Accounting Firm Coach: Office Hours

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☎️ Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968!
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In this episode, I break down 23 accounting firm models that go beyond traditional bookkeeping and tax, including specialized compliance, niche audit, and advisory opportunities that small firms can compete for. Then I take the idea of specialization to its logical extreme and build a space accounting firm from scratch, using government awards, cost reimbursement contracts, conferences, and accelerators to find potential clients. In 📫 Mailbag, I dig into whether AI will eliminate junior accounting roles, how firms can use AI to attract better clients, connecting Claude directly to QuickBooks Online, private versus cloud AI models, what I’m spending on AI subscriptions, and the environmental tradeoffs of AI.

🔥 Want the chance to have your firm anonymously roasted? Complete this form! https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12ag
📚 A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps

💰 Today's Sponsors
Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes
Karbon: https://karbonhq.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=jason-staats
MakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats
Canopy: Go to https://www.getcanopy.com/jason and schedule a demo to see for yourself, and Canopy will send you a $75 gift card after your demo

// Chapters:
00:00 - 23 Accounting Firm Niches
03:30 - Trust & Estate Firms
04:50 - Nonprofit Tax Firms
05:40 - Tax Representation Firms
06:10 - Sales & Use Tax Firms
07:20 - Foreign-Owned Business Firms
08:10 - Expat Tax Firms
08:40 - Crypto Compliance Firms
09:00 - Cannabis Compliance Firms
09:34 - 401(k) Plan Audit Firms
10:40 - Government Grant Audit Firms
14:04 - Nonprofit Audit Firms
14:39 - HOA Audit Firms
15:29 - Construction & Surety Firms
16:14 - Affordable Housing Firms
16:59 - Franchisor Audit Firms
17:24 - Captive Insurance Audit Firms
17:49 - Credit Union & Community Bank Firms
18:24 - Business Valuation Firms
19:09 - Divorce Forensics Firms
19:44 - Forensic & Fraud Firms
20:09 - Royalty & Contract Compliance Firms
21:09 - Healthcare Reimbursement Firms
21:53 - Government Contractor Firms
26:13 - Building a Space Accounting Firm
27:43 - Finding Space Companies
30:02 - Cost Reimbursement Contracts
31:33 - Space Industry Gateways
32:33 - Finding Niche Opportunities
33:08 - Let’s Make a Hire
35:48 - 📫 Mailbag
36:22 - Will AI Replace Juniors?
41:47 - Using AI to Grow
44:17 - Claude + QuickBooks
45:32 - Private AI Models
50:26 - Jason’s AI Spend
52:36 - AI’s Environmental Cost
54:36 - Closing Thoughts

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 🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/
📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firm and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter

☎️ Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968!
📧 Email me! [email protected]

In this episode, I break down nine non-accounting apps that can make a modern accounting firm more efficient, from collaborative email and soft phones to AI assistants, meeting recorders, and scheduling tools. I also 🔥 Roast a Firm and explain why an extremely specific niche can be a powerful advantage. Then in 📞 Accountant Support, I answer questions about cutting lower-paying clients, using Claude with QuickBooks, choosing PC versus Mac for AI, trial balance software, replacing traditional software with AI, and whether new accounting graduates should start their own firms.

🔥 Want the chance to have your firm anonymously roasted? Complete this form! https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12ag
📚 A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps

💰 Today's Sponsors
Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes
Karbon: https://karbonhq.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=jason-staats
MakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats
Canopy: Go to https://www.getcanopy.com/jason and schedule a demo to see for yourself, and Canopy will send you a $75 gift card after your demo

// Chapters:
00:00 - Private Equity in Accounting
01:45 - Accounting Firm Exit Options
04:49 - $1M to $3M Firms
06:34 - $3M to $10M Firms
09:29 - Larger Firm Deals
11:09 - Six Types of Deals
14:04 - Minority Recapitalization
15:09 - External Sales and Succession
15:34 - What Makes Firms Valuable
17:18 - Alliances and Franchises
19:23 - 🔥 Roast My Firm
20:05 - The $1.9M Tax Firm
21:15 - Pricing Problems
22:45 - Family Office Opportunity
23:25 - The $100K Tech Stack
24:19 - The Owner Bottleneck
28:43 - Four Delegation Strategies
32:27 - The Senior Hire Problem
35:36 - 📫 Mailbag
35:51 - Choosing Practice Management
38:26 - Finding Audit Clients
39:56 - Outsourcing Tax Production
42:50 - Claude as Accounting Software
43:50 - QuickBooks MCP Connector
47:49 - MCP Security Risks
48:49 - Building a Firm While Working
51:09 - AI Advisory for Clients
52:49 - Tax Return Delivery
53:34 - Luca Pacioli Joins the Podcast
56:19 - Closing Thoughts

🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!
X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/
📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firm and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter

☎️ Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968!
📧 Email me! [email protected]

In this episode, I break down nine non-accounting apps that can make a modern accounting firm more efficient, from collaborative email and soft phones to AI assistants, meeting recorders, and scheduling tools. I also 🔥 Roast a Firm and explain why an extremely specific niche can be a powerful advantage. Then in 📞 Accountant Support, I answer questions about cutting lower-paying clients, using Claude with QuickBooks, choosing PC versus Mac for AI, trial balance software, replacing traditional software with AI, and whether new accounting graduates should start their own firms.

🔥 Here’s that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12ag📚 A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps

💰 Today's Sponsors
Cloud Accountant Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates
Financial Cents: Book a demo https://hubs.li/Q03PYVrp0 and use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users.
Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes
Karbon: https://karbonhq.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=jason-staats
MakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats
Canopy: Go to https://www.getcanopy.com/jason and schedule a demo to see for yourself, and Canopy will send you a $75 gift card after your demo

// Chapters:
00:00 - 9 Essential Non-Accounting Apps
01:55 - Collaborative Email
04:44 - Soft Phones + SMS
06:25 - Loom for Client Communication
08:55 - Social Media Scheduling
10:19 - Password Management
12:24 - Claude or ChatGPT
14:04 - Slack or Microsoft Teams
17:54 - Meeting Recorders
19:04 - Scheduling Tools
23:28 - 🔥 Roast a Firm
24:54 - Why Specific Niches Work
25:43 - Building a Side Website
26:09 - Website Messaging
28:38 - Capturing Visitor Emails
30:23 - Adding Social Proof
30:48 - Rethinking Website Pricing
36:28 - Selling the Opportunity
38:43 - 📞 Accountant Support
38:58 - Cutting Lower-Paying Clients
40:08 - How Many Clients to Cut
44:02 - QuickBooks + Claude Outside the US
48:12 - PC vs. Mac for AI
50:32 - Trial Balance Software
51:02 - Accounting Software Mount Rushmore
53:02 - 10-Key ATB vs. Tallyfor
54:47 - Is Software Too Expensive?
57:02 - Should AI Replace CCH?
01:00:22 - Starting an Accounting Firm
01:05:26 - Realize

🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!
X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/
📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firm and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter

☎️ Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968!
📧 Email me! [email protected]

In this episode, I rank 20 different client acquisition strategies, then I walk through exactly how I would build an accounting firm from scratch today. I cover two versions: what I’d do with the network I have now, and what I’d do if I were starting with no connections at all. Then in the 📫 Mailbag, I tackle keeping premium clients after their original pain disappears, automating phone and messaging workflows, AI’s impact on bookkeeping, preventing AI hallucinations, and whether the future of accounting really means everyone has to become an advisor.

🔥 Here’s that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12ag📚 A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps

💰 Today's Sponsors
Cloud Accountant Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates
Financial Cents: Book a demo https://hubs.li/Q03PYVrp0 and use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users.
Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes
Karbon: https://karbonhq.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=jason-staats
MakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats
Canopy: Go to https://www.getcanopy.com/jason and schedule a demo to see for yourself, and Canopy will send you a $75 gift card after your demo

// Chapters:
00:00 - Finding New Clients
01:15 - Ranking 20 Acquisition Strategies
02:15 - Accounting Software Directories
03:40 - Paid Ads
06:50 - Cold Email
09:00 - TikTok
10:50 - Google Ads
11:40 - Virtual Events
13:40 - Hiring Industry Insiders
14:30 - Webinars
18:00 - Direct Mail
18:55 - Google Business Profile
19:55 - LinkedIn
21:05 - Physical Signage
22:20 - Online Communities
23:25 - Industry Software Directories
24:40 - YouTube
26:40 - Industry Partnerships
28:35 - Industry Authorities
30:55 - Brand Partnerships
32:25 - Industry Gates
35:40 - In-Person Events
38:01 - 🔥 Roast A Firm
39:00 - Starting With Jason’s Network
44:15 - The First Five Steps
45:20 - Starting With No Network
52:20 - Building a Lead Magnet
54:48 - 📫 Mailbag
55:15 - Keeping Premium Clients
58:15 - Automating Phone & SMS
1:01:10 - Is AI Crushing Bookkeeping?
1:03:45 - Preventing AI Hallucinations
1:06:25 - Does Everyone Need Advisory?
1:09:45 - Realize

🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!
X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/
📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firm and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter

☎️ Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968!
📧 Email me! [email protected]

In this episode, I break down what an accounting firm could look like if AI eventually handles most of the actual production work. Using Satya Nadella’s framing of human capital and token capital, I explore why firm-specific knowledge, meeting transcripts, client conversations, and feedback loops could become some of the most valuable intellectual property inside an accounting firm. I also walk through three practical AI loops firms can start building today, dig into why accountants increasingly want MCP access instead of separate AI assistants inside every app, and answer listener questions in the 📞 Accountant Support section.

🔥 Here’s that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12ag📚 A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps

💰 Today's Sponsors
Cloud Accountant Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates
Financial Cents: Book a demo https://hubs.li/Q03PYVrp0 and use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users.
Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes
Karbon: https://karbonhq.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=jason-staats
MakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats
Canopy: Go to https://www.getcanopy.com/jason and schedule a demo to see for yourself, and Canopy will send you a $75 gift card after your demo

// Chapters:
00:00 - Four types of accounting firms
01:40 - Compliance-only firms
03:15 - Finding a compliance niche
05:19 - Compliance pros and cons
07:53 - Tax firms doing bookkeeping
09:08 - The hardest firm to niche
10:33 - The fastest-growing firm model
11:27 - Selling the back office
13:13 - Books-first firm advantages
15:12 - Beyond traditional bookkeeping
18:51 - Accounting firm partnerships
20:30 - Bookkeeping-only firms
23:24 - Comparing all four models
24:29 - The opportunity in seasonal tax
24:44 - The Swear Jar
27:58 - 🤓 Nerd Corner: AI agents
31:15 - Grokbot and computer automation
34:39 - Where to draw the AI line
36:44 - Making AI agents safer
39:13 - 📞 Accountant Support
39:39 - AI fetching bank statements
42:38 - Spotting cheap clients
43:33 - Positioning around valuable problems
44:08 - Three-tier pricing
45:53 - Staff vs. senior accountants
46:13 - CRM vs. practice management
51:07 - Getting staff to adopt AI
54:52 - Tax Season Simulator
56:17 - Avoiding bottomless habits
56:57 - The second stomach debate
59:26 - Closing thoughts

🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!
X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/
📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firm and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter

☎️ Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968!
📧 Email me! [email protected]

In this episode, I break down what an accounting firm could look like if AI eventually handles most of the actual production work. Using Satya Nadella’s framing of human capital and token capital, I explore why firm-specific knowledge, meeting transcripts, client conversations, and feedback loops could become some of the most valuable intellectual property inside an accounting firm. I also walk through three practical AI loops firms can start building today, dig into why accountants increasingly want MCP access instead of separate AI assistants inside every app, and answer listener questions in the 📫 Mailbag section.

📄 That article from Satya https://snscratchpad.com/posts/frontier-ecosystem/

🔥 Here’s that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12ag📚 A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps

💰 Today's Sponsors
Cloud Accountant Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates
Financial Cents: Book a demo https://hubs.li/Q03PYVrp0 and use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users.
Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes
Karbon: https://karbonhq.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=jason-staats
MakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats
Canopy: Go to https://www.getcanopy.com/jason and schedule a demo to see for yourself, and Canopy will send you a $75 gift card after your demo

// Chapters:
00:00 - The AI-Native Accounting Firm
01:35 - What Happens When AI Does the Work?
03:05 - Software’s AI Disruption
06:00 - What Becomes Your Firm’s Moat?
07:15 - Human Capital + Token Capital
09:45 - Meeting Transcripts as Firm IP
12:15 - Building Valuable Accounting IP
15:59 - Human Judgment Still Matters
16:50 - Building AI Learning Loops
19:15 - Three Practical AI Loops
20:05 - AI Month-End Workpapers
24:35 - AI Tax Transcript Verification
26:55 - Automating Meeting Follow-Up
27:55 - Building Feedback Into AI
29:10 - Automating AI Workflows
31:50 - The Future Firm as AI Loops
34:15 - 🤓 Nerd Corner
34:30 - MCPs vs Built-In AI
36:35 - Will Claude Replace Tax Software?
39:05 - Why Firms Want Better MCPs
41:55 - Helping Your Client’s AI
44:25 - 📞 Accountant Support
44:45 - Replacing QBO With Claude
49:50 - Building Your Own Software
54:55 - AI-Powered Bank Rules
56:15 - Cloud Practice Management Security
57:55 - Losing Three Staff in a Month
59:45 - Pricing Through a Capacity Crisis
1:00:44 - Closing Thoughts
1:00:59 - Realize Community

🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!
X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/
📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firm and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter

☎️ Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968!
📧 Email me! [email protected]

In this episode, I break down eight hard truths about pricing that most accounting firms need to hear, from why pricing should feel uncomfortable to why delivery matters more than technical quality. I then roast a real listener’s proposal and explain how to structure three-tier proposals that command higher fees without adding more work. We also dive into how AI is changing proposals, bookkeeping software, and custom apps built by firms, before wrapping up with questions about QuickBooks, MCPs, AI-led accounting, and why I think the golden age of accounting is still ahead.

🔥 Here’s that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12ag📚 A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps

💰 Today's Sponsors
Cloud Accountant Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates
Financial Cents: Book a demo https://hubs.li/Q03PYVrp0 and use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users.
Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes
Karbon: https://karbonhq.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=jason-staats
MakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats
Canopy: Go to https://www.getcanopy.com/jason and schedule a demo to see for yourself, and Canopy will send you a $75 gift card after your demo

// Chapters:
00:00 - Why Most Firms Underprice Themselves
01:15 - Truth #1: Pricing Should Feel Uncomfortable
03:45 - Truth #2: Clients Decide Your Value
05:59 - Truth #3: Premium Pricing Isn’t Evil
07:39 - Truth #4: Attract Better Clients, Don’t Sell More
09:13 - Truth #5: Stop Listening to C & D Clients
11:54 - Truth #6: Delivery Beats Technical Quality
17:19 - Truth #7: You Get What You Pay For
19:14 - Truth #8: Don’t Lock In Day One Pricing
22:40 - 🔥 Roast a Listener’s Proposal
31:47 - Building Better Three-Tier Proposals
38:23 - 🗄️ Tales from the Vault: Getting Real Online
42:03 - 📬 Mailbag
42:16 - Should You Leave QuickBooks Desktop?
45:43 - AI Is Replacing Software Subscriptions
48:00 - Will AI Change Three-Tier Proposals?
51:09 - Claude, MCPs & QuickBooks
52:52 - Should Your Firm Sell Software?
57:31 - The Golden Age of Accounting
59:37 - Realize

🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!
X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/
📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firm and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter

☎️ Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968!
📧 Email me! [email protected]

In this episode, I break down the three identities accounting firms can adopt once they grow beyond roughly six employees and approach $1 million in revenue: the one-face firm, the two-face firm, and the no-face firm. I explain who each model suits, how each one scales, and why choosing intentionally can prevent you from building a firm you no longer want to run. I also review an LOI offering 1.5 times revenue for a virtual bookkeeping practice, share five ways to use AI to classify QuickBooks Online transactions, explain how Claude can send emails through custom connections, and answer questions about CPA credentials, tax workflow training, cloud hosting, and building a consulting practice around IRS controversy expertise.

🔥 Here’s that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12ag📚 A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps

💰 Today's Sponsors
Cloud Accountant Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates
Financial Cents: Book a demo https://hubs.li/Q03PYVrp0 and use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users.
Karbon: https://karbonhq.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=jason-staats
Soraban: https://www.soraban.com/
Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes

// Chapters:
00:00 - The Firm Identity Tipping Point
01:20 - Why Firms Hit the $1M Wall
02:46 - #1 The One-Face Firm
05:02 - Becoming the Industry Expert
06:24 - Scaling Beyond One-to-One Work
08:03 - Who the One-Face Model Fits
09:31 - #2 The Two-Face Firm
10:43 - The Traditional Partner Problem
13:28 - Who the Two-Face Model Fits
14:20 - #3 The No-Face Firm
15:20 - Building a Repeatable Machine
16:27 - The Outcome Must Be Consistent
17:01 - Finding the Golden Problem
19:00 - Who the No-Face Model Fits
20:08 - Choose Your Firm’s Identity
21:29 - 🏹 Firm Hunters
21:40 I- s 1.5x Revenue a Good Deal?
23:10 - Is a 30% Margin Too Low?
26:37 - What Makes This Acquisition Work?
29:09 - Accounting Firm Valuation Benchmarks
30:00 - Should the Owner Sell?
31:17 - ☎️ Accountant Support
31:32 - Five Ways AI Can Classify QBO Transactions
31:53 - #1 AI Browser Use
32:36 - #2 AI Computer Use
33:12 - #3 Build a Chrome Extension
33:46 - #4 Automate QBO Bank Rules
34:48 - #5 Use a Dedicated App
37:33 - Is the CPA Still Worth It?
38:54 - Can Claude Send Emails?
41:21 - Are Tax Workflow Programs Worth It?
42:51 - Complex Property Classifications
43:03 - How Much Is Claude Paying Me?
44:15 - Best Cloud Hosting Providers
45:38 - Building an IRS Controversy Firm
49:00 - Closing Thoughts

🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!
X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/
📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firm and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter

☎️ Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968!
📧 Email me! [email protected]

In this episode, I break down six mindset shifts I consistently see behind the most successful accounting firms. We cover why client relationships should not automatically be treated as permanent, how high-agency firm owners deliberately shape their client base, why delaying difficult decisions makes running a firm harder, and why leaders should hire to protect their own time first. I introduce 🗄️ Tales From the Vault, where we revisit one of my earliest YouTube videos, its 300 views, painfully slow delivery, and an economically disastrous fanny pack referral program. Then, in 🔥 Unsolicited Takedowns, I question whether AI usage statistics and productivity flexes actually reflect meaningful work. I also dig into whether Claude can automate old-school accounting applications, the continued importance of time tracking, how to promote a side firm, where accountants should post online, and how new firms should approach pricing.

🔥 Here’s that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12ag📚 A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps

💰 Today's Sponsors
Cloud Accountant Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates
Financial Cents: Book a demo https://hubs.li/Q03PYVrp0 and use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users.
Karbon: https://karbonhq.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=jason-staats
Soraban: https://www.soraban.com/
Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes

// Chapters:
00:00 - Six Mindset Shifts for Firm Owners
00:54 - Why Mindset Still Matters
02:13 - #1 Stop Expecting Forever Clients
05:00 - #2 Build a High-Agency Firm
07:25 - #3 Do the Painful Thing
09:40 - #4 Protect Your Own Time
12:06 - The First Four Mindset Shifts
15:21 - #5 Stop Figuring It Out Alone
16:16 - #6 Build Around Your Passions
21:05 - Why I Care About Accounting Firms
24:13 - 🗄️ Tales From the Vault
24:23 - My Cringey Early YouTube Video
25:28 - The Reality of Starting With No Audience
29:02 - Why I Kept Going
29:41 - The $35 Fanny Pack Giveaway
31:28 - 🔥 Unsolicited Takedowns
31:28 - The Whisper Flow Productivity Flex
34:00 - AI Usage Is Not Productivity
38:17 - 📬 Mailbag
38:29 - Can Claude Use Judy’s TenKey?
42:50 - Should Firms Still Track Time?
46:02 - Building a Side Firm Publicly
50:05 - X or Instagram for Accountants?
53:06 - Pricing a Brand-New Firm
57:34 - Closing Thoughts

🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!
X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/
📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firm and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter

☎️ Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968!
📧 Email me! [email protected]

In this episode, I break down why client information gathering is still the biggest bottleneck in most accounting firms and how the best firms use portals, automation, admins, and better processes to eliminate unnecessary project touches. I also introduce 🏖️ Accounting Firms Gone Wild, where I review unusual accounting firms currently for sale, and answer listener questions in 📬 Mailbag.

🔥 Here’s that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12ag📚 A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps

💰 Today's Sponsors
Cloud Accountant Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates
Financial Cents: Book a demo https://hubs.li/Q03PYVrp0 and use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users.
Karbon: https://karbonhq.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=jason-staats
Soraban: https://www.soraban.com/
Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes

// Chapters:
00:00 - The Biggest Workflow Bottleneck
01:24 - Why Most Firms Stay Inefficient
03:06 - Good Portal vs. Bad Portal
08:03 - Better Client Request Systems
15:23 - Portal Workflows That Actually Scale
23:37 - 🏖️ Accounting Firms Gone Wild
34:35 - 📬 Mailbag
35:06 - Is Acupuncture Too Small a Niche?
38:08 - Mercury vs. Relay
41:33 - EA vs. CPA for Firm Owners
43:27 - Growing a Bookkeeping Firm Faster
45:56 - Handling Bad Google Reviews
47:28 - Should I Leave My Firm?
49:21 - AI and Citizen Developers
51:20 - Leaving a $200K Job to Start a Firm

💼 Links to those accounting firm listings:
Peer Review Practice https://accountingpracticesales.com/united-states/west/utah/20901-Utah-Based+CPA+Peer+Review+Practice/
Cupertino Firm https://www.bizbuysell.com/business-opportunity/rapid-growth-cpa-wants-another-cpa-25-49/2441221/
NW Montana Firm https://accountingpracticesales.com/united-states/west/montana/20849-Northwest+Montana+CPA+Practice/

🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!
X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa