Emerging third-tier firms challenge national firms.

• Position: Moving on Up - Brief Article

An emerging third-tier of CPA firms--offering middle-market companies alternatives to the Big Four and national firms--is becoming an increasingly competitive force according to Inside Public Accounting's 14th Annual Analysis of Firms.

The study found that third-tier firms, or local and regional firms with $90 million to $349 million in net revenues, saw their revenues grow 13.2 percent last year, while second-tier firms, defined as...