2003 MAP survey reveals CPA firms growing despite sluggish economy.

• Position: National

The results have been tabulated for the 2003 PCPS/TSCPA National MAP Survey--and despite the down economy--15 percent of all respondent firms had more than a 20 percent increase in fee income. Nationally, the average gross fees earned for a respondent firm were $1.4 million dollars.

In addition, as a percentage of total income, profits were up this year for local and regional firms, in part due to lower expenses and fewer write-downs. There was an increase in the percentage of firms offering certain specialized services, including payroll processing and investment sales.

The top ten specialized services offered by respondent firms are:

* Estate tax planning--75 percent

* Payroll processing--65 percent

* Personal financial planning--48 percent

* M&A consulting--31 percent

* Forensic...