Universal Accounting

What Universal Accounting does

Universal Accounting Center (UAC), founded in 1979 by Alf Bostrom and headquartered in Draper, Utah, is a privately held post-secondary vocational school that delivers professional accounting certification programs to individuals pursuing careers or business ownership in the small business accounting market. Its core product lineup comprises four proprietary certification designations — Professional Bookkeeper (PB), QuickBooks Specialist (QS), Professional Tax Preparer (PTP), and Profit & Growth Expert (PGE) — delivered through a self-paced online learning management system at uacourses.com. Courseware includes 67-hour PTP, 169+ video PGE, and 481 video/workbook lessons, plus IRS-approved continuing education, job placement assistance, and a recurring Premier Membership offering 12+ months of business coaching, CRM access, and life coaching. The company also operates the annual GrowCon conference in Scottsdale, AZ, and offers UAC Tax, an IRS-authorized e-file preparation software powered by OLT PRO.

Revenue is generated through one-time tuition for certification programs, 12/18/24-month financing arrangements, a subscription-based Premier Membership, and tiered GrowCon ticket sales (Standard $997-$1,147, Premier $1,447, VIP $1,497-$1,847, Virtual $297) plus sponsor partnerships. Go-to-market is sales-led and inside-sales driven, with phone consultation, lead nurturing via CRM, content marketing (Build the Premier Accounting Firm podcast, blog, SEO), social media, and a community-driven event funnel built around GrowCon. The customer base is fully long-tail SMBs and individual accounting professionals and aspiring firm owners, with no enterprise contracts and no disclosed institutional investors.

Name

Universal Accounting

Legal name

Universal Accounting Center

Website

https://universalaccountingschool.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Universal Accounting Center is a privately held, Utah-based vocational school founded in 1979 that delivers self-paced online certification programs (PB, QS, PTP, PGE), coaching, and the GrowCon conference to aspiring and established small business accounting professionals across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Accounting Training

NAICS

Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Accounting, Audit & Tax (EDAAAPAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Finance, Accounting & Risk (CFA/CPA/FRM) Certifications (EDAAANAD), Accounting, Audit & Tax (CPA/CA/ACCA CPE) (EDAAALAA), Finance, Accounting & Procurement Training (EDAGANAG), Accounting & Finance Certification Prep (CPA, CMA, CFA, FRM) (EDANAIAD)

Keywords

• Bookkeeping certification
• Tax preparation training
• Accounting professional development
• Small business accounting
• QuickBooks certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Draper

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Certification Programs: Revenue from tuition fees for Professional Bookkeeper (PB), Professional Tax Preparer (PTP), QuickBooks Specialist (QS), and Profit & Growth Expert (PGE) certification programs. Programs include course materials, video instruction, and support services.
2. Financing Programs: 12, 18, or 24-month financing programs available to qualifying students for tuition payment flexibility.
3. Premier Membership Program: Accountability and advanced business coaching membership providing 12+ month engagement with business coaches, CRM access, life coaching, and group training sessions with Roger Knecht, president of Universal Accounting Center.
4. Conference Revenue: GrowCon annual conference tickets sold at Standard ($997-$1147), Premier ($1447), and VIP ($1497-$1847) tiers, plus virtual access ($297). Revenue from ticket sales and sponsor partnerships.
5. Coaching and Support Services: Additional coaching services including orientation counseling, academic tutoring, and marketing implementation sessions included with program enrollment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Universal Accounting Center delivers self-paced online certification and training programs for accounting professionals, including Professional Bookkeeper (PB), Professional Tax Preparer (PTP), QuickBooks Specialist (QS), and Profit & Growth Expert (PGE) certifications. Programs combine video instruction, workbooks, coaching, and turnkey business systems designed to help individuals start, build, or grow accounting practices serving small businesses. Coursework is delivered through a proprietary LMS (uacourses.com) and supplemented by the Premier Membership coaching program and the annual GrowCon conference.

Product overview

Universal Accounting Center provides a comprehensive suite of professional accounting certification and training programs delivered through distance learning. The core portfolio includes Professional Bookkeeper (PB) Certification covering four modules from fundamental accounting through business formation; QuickBooks Specialist (QS) Certification for software proficiency; Professional Tax Preparer (PTP) Certification with 67 hours of training for individual and business tax preparation; and Profit & Growth Expert (PGE) Certification for CFO and advisory services. The company also offers a Premier Membership Program with accountability coaching, CRM access, and business development support, the annual GrowCon conference for accounting firm owners, and UAC Tax proprietary tax preparation software. All programs include assigned coaches, mentors, and flexible online learning with certification designations recognized in the industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Professional Bookkeeper (PB): Professional Bookkeeper certification program for day-to-day practical application of accounting in small to mid-sized businesses
• Professional Tax Preparer (PTP)
• QuickBooks Specialist (QS)
• Profit & Growth Expert (PGE)
• GrowCon
• BizBench

Products and services

• Professional Bookkeeper (PB) Certification

Quantifiable outcome

• Increase income by approximately $100+ per hour as a certified tax preparer
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered premium, elevated, minor and core.

• Bookkeepers.compremiumGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 May 2027Premium sponsor of GrowCon 2027; company dedicated to helping people learn bookkeeping and build bookkeeping businesses; Owner & CEO Jaime Rodriguez is featured speaker at GrowCon
• Insightful AccountantpremiumGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 May 2027Premium sponsor of GrowCon 2027; industry media outlet for accounting professionals
• Jetpack WorkflowelevatedTechnology or Integration · 3 May 2027Elevated sponsor of GrowCon 2027; workflow optimization platform for accounting firms; Founder & CEO David Cristello featured speaker
• The CFO ProjectelevatedTechnology or Integration · 3 May 2027Elevated sponsor of GrowCon 2027; training company for outsourced CFO and business advisory services; Founder Adam Lean featured speaker
• Tax Rep NetworkelevatedGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 May 2027Elevated sponsor of GrowCon 2027; network for building IRS representation practices; Managing Partner Eric Green featured speaker
• ComplyWiseelevatedTechnology or Integration · 3 May 2027Elevated sponsor of GrowCon 2027; cybersecurity and compliance solutions for accounting firms; Founder Luke Kiely featured speaker
• Sell UpelevatedGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 May 2027Elevated sponsor of GrowCon 2027; outsourced sales firm for accounting firms; Co-Founder & CEO Brian Mayoral featured speaker
• keepfulelevatedTechnology or Integration · 3 May 2027Elevated sponsor of GrowCon 2027; marketing automation platform for bookkeepers and accountants; Owner Heidi Ryder on marketing panel
• DoubleelevatedTechnology or Integration · 3 May 2027Elevated sponsor of GrowCon 2027; karaoke night sponsor at conference
• Profit First ProfessionalselevatedStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 May 2027PFP Partner Sponsor; methodology and certification for accounting professionals in profit-first financial management
• Value BuilderelevatedStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 May 2027Value Builder Certified partner; certification program for accounting professionals to help business owners increase firm value
• Lambers ReviewminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 May 2027IRS continuing education partner providing Annual Federal Tax Refresher Course and AFSP exam preparation; courses taught by Eva Rosenberg, EA
• IRScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 May 2027IRS-authorized e-file provider and partner; Continuing Education approved provider for tax professionals; mission-aligned partnership for e-file adoption
• CTECminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 May 2027Continuing Education provider logo displayed; CTEC-approved tax education courses

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bookkeepers.com: Bookkeepers.com trains individuals in bookkeeping and helps them build bookkeeping businesses, mirroring Universal Accounting's core Professional Bookkeeper (PB) and 'accountrepreneur' value proposition. It is also a Premium sponsor of GrowCon 2027, underscoring direct overlap in audience and offering.
• The CFO Project: The CFO Project trains accountants to deliver outsourced CFO and business advisory services, which is the exact subject matter of Universal Accounting's Profit & Growth Expert (PGE) certification. Both target accounting firm owners looking to move upmarket into advisory work.
• Profit First Professionals: Profit First Professionals certifies accountants in the Profit First methodology for client advisory; it is a Strategic PFP Partner Sponsor of GrowCon 2027 and competes directly with Universal's PGE program for the same advisory-services audience.
• Value Builder System: Value Builder certifies accountants to help business owners increase firm value, overlapping with Universal Accounting's advisory and firm-building curriculum. It is a Strategic Value Builder Certified partner sponsor of GrowCon 2027.
• Tax Rep Network: Tax Rep Network trains accountants to build IRS representation practices, intersecting with Universal Accounting's Professional Tax Preparer (PTP) and tax-related curriculum. It is an Elevated sponsor of GrowCon 2027 with its Managing Partner as a featured speaker.
• Lambers Review / PassKey Tax Training: Lambers Review (PassKey) provides IRS continuing education, Annual Federal Tax Refresher Course, and AFSP exam preparation, directly competing with Universal's IRS-approved CE and PTP offerings. It is listed as a Strategic IRS continuing education partner sponsor of GrowCon 2027.

Broad incumbents

• Intuit QuickBooks Training / ProAdvisor: Intuit offers QuickBooks ProAdvisor certification directly to bookkeepers, which directly competes with Universal Accounting's QuickBooks Specialist (QS) certification. As the QuickBooks software owner, Intuit is the incumbent in this niche.
• Becker Professional Education: Becker is a long-established incumbent in accounting and finance certification prep (CPA, CMA, CFA), competing with Universal Accounting's certification programs at the broader professional credentialing level, though with a less niche small-business focus.
• Surgent CPA Review: Surgent is a major incumbent in CPA exam prep and professional accounting education, competing for the same pool of aspiring accounting professionals that Universal Accounting targets with its PB, PTP, QS, and PGE programs.

Emerging players

• Sell Up: Sell Up is an outsourced sales firm for accounting firms, overlapping with Universal Accounting's Grow Your Business Program and Premier Membership sales-coaching offerings. It is an Elevated sponsor of GrowCon 2027.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UniversalAcct_
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/UACTraining
• Facebookfacebook.com/universalaccountingschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/companies/universal-accounting
• Instagraminstagram.com/rogerknecht
• TikToktiktok.com/@uac.podcast

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Universal Accounting