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John A. Knutson & Co., PLLP

CPA Firm | Est. 1925 | 24 CPAS | Licensed in Minnesota
Verified Firm Online Booking

Specialties

Business Succession & Exit Planning
ESOP Advisory & Employee Ownership Transitions: Employee stock ownership plans are a dedicated JAK specialty.... Read more
Accounting
Construction Accounting & CCIFP-Led Assurance: Construction is the industry John A. Knutson & Co., PLLP is bes... Read more
Bookkeeping
Outsourced Accounting & Bookkeeping: JAK's accounting services team steps in as an extension of the client's f... Read more
Tax Planning
Business Tax Planning & Compliance: JAK provides business tax solutions for all entity types: preparation, com... Read more
Business valuation
Business Valuation & Value Consulting: JAK's value consulting team, which includes a Certified Valuation Analy... Read more
Audit, Review & Compilation
JAK's assurance department delivers every level of attestation: audits providing the highest level of assuranc... Read more
Cost Segregation, Credits & Incentives
R&D Tax Credit Consulting: Businesses involved in engineering, design, or manufacturing activities routinely o... Read more
Estate & Trust Tax
Trust & Estate Tax Planning: JAK's trusts-and-estates specialists help clients put comprehensive estate plans... Read more
Multi-State & Local Tax
Sales & Multi-State Tax Compliance: From municipal sales and use taxes to out-of-state nexus questions, JAK he... Read more

Industry Expertise

Construction
For more than 100 years JAK has helped general contractors, subcontractors, and construction-related businesse... Read more
Real Estate
JAK helps real estate professionals, investors, building owners, and commercial and residential developers nav... Read more
Retail
JAK works with brick-and-mortar and online retailers in the pharmaceutical, building supply, grocery, liquor,... Read more
Manufacturing
JAK's manufacturing clients range from structural steel manufacturing and assembly to steel coating, printing... Read more
Employee-Owned Companies (ESOPs)
JAK serves companies at every stage of employee ownership — from owners exploring whether an ESOP is right for... Read more
Wholesale & Distribution
Wholesalers and distributors juggle seasonal demand, commodity pricing, and thin margins across a lot of movin... Read more
Professional Services
JAK works with business owners and professional services providers — lawyers, dentists, chiropractors, and oth... Read more
Restaurants & Hospitality
Restaurant owners are pulled in more directions than almost any other retail operator — IT, HR, purchasing, an... Read more
Nonprofits
JAK's assurance team serves nonprofit organizations with the audits, reviews, and compilations that boards, gr... Read more

Languages Spoken

English

Memberships & Affiliations

Associated Builders and Contractors, Minnesota/North Dakota Chapter (ABC)
Associated General Contractors of Minnesota (AGC)
Association of Women Contractors (AWC)
Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA)
Minnesota Builders Exchange (MBEX)
Minnesota Commercial Real Estate Women (MNCREW)
Minnesota Construction Association (MCA)
Minnesota Subcontractors Association (MSA)
Minnesota Surety Association
Minnesota Utility Contractors Association (MUCA)

About John A. Knutson & Co., PLLP

John A. Knutson & Co., PLLP (JAK) is a Twin Cities CPA firm that has served clients throughout Minnesota and the Upper Midwest since 1925 — celebrating its 100th year in business in 2025 under a fourth generation of Knutson family leadership. Home to roughly 60 accounting professionals, consultants, and support staff across offices in Falcon Heights and Rogers, Minnesota, JAK is deliberately mid-sized: large enough to support clients of every size, yet small enough to dedicate a partner to each and every project.

Core services:
• Audit & assurance — audits, reviews, and compilations led by the firm's assurance department, with construction-specific attestation guided by in-house Certified Construction Industry Financial Professionals (CCIFP)
• Business tax — preparation, compliance and proactive planning, entity selection, cost segregation, R&D tax credit consulting, sales and use tax, mergers and acquisitions, and IRS representation
• Individual tax — preparation, planning, residency issues, and IRS and state controversy representation
• Trust & estate planning — estate, trust, and gift tax planning and return preparation, with dedicated trusts-and-estates specialists
• Business succession & ESOP advisory — exit planning, employee stock ownership plan feasibility and transition support, and value consulting led by a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA)
• Accounting & bookkeeping — outsourced accounting, financial statements, sales tax compliance, and QuickBooks ProAdvisor and Sage 50 support

Industries served: construction, real estate and development, ESOP and employee-owned companies, retail and wholesale, professional and business services, and manufacturing.

JAK's construction practice is one of the deepest in the region — the firm's CPAs are active in the Minnesota Subcontractors Association, Associated General Contractors of Minnesota, the Minnesota Builders Exchange, the Construction Financial Management Association, and the Minnesota Surety Association, among others. Known for remarkably low staff turnover, with team members serving clients for decades, the firm works with individuals and businesses throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado, and the greater Midwest.

Frequently Asked Questions

The firm specializes in construction, real estate and development, ESOP and employee-owned companies, retail and wholesale (including restaurants), professional and business services, and manufacturing. It also serves individuals, trusts, and estates. Construction is a signature strength — JAK has served contractors for more than 100 years and keeps Certified Construction Industry Financial Professionals (CCIFP) on staff.
Since 1925. The firm was founded as Christensen, Holloway, Knutson & Bowers in the Plymouth Building in Minneapolis and celebrated its 100th year in business in 2025. Andy Knutson, a current partner, represents the fourth generation of Knutson leadership.
JAK is a mid-sized firm with roughly 60 accounting professionals, consultants, and support staff — large enough to support clients of all sizes, yet small enough to dedicate a partner to every project. The team is known for remarkably low turnover, with many members serving clients for decades.
The main office is at 1781 Prior Avenue North in Falcon Heights, Minnesota — conveniently located between Minneapolis and St. Paul, just off Prior and Larpenteur. A second office is at 21330 John Milless Drive, Suite 101, in Rogers, Minnesota.
Yes. JAK works with individuals and businesses throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado, and the greater Midwest, with team members serving clients as far as the Denver area.
Yes. Whether general contractor or subcontractor, construction businesses need an accountant who understands the nuances of construction accounting. JAK turns to its in-house CCIFPs — the only industry-recognized certification for financial professionals specializing in construction — for everything from work-in-progress reports and job costing to accounting for retentions and bonding presentations.
Fees depend on the engagement. Contact the firm at 651-641-1099 or through jakcpa.com/contact-us to discuss pricing for your situation.
All of them: audits (the highest level of assurance that financial statements conform with GAAP), reviews (less extensive, with limited assurance — often enough for a first bank loan), and compilations (organizing and standardizing statements, primarily for internal use). JAK's auditors also assess the broader financial situation and recommend improvements to efficiency and profitability.
Yes. ESOP advisory is a dedicated JAK service line. The firm helps owners evaluate whether an ESOP fits, prepares the financial statements and five-year projections valuation companies require, analyzes cash flow for both seller and ESOP post-transaction, works through tax implications by entity type, and supports the ongoing reviews, audits, and tax filings an established ESOP needs.
JAK's value consulting team, including a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA), provides range-of-value and formula-based calculations, calculation engagements, floor value calculations, and valuation report review. To preserve its attest independence the firm doesn't issue full valuation reports, but it will guide you through one — typically about 100 pages — and highlight the critical details before you act on it.
Yes. From identifying future leaders to structuring the transition — family gift or sale, key employee buyout, outside sale, or ESOP — JAK helps owners start the three-to-five-year planning runway a smooth succession needs. Having managed its own transitions across 100 years, the firm understands the process firsthand.
Yes. JAK's trusts-and-estates specialists provide estate planning, trust planning and tax preparation, gift return preparation, and trustee consulting, working closely with each client's attorney. The firm also publishes its own estate planning organizer to help families gather what matters. Note that while estate and trust planning can be an important part of a retirement plan, the firm does not offer standalone retirement planning.
JAK's team includes Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisors and provides expert support for QuickBooks and Sage 50 — setup, troubleshooting, workflow optimization, and integration with the other tools a business runs on.
Call 651-641-1099 or email [email protected], or request an appointment through jakcpa.com/contact-us. A member of the team will contact you by phone within three business days of your inquiry.

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