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Audit Services in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Alexander Govdysh Alexander Govdysh New York, United States Last Updated: September 2024 NAICS OD6137

Revenue

$55.3bn

2024

$55.3bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

227k

Businesses

23,691

Wages

$XX.Xbn

Audit Services in the US industry analysis

The Audit Services industry is defined by a culturally significant group of leading auditors, a wide range of clients and strong countercyclical demand. The ‘Big Four' audit companies (PWC, EY, Deloitte and KPMG) generate revenue from industries in almost every economic sector. Auditors in this industry typically audit similarly sized clients, so much of this industry is made up of non-employing and tiny companies. Also, unique to this industry, many audit services, including bankruptcy audits and financial statement reviews, are independent of or in opposition to the business cycle. This countercyclical demand helps the industry maintain exceptional profit and revenue growth, even during major economic disruptions.

Trends and Insights

  • Revenue growth during the current period was curtailed by economic disruptions and recessionary fears. Despite this, countercyclical demand and the essentiality of auditing services kept demand for the industry's services positive.
  • Specialized and general audits are the two main services provided by auditors. Auditors review a company’s historical financial statements to ensure their accuracy and validity.
  • Business centers are natural breeding grounds for the industry. Auditors, especially specialized ones, rely on their proximity to downstream markets.
  • Auditors compete with one another for local business. Relatively low barriers to entry and localization raise internal competition.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.7 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $55.3bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Countercyclical demand has kept revenue afloat amid poor economic times

  • The Audit Services industry is defined by strong countercyclical demand. When a company declares bankruptcy, audit providers jump in to dissect financial statements and ensure compliance with federal regulations.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Audit Services in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
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Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Economic growth will spur expansion for auditors

  • Despite current challenges related to rising interest rates and recessionary fears, the US economy is expected to perform well during the outlook period. Stable economic growth will raise corporate profit and business formation, boosting downstream demand for auditing services and aiding revenue growth.

Biggest companies in the Audit Services in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Pricewaterhousecoopers Llp
9,874.3
1,632.6
16.5
EY
8,523.0
1,875.0
22.0
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
8,386.2
167.7
2.0

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Audit Services in the US
Products & Services
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Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Financial auditing for small-sized businesses (0-20 employees), Financial auditing for medium-sized businesses (20-500 employees) and Financial auditing for large-sized businesses (500+ employees). Financial auditing for small-sized businesses (0-20 employees) is the largest segment of the Audit Services in the US.

Trends and Insights

Financial auditing is a common practice for providers

  • Audits are commonly done in reference to a company's historical financial statements, whereby the auditor presents financial information in a manner that conforms to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). These are administered to ensure the accuracy and validity of financial statements, earnings or financial position.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry comprises accountants that are certified to audit the accounting records of public and private organizations and to attest to compliance with generally accepted accounting practices. Offices of certified public accountants (CPAs) in this industry include only those that audit financial statements.

What's included in this industry?

Auditing servicesSpecialized auditing servicesReviewing financial statementsRisk assessment services

Companies

Pricewaterhousecoopers LlpEYDeloitte Touche Tohmatsu

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

AUDITINGINITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING (IPO)INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL REPORTING STANDARDS (IFRS)BIG FOURGENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES (GAAP) MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONSSARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 54121 - Audit Services in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Revenue growth during the current period was curtailed by economic disruptions and recessionary fears. Despite this, countercyclical demand and the essentiality of auditing s...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Specialized and general audits are the two main services provided by auditors. Auditors review a company’s historical financial statements to ensure their accuracy and validi...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Business centers are natural breeding grounds for the industry. Auditors, especially specialized ones, rely on their proximity to downstream markets.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Auditors compete with one another for local business. Relatively low barriers to entry and localization raise internal competition.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Robust demand for quality auditing services enhances incumbent auditor demand. Prominent companies like PwC and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu offer a variety of auditing services ...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Pricewaterhousecoopers Llp's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of EY's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Pricewaterhousecoopers Llp, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for EY, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Auditors must be licensed certified public accountants (CPAs). CPAs must complete an examination to be licensed. Other important regulations affecting this industry pertain t...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Wages are the main expense for auditors, comprising nearly half of revenue. Auditing is a specialized skill that requires certification and training.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Audit Services in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Audit Services in the US industry in United States is $55.3bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Audit Services in the US industry in 2024?

There are 23,691 businesses in the Audit Services in the US industry in United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 1.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Audit Services in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Audit Services in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 1.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Audit Services in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Audit Services in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Audit Services in the US market in United States?

The biggest companies operating in the Audit Services market in United States are Pricewaterhousecoopers Llp, EY and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu

What does the Audit Services in the US in United States include?

Auditing services and Specialized auditing services are part of the Audit Services in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Audit Services in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is Pricewaterhousecoopers Llp.

How competitive is the Audit Services in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Audit Services in the US industry in United States.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Finance and Insurance in the US
  • Wholesale Trade in the US
  • Manufacturing in the US

Complementors

  • Accounting Services in the US
  • Management Consulting in the US
  • Scientific & Economic Consulting in the US
  • Document Preparation Services in the US

International industries

  • Global Accounting Services
  • Accounting Services in Canada
  • Accounting Services in Australia
  • Accounting Services in New Zealand
  • Accounting & Auditing in the UK

View all industries in United States

Methodology

How are Alfabank-Adres reports created?

Alfabank-Adres has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for Alfabank-Adres readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of Alfabank-Adres’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

Alfabank-Adres relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do Alfabank-Adres analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, Alfabank-Adres’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does Alfabank-Adres forecast its data?

Alfabank-Adres’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

Alfabank-Adres prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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