What Clark Schaefer Hackett does

Clark Schaefer Hackett (legal name Clark, Schaefer, Hackett & Co.) is a privately-held, partner-owned CPA and advisory firm founded in 1938 in Middletown, Ohio, and headquartered in Cincinnati. The firm delivers professional services through a four-pillar model — Tax, Audit & Assurance, Advisory, and Outsource — and serves small and medium-sized organizations, government entities, not-for-profits, construction/real estate firms, manufacturers/distributors, healthcare organizations, and community financial institutions across Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, and India. It also operates two sub-brands: Clark Schaefer Consulting, which serves Fortune 1000 and high-growth companies with business advisory, technology, cybersecurity, and operations consulting; and Clark Schaefer Strategic HR, which provides outsourced HR, recruiting, and training solutions.

The firm operates 10 offices and employs more than 550 professionals and staff, generating revenue through hourly rates, project-based fees, and multi-year retainer contracts. Underlying technology consists of industry-standard tools — CCH Axcess Client Collaboration for tax document exchange, ShareFile for secure file sharing, NetClient portal, and Conveyor Trust Portal for cybersecurity transparency — rather than proprietary software. The firm's primary competitive differentiator is its proprietary client experience methodology, 'The CSH Way,' which codifies service delivery around Trust, Guidance, Outcomes, and Vision, and its founding-membership in AGN International, a global network of independent accounting firms that enables international client coverage.

The go-to-market is relationship-led and referral-driven, leveraging long-tenured partners, industry specialization, and a regional office network; brand extensions, three tuck-in acquisitions (Definity Partners in 2018, Keelsra Business Services in 2019, and Strategic HR Inc. in 2021), and broad marketing channels (LinkedIn, email newsletters, webinars, content marketing) support growth. The firm holds Top 70 national and Top 100 Accounting Today designations, is the second-largest regional accounting firm per the Cincinnati Business Courier, and is a Platinum Donor to the Ohio CPA Foundation. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and ownership remains entirely with firm shareholders.

Name

Clark Schaefer Hackett

Legal name

Clark, Schaefer, Hackett & Co.

Website

https://cshco.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Clark Schaefer Hackett is a privately-held, partner-owned CPA and advisory firm founded in 1938, delivering tax, audit, advisory, and outsourced services to SMBs, government entities, not-for-profits, and Fortune 1000 companies across 10 offices in Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, and Mumbai.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dayton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tax Services: Tax consulting, preparation, and planning services including business tax, private client services, state and local tax, tax controversy, tax credits and incentives, and international tax.
2. Audit & Assurance: Financial statement audits, reviews, and compilations; attestation services; employee benefit plan audits; single audits; accounting standards consulting.
3. Advisory Services: Business advisory, consulting, strategic HR, technology consulting, fraud and forensics, transaction advisory services, and qualified plan administration.
4. Outsourcing Services: Outsourced accounting, financial, tax, human resources, and technology services providing businesses with dedicated professionals without adding headcount.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Clark Schaefer Hackett is a Top 70 U.S. CPA and advisory firm delivering tax, audit and assurance, advisory, and outsourced accounting, HR, and technology services to businesses, government entities, and not-for-profit organizations. The firm operates across 10 offices in Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, and Mumbai through its core practice and two brand extensions—Clark Schaefer Consulting and Clark Schaefer Strategic HR.

Product overview

Clark Schaefer Hackett is a Top 100 accounting and advisory firm offering a comprehensive suite of professional services through an integrated four-pillar model: Tax, Audit & Assurance, Advisory, and Outsource services. The firm operates two brand extensions—Clark Schaefer Consulting for business advisory and technology consulting, and Clark Schaefer Strategic HR for human resources outsourcing. The portfolio includes specialized services such as fraud and forensics, transaction advisory, qualified plan administration, and outsourced accounting, HR, and technology functions. Client-facing digital tools include ShareFile Portal for secure document exchange, CCH Axcess Client Collaboration for tax document management, and a Trust Portal through Conveyor for security transparency.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Clark Schaefer Consulting: A trusted partner to Fortune 1000 companies and high-growth organizations, providing holistic solutions in growth, risk, and technology challenges.
• Clark Schaefer Strategic HR

Products and services

• Tax Services Comprehensive tax consulting, preparation, and planning strategies including business tax, private client services, state and local tax, tax controversy, tax credits and incentives, and international tax services for businesses and high-net-worth individuals.
• Audit & Assurance Financial reporting and assurance services including accounting standards consulting, attestation, employee benefit plan audits, and financial statement audit, review, and compilation engagements.
• Advisory Services Business advisory services including Clark Schaefer Consulting, Clark Schaefer Strategic HR, fraud and forensics, qualified plan administration and consulting, and transaction advisory services.
• Outsource Services Outsourced accounting, financial, tax, human resources, and technology services enabling organizations to access professional expertise without expanding internal headcount.
• Clark Schaefer Consulting Brand extension providing expert business advisors who integrate with client teams for solutions in accounting, cybersecurity, technology, operations, and consulting for Fortune 1000 and high-growth organizations.
• Clark Schaefer Strategic HR Brand extension providing customized human resources, recruitment, and training solutions for organizations with lean or no HR department, leveraging nearly three decades of HR and recruiting expertise.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 85 years of continuous operation and growth
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Strategic HR Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2021Acquired effective May 1, 2021. The acquisition expanded CSH's human resources outsourcing services and added 24 staff members and one shareholder, enabling more comprehensive support for small and medium-sized organizations.
• AGN InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClark Schaefer Hackett is a founding member of AGN International, a trusted organization of independent accounting and advisory firms. This membership enables the firm to serve clients with international needs and provides access to global resources while maintaining local expertise.
• Clark Schaefer ConsultingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA brand extension under the master brand providing expert business advisors for Fortune 1000 and high-growth organizations, specializing in accounting, cybersecurity, technology, operations, and performance improvement.
• Clark Schaefer Strategic HRcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA brand extension providing experienced HR professionals to organizations with lean or no HR department, offering customized HR, recruitment, and training solutions. Nearly three decades of HR and recruiting expertise.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to create a stigma-free workplace regarding mental health discussions, with executives and HR regularly sharing information about mental, financial, and physical health.
• Ohio CPA FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum Donor supporting programs designed to increase minorities in the CPA profession and ensure a diverse future for the industry. Programs include Accounting Careers Leadership Academy and Accounting Careers Awareness Program.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• GBQ Partners: Ohio-based CPA and advisory firm competing head-to-head with CSH in the same Columbus and Cincinnati markets, with overlapping service lines (tax, audit, advisory) for mid-market and closely-held businesses.
• Rehmann: Top-50 U.S. accounting and advisory firm with a strong Midwest presence and a similarly diversified service model covering tax, audit, wealth management, and outsourced services for mid-market clients.
• Marcum LLP: Top-20 U.S. accounting and advisory firm with a similar four-pillar service structure (tax, audit, advisory, outsourcing) and a comparable client base spanning middle-market, closely-held, and not-for-profit organizations.
• Plante Moran: One of the largest U.S. CPA and business-advisory firms, headquartered in the Midwest. Highly comparable to CSH in service mix (tax, audit, advisory, outsourcing), Midwestern concentration, and mid-market to enterprise client focus.
• Wipfli: Top-20 U.S. accounting and consulting firm with comparable service lines (tax, audit, advisory, outsourcing) and a similar SMB-to-mid-market focus, with significant Midwest operations.
• Whitley Penn: Regional CPA and advisory firm with comparable service lines (tax, audit, advisory, outsourcing) for mid-market clients, though primarily Texas-based rather than Midwest. Strong functional overlap makes it a relevant comp for service mix and pricing dynamics.
• Forvis (formerly BKD): Top-10 U.S. accounting firm formed from the merger of BKD and Dixon Hughes Goodman, with comparable Midwest and Southeast presence and an integrated tax/audit/advisory/outsourcing model targeting mid-market and large-enterprise clients.
• Dixon Hughes Goodman (DHG): Top-20 U.S. accounting and advisory firm (now part of Forvis) with comparable tax, audit, advisory, and consulting practices, particularly strong in healthcare, government, and financial-services verticals that overlap with CSH's specialty practices.
• Crowe LLP: Top-10 U.S. public accounting and consulting firm with overlapping tax, audit, advisory, and outsourcing practices, and a strong presence in financial services, government, and NFP verticals that mirror CSH's specialty mix.

Broad incumbents

• BDO USA: Top-5 global accounting network with a large U.S. practice offering tax, audit, advisory, and outsourced services. BDO competes with CSH for middle-market and larger enterprise clients but operates at significantly greater scale and geographic breadth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cshco
• Facebookfacebook.com/cshco
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clark-schaefer-hackett

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A3 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Clark Schaefer Hackett