Between 2 Firms

Ryan Elblein joins Nick to break down how he went from big-firm tax to running a solo practice built from scratch, including the early side-hustle phase that turned into a full-time firm. They dig into what’s made the Tax Pros Discord such a high-value, real-time resource, plus how Ryan used BNI networking and subcontract work to create runway while his client base grew. Ryan shares why he now bundles tax and bookkeeping for “one point of contact,” how that unlocks faster planning throughout the year, and the tools behind his workflow (TaxDome, Stanford Tax, TacStorm, Beehive). The conversation also covers niching into the trades, experimenting with three-tier pricing based on delivery, and designing a firm around flexibility and family life.

To connect with Ryan, visit his firms website:

https://elbleincpa.com/

or follow him on your platform of choice:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanelblein

https://www.instagram.com/ryanelbleincpa/

https://www.facebook.com/ElbleinCPA/

If you would like to connect with us visit:

https://sagaaccounting.com/

or to appear on the show, fill out a guest application:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeoshMXYliGh_4tU3OrHw2EjsVwZu3k8KbPi8fRMTCVjca1ig/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=102990742476444666854

In this episode, Nick talks with Lauren Dozier, founder of Dozier Financial Services, about going from a corporate finance background to building a bookkeeping firm that evolved into controllership style work and full back-office support. Lauren walks through how her service offering expanded as clients needed more than clean books, what “decision-ready” reporting looks like in practice, and how she thinks about scope as the back office gets more complex. They also get into payroll, why it became a consistent pain point, and how shifting tools and delegating specialized payroll work improved both client experience and delivery. Plus, a practical look at operations, from early scrappy task tracking to building repeatable workflows as she hired a small remote, part-time team.

To connect with Lauren visit her firms website:

https://www.dozierfinancialservices.com/

or follow her on your platform of choice:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-dozier-9301878a

https://www.instagram.com/dozier.financial.services.llc

https://www.facebook.com/people/Dozier-Financial-Services-LLC/61562940217553/

If you would like to connect with us visit:

https://sagaaccounting.com/

or to appear on the show, fill out a guest application:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeoshMXYliGh_4tU3OrHw2EjsVwZu3k8KbPi8fRMTCVjca1ig/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=102990742476444666854

In this episode, Nick talks with Don Leavitt, founder of ArrowCPA, about building a solo firm that’s tax-first, subscription-based, and intentionally small. Don walks through his winding path into accounting, what finally pushed him to go out on his own, and how he structured monthly tax advisory so he can deliver real planning without living in the “billable hour” hamster wheel. They also get into niching (including gas stations and convenience stores), keeping the client list lean, and the trade-offs that come with customer concentration. Plus, a quick detour into Don’s track-day hobby and why it oddly parallels with running a firm.

To connect with Don visit his firms website:

arrowcpa.co

or follow him on your platform of choice:

LinkedIn

Facebook

If you would like to connect with us visit:

https://sagaaccounting.com/

or to appear on the show, fill out a guest application:

Guest Application

On this episode, Nick chats with Katrina Kowalski, a New Hampshire-based CPA and owner of OnPoint Tax & Consulting. Katrina shares her path from traditional public accounting, starting at Arthur Andersen to eventually launching a practice that gives her (and her team) real flexibility. Katrina and her partner run a seven-person, all-women team of working moms, largely virtual, with clear boundaries and systems to keep tax season sane.

To connect with Katrina visit her firms website:

https://onpointnh.com/

or follow her on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrina-kowalski-cpa-a269011

If you would like to connect with us visit:

https://sagaaccounting.com/

or to appear on the show, fill out a guest application:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeoshMXYliGh_4tU3OrHw2EjsVwZu3k8KbPi8fRMTCVjca1ig/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=102990742476444666854

Chapters

• 00:00 Client Planning Calls and Client Niching
• 36:31 Client Relationships and Experience
• 43:42 Partnership Structures and Agreements
• 53:02 Practice Management and Client Success Role
• 01:03:48 Book Recommendations and Hobbies

Welcome to the Between 2 Firms podcast, a show centered around conversations between business owners in the accounting industry.

In this first episode, we give an introduction to ourselves and have a great conversation with Mourgan Reed-Cintron, a CPA, Registered Yoga Teacher, and owner of Tranquil Transactions CPA PLLC. We hope you enjoy listening and feel free to get in touch with us if there is anything you would like to hear us discuss, or if you would like to appear on the program.

To connect with Mourgan visit her firms website:

https://www.tranquiltransactions.cpa/

or follow her on your favored platform:

https://www.instagram.com/tranquiltransactions

https://www.facebook.com/tranquiltransactions/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/tranquil-transactions-cpa-pllc

If you would like to connect with us visit:

https://sagaaccounting.com/

or to appear on the show, fill out a guest application:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeoshMXYliGh_4tU3OrHw2EjsVwZu3k8KbPi8fRMTCVjca1ig/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=102990742476444666854