International Management Solutions
International Management Solutions is a Chicago-headquartered professional services firm that provides accounting, tax, HR/payroll, and consulting services to European-headquartered companies — primarily from France, Belgium, the UK, and the Netherlands — expanding into or operating within the United States, delivered through bicultural teams across nine US and European offices.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What International Management Solutions does
International Management Solutions (IMS) is a privately held professional services firm founded in 1998 in Chicago by Antoine Guillaud, focused on assisting European companies — primarily from France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands — with establishing and operating subsidiaries in the United States. The firm operates through two affiliated entities: IMS itself, which delivers accounting, tax planning and compliance, HR and payroll outsourcing, GAAP/IFRS reporting, and management consulting; and International Attest Solutions (IAS), a separate CPA firm spun off in 2010 by Guillaud and Michael Richter, which provides audit, limited review, compilation, due diligence, and acquisition structuring services. The two entities cooperate closely but are legally distinct, allowing IMS to deliver non-attest advisory while IAS handles regulated attestation.
The business model is engagement-based professional services revenue across four streams: ongoing accounting and tax compliance (federal, state, local, sales tax), tax planning and transfer pricing, HR and payroll administration, and management consulting. Pricing is project- or retainer-based and not publicly disclosed. Headcount sits in the 11-50 band, with offices in Chicago, Indianapolis, Detroit, New York, Richmond, and Tucson (US) plus London, Brussels, and Bordeaux (Europe). The firm has served over 500 companies since inception and is approaching its 30th anniversary in 2026. The client base skews to European SMEs expanding into the US market across manufacturing, IT/software, consumer goods, and medical/healthcare verticals.
Go-to-market is event-driven and referral-anchored rather than direct-sales-driven. IMS maintains active memberships and co-marketing relationships with the French-American, Belgian-American, and BritishAmerican Business chambers, as well as Business France, Flanders Investment & Trade, Voka, SelectUSA, and Team France Export. The firm hosts its own branded 'Upper Clash' events for founders, participates in trade shows (SelectUSA, Global Industrie, Accountex), produces multilingual thought-leadership content on US-expansion tax and compliance topics, and runs webinars in partnership with trade bodies. Recent moves include a dedicated U.K. Practice leadership buildout (2025), a legal partnership with Faegre Drinker on tariff/customs advisory (2025), and a UK maritime/aerospace co-marketing tie-up with Blue Link Worldwide (2025), signaling continued incremental expansion of geographic and vertical reach.
International Management Solutions firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- International Management Solutions
- Legal name
- International Management Solutions, Inc.
- Website
- https://intlms.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- International Management Solutions is a Chicago-headquartered professional services firm that provides accounting, tax, HR/payroll, and consulting services to European-headquartered companies — primarily from France, Belgium, the UK, and the Netherlands — expanding into or operating within the United States, delivered through bicultural teams across nine US and European offices.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where International Management Solutions is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices9 records
Markets served
International Management Solutions business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
Revenue model
- Accounting and Tax Services: Ongoing accounting, bookkeeping, and tax preparation and filing services for US subsidiaries of European companies. Includes federal, state, and local tax compliance.
- Tax Planning and Structuring: International and domestic tax planning at federal and state level, transfer pricing documentation, and acquisition structuring advisory services.
- HR and Payroll Services: Outsourced payroll processing, expat vs. assignment research, and HR-related administration for US operations.
- Management Consulting: Startup consulting, strategic business planning, business plan development, and financial budgeting services.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
International Management Solutions product offering
Product offeringCore offering
International Management Solutions (IMS) is a professional services firm that provides accounting, tax, HR, payroll, and cross-border advisory services to European-headquartered companies establishing or expanding operations in the United States. The firm also operates a sister entity, International Attest Solutions (IAS), which delivers US audit and attest services, and together the two firms serve clients across all 50 US states.
Product overview
International Management Solutions operates as a dual-product firm consisting of International Management Solutions (IMS) and International Attest Solutions (IAS). IMS is the core accounting, tax, HR, and consulting services division that assists European companies with US market entry, providing tax planning and compliance, accounting and bookkeeping, reporting (including GAAP/IFRS conversion), HR and payroll outsourcing, and management consulting. IAS is the affiliated CPA firm providing attestation and audit services, limited reviews, compilations, and transaction services including due diligence, acquisition structuring, and integration support. The two operating companies work in close cooperation to provide comprehensive support for European companies expanding into or operating within the United States.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- US Accounting and Bookkeeping
- US Tax Compliance and Advisory
- US Payroll, HR and Benefits Administration
- US Entity Setup and Expansion Advisory
- Audit and Attest Services (via International Attest Solutions)
Companies that use International Management Solutions
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
International Management Solutions technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
International Management Solutions partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Team AC Racing / Ambition LA 2028minorIMS became an official sponsor of 'Ambition LA 2028,' a sailing project led by athletes Albane Dubois and Chloé Revil pursuing qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games in the 49er FX class. This partnership reflects shared values of performance, ambition, and excellence.
- Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLPcoreTrusted legal partner providing tariff classification and customs consulting. IMS works closely with Faegre Drinker to assist Swiss and other companies in evaluating impact of US tariff changes on their operations.
- Blue Link WorldwidecoreOngoing partnership for 'Doing Business in the US' events and webinars. Co-host events covering US market entry, sales strategy, and business expansion topics for UK maritime, aerospace, and space businesses.
- Team France Export ChicagocoreIMS was selected and referenced as a Solution provider for Team France Export in Chicago, providing services in Taxation, Administration and Subsidiary Management, and Housing and Domiciliation for French companies expanding to the US.
- Business France / Team France ExportcoreCollaboration with Business France for the Renewable Energy Month (EnR) initiative, organizing virtual meetings with leading solar and wind companies in North America.
- TABS (Transatlantic Business Solutions)coreUS expansion back-office support partner. Participates in joint events including 'U.S. Expansion Expert Day' networking events in Eindhoven.
- SelectUSAcoreActive participant in SelectUSA Investment Summit, connecting with economic development organizations and international companies considering US expansion.
- Belgian-American Chamber of Commerce (BelCham)coreActive member and event participant. IMS representatives attend BelCham events including New Year Reception and US Readiness webinars for Belgian companies.
- French-American Chamber of Commerce (FACC)coreActive member and sponsor. IMS sponsors FACC annual gala and participates in FACC events. Hugues Retif leads FACC Indiana Chapter.
- Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT)corePartner for FIT webinars on e-commerce in the United States, providing tax and practical guidance for Flemish companies expanding to the US market.
- BritishAmerican Business (BAB)coreIMS joined BAB Council Chicago and participates in networking events exploring trade, immigration, tax and accounting topics.
- Voka (Flemish Employers' Association)minorBen Troch represents IMS at Voka networking events for entrepreneurs in the Greater Leuven region of Belgium.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
International Management Solutions competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- BDO USA: Top-tier US accounting and advisory firm with a Global Inbound Services practice that helps foreign companies establish and operate in the US. Comparable to IMS in serving international subsidiaries needing tax compliance, accounting, and HR/payroll support, but at much larger scale.
- Grant Thornton US: US member of Grant Thornton International with significant cross-border tax and advisory capabilities for foreign-owned US entities. Competes for the same European inbound client base that IMS serves, but from a global network position.
- Crowe LLP: Major US accounting and advisory firm with international tax practice serving inbound foreign companies, including European parents. Competes with IMS for entity setup, federal/state tax compliance, and audit-related work for European-owned subsidiaries.
- Plante Moran: Large US mid-market accounting firm with an international tax and business consulting practice supporting foreign-owned US operations. Comparable to IMS in addressing cross-border tax and accounting needs of inbound European companies.
- Marcum LLP: Top-15 US accounting and advisory firm with international tax and advisory services, including significant work with foreign-owned US subsidiaries. Comparable to IMS in addressing multi-state US tax complexity for European clients.
- RSM US: Large US mid-market accounting firm with a dedicated International Services practice serving inbound foreign-owned subsidiaries. Direct historical connection: IMS's founder was previously a partner at McGladrey & Pullen, the firm that became RSM US, making it the most directly comparable incumbent for IMS's niche.
- Forvis: Major US accounting firm (formed from BKD and Dixon Hughes Goodman merger) with an international services practice serving foreign-owned US entities. Overlaps with IMS in serving European mid-market clients setting up US operations.
- Cherry Bekaert: US mid-market accounting and advisory firm with international tax services for inbound foreign companies, particularly European and Canadian. Competes with IMS for tax compliance and advisory work for foreign-owned US subsidiaries.
- Wipfli: Top-20 US accounting firm with an international services group advising foreign-owned US subsidiaries on tax, accounting, and compliance. Comparable delivery model to IMS for mid-market European clients entering the US.
Direct peers
- Withum: US mid-market accounting and advisory firm with a dedicated International Business Advisory practice serving European and other foreign companies entering the US. Closest comparable peer in terms of size band and niche focus on inbound expansion advisory.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
International Management Solutions social profiles
Digital presenceInternational Management Solutions financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
International Management Solutions leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
International Management Solutions funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
International Management Solutions M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about International Management Solutions
What does International Management Solutions do?
International Management Solutions (IMS) is a professional services firm that provides accounting, tax, HR, payroll, and cross-border advisory services to European-headquartered companies establishing or expanding operations in the United States. The firm also operates a sister entity, International Attest Solutions (IAS), which delivers US audit and attest services, and together the two firms serve clients across all 50 US states.
Is International Management Solutions a public or private company?
International Management Solutions is a private company. It is currently operating.
When was International Management Solutions founded?
International Management Solutions was founded in 1998. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is International Management Solutions based?
International Management Solutions is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does International Management Solutions make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Accounting and Tax Services are the primary driver. The others are tax Planning and Structuring, HR and Payroll Services and management Consulting.
Who are International Management Solutions's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are BDO USA, Grant Thornton US, Crowe LLP, Plante Moran, Marcum LLP, RSM US, Forvis, Cherry Bekaert and Wipfli. Withum is listed as a direct peer.
Does International Management Solutions have an API?
No public API is recorded for International Management Solutions.