Dr. Horn Unternehmensberatung

What Dr. Horn Unternehmensberatung does

Dr. Horn Unternehmensberatung GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft - Steuerberatungsgesellschaft is a mid-market professional services firm headquartered in Ulm, Southern Germany, operating under the HORNTREUHAND-Gruppe brand alongside its sister entity HORNTREUHAND GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft. Founded in 1949 by Dr. Max Horn, the firm has operated continuously for over 70 years and is now in its third generation of family leadership following a 2024 transition placing Prof. Dr. Brigitte Zürn at the helm. The firm employs 62+ professionals, including 12 credentialed Wirtschaftsprüfer and Steuerberater supported by 50+ specialists, and serves approximately 1,300 clients ranging from individuals and sole proprietors to multi-entity Mittelstand corporate groups, as well as foundations, non-profits, and public law corporations.

The firm operates three integrated service lines: Wirtschaftsprüfung (statutory and consolidated audits under HGB and IFRS, special audits, sustainability reporting audits, and §57a WPO quality control audits), Steuerberatung (annual tax compliance, tax planning, inheritance and gift tax, Tax Compliance Management Systems, and representation in tax audits and disputes), and Unternehmensberatung (legal form selection, M&A advisory, succession planning, business valuations, benchmarking, and risk management system implementation). Its core technology stack is built on the DATEV platform, supplemented by digital data analysis tools used during audit procedures to derive process optimization insights, and a recently referenced use of AI-assisted tools for draft correspondence and presentation preparation.

Commercially, the firm follows a relationship-led, sales-driven go-to-market model anchored by a personal Ansprechpartner assigned to every client, multi-year audit mandates, and retainer-based ongoing tax compliance engagements with fees either per mandate or following the Steuerberatergebührenverordnung. New client acquisition relies primarily on regional reputation in Southern Germany, word-of-mouth, and a content marketing presence through its news/insights blog and monthly client newsletters. The firm is regulated by the Wirtschaftsprüferkammer (Berlin) and Steuerberaterkammer Stuttgart, maintains statutory professional liability insurance, and operates exclusively as a privately held, founder-origin family business with no external institutional investor involvement.

Name

Dr. Horn Unternehmensberatung

Legal name

Dr. Horn Unternehmensberatung GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft - Steuerberatungsgesellschaft

Website

https://dr-horn.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Dr. Horn Unternehmensberatung is a 70+ year-old Ulm-based Wirtschaftsprüfungs- und Steuerberatungsgesellschaft providing audit, tax advisory, and management consulting services to approximately 1,300 Mittelstand clients, individuals, foundations, and public law entities across Southern Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Audit, Tax & Business Consulting Services

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAHABAA

Audit & Assurance Services

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Accounting, Audit & Tax Services

SECONDARYBPAHAOAJ

Transaction Tax Structuring & Deal Advisory

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/M&A, Transaction & Restructuring Advisory

SECONDARYBPAEAPAG

Third-Party Risk, Vendor Due Diligence & Supply Chain Compliance

Business & Public Services/IT & Digital Services (Managed Services, Systems Integration)/Governance, Risk, Compliance (GRC) & Legal Tech

Keywords

• Statutory audit services
• Tax advisory services
• Business consulting
• Succession planning
• Consolidated financial statements

Headquarters

HQ city

Ulm

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Wirtschaftsprüfung (Audit Services): Annual audit of single and consolidated financial statements under HGB and IFRS, including statutory audits, special audits, sustainability reporting audits, and quality control audits for professional colleagues under §57a WPO. Revenues are fee-based, typically per engagement or on a retainer basis for ongoing mandates.
2. Steuerberatung (Tax Advisory): Comprehensive tax advisory including preparation of annual tax returns, tax planning and optimization, representation in tax audits, and handling of special tax situations (inheritance, gift, property taxes). Billed either on a retainer/flat fee for ongoing compliance or per engagement for special mandates. Remuneration may follow the Steuerberatergebührenverordnung (official fee schedule) with negotiated deviations.
3. Unternehmensberatung (Business Consulting): Advisory services covering company formation, legal structure selection, mergers and acquisitions, succession planning, business valuations, business plans, benchmarking, and risk management system implementation. Typically project-based or annual advisory retainers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Dr. Horn Unternehmensberatung is a mid-sized German Wirtschaftsprüfungs- und Steuerberatungsgesellschaft that delivers statutory and voluntary audits of single and consolidated financial statements (HGB/IFRS), comprehensive tax advisory and tax return services, and management consulting covering M&A, succession planning, business valuations, and risk management systems for Mittelstand companies, individuals, foundations, and public law entities. The three service lines (Wirtschaftsprüfung, Steuerberatung, Unternehmensberatung) are delivered as an integrated offering under the HORNTREUHAND-Gruppe brand from Ulm.

Product overview

Dr. Horn Unternehmensberatung is a mid-sized auditing and tax advisory firm headquartered in Ulm, Germany, with over 70 years of experience serving approximately 1,300 clients. The HORNTREUHAND Group operates as an integrated three-division firm offering Wirtschaftsprüfung (audit/assurance), Steuerberatung (tax advisory), and Unternehmensberatung (business consulting) as interconnected service lines. The three core offerings are coordinated to provide holistic support—from annual audits and financial statement preparation through tax compliance and strategic business advisory including succession planning and M&A advisory.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wirtschaftsprüfung (Audit Services) Annual statutory and voluntary audit of single and consolidated financial statements under HGB and IFRS, special audits (Sonderprüfungen), sustainability reporting audits, §57a WPO quality control audits for professional colleagues, due diligence, and company valuations. Delivered to Mittelstand corporate groups, public law entities, foundations, and other audit-mandated clients using digital data analysis tools to identify process optimization opportunities.
• Steuerberatung (Tax Advisory) Comprehensive tax advisory covering annual tax return preparation, tax planning and optimization, representation in tax audits and disputes, inheritance and gift tax, cross-border tax situations, VAT, international tax law, transformation tax law, and introduction of Tax Compliance Management Systems. Delivered to individuals, sole proprietors, Mittelstand companies, foundations, and public law corporations, either as ongoing annual retainers or per-engagement mandates.
• Unternehmensberatung (Business Consulting) Management consulting for Mittelstand companies covering legal form selection, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) advisory, business succession planning, company valuations, business plan development, benchmarking, restructuring consulting, and introduction/audit of risk management systems. Project-based or annual advisory engagements.

Quantifiable outcome

• ~1,300 clients served across diverse industries and sizes
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DATEV eGcoreTechnology or IntegrationDATEV is the leading German accounting software and IT solutions provider for tax advisors and auditors. HORNTREUHAND uses DATEV as its core tax and accounting software platform. The firm publishes news content on DATEV-related topics (e.g., E-Rechnung standards XRechnung and ZUGFeRD) and advises clients on DATEV-based digital processes.
• Kulitz & Twelmeier GmbHminorOthersExternal data protection officer (externer Datenschutzbeauftragter) appointed by HORNTREUHAND to ensure compliance with GDPR and German data protection law. Questions regarding data processing can be directed to [email protected].
• University of UlmminorOthersHORNTREUHAND professionals (Wirtschaftsprüfer and Steuerberater) serve as guest lecturers (Dozentinnen und Dozenten) at the University of Ulm, engaging in academic knowledge transfer and contributing to the training of future professionals.
• IHK Ulm (Chamber of Industry and Commerce Ulm)minorOthersHORNTREUHAND professionals engage as instructors and examiners in vocational training and continuing education programs at IHK Ulm, supporting professional development in accounting and tax fields.
• Versicherungsgemeinschaft für das wirtschaftliche Prüfungs- und TreuhandwesencoreOthersStatutory professional liability insurer for Wirtschaftsprüfer and Steuerberater as required under §54 WPO. The insurer is specified as the Versicherungsgemeinschaft für das wirtschaftliche Prüfungs- und Treuhandwesen (Dotzheimer Str. 23, 65185 Wiesbaden). Coverage extends across Germany and includes international provisions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• RSM Germany: German mid-tier audit, tax and consulting firm within the global RSM network, focused on Mittelstand clients with a similar three-pillar service model. Direct competitor in the German mid-market audit landscape.
• BDO AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft: One of Germany's largest mid-market audit, tax and advisory networks with strong Mittelstand focus across multiple German locations. Comparable three-pillar service mix targeting SMEs and family-owned enterprises, but at substantially larger scale and with international network reach.
• Ebner Stolz: Germany's leading mid-market audit and tax advisory firm headquartered in Stuttgart, with a comparable Mittelstand focus, three-pillar (audit, tax, advisory) service model, and regional multi-office footprint across southern and western Germany. The closest peer by size, scope, and target client.
• Warth & Klein Grant Thornton: Mid-market German audit and advisory firm with combined audit, tax and consulting practice serving Mittelstand companies. Comparable service mix and client profile; larger German footprint but similar regional anchoring.
• PKF Fasselt Schlage: German member firm of the global PKF audit and consulting network, offering audit, tax and advisory services to Mittelstand and mid-market clients. Comparable three-pillar professional services firm with regional German presence.
• Rödl & Partner: German-origin international audit, tax, legal and consulting firm with integrated service lines and strong Mittelstand client base. Comparable in combining audit, tax advisory and management consulting under one roof; operates at much larger international scale.
• Baker Tilly Germany: Top-10 German audit and advisory network offering audit, tax and consulting with strong Mittelstand and family business focus. Directly comparable three-service-line structure and target client profile.

Broad incumbents

• Mazars GmbH & Co. KG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft: International mid-tier audit, tax and advisory firm with German operations and integrated service offering. Competes for similar Mittelstand clients but operates as a broader incumbent network with global reach and larger deal capacity.
• Deloitte Germany (Mittelstand Practice): Big Four firm with a substantial Mittelstand and mid-market practice in Germany offering audit, tax and consulting services. Overshadows regional players on larger mandates but similar service categories.

Regional players

• Schiller & Partner (Steuerberatung/Wirtschaftsprüfung): Smaller regional German audit and tax advisory firm based in southern Germany. Comparable in scope and Mittelstand orientation but at a smaller scale, illustrating the broader regional peer set.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dr-horn-unternehmensberatung-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Dr. Horn Unternehmensberatung