Office Administrative Services
Industry Profile Report
Dive Deep into the industry with a 25+ page industry report (pdf format) including the following chapters
Industry Overview Current Conditions, Industry Structure, How Firms Operate, Industry Trends, Credit Underwriting & Risks, and Industry Forecast.
Call Preparation Call Prep Questions, Industry Terms, and Weblinks.
Financial Insights Working Capital, Capital Financing, Business Valuation, and Financial Benchmarks.
Industry Profile Excerpts
Industry Overview
The 33,000 office administrative services companies provide a wide range of services that support the internal operation of a workplace. Firms reduce administrative burdens by providing contract talent resources and tools that enable clients to better control personnel costs by using services as needed. Service categories include bookkeeping and compilation, accounting, payroll, tax preparation, billing and record keeping, document processing and editing, copying and reproduction, strategic management consulting and implementation, information technology and network management, project management, human resources, and bundled services.
Labor-Intensive
The office administrative services industry is highly dependent on skilled workers, including accountants, bookkeepers, and experienced payroll professionals.
Increased M&A Activity in Business Process Outsourcing
US businesses are increasingly outsourcing front- and back-office functions to reduce overhead costs, generating business process outsourcing (BPO) growth that has produced strong valuations and a rise in mergers and acquisitions.
Industry size & Structure
The average office administrative services provider operates out of a single location, employs about 19 workers, and generates about $2-3 million annually.
- The office administrative services industry consists of about 33,000 firms that employ over 630,000 workers and generate about $80 billion annually.
- The industry is fragmented with the top 50 companies accounting for about 10% of industry revenue.
- Firms that generate less than $1 million annually account for over 50% of companies and 9% of industry revenue. Firms that generate $5 million or more annually account for 8% of companies and almost 65% of industry revenue.
- Large firms, such as ADP and Robert Half, may have international operations.
Industry Forecast
Office Administrative Services Industry Growth
Recent Developments
Dec 2, 2024 - Recent Salary Bump May Not Be Enough to Boost CPA Pipeline
- In 2023, starting salaries for new CPAs increased over 2022 and bested inflation, but industry insiders suggest CPA firms need to do more to compete with other industries for top talent, according to the Journal of Accountancy. CPA employers increased 2023 starting salaries by 7%, three points higher than the inflation rate, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Class of 2023 CPA starting salaries were $65,086 compared to $60,698 for Class of 2022. However, starting salaries for computer and information science positions in 2023 were $91,411. In addition to uncompetitive starting salaries, work overload and burnout hinder recruiting and retention. In recent flash polls of the top 500 firms outside the Big Four by the Association of International Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), 88% of firms said they increased starting pay in the last 12 months, and 57% said they plan to address workload balance.
- President-elect Donald Trump intends to pursue tax cuts that could impact most US families, but implementing them will depend on congressional action, according to The Wall Street Journal. Trump wants to extend the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which reduced taxes for about 80% of taxpayers. If Congress does not extend the law, the tax cuts will expire at the end of 2025. An extension of the 2017 tax cuts would also mean retaining the child tax credit, which currently provides a credit of up to $2,000 per child under 17. In addition to extending the 2017 tax cuts, Trump wants to eliminate tips and Social Security taxes. Republican majorities in the House and Senate increase the likelihood of tax relief, and Congress will determine if any tax cuts are temporary or permanent.
- Despite rapid advancements in technology, 40% of large companies have seen negative productivity growth over the past 10 years, according to a recent report by consulting firm Accenture. However, the report also showed that the top quarter of firms are experiencing productivity gains of about 8% per year by focusing on cost and productivity strategies, including investments in generative AI and other technologies. The study found that the top 25 most productive firms invested twice as much in technology per employee compared to less productive companies and emphasized ongoing skills training. Top-performing firms improved revenues by 1.3% for a 1% increase in productivity investments. The study also found that generative AI has the potential to save 12% of working hours and improve output quality by 8%.
- The US office market posted higher net absorption in the third quarter, and vacancy rates remained steady, perhaps signaling that demand for office space has hit bottom and is back on the upswing, according to a recent report by the real estate firm CBRE. Net absorption in Q3 hit 4.3 million square feet – up about 87% from Q2 2024 – which marked the second consecutive quarter of increasing office space demand. Absorption also exceeded the 3.5 million square feet of new office space that came online in Q3 2024. The office vacancy rate in Q3 2024 was unchanged at 19%, a positive signal after nine quarters of rising vacancies. Third-quarter leasing activity decreased slightly from Q2 2024 but rose more than 11% over Q3 2023. Higher office occupancy could increase demand for office administrative services.
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