Growing Your Firm | Strategies for Accountants, CPA's, Bookkeepers , and Tax Professionals
Growing Your Firm is the top podcast for ambitious firm owners to find tips, tactics, and strategies on how to grow their firm (or practice). In this podcast we'll be interviewing unique thought leaders in accounting, tax, and bookkeeping about topics including: practice management, marketing, social media, succession planning, partner relations, hiring, pricing, and much more.
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Firm as a Service: How Dark Horse is Transforming the Accounting Firm Model
<p>Firm as a Service (FaaS) is a model that gives accountants the entire infrastructure of a firm technology, staffing, marketing, and support so they can focus on serving clients and scaling their practice. </p> <p>Unlike traditional partnerships or franchises, FaaS lets accountants retain ownership of their client base while benefiting from shared systems and resources.</p> <p>In a recent Growing Your Firm podcast, David Cristello, Founder of Jetpack Workflow, spoke with Chase Birky, CEO of Dark Horse, about how this approach is reshaping firm ownership.</p>
From CPA to Software Entrepreneur: How Ben Taylor Launched SoftLedger
<p>In this episode of Growing Your Firm, host David Cristello welcomes Ben Taylor, CEO of SoftLedger, to discuss the emerging trend of CPAs transitioning into technology entrepreneurs. With over a decade of experience as a practicing CPA, Ben shares his journey from accounting to software development, highlighting the growing interest among accountants in launching their own tech solutions. David and Ben explore examples of other industry leaders, such as Jackie Meyer and Kelly Mann, who have made similar transitions, and delve into the motivations behind this shift. This conversation offers valuable insights for ambitious accountants looking to innovate and...
Scaling Accounting & CAS Beyond $5M with Dave Olsen
<p>In this episode of Growing Your Firm, host David Cristello welcomes Dave Olsen, founder of an accounting firm and Nimbl Staffing. Dave shares his unique journey in the accounting industry, discussing the success of his staffing service and his exciting new venture into IT services for accounting firms.</p> <p>The conversation delves into the strategies behind building a solid foundation for business growth, including the structures necessary for launching new services. Listeners will gain insights into the process of expanding a business and the importance of having the bandwidth to innovate.</p> <p>Tune in to discover how...
Navigating Talent Trends in CPA M&A with Geoff Bruskin
<p>In this episode of Growing Your Firm, host David Crostello welcomes back Geoff Bruskin, founder of White Tiger Connections, to discuss the evolving landscape of talent in the accounting profession. Geoff shares insights from his extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) for CPA firms, emphasizing the growing importance of talent acquisition and retention in today's market. He outlines the dual trends of M&A and talent, as well as the impact of technology on these areas.</p> <p>Additionally, Geoff introduces his recent venture into business brokerage, helping CPA clients sell their businesses, further enhancing the services...
Unlocking the Secrets of Client Accounting Services with K.C. Eames
<p >In this episode of Growing Your Firm, host David Cristello welcomes K.C. Eames, the Director of Client Accounting Services at Dark Horse CPAs. The conversation delves into the complexities of pricing in client accounting services (CAS) and the nuances that make it both an art and a science.</p> <p >K.C. shares insights about the unique structure of Dark Horse CPAs, contrasting it with traditional accounting firms that operate on a pyramid model.</p> <p >The episode emphasizes the importance of understanding both the quantifiable and intuitive aspects of pricing, particularly as firms navigate the evolving landscape...
The Billion Dollar Accounting CEO w/ Alan Whitman
<p >In this episode of the Growing Your Firm podcast, host David Cristello welcomes Alan Whitman, the former CEO and chairman of Baker Tilly. Alan shares his remarkable journey of transforming Baker Tilly from a $475 million firm to a $1.5 billion powerhouse. </p> <p >Throughout the conversation, Alan describes how businesses can thrive – largely by prioritizing strategy over aimless “accumulation.”</p> <p >Alan Whitman is a seasoned leader in the accounting and advisory industry, known for his transformative role as the former CEO and Chairman of Baker Tilly. As leader, he successfully scaled the organization from $475 million to $1.5 billion, demonstrating a keen un...
How to Stay Focused and Become a 'Smarter Accountant' w/ Dawn Goldberg
<p >In this episode of the Growing Your Firm podcast, David Cristello welcomes Dawn Goldberg, a seasoned CPA and a Certified Professional Coach. </p> <p >Dawn shares her incredible story of maintaining her productivity even after a stage four cancer diagnosis forced her to undergo six months of chemotherapy. To accomplish this, Dawn maintained some key practices – including mind management, time management, and a scheduling trick she calls “container calendaring.” She explains all of these strategies here.</p> <p >Throughout the conversation, Dawn highlights the significance of mindset in overcoming obstacles and achieving success. </p> <p >Are you an accountant seeking...
The Right Way to Plan Accounting Compensation w/Dominic Piscopo
<p >In this episode of the Growing Your Firm Podcast, host Dave Cristello welcomes Dominic Piscopo, the founder of Big 4 Transparency. An expert in salary benchmarking within the accounting industry, Dominic shares insights into compensation strategies, year-over-year changes, and the impact of private equity (PE) on salaries. </p> <p >The conversation highlights the evolving landscape of compensation in accounting firms.</p> <p >Dominic Piscopo, CPA is known as a compensation guru in the accounting industry. After years of working as an accountant and financial analyst, he founded Big 4 Transparency – which has served hundreds of thousands of CPAs by making salary dat...
The Current State of Accounting Firm M&A W/Todd Steinberg
<p>In this episode of the Growing Your Firm podcast, host David Cristello welcomes Todd Steinberg, founder and managing partner of Thrive Financial Group.</p> <p>David and Todd dive into the evolving landscape of accounting firm mergers and acquisitions (M&A), particularly the increasing role of private equity (PE) firms as buyers. They discuss key acquisition drivers such as human capital, geographic expansion, and cross-selling opportunities.</p> <p>Todd also breaks down deal structures, explaining the rise of rollover equity and earnouts, and how these vary by buyer type. Additionally, he shares insights into current valuation multiples, emphasizing the...
The Zero Cost Accounting Client Acquisition Method w/Alyssa J. Dillon
<p >In this episode of Growing Your Firm, host David Cristello welcomes Alyssa J. Dillon, a fellow entrepreneur who shares her inspiring journey of starting her own business. </p> <p >The conversation kicks off with Alyssa recounting the pivotal moment when she decided to quit her job and explore the possibility of working for herself after receiving a side accounting request. </p> <p >As they dive deeper, Alyssa and David discuss the essential elements of building a successful firm, including the importance of marketing and sales processes. </p> <p >Listeners can expect insights into quickly gaining traction, making strategic pivots, and...
