Our History
In September 1971, Bob Vrakas founded the accounting and advisory firm Vrakas, Blum & Co., S.C. after having identified that the larger accounting firms were under-serving middle market, privately-held businesses in the Milwaukee and Waukesha areas. Today, the firm continues to practice serving this niche market as Vrakas CPAs + Advisors.
%
96.2% of our clients feel the services we provide to them:
-
Deploy the appropriate level of technical expertise
-
Feel they receive high level of value for the fees they pay
-
Responding timely to phone calls, email, and other inquires
To assist clients’ expanding accounting needs, Vrakas began forming specialized practice areas. From their humble beginnings during the 1970’s, the business valuation team of Vrakas Business Valuations, LLC, is now comprised of 4 credentialed professionals who are able to assist clients with various valuation needs such as divorce proceedings, estate and succession planning, buy/sell agreements, litigation support, sale/purchase of a business, and ESOP transactions, just to name a few.
In 1998, with the rapid rise of business technology needs, a computer consulting practice was launched, known as Vrakas/Blum Computer Consulting, LCC (VBCC) to assist clients with their business management software technology needs. The computer consulting practice includes CPAs and consultants with industry and technology experience. Today, the computer consulting team is made up of over 10 technology and professional experts.
On December 1, 2017, Vrakas merged with the accounting firm of Radke & Schlesner, S.C. to expand its small business accounting services practice. Vrakas now boasts 10+ professionals who are able to successfully assist our clients with QuickBooks accounting help and assistance, general ledger and financial statement preparation, bookkeeping, accounting system setup and support, payroll processing, cash flow budgeting and forecasting.
On November 1, 2018, Vrakas opened up a Kenosha branch to better serve our Racine/Kenosha/Northern Illinois client base and to further capitalize on the area’s growth. Vrakas Advisors LLC provides services in assurance, tax and small business accounting and will continue to specialize in working with privately-held businesses and their owners in a variety of industries including, construction, manufacturing & distribution, dealerships, non-profit, professional services, real estate and retail.
In December 2022, Vrakas created a Chicago presence with the addition of a new shareholder Andy Kamphuis. Andy will focus on building out a team of Vrakas professionals to support growth under the Vrakas brand in the Chicagoland market.
Since its founding, Vrakas has grown and flourished. Today the firm is made up of over 80 professionals in Brookfield, Kenosha, and Chicago. We serve clients primarily throughout the Midwest.
Vrakas is the 11th largest Milwaukee-area accounting firm and the 2nd largest Milwaukee-area headquartered accounting firm according to The Business Journal’s February 2023 rankings.
Vrakas is the 13th largest Milwaukee-area management consulting firm according to The Business Journal’s April 2023 rankings.
Today, Vrakas is proud to be fiercely independent with our owner group steadfast in its desire to remain one of the largest, locally-owned CPA firms in Wisconsin and surrounding markets.
