2017.

Crowe Horwath has reached an agreement with Crowe GHP Horwath for the Denver accounting and consulting firm’s people and operations to join Crowe on Jan. 1, 2017.