Ten Firms With Revenue Under $10 Million Worth Watching: Remember The Little Engine That Could?

The 2005 Best Of The Best is dominated by firms that are among the nation's largest, but there are plenty of terrific small firms that you won't see on this year's Best Of The Best and Honorable Mention lists. Here are 10 firms with revenues under $10 million that we think are worth watching - and

G.T. Reilly & Co./Milton, Mass. FYO5 net revenue: $5 million; six partners, 30 total staff. Association: Moore Stephens. This firm's attention to HR makes it a standout. It boasts a full-time HR director, average staff tenure of 11 years, 5% turnover and higher-than-average salaries and training budget. It was a Best Of The Best firm in 2004 and earned an Honorable Mention in 2002.

Gettry Marcus Stern & Lehrer/New York. FY04 net revenue: $9,968,000; 11 partners, 53 total staff, two offices. Association: None. This small fish in the Big Apple pond has a great variety of high-value specialties, including business valuation, estate planning, financial services, healthcare consulting, and law firm/litigation services. GMS&L was a Best Of The Best firm in 2004.

Gramkow Carnevale Seifert & Co./Oradell, N.J. FY04 net revenue: $5,330,556; seven partners, 23 total staff. Association: CPA Associates International. Outstanding realization, a net fee per charge hour of $172, great cost control and low turnover contribute to the success of this firm, which was Best Of The Best in 2004 and 2002 and earned Honorable Mention in 2003.

Greer & Walker/Charlotte, N.C. FY04 net revenue: $7,148,650; six partners, 51 total staff. Association: PKF North American Network. This firm's niche-driven philosophy is playing a big role in its revenue and income growth. Tax services lead the way, but consulting and forensic services are booming. Plus, it has a really cool motor sports niche; just ask client Jeff Gordon.

Kiesling Associates/Madison, Wis. FY04 net revenue: $8,383,474; 10 partners, 69 total staff, five offices. Association: BKR International. This firm is concocting a recipe for success that includes a strong mixture of dreamy realization, diverse internal expertise, low staff turnover and generous training. Emphasis is on accounting and auditing services.

Kuebler Prudhomme/Temecula, Calif. FY04 net revenue: $2,113.699; two partners, 12 total staff, two offices. Association: GMNEnterprise Network. Led by a 42-year-old CEO, this two-time Best Of The Best alumnus earns its bread and butter through tax services, but it's not afraid of innovations, such as a real estate development niche. It's net fee per charge hour approaches $176.

Malone & Bailey/Houston. FY04 net revenue: $2,425,000; three partners, 13 total staff. Association: The Ruck Network. Audit, audit, audit! That's the philosophy at this little firecracker of a firm: 88% of its revenue conies from audit and accounting services, and it boasts 61 SEC audit clients - along with an enviable revenue growth rate of 43%.

Miller Grossbard and Associates/Houston. FY04 net revenue: $2,799,889; two partners, 16 total staff. Association: Alliott Group. Tax and management consulting services make up approximately 80% of the revenue at this firm, which also offers a nice variety of high-value services such as forensics, law firm services, real estate and cost segregation, and R&D credit studies.

Saltzman Hamma Nelson Massaro/Denver. FY04 net revenue: $3,899,722; five partners, 24 total staff. Association: AGN. A new generation is at the helm: a 45-year-old CEO leads this firm, where the average partner age is 55. Low turnover, a strong tax practice and nontraditional services such as its real estate development affiliate make this firm one to watch.

Seligman Friedman & Co./York. Pa. FY04 net revenue: $8,091,648; 10 partners, 50 total staff, three offices. Association: CPAmerica. Double-digit revenue growth, strong investments in training, low turnover, and a great variety of specialties (including an insurance advisory affiliate) help position this firm for long-term success.