GBQ
GBQ Partners LLC is a privately held, Top 100 CPA and business advisory firm founded in 1953, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. With 300+ associates including 100+ CPAs, it delivers assurance, tax, consulting, and business technology services across 12 industry verticals and all 50 U.S. states.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1953
- HeadquartersColumbus, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What GBQ does
GBQ Partners LLC is a privately held, Top 100 CPA and business advisory firm headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, founded in 1953. The firm operates through four service lines — Assurance (audit, SOC reporting, SEC audit, internal audit, enterprise risk management), Tax (business tax, international tax, M&A tax, state and local tax, credits and incentives, private client), Consulting & Advisory (ESOP advisory, forensic and dispute advisory, transaction advisory, valuation, wealth management, outsourced accounting), and Business Technology Solutions (AI and automation, business systems, cybersecurity, data analytics, IT governance, risk management). GBQ organizes delivery around 12 industry verticals including construction, manufacturing, real estate, restaurant, software and technology, nonprofit, financial services, and Japanese-owned businesses operating in the U.S., with dedicated national practices in ESOP advisory and Japanese Business Services.
The firm employs 300+ associates, including 100+ CPAs, and operates offices in Columbus, Cincinnati, and Toledo (Ohio) and Indianapolis (Indiana), while serving clients across all 50 U.S. states. Its revenue model is engagement-based professional services with multi-year contracts and quote-based pricing determined by scope and complexity. GBQ has expanded recently through acquisition, including Lillie & Co and Lillie Resource Group in 2024 (credit union expertise) and Talentcrowd® on January 31, 2025 (outsourced accounting and business technology capabilities). The firm was ratified as the independent auditor for Energy Focus, Inc. for fiscal year 2026.
GBQ's go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, with partners and senior staff leading engagements. The firm has no disclosed revenue, no external institutional investors, and is structured as an Ohio LLC owned by its partners. Technology integrations with SuraLink, SafeSend, ShareFile, TaxCaddy, and MyPortal support client workflow management, while AI Clarity operates as a discrete sub-product for AI and automation advisory.
GBQ firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GBQ
- Legal name
- GBQ Partners LLC
- Website
- https://gbq.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1953
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- GBQ Partners LLC is a privately held, Top 100 CPA and business advisory firm founded in 1953, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. With 300+ associates including 100+ CPAs, it delivers assurance, tax, consulting, and business technology services across 12 industry verticals and all 50 U.S. states.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where GBQ is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Columbus
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
GBQ business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Assurance Services: Financial statement audits, employee benefit plan audits, SOC reporting, SEC audits, internal audits, and enterprise risk management. Delivered by certified professionals including CPAs.
- Tax Services: Business tax compliance, international tax, state & local tax, credits & incentives, M&A tax services, private client services, and specialty tax planning.
- Consulting & Advisory: Employee benefits & retirement, ESOP advisory, forensic & dispute advisory, human resources consulting, outsourced accounting, private equity portfolio services, transaction advisory, valuation & financial opinions, and wealth management.
- Business Technology Solutions: AI & automation, business systems, cybersecurity, data & analytics, and IT governance services integrated with traditional accounting offerings.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Professional services engagements quoted based on scope and complexity |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
GBQ product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GBQ is a Top 100 CPA and business advisory firm that delivers audit and assurance, tax compliance and planning, consulting and advisory, and business technology solutions to mid-market and enterprise clients. Its four service lines include Assurance Services (financial statement audits, SOC reporting, SEC audits, internal audits, enterprise risk management), Tax Services (business tax, international tax, M&A tax, credits and incentives), Consulting & Advisory (ESOP advisory, valuation and financial opinions, forensic and dispute advisory, transaction advisory, wealth management), and Business Technology Solutions (AI and automation, cybersecurity, data analytics, IT governance).
Product overview
GBQ is a Top 100 CPA and business advisory firm offering a comprehensive suite of professional services organized into four core service lines: Assurance Services (audit, SOC reporting, SEC audit, internal audits, enterprise risk management), Tax Services (business tax, international tax, state and local tax, M&A tax, credits and incentives, private client), Consulting & Advisory (ESOP advisory, forensic services, transaction advisory, valuation, wealth management), and Business Technology Solutions (AI and automation, cybersecurity, data analytics). These services are delivered across 12 industry verticals including Software & Technology, Manufacturing, Construction, Restaurant, Real Estate, and Financial Services. The firm operates from offices in Columbus, Cincinnati, Toledo (Ohio), and Indianapolis, serving clients across 50 states.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Assurance Services
Companies that use GBQ
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments12 records
Ideal customer profiles7 records
GBQ technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature4 records
GBQ partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
GBQ competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Eide Bailly: Top 25 regional CPA firm with comparable mid-market assurance, tax, and advisory service mix; similarly organized with industry verticals and serving clients across multiple states — directly comparable peer in scale and structure to GBQ.
- Wipfli: Top 20 US CPA and advisory firm serving mid-market and closely-held businesses with assurance, tax, and consulting; very similar positioning to GBQ in client size and vertical specialization strategy (industries including manufacturing, construction, nonprofit).
- Cohen & Company: Mid-size CPA and advisory firm with strong financial services and asset management vertical focus; comparable to GBQ in financial-services specialty and overall mid-market positioning, especially relevant given GBQ's asset management segment.
- Schneider Downs: Mid-Atlantic Top 100 CPA firm with comparable assurance, tax, and business technology advisory service mix; similar private, partner-owned structure and industry-vertical approach, making it a closely comparable regional peer to GBQ.
Broad incumbents
- Forvis Mazars: Top 10 US CPA formed from the merger of FORVIS and Mazars Americas; directly competes with GBQ across mid-market assurance, tax, and advisory verticals and is one of the most active consolidators in the Top 100 space.
- Plante Moran: Largest US-based Top 15 CPA and business advisory firm, similar mid-market focus with deep industry specialization; comparable in service mix (assurance, tax, consulting) but materially larger in scale and geographic footprint, making it the natural aspirational benchmark for GBQ.
- RSM US: Top 5 US CPA focused on middle-market businesses with strong SEC and transaction advisory practices; directly comparable to GBQ's assurance and software/tech verticals and represents the next-tier peer that GBQ's clients might outgrow into.
- CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA): Top 10 US accounting firm focused on mid-market with industry-specialized advisory; competes head-to-head with GBQ in construction, manufacturing, and credit union verticals and is actively acquiring regional Top 100 firms, making it a key consolidation peer.
- BDO USA: Top 5 US accounting and advisory firm serving middle-market and large clients with industry-focused assurance, tax, and consulting — overlaps with GBQ's SEC audit, software/tech, and asset management segments, and a common Big 4 alumni pipeline.
- Crowe LLP: Top 10 US public accounting and advisory firm offering assurance, tax, and consulting to mid-market and large clients; competes with GBQ in financial services, manufacturing, and credit union segments.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
GBQ social profiles
Digital presenceGBQ financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GBQ leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
GBQ funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GBQ M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about GBQ
What does GBQ do?
GBQ is a Top 100 CPA and business advisory firm that delivers audit and assurance, tax compliance and planning, consulting and advisory, and business technology solutions to mid-market and enterprise clients. Its four service lines include Assurance Services (financial statement audits, SOC reporting, SEC audits, internal audits, enterprise risk management), Tax Services (business tax, international tax, M&A tax, credits and incentives), Consulting & Advisory (ESOP advisory, valuation and financial opinions, forensic and dispute advisory, transaction advisory, wealth management), and Business Technology Solutions (AI and automation, cybersecurity, data analytics, IT governance).
Is GBQ a public or private company?
GBQ is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was GBQ founded?
GBQ was founded in 1953. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is GBQ based?
GBQ is headquartered in Columbus, United States, in the North America region.
How does GBQ make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Assurance Services are the primary driver. The others are tax Services, consulting & Advisory and business Technology Solutions.
Who are GBQ's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Eide Bailly, Wipfli, Cohen & Company and Schneider Downs. Broad incumbents are Forvis Mazars, Plante Moran, RSM US, CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA), BDO USA and Crowe LLP.
Does GBQ have an API?
No public API is recorded for GBQ.