Market Street Partners (now Smith + Howard)

What Market Street Partners (now Smith + Howard) does

Smith + Howard (formerly Market Street Partners) is a national accounting and advisory firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, founded in 1955 and operating under an alternative practice structure with Smith & Howard PC (attest services) and Smith & Howard Advisory LLC (tax and consulting services). The firm delivers a comprehensive suite of professional services spanning audit/assurance, business and private client tax, international tax, transfer pricing, R&D tax credits, transaction advisory, internal audit, litigation support, process automation, cyber risk management, and SOC reporting. It serves privately held businesses, nonprofits, multi-state nationals, and global businesses across verticals including construction, distribution, hospitality, manufacturing, real estate, technology, healthcare, franchising, transportation and logistics, captive insurance, and independent schools.

The firm operates a Family of Companies model with wholly-owned subsidiaries in wealth management (Smith + Howard Wealth Management), sales/use and property tax (Synexus Tax Solutions), management consulting (S+H Consulting Group), executive search (S+H Search), finance advisory (Fahrenheit Advisors), and cyber/risk advisory (Geels Norton). A proprietary customized sales-and-use tax automation platform provides real-time, state-by-state compliance reporting as a differentiated technology asset. Client-facing digital infrastructure includes a secure Client Access Portal (SafeSend, SuraLink) and an Online Payment Portal.

Revenue is generated through project-based and retainer professional services engagements priced via negotiated quotes, with multi-year contracts supporting ongoing client relationships. Distribution is sales-led via partner-led relationship management, direct outreach, RFP submissions, and inside sales; the firm has nearly 50 partners and 600+ employees across offices in Atlanta, Chattanooga, Cary, Charlotte, Spartanburg, Columbia, Mount Pleasant, Birmingham, Boston, Richmond, New York, Dallas, Los Angeles, Newtown, and St. Louis, plus a Bangalore, India operations hub. Smith + Howard received private equity backing from Broad Sky Partners in November 2022 and a subsequent major investment from TPG in 2026, and has executed three acquisitions in roughly six months under CEO Sean Taylor, who has led the firm since 2019.

Name

Market Street Partners (now Smith + Howard)

Legal name

Smith & Howard PC

Website

https://marketstreet.partners

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Smith + Howard is a national accounting and advisory firm delivering audit, tax, advisory, and cyber risk services across 14+ verticals, with a Family of Companies spanning wealth management, consulting, and executive search for privately held businesses, nonprofits, and global clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Accounting and Advisory Services

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Finance and Insurance (52)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741), Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Finance & Capital Advisory (BPAHADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Litigation Support & Expert Witness (Valuation-Related) (BPAHANAG), Comprehensive/Full-Service RIAs & Independent Wealth Managers (FSAAACAA), Business Owner & Executive Financial Planning (FSAEAAAO)

Keywords

• Accounting and advisory
• Audit and assurance services
• Business tax consulting
• Cyber risk management
• Transaction advisory services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chattanooga

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices17 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Services (Audit, Tax, Advisory): Smith + Howard generates revenue through a comprehensive suite of professional services including audit/assurance, tax (business tax, private client tax, international tax, transfer pricing, R&D credits), advisory (internal audit, litigation support, process automation), cyber risk management, transaction advisory, and finance consulting. Revenue is project-based and retainer-driven for ongoing client relationships.
2. Family of Companies — Wealth Management, Consulting, Tax Solutions, Executive Search: Through its Family of Companies — including Smith + Howard Wealth Management, Synexus Tax Solutions (sales/use tax, property tax), S+H Consulting Group (management consulting), S+H Search (executive search), and Fahrenheit Advisors (finance advisory) — the firm offers ancillary revenue streams in wealth management, human capital consulting, and executive search services, supporting businesses at every stage of growth.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Smith + Howard is a national accounting and advisory firm that provides audit/assurance, tax, advisory, cyber risk management, and transaction advisory services to privately held businesses, nonprofits, and multi-state and global companies. Through its Family of Companies, it also delivers wealth management, sales and use tax solutions, management consulting, executive search, and finance advisory services.

Product overview

Smith + Howard is a national accounting and advisory firm offering a comprehensive suite of professional services organized around core accounting, tax, assurance, advisory, and cyber risk management disciplines. The firm's portfolio includes both direct service offerings and a Family of Companies structure encompassing subsidiaries for wealth management (Smith + Howard Wealth Management), sales and use tax and property tax services (Synexus Tax Solutions), management consulting (S+H Consulting Group), executive search (S+H Search), and finance advisory (Fahrenheit Advisors). The firm also operates client-facing digital platforms including a secure Client Access Portal for document exchange (SafeSend, SuraLink) and an Online Payment Portal. The recent acquisition of Geels Norton adds specialized cyber and risk audit advisory capabilities. Services span business tax, private client tax, international tax, R&D tax credits, transfer pricing, SOC reporting, audits, and transaction advisory, serving industries including construction, distribution, hospitality, manufacturing, nonprofit, real estate, technology, and transportation/logistics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tax Services
• Assurance Services
• Advisory Services
• Cyber Risk Management
• Accounting Services
• Transaction Advisory Services
• Indirect Tax Services
• Smith + Howard Wealth Management
• Synexus Tax Solutions
• S+H Consulting Group
• S+H Search
• Fahrenheit Advisors
• Geels Norton Cyber and Risk Advisory
• Client Access Portal

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of new employees receive their CPA within 3 years
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments15 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Geels NortoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026Geels Norton, a boutique cyber, risk audit, and advisory firm founded in 2021, joined the Smith + Howard family of companies effective February 1, 2026. The firm will legally operate as Smith + Howard while continuing advisory services under the Geels Norton brand. Known for SOC reporting and ISO certification services, Geels Norton is a Preferred Assessor for Microsoft's Supplier Security & Privacy Assurance (SSPA) program. This is Smith + Howard's third strategic growth milestone in six months.
• Bauknight Pietras & Stormer (BPS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Smith + Howard acquired Bauknight Pietras & Stormer, P.A. (BPS), one of the largest locally owned public accounting firms in South Carolina, in January 2026. BPS — a Top 250 Firm recognized by INSIDE Public Accounting — brings expertise in captive insurance, construction, real estate, manufacturing, distribution, hospitality, telecommunications, forensic accounting, and litigation support. Following the close, BPS began transitioning to the Smith + Howard brand.
• Horton, Lee & BurnettcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Smith + Howard acquired Horton, Lee & Burnett in Birmingham, Alabama, amplifying the firm's presence in the Southeast and reinforcing its advisory and accounting capabilities. This was one of several strategic acquisitions supporting the firm's Vision 2030 growth strategy.
• Koltin Consulting GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAllan Koltin of Koltin Consulting Group served as advisor to the parties on the BPS acquisition transaction.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Aprio: National accounting and advisory firm headquartered in Atlanta with similar multi-disciplinary offerings (tax, audit, advisory, wealth management), comparable size (700-1000+ employees), and similar PE-backed growth trajectory. Directly comparable as a Southeast-rooted Top 100 firm pursuing Vision 2030-style expansion.
• Anchin: Top 100 U.S. accounting and advisory firm based in New York with comparable tax, audit, advisory, and wealth management services. Similar size and mid-market focus, though with stronger Northeast geographic concentration.
• Cherry Bekaert: Top 25 U.S. accounting and advisory firm offering audit, tax, and advisory services with comparable national footprint and similar mid-market / privately held business focus. Closely comparable size, service mix, and target client segments.
• Frazier & Deeter: Top 100 accounting and advisory firm headquartered in Atlanta with similar service offerings (tax, audit, advisory, cyber risk), comparable size, and overlapping focus on mid-market privately held businesses and technology-enabled industries.
• Elliott Davis: Top 30 U.S. accounting and advisory firm with similar multi-disciplinary service offerings and Southeast geographic concentration. Comparable size, client segments, and growth trajectory through organic expansion and M&A.
• Withum Smith+Brown: Top 25 U.S. accounting firm with a national footprint, comprehensive tax/audit/advisory services, and similar growth trajectory. Both firms are mid-tier Top 100 firms competing for the same mid-market and privately-held business clients.
• PKF O'Connor Davies: Top 50 U.S. accounting and advisory firm offering similar multi-disciplinary tax, audit, and advisory services with comparable size, geographic reach across multiple U.S. regions, and mid-market client focus.

Broad incumbents

• Marcum LLP: Top 15 U.S. accounting and advisory firm with comprehensive service offerings similar to Smith + Howard. Larger scale and broader geographic footprint but comparable service mix and mid-market client focus.
• CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen): Top 10 U.S. accounting firm with comprehensive tax, audit, advisory, and wealth management services. Operates at a larger scale than Smith + Howard but competes directly in the same mid-market and privately held business segments.
• FORVIS (formerly BKD + DHG): Top 10 U.S. accounting firm formed through merger, with similar comprehensive tax/audit/advisory service offerings and Fortune 500-to-mid-market client mix. Larger scale than Smith + Howard but competes in overlapping service lines and mid-market segments.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=2955Bek8E0k
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/market-street-partners-pllc

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Market Street Partners (now Smith + Howard)