Caldwell said Charles “Chick” Becker was looking to merge, and both Bethesda, Maryland-based firms had similar cultures and a similar client base. “He’s got really talented people, and he’s been around forever in Bethesda and has a great reputation for quality work,” he said. The 12-member Caldwell firm will grow to 22 in the merger, which is effective immediately. “We’re really excited about it,” Caldwell said.

 

The firm will keep the Caldwell name and be led by Caldwell. No staff will be let go, he said.

 

Called a “generalist” firm on its Web site, Caldwell & Co. focuses on providing a range of services to small business clients, partnerships, family businesses, and individuals.

 

“While I am proud of my more than 25 year history on my own, I recognize that the next step for my team and clients is to merge with a firm of comparable quality that would enable us to expand services to our local, regional, and national clients,” Becker said, according to the Washington Business Journal. “Bill Caldwell shares my philosophy of helping our clients grow and succeed, and the merger will broaden and deepen our existing industry specialization, enabling us to offer more comprehensive business advice tailored to our clients.”

 

Caldwell said the merger was five or so months in the making. “It was a long dating process,” he said. Accounting Transition Advisors, a merger and acquisition consulting firm specializing in the accounting industry, assisted in the transaction. Terms were not disclosed.