Christianson PLLP

What Christianson PLLP does

Christianson PLLP is a privately held Certified Public Accounting and consulting firm headquartered in Willmar, Minnesota, founded in 1987. The firm provides tax preparation and planning, audit and attestation, consulting and outsourcing, regulatory compliance, estate planning, grant writing, and financial advisory services, organized around vertical specializations in agribusiness, renewable energy (with particular depth in ethanol, biodiesel, renewable diesel, and clean fuel compliance), mutual insurance, construction, health care, and industrial hemp. Christianson holds accredited Lead Verifier status for California LCFS, Washington Clean Fuels, and Oregon Clean Fuels, as well as RFS Quality Assurance Program provider credentials, making it a niche regulator-recognized expert for biofuel compliance work.

The firm operates from six Minnesota offices (Willmar, Litchfield, Paynesville, Redwood Falls, Sauk Centre) with remote professionals spanning 15+ US states, and joined the CLA Global alliance of independent accounting firms in 2024. Revenue is generated primarily through professional services fees (project- and engagement-based), supplemented by a subscription-based Biofuels Benchmarking data service for ethanol plants and referral-based financial advisory income through Christianson Financial Advisors, LLC (which routes through Moloney Securities Co., Inc.). The firm has three wholly owned subsidiaries — Beyond, A Christianson Company (software solutions connecting plant operations and accounting), Christianson Benchmarking LLC (the biofuels benchmarking data service), and Christianson Financial Advisors, LLC — and is led by Managing Partner Joel Gratz and seven additional partners.

Christianson has grown through three mergers since 2011 (Mark C. Nicholson PA, DM Hoffbeck PLLC in 2023, and Daniel B Borgmann LTD in 2025), which pushed headcount above 100 employees and expanded its Minnesota footprint. The firm employs standard accounting, tax, and compliance technology (SafeSend for tax return delivery, HubSpot for email, Microsoft Teams for collaboration) but discloses no AI/ML capabilities. It is privately held with no external venture or private equity ownership, and revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Christianson PLLP

Legal name

Christianson PLLP

Website

https://christiansoncpa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Christianson PLLP is a Minnesota-based CPA and consulting firm providing tax, audit, compliance, and advisory services specialized in agribusiness and renewable fuel sectors, with 100+ employees across six Minnesota offices and remote staff in 15+ US states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Willmar

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Accounting and Attestation Services: Audit, review, and compilation services for financial statements of privately owned entities.
2. Tax Preparation and Planning: Federal and state tax filing, planning, and compliance services for individuals and businesses. Includes business advisory for tax efficiency.
3. Renewable Energy Compliance: RFS RIN attestations, Low Carbon Fuel Standard verification, Quality Assurance Program services, and regulatory compliance for biofuel producers.
4. Biofuels Benchmarking Subscription: Subscription-based benchmarking service providing anonymized industry data and reports to subscribing ethanol plants.
5. Financial Advisory Services: Investment products and services offered through Moloney Securities Co., Inc. Referrals from Christianson to affiliated financial advisory entity.
6. Grant Writing and Tax Incentives: Grant writing services and tax incentive optimization for clients including 85% success rate for hemp funding applications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Christianson PLLP is a full-service certified public accounting and consulting firm that provides tax preparation and planning, audit and attestation, consulting and outsourcing, and regulatory compliance services. The firm specializes in agribusiness, renewable fuels, mutual insurance, and biofuel plant benchmarking, with deep expertise in carbon market and low carbon fuel standard validations.

Product overview

Christianson PLLP is a full-service certified public accounting and consulting firm providing a unified portfolio of professional services rather than a software product platform. The core offerings include Tax Services, Audit & Attestation Services, Consulting and Outsourcing Services, Regulatory Compliance Services, and Estate Planning. The firm operates specialized divisions including Biofuels Benchmarking (a subscription data service for ethanol plants), Christianson Financial Advisors, LLC (investment services through Molony Securities), and dedicated Renewable Energy and Agribusiness service lines. Grant Writing and Tax Incentives services and Mutual Insurance services round out the portfolio. The firm also maintains affiliated companies including Beyond (software solutions) and Christianson Benchmarking LLC.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Beyond, A Christianson Company: Software solutions connecting plant operations and accounting.
• Christianson Benchmarking LLC

Products and services

• Tax Services Comprehensive federal and state tax planning and preparation services for individuals and businesses, including strategies to minimize liabilities and maximize savings.
• Audit and Attestation Services Financial statement audits, reviews, and compilations for privately owned entities, leveraging state-of-the-art tools to analyze client activities and operations.
• Consulting and Outsourcing Services Business advisory services including payroll, controller services, consulting, and accounting support to help clients manage their operations.
• Regulatory Compliance Services Compliance assistance for renewable fuel standards including RFS RIN attestations, Quality Assurance Program (QAP), and state-level Low Carbon Fuel Program verification services.
• Biofuels Benchmarking Subscription-based service allowing ethanol plants to access a database of anonymized industry data, insights, and reports for benchmarking performance metrics.
• Estate Planning Estate planning services to help clients structure their assets and plan for wealth transfer across generations.
• Christianson Financial Advisors Investment products and services offered through Moloney Securities Co., Inc., including wealth distribution strategies for heirs and beneficiaries, and financial consulting for institutional and retail clients.
• Tax and Funding Incentives Grant writing services and tax incentive identification, including an 85% success rate for funding applications, helping clients secure local, state, or federal grants and loan guarantees.
• Mutual Insurance Services Specialized accounting and consulting services for mutual insurance clients with nearly 20 years of experience in the industry.
• Agribusiness Services Specialized financial services for agricultural businesses including farm taxation, cooperative accounting, FSA knowledge, government incentive maximization, and succession planning for farming operations.
• Renewable Energy Services Comprehensive services for the renewable energy industry including RIN attestations, LCFS verification, QAP services, renewable energy tax credits, equity and debt strategy, project development, and merger and acquisition analysis for ethanol, biodiesel, wind, solar, and other renewable energy sectors.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% success rate for hemp operation funding applications
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CLA GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Christianson PLLP joined as an alliance member of CLA Global in 2024. CLA Global is a worldwide organization of independent accounting and advisory firms. Member firms provide audit, accounting, tax, and advisory services. The collaboration includes technical resources, network experience, and leadership and growth opportunities. Christianson remains an independent legal entity.
• Beyond, A Christianson CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Beyond is a separate legal entity under the Christianson umbrella that leads software solutions connecting plant operations and accounting. Founded as part of the 2020 restructuring into three entities.
• Christianson Benchmarking LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Christianson Benchmarking LLC confidentially collects data from subscribing biofuels plants and distributes data back for comparisons in operating statistics. Subscription-based benchmarking service for ethanol plants.
• Christianson Financial Advisors LLCminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020Home of Christianson Financial Advisors LLC, a referral solution for clients needing investment advice and products. Securities offered through Moloney Securities Co., Inc.
• Moloney Securities Co., Inc.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerChristianson Financial Advisors, LLC offers investment products and services through Moloney Securities Co., Inc., a registered broker/dealer, member FINRA/SIPC. Securities are suggested to help clients protect assets and grow wealth. Christianson refers clients needing investment advice to this affiliated entity.
• Growth EnergyminorOthersIndustry association membership supporting renewable fuels and ethanol industry advocacy.
• Renewable Fuels AssociationminorOthersIndustry association membership supporting ethanol and renewable fuels industry.
• ACE (American Coalition for Ethanol)minorOthersIndustry association membership. Partner Kari Buttenhoff spoke at ACE Emerging Leaders Conference.
• Clean Fuels Alliance AmericaminorOthersIndustry association membership supporting biodiesel and renewable diesel industry.
• Advanced Biofuels AssociationminorOthersIndustry association membership supporting advanced biofuels industry.
• Advanced Biofuels CanadaminorOthersCross-border industry association membership supporting Canadian advanced biofuels.
• Minnesota Bio-Fuels AssociationminorOthersState-level industry association membership supporting Minnesota biofuels industry.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Wipfli LLP: Upper-Midwest regional CPA firm with significant ag and cooperative practice, headquartered in Wisconsin. Comparable regional CPA peer serving agribusiness and rural clients across overlapping geography.
• Eide Bailly LLP: Upper-Midwest regional CPA headquartered in Fargo, ND, with strong ag and renewable energy practices serving cooperatives and producers. Direct geographic and vertical overlap with Christianson's ag/biofuels client base.
• Pinion (formerly K·Coe Isom): National agricultural-focused advisory and CPA firm built from the K·Coe Isom platform, serving farms, agribusinesses, and food system clients. Direct competitor for ag-vertical CPA and advisory mandates and the most comparable specialized ag peer to Christianson.
• EcoEngineers: Renewable energy compliance and LCFS/RFS verification specialist. Direct competitor for accredited clean-fuel verifier work and renewable fuels advisory, mirroring Christianson's niche RE compliance practice.

Broad incumbents

• Baker Tilly US: Top-10 US accounting and advisory firm with a notable renewable energy compliance and clean fuels practice. Comparable for RFS/LCFS advisory and biofuel client work at a much larger scale than Christianson.
• Plante Moran: Top-15 US accounting firm with one of the largest dedicated ag and food processing practices nationally. Comparable for upper-Midwest agribusiness advisory and audit work; broader and more diversified than Christianson.
• Moss Adams LLP: Top-15 US accounting and consulting firm with a notable clean energy and renewable fuels practice. Comparable for biofuel producer attest and compliance work, though geographically more West-Coast anchored.
• Forvis (formerly BKD + Dixon Hughes Goodman): Top-10 US accounting firm with significant agribusiness, cooperative, and renewable energy practices. Comparable for ag-vertical audit, tax, and advisory engagements at substantially larger scale.
• CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA): Top-10 US accounting firm and Christianson's CLA Global alliance partner, with significant ag, food, and renewable energy practices. Comparable as a broad incumbent serving similar ag/RE clients with a wider service portfolio than Christianson's specialized offering.

Regional players

• Boulay PLLP: Minnesota-based CPA and advisory firm serving closely overlapping client segments including agribusiness and mid-market businesses. Comparable regional CPA peer competing for similar Minnesota-based engagements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/christiansoncpa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/christianson-&-associates-pllp
• Instagraminstagram.com/christiansoncpa
• Xx.com/christiansoncpa

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Christianson PLLP