The Cannabis Accounting Podcast

Navigating real estate decisions for your Cannabis business is a complex process with no one-size-fits-all solution. Whether you're setting up a cultivation facility, manufacturing plant, or dispensary, understanding the pros and cons of leasing vs. owning and the tax implications of each is crucial to making informed decisions that align with your unique goals and circumstances. 🌿💡

Leasing may offer more flexibility and lower upfront costs, but it also means you're at the mercy of a landlord and may face unexpected rent hikes or even eviction. Owning your property provides long-term stability and control, but it also requires significant capital investment and ties up your cash flow. 💸

The stakes are high, and with so many factors to consider, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. But by arming yourself with the right knowledge and strategies, you can confidently navigate the Cannabis real estate landscape and make choices that set your business up for success. 💪

Listen in to this informative podcast, "Real Estate Strategies for Cannabis Businesses: Navigating Leases, Ownership, and Taxes," as Andrew Hunzicker, CPA and Cannabis accounting expert, breaks down the key considerations for Cannabis real estate and provide actionable insights to help you make decisions that fit your unique needs.

You'll learn:

Whether you're a cultivator, manufacturer, or retailer, this session will provide you with the tools and knowledge you need to develop a real estate strategy that supports your business goals and minimizes risk.

Don't let uncertainty around real estate hold you back. Tune in and gain the clarity and confidence you need to make informed decisions for your Cannabis venture.

There are two reasons why cultivators need proper financial modeling:

But creating a comprehensive financial model for a Cannabis business is no easy task. From understanding the true costs of cultivation to navigating complex regulations and market fluctuations, there are countless factors to consider. Overlooking key details or making overly optimistic assumptions can lead to missed targets, cash flow problems, and disappointed investors.

In this episode, Andrew shares the essential considerations and tools needed for creating robust, realistic financial models that can help you navigate the unique challenges of the Cannabis industry.

During this podcast, you'll learn:

... and more!

Whether you're a Cannabis entrepreneur looking to create a solid financial foundation, an investor aiming to make informed decisions, or an accounting professional seeking to better serve your Cannabis clients, this podcast is packed with valuable insights you won't want to miss.

In order to do proper inventory and cost accounting, accountants must have the proper processes and systems in place to meet compliance rules. 

Since Cannabis is considered a Schedule I substance, under 280E companies that sell or “traffic” the plant are not able to take deductions like typical businesses can. However, the DEA is on the verge of rescheduling the drug to Schedule III which eases the tax burden of 280E, and can create more complexities for Cannabis companies and the accountants that serve them.

In our latest episode, we discuss the ins and outs of cost accounting and compliance for the current landscape of the Cannabis industry, and what’s to expect when the plant inevitably gets rescheduled by the DEA.

We cover concepts that include:

…and more!

Our guest on today's episode of the DOPE CFO Podcast is Alyssa J. Dillon. Alyssa is a former CFO that managed the accounting for non-profits.

After quitting her job in 2018 with $1000 to her name, and after having two children in one year, she had to figure out what to do, and working for someone else wasn't the answer. Within a few short months, Alyssa was bringing in clients and making over $25k/month and hasn't stopped. Fast forward to today, she's helping (non-cannabis) accountants quickly build thriving firms using the systems and practices that she's employed that have helped her become successful.

Sources within the DEA have confirmed that rescheduling has been green-lit and is moving forward. Speculators have  been saying that this wouldn’t happen until after the election, but it looks as though things are moving quicker than critics have been suggesting.

So what does this mean for Cannabis companies and the people who serve the industry?

We go over the details in our latest episode. 

With 280E out of the picture, there is a massive opportunity to support Cannabis companies in a major way.

The Associated Press just announced that DEA has agreed to reschedule Cannabis, which is going to usher in all sorts of change. Unfortunately, a lot will stay the same, and things are inevitably going to become much more complicated from a compliance standpoint. On the one hand, 280E won’t be so punitive, but taxes will still be high, and accounting will be even more challenging. Don’t get blindsided by what’s to come. 

In our latest podcast, DOPE CFO CEO and founder, Andrew Hunzicker, CPA discusses "How accounting and taxes will change when Cannabis is Rescheduled."

He shares information on:

…and more!

Tune in and take notes so you don't get left behind by the massive changes ahead in this industry.

Our guests today are Rachel Gillette and Jennifer Benda. They are partners at Holland & Hart LLP and work in the group’s Cannabis Division.

Holland & Hart LLP is a national law firm who serve a wide range of industries. Our guests today are both partners in the Holland & Hart’s Cannabis Division. The emerging cannabis legal sector faces novel legal challenges and complexities. They help cannabis businesses cut through the complexity. 

Their team guides clients with ensuring operational compliance and in building creative solutions and productive relationships with state, local, and federal authorities. Their tailored approach helps cannabis and natural medicine businesses, stakeholders, and ancillary service providers analyze risks and chart a strategic course in the dynamic Cannabis industry.

Listen as they discuss upcoming changes in Cannabis law and how they will impact Cannabis accountants.

New entrepreneurs have a lot to look forward to that they often don’t realize until they are knee deep in their new venture and find that there are certain skills and competencies that may be lacking that can hurt their progress.

Everything about how you approach your work has to shift, yet some people carry their employee mindset and practices into self-employment which can create all sorts of problems that can be blindsiding.

If you are thinking about stepping out on your own for the first time, listen in as we discuss the shifts that new Cannabis Accounting firm owners need to make in order to build successful businesses. In this episode, we discuss:

There’s so much that gets added to your plate as you set out to build a growing business. Make life easier by knowing what’s ahead.

Listen in so you can learn how to solve for it so that you are prepared.

On today's episode, we are excited to welcome Lauren Baptiste, the founder and CEO of Acheloa Wellness.

Lauren Baptiste is a corporate burnout turned coach and CEO. She serves ambitious women professionals as their go-to Burnout Expert. 

Before launching Acheloa Wellness, Lauren spent 13 years as a top performer at a Big Four Accounting Firm. She was always at the top of her earning bracket and was nominated a “Rising Star'' in the industry. However, her professional drive eventually landed her in the Emergency Room from workplace burnout. Lauren notes that it was the ultimate test of how hard she was willing to work for her career. 

Since then, she’s successfully guided hundreds of professional women through similar challenges at work and home. She offers a path to achieve your personal and professional goals without succumbing to burnout. 

In this episode, Andrew and Lauren discuss:

Lauren shared this guide to setting healthy boundaries for our listeners. If you'd like to learn more about Lauren and her work, you can visit her website and connect with her on social media (Instagram and LinkedIn).

In this episode of the DOPE CFO Cannabis Accounting Podcast, Andrew Hunzicker, CPA dives deep into the debate of value pricing versus hourly billing for Cannabis accounting services. Andrew argues that in today's competitive landscape, accountants must move beyond basic bookkeeping, payroll, and tax prep services to provide real value to clients.

As AI and offshore labor continue to commoditize traditional accounting tasks, the key to thriving in the Cannabis niche is to become an indispensable, full-service CFO. Andrew shares strategies for specializing deeply in the unique challenges of the Cannabis industry, from navigating complex regulations to managing rapid growth.

You'll learn how to provide CFO-level advisory services that go beyond mere number crunching, how to become your client's trusted right hand, and how to continuously raise your fees to match the value you deliver. Andrew also discusses the importance of having a robust set of Cannabis-specific tools, work papers, and best practices, as well as tapping into a community of industry experts.

If you're an accountant looking to break into the exciting world of Cannabis accounting or take your existing practice to the next level, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in now and discover how to ditch the hourly grind and build a thriving, value-focused cannabis accounting business.