SHBB/LBV-Gruppe

What SHBB/LBV-Gruppe does

SHBB/LBV-Gruppe is a German tax advisory, auditing, and business consulting group headquartered in Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, with roots dating to 1935 in the Landwirtschaftlicher Buchführungsverband (Agricultural Bookkeeping Association). The group serves approximately 14,300 member-farmers and a broader client base of agricultural, forestry, trade, freelancer, and private individual clients across northern Germany, delivered through a network of approximately 100 office locations spanning seven states (from Flensburg to Hannover and from Münsterland to the edge of Berlin) plus a Polish subsidiary. Core services include tax advisory (Steuerberatung) provided by approximately 260 tax advisors, auditing (Wirtschaftsprüfung) via Treurat GmbH, agricultural bookkeeping and annual financial statements, farm succession planning, and specialized advisory for biogas plant operators navigating Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) transitions.

The group operates through multiple wholly-owned subsidiaries — SHBB Steuerberatungsgesellschaft mbH, Treurat GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft Steuerberatungsgesellschaft, Betriebs- und Steuerberatungsgesellschaft SHBB mbH, JPST GmbH Steuerberatungsgesellschaft, Treurat und Partner Unternehmensberatungsgesellschaft mbH, and SHBB/LBV-Digital GmbH — under three Managing Directors (Maik Jochens, Sebastian Nehls, and Dr. Hauke Schmidt) and Chairman Harm Johannsen (elected January 2026). The technology stack is modest but defensible: the group stores client data in its own TÜV-certified data centers, publishes a Medienportal content hub and the "Land und Wirtschaft" newsletter (delivered via CleverReach), operates the agrarctrl online training platform for DATEV Unternehmen online, and offers E-Rechnung advisory supporting XRechnung and ZUGFeRD compliance under the Wachstumschancengesetz. Marketing and client engagement span organic social (TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook), annual conferences at Holstenhallen Neumünster drawing ~400 attendees, and HLBS industry event participation.

Revenue is generated almost entirely through regulated professional service fees (Steuerberatervergütungsverordnung StBVV) for tax advisory and auditing, plus membership dues and project-based consulting income from the parent association. No publicly disclosed pricing exists, and no revenue figure is available in the provided sources. The go-to-market is a classic enterprise field-sales model executed locally — proximity-based, relationship-driven advisory delivered through physical offices — supplemented by association-based distribution to member-farmers and increasingly by self-serve digital platforms (agrarctrl, E-Rechnung guidance). The association's mutual, member-governed structure (elected volunteer board and delegates committee) is itself a defining commercial feature that constrains exit optionality but reinforces member loyalty.

Name

SHBB/LBV-Gruppe

Legal name

Landwirtschaftlicher Buchführungsverband

Website

https://shbb-lbv.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1935

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

SHBB/LBV-Gruppe is a German tax advisory, auditing, and bookkeeping group headquartered in Kiel, serving approximately 14,300 farmer-members and SME clients through 100 offices across seven northern German states, with specialized expertise in agricultural tax law and renewable energy (biogas) advisory.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kiel

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tax Advisory and Consulting Services: Professional tax advisory services (Steuerberatung) provided by approximately 260 tax advisors across 100+ office locations to agricultural, commercial, and private clients. Revenue is generated through recurring client engagements, professional service fees, and project-based consulting.
2. Auditing and Accounting Services: Economic auditing (Wirtschaftsprüfung) and bookkeeping services (Buchführung) delivered through Treurat GmbH and other group entities. Services include preparation of annual financial statements and business economic consulting.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SHBB/LBV-Gruppe is a unified tax advisory, auditing, and accounting group delivering professional services to approximately 14,300 members, primarily agricultural businesses, farmers, and rural enterprises across northern Germany. The group operates approximately 100 offices staffed by around 260 tax advisors and provides annual financial statements, business consulting, farm succession planning, biogas plant advisory, electronic invoicing (E-Rechnung) compliance support, and DATEV-related digital training.

Product overview

SHBB/LBV-Gruppe is a unified tax advisory and accounting group offering a comprehensive portfolio of services primarily serving agricultural businesses, farmers, and rural enterprises across northern Germany. The core offering consists of Steuerberatung (tax advisory) and Wirtschaftsprüfung (auditing) services provided through multiple subsidiaries: SHBB Steuerberatungsgesellschaft mbH handles tax consulting, Treurat GmbH provides auditing services, and the Landwirtschaftlicher Buchführungsverband delivers agricultural bookkeeping for approximately 14,300 members. The group also operates SHBB/LBV-Digital GmbH for digital services and Treurat und Partner for business consulting. Client-facing digital services include the Medienportal (media portal) with tax news and the "Land und Wirtschaft" newsletter, plus E-Rechnung advisory services for mandatory electronic invoicing compliance. The group operates approximately 100 offices with over 2,100 employees including about 260 tax consultants, and maintains TÜV-certified data centers for client data storage.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Land und Wirtschaft: Newsletter providing regular information on taxes and levies as well as news from the SHBB/LBV-Gruppe
• Medienportal
• agrarctrl
• E-Rechnung

Products and services

• Tax Advisory Services (Steuerberatung)

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 14,300 members served through Landwirtschaftlicher Buchführungsverband
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SHBB Steuerberatungsgesellschaft mbHcoreOthersSubsidiary company of Landwirtschaftlicher Buchführungsverband. SHBB Steuerberatungsgesellschaft mbH operates in co-location (Bürogemeinschaft) with the parent association at various office locations and provides professional tax advisory services. The entity is a separate legal company under common ownership and management.
• Treurat GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft SteuerberatungsgesellschaftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft (auditing company) and Steuerberatungsgesellschaft (tax advisory company) operating as part of the SHBB/LBV-Gruppe. Provides auditing services, tax advisory, and hosts the agrarctrl digital training platform. Co-locates with other group entities at office locations.
• Betriebs- und Steuerberatungsgesellschaft SHBB mbHcoreOthersOperating company within the SHBB/LBV-Gruppe providing business and tax advisory services. Co-locates with other group entities at office locations.
• JPST GmbH SteuerberatungsgesellschaftminorOthersSteuerberatungsgesellschaft (tax advisory company) operating as part of the SHBB/LBV-Gruppe network. Co-locates with other group entities at office locations.
• Treurat und Partner Unternehmensberatungsgesellschaft mbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness consulting company (Unternehmensberatung) within the SHBB/LBV-Gruppe. Provides management consulting and hosts the agrarctrl digital training platform offering DATEV Unternehmen online training. Co-locates with other group entities.
• LBV Księgowość i Doradztwo Polska Sp. z o. o.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolish subsidiary company (Sp. z o. o.) providing bookkeeping and advisory services (Księgowość i Doradztwo = Accounting and Advisory) in Poland. Extends the group's service footprint to Polish market.
• SHBB/LBV-Digital GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital services subsidiary (SHBB/LBV-Digital GmbH) providing digital transformation services, online training (agrarctrl), and digital advisory tools for clients. Supports the group's digitalization strategy and E-Rechnung services.
• DATEV eGcoreTechnology or IntegrationStrategic technology partnership with DATEV eG, the leading German accounting software provider for tax advisors and businesses. SHBB/LBV-Gruppe through Treurat und Partner provides agrarctrl training programs for DATEV Unternehmen online platform, enabling clients to use DATEV's cloud-based accounting solutions. Deep integration with DATEV software for client accounting workflows.
• Sozialversicherung für Landwirtschaft, Forstwirtschaft und Gartenbau (SVLFG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural social insurance provider. SHBB/LBV-Gruppe references SVLFG's Agriwork web-app (www.agriwork-germany.de) as a recommended resource for seasonal workers, providing multilingual safety and health information for agricultural employers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Mazars GmbH & Co. KG: Global advisory firm with German operations covering tax, audit, and consulting. Comparable in providing Wirtschaftsprüfung alongside Steuerberatung services to mid-market clients including agricultural enterprises.
• Rödl & Partner: German mid-market advisory firm with strong agricultural and Mittelstand focus. Comparable in integrated tax/audit/consulting model and agricultural client base, with similar presence in northern Germany.
• BDO AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft: German arm of global BDO network providing tax, audit, and advisory services. Comparable in auditing (Wirtschaftsprüfung) and tax advisory offering through Treurat GmbH, with overlapping mid-market agricultural and SMB clients but broader service portfolio.
• KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft: Big Four firm with significant German tax, audit, and advisory practice serving mid-market and large enterprises. Comparable in Wirtschaftsprüfung and Steuerberatung delivery, with broader scale and enterprise focus but overlapping agricultural Mittelstand clients.

Others

• BayWa AG: Large German agricultural trading and services cooperative. Comparable as a counterparty in agricultural value chain serving farmers in overlapping regions, though operating in input trading and energy rather than tax advisory. Useful ecosystem reference.
• DATEV eG: Germany's leading cooperative providing accounting software and IT solutions to tax advisors. While not a direct competitor (it is SHBB/LBV-Gruppe's technology partner via agrarctrl training), it serves the same tax advisor and SMB client base and shapes industry software standards.
• HLBS (Hauptverband der landwirtschaftlichen Buchstellen und Sachverständigen): German trade association for agricultural accounting firms and experts, of which SHBB/LBV-Gruppe leadership (Dr. Hauke Schmidt as state chairman) is a member. Comparable in setting professional standards and providing CPD for agricultural tax advisors serving similar clientele.

Regional players

• Genossenschaftsverband Weser-Ems: Cooperative audit association serving agricultural and small business cooperatives in northwestern Germany. Comparable in providing Wirtschaftsprüfung and advisory to agricultural member organizations in overlapping regional territory.

Direct peers

• ETL AG: Germany's largest tax advisory franchise network with ~1,200 offices. Directly comparable as a tax advisory (Steuerberatung) and accounting firm serving SMBs across Germany. Overlaps with SHBB/LBV-Gruppe in trade/industry (Gewerbe) client segments and competes for tax advisor talent.
• LBD Landwirtschaftliche Buchstellen Deutschlands: Network of regional agricultural bookkeeping associations across Germany offering comparable Landwirtschaftliche Buchführung services to farmers. Most direct peer to SHBB/LBV's association-based agricultural bookkeeping model, particularly in non-overlapping regions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ShbblbvGruppe
• Facebookfacebook.com/SHBBLBV-Gruppe-100084885127141
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lbv-unternehmensverbund
• Instagraminstagram.com/shbb_lbv_gruppe
• TikToktiktok.com/@shbb_lbv

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries7 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 SHBB/LBV-Gruppe