Selecting the Right Financial Planner for Your School & Community-Based ABA Practice Transaction
Finding a financial planner with specific experience in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) practice acquisitions can make the difference between a successful transaction and one that fails to meet your financial goals. The unique complexities of school-based contracts, Medicaid reimbursements, and multi-location operations require advisors who understand both the clinical and financial aspects of your practice. A specialized financial planner brings critical expertise in valuing intangible assets like established school relationships, managing cash flow during transitions, and structuring deals that protect your long-term financial interests.
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Top Financial Planner Firms Specializing in School & Community-Based ABA
1. ABA Building Blocks
Headquarters: Atlanta, GA
Service Area: National
Website: ababuildingblocks.com
2. Behavioral Health Financial Advisors
Headquarters: Chicago, IL
Service Area: Midwest and East Coast
Website: bhfinancialadvisors.com
3. Special Needs Practice Partners
Headquarters: Los Angeles, CA
Service Area: West Coast and Southwest
Website: snpracticepartners.com
4. Educational Healthcare M&A Group
Headquarters: Boston, MA
Service Area: National with focus on Northeast
Website: eduhealthma.com
How to Select the Right Financial Planner for Your School & Community-Based ABA Practice Transaction
Choosing the right financial planner for your ABA practice transaction requires a systematic approach focused on verifying relevant experience and understanding total costs upfront. Start by requesting specific examples of completed deals in multi-site or school-based behavioral healthcare—general healthcare experience isn’t sufficient for the unique challenges of ABA practices. Interview potential advisors about their familiarity with Medicaid revenue streams, school district contracting, and the regulatory requirements specific to educational settings.
Your selection process should prioritize advisors who demonstrate both M&A expertise and ongoing financial planning capabilities, as you’ll likely need support well beyond the transaction close. Expect to budget $50,000 to $150,000+ in total advisory and transactional costs for a mid-sized practice, with potential success fees of 2-5% of the deal value. Many successful practice owners combine a specialized M&A advisor with a fee-only financial planner to address both immediate transaction needs and long-term wealth management.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it important to select a financial planner with specific experience in ABA practice acquisitions?
Selecting a financial planner with specific experience in ABA practice acquisitions is crucial because these transactions involve unique complexities such as school-based contracts, Medicaid reimbursements, and multi-location operations. An expert planner understands both the clinical and financial aspects, can accurately value intangible assets like established school relationships, manage cash flow during transitions, and structure deals to protect long-term financial interests.
What are some of the top financial planner firms specializing in school and community-based ABA practice mergers and acquisitions?
Some of the top firms include:
- ABA Building Blocks (Atlanta, GA) – National service
- Behavioral Health Financial Advisors (Chicago, IL) – Midwest and East Coast
- Special Needs Practice Partners (Los Angeles, CA) – West Coast and Southwest
- Educational Healthcare M&A Group (Boston, MA) – National with a focus on the Northeast
What factors should be considered when selecting the right financial planner for an ABA practice transaction?
Key factors include verifying the planner’s experience with multi-site or school-based behavioral healthcare deals, understanding their familiarity with Medicaid revenue streams, school district contracting, and educational regulatory requirements. Additionally, it is important to assess both their M&A expertise and ongoing financial planning capabilities, as well as clarify total advisory costs upfront.
What is the typical cost range for advisory and transactional services in a mid-sized ABA practice merger or acquisition?
For a mid-sized ABA practice, the advisory and transactional costs typically range from $50,000 to $150,000 or more. Additionally, there can be success fees of 2-5% of the deal value depending on the transaction specifics.
Why might a practice owner want to work with both a specialized M&A advisor and a fee-only financial planner?
A specialized M&A advisor can handle the immediate needs of the transaction including deal structuring and negotiations, while a fee-only financial planner focuses on long-term wealth management and financial planning beyond the transaction close. Combining these experts provides comprehensive support for both short-term and ongoing financial goals.
