Who's Really the BOSS?

By Marcus Dillon, Rachel DillonBusiness

Who's Really the BOSS? episodes

January 19Beyond the Bottom Line: Creating Measurable Impact
Rachel and Marcus unveil the DBA Impact Fund, a donor-advised fund through National Christian Foundation that channels 1% of every revenue dollar toward charitable causes. They share how they chose Living Water International as their primary charity partner, including plans to purchase and install water wells with the team in 2027, and explain their unique approach to employee giving through $1,000 birthday gifts to charities of each team member's choice.
Sponsors
Discover.AI - discover.ai
Introducing Collective by DBA
https://collective.cpa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba
Learn More About Dillon Business Advisors
https://www.dillonadvisors.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors
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(00:00) - Introduction and New Year Greetings
(01:00) - Defining Positive Impact
(02:09) - Reflecting on 2025 and Setting 2026 Goals
(06:35) - Creating the DBA Impact Fund
(08:59) - Implementing the DBA Impact Fund
(16:01) - Choosing Living Water International
(18:15) - Mission Trip Experiences
(24:19) - Reflecting on Past Experiences
(24:51) - Living Water Mission Trips
(25:54) - Roles and Responsibilities on Trips
(26:38) - Engaging with Local Communities
(27:17) - Fun and Games with Children
(28:25) - DBA Impact Fund Introduction
(30:43) - Celebrating Birthdays and Anniversaries
(34:32) - Measuring Impact and Sharing Stories
(36:01) - Supporting Team Members
(38:24) - Creating a Culture of Gratitude
(40:56) - Setting Up Impact Channels
(43:20) - Conclusion and Future Goals
47 min
January 05Five KPIs Every Accounting Firm Should Be Tracking
Marcus and Rachel break down the five essential KPIs that drive firm value, using real data from over 200 accounting firms. They reveal how the average firm in their network decreased owner production hours by 12% while growing revenue by 10%, and share the exact backwards mapping framework they use to identify which levers to pull for improvement. Marcus also walks through DBA's 2024 price increase strategy that netted a 4% revenue gain despite losing $12,000 in monthly recurring clients.
Sponsors
Discover.AI - discover.ai

Introducing Collective by DBA
https://collective.cpa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba
Learn More About Dillon Business Advisors
https://www.dillonadvisors.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors
Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast
https://earmarkcpe.com
Download the Earmark CPE App
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app
(00:00) - Introduction and Life Updates
(06:28) - Transition to Business Discussion
(07:32) - Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Overview
(12:36) - Gross Revenue Insights
(17:15) - Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR)
(22:07) - Revenue per Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)
(26:13) - Earnings Before Owner Compensation (EBOC)
(27:24) - Understanding EBOC and Valuation
(28:43) - Profitability Trends and Analysis
(29:44) - EBOC and Market Attractiveness
(31:59) - Owner Production Hours and Efficiency
(36:21) - Leveraging KPIs for Business Improvement
(37:23) - Real-Life Examples of Business Levers
(38:41) - Price Increases: Strategy and Impact
(48:52) - Backward Mapping for KPI Improvement
(52:30) - Final Thoughts and Encouragement
58 min
December 22, 2025Planning Team Retreats That Actually Drive Results
Rachel and Marcus break down their year-end team retreat planning process, from the leadership framework they used to set 2026 goals to the logistics of bringing 25+ remote team members together. They share what they celebrate with their team, why financial transparency has built trust, and how they structure two days to focus on relationships rather than technical content. After doubling revenue through two acquisitions and organic growth, they explain why their 2026 focus shifts from "growth, not comfort" to "lead change, create impact."
Sponsors
Discover.AI - discover.ai
Introducing Collective by DBA
https://collective.cpa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba
Learn More About Dillon Business Advisors
https://www.dillonadvisors.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors
Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast
https://earmarkcpe.com
Download the Earmark CPE App
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app
(00:00) - Welcome to Who's Really the Boss
(00:58) - Team Retreat Overview
(04:15) - Leadership Planning Framework
(13:08) - Retreat Logistics and Preparation
(22:45) - Additional Retreat Activitiesy
(31:05) - Spouses and Team Bonding
(33:36) - Cost-Effective Team Events
(34:27) - Leadership Team Goals and Transparency
(37:35) - Retreats and Team Structure
(38:50) - Team Changes and Vision Alignment
(40:48) - Future Direction and Goals
(52:40) - Wrapping Up and Looking Ahead
59 min
December 08, 2025Niching Down and Scaling Up
Nick Liguori shares how he transformed his New Hampshire accounting firm into a med spa specialist, growing to seven employees and approaching $1 million in revenue within five years. He discusses the strategic decision to niche down despite losing legacy clients, implementing Team of Three for better delegation and scalability, and cutting client onboarding time from 60 days to 30 days. Nick also reveals his pricing evolution from $200/month packages to $2,000+ premium services, plus how industry specific conferences can generate better ROI than traditional marketing.
Sponsors
Discover.AI - discover.ai

Introducing Collective by DBA
https://collective.cpa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba
Learn More About Dillon Business Advisors
https://www.dillonadvisors.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors
Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast
https://earmarkcpe.com
Download the Earmark CPE App
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app
(00:00) - Welcome to Who's Really the Boss
(01:03) - Nick's Background and Firm Overview
(01:49) - Best Advice Ever Received
(04:06) - Finding a Niche in the Med Spa Industry
(09:42) - Marketing Strategies for Med Spa Clients
(15:47) - Service Tiers and Team Structure
(23:21) - The Role of Keeper in Streamlining Processes
(27:15) - Future Goals and Revenue Targets
(29:03) - Reducing Client Onboarding Time
(34:17) - Reflections on Starting a Firm
(35:36) - Pricing Evolution and Onboarding Fees
(38:54) - Benefits of Working with Collective by DBA
43 min
November 24, 2025Leading Change, Creating Impact: Highlights from Gather 2025
Marcus and Rachel recap Gather 2025, their fall event that brought 105 firm owners, leaders, and team members together in Grapevine, Texas. They walk through the four Ps framework for change management (purpose, picture, plan, and part) and share highlights from sessions on KPIs, firm valuation, AI agents, and collaborative problem-solving.
Sponsors
Discover.AI - discover.ai

Introducing Collective by DBA
https://collective.cpa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba
Learn More About Dillon Business Advisors
https://www.dillonadvisors.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors
Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast
https://earmarkcpe.com
Download the Earmark CPE App
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app
(00:00) - Welcome to Who's Really the Boss
(01:45) - Event Details and Attendees
(04:05) - Feedback and Highlights
(09:10) - Upcoming Events
(10:57) - Opening Session Insights
(18:22) - Change Management Framework
(23:14) - The Four Ps of Leading Through Change
(24:53) - Importance of Defining Roles in Change
(25:50) - Reflecting on Past Change Management
(26:20) - Challenges for Leaders in Communicating Change
(27:23) - Personal and Team Leadership in Change
(28:10) - Event Recap: Setting the Stage for Success
(31:22) - Diving into KPIs and Firm Performance
(34:14) - Case Studies and Mastermind Groups
(39:12) - Firm Challenges and Collaborative Solutions
(42:58) - Innovative Use of AI and Technology
(48:01) - Concluding Thoughts and Future Plans
55 min
November 10, 2025$50K to $1.1M: Building a Firm with Your Spouse
James and Cindy Buss join Rachel and Marcus to share their 20-year journey building Buss CPA in Hartford, South Dakota, from surviving the 2008 recession to transforming their business model around fixed-fee engagements. The conversation covers their transition from hourly billing to monthly recurring revenue, navigating price increases, building a committee-based client acceptance process, and what it's really like when the operations manager gives her retirement notice years in advance. Both couples offer candid insights about communication, community support, and why treating clients well matters more than perfect execution.
Learn More About Buss CPA
https://busscpa.us/
Introducing Collective by DBA
https://collective.cpa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba
Learn More About Dillon Business Advisors
https://www.dillonadvisors.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors
Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast
https://earmarkcpe.com
Download the Earmark CPE App
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app
(00:00) - Welcome to Who's Really the Boss
(00:38) - Meet James and Cindy Buss
(02:55) - James Introduces the Firm
(06:50) - Cindy Shares Personal Life
(18:15) - Cindy's Retirement Plans
(21:55) - Evolution of the Firm
(28:50) - Budgeting and Fee Structures
(30:21) - Impact of Economic Downturns
(31:59) - Goals and Initiatives
(42:56) - Onboarding Fees and Client Management
(48:09) - The Importance of Community and Peer Networks
(58:05) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts
1 hr 1 min
October 27, 2025Hiring for Integrity: Building Your Dream Accounting Team
Fletcher Wimbush from Discovered.AI joins the show to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing CPA firms today: finding and hiring quality talent. Fletcher shares his proven interviewing techniques, including the career performance history interview, strategic reference checking, and assessment tools that help predict candidate success. Learn why integrity trumps experience, how to compress your hiring timeline to just five days, and why becoming an "employer of choice" requires more than just offering remote work options.
Introducing Collective by DBA
https://collective.cpa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba
Learn More About Dillon Business Advisors
https://www.dillonadvisors.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors
Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast
https://earmarkcpe.com
Download the Earmark CPE App
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app
(00:00) - Welcome to Who's Really the Boss
(00:53) - Fletcher's Background and Experience
(02:38) - Best Hiring Advice
(03:26) - Defining Integrity in Business
(05:08) - Challenges in Talent Acquisition
(06:29) - Techniques for Assessing Integrity
(13:41) - Current Hiring Landscape
(17:06) - Becoming an Employer of Choice
(19:18) - Remote vs. In-Office Work
(26:06) - Effective Interviewing Techniques
(28:00) - Candidate Selection and Structured Interviews
(30:31) - Key Interview Questions
(34:38) - Reference Checks and Integrity
(40:28) - Efficient Interview Process
(47:13) - Final Thoughts and Resources
52 min
October 13, 2025The Org Chart Advantage: Planning Your Firm's Future Team
Rachel and Marcus reveal how they use organizational charts as a strategic tool for firm growth at Dillon Business Advisors. They walk through their process of identifying bottlenecks, defining roles before hiring, and evolving from a chaotic "spider web" structure to their streamlined team-of-three model. Learn how mapping out future roles, including their new tax advisory service line and CSM assistant positions, helps them scale intentionally while maintaining client service quality and avoiding the trap of reactive hiring.
Introducing Collective by DBA
https://collective.cpa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba
Learn More About Dillon Business Advisors
https://www.dillonadvisors.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors
Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast
https://earmarkcpe.com
Download the Earmark CPE App
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app
(00:00) - Introduction and Recap
(01:26) - Strategic Growth and Acquisition
(04:09) - Defining Roles and Responsibilities
(06:29) - Identifying Bottlenecks and Capacity
(10:56) - Additional Metrics
(16:42) - Roles and Responsibilities
(19:55) - Utilizing Part-Time and Remote Team Members
(26:58) - Expanding Tax Advisory Services
(35:38) - The Value of Clear Team Structure
46 min
September 29, 2025Modernizing a 50-Year Legacy Practice
Tim Abbott shares his journey from merging his small practice into MJ Vanden Brook in 2012 to becoming the third-generation owner of the 50-year-old firm. He discusses two major acquisitions, including modernizing operations from clipboards to cloud technology, and reveals why keeping previous owners around for 2-3 years led to high client retention rates.
Introducing Collective by DBA
https://collective.cpa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba
Learn More About Dillon Business Advisors
https://www.dillonadvisors.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors
Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast
https://earmarkcpe.com
Download the Earmark CPE App
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app
(00:00) - Introduction and Welcoming Tim Abbott
(01:08) - Tim Abbott's Background and Firm Overview
(02:50) - Team Structure and Work Environment
(04:12) - Personal Life and Family
(05:22) - Best Advice Received
(06:48) - Journey to Business Ownership
(08:13) - First Acquisition and Modernization Efforts
(11:34) - Second Acquisition and Transition Challenges
(18:49) - Client Transition and Relationship Management
(20:49) - Lessons from Recent Acquisitions
(22:15) - Challenges with Referral Sources
(24:31) - Surprises Post-Acquisition
(27:29) - Evaluating Buy vs. Build
(32:25) - Current Goals and Initiatives
(40:22) - Importance of Peer Relationships
(44:27) - Looking Ahead: Future Plans
(46:39) - Conclusion and Contact Information
49 min
September 15, 2025The Four R's of Improvement Season: Recharge, Review, Refocus, Refine
Rachel and Marcus share their approach to "improvement season" - the strategic summer months between tax deadlines when most accounting firms slow down. They break down their four-part framework of recharge, review, refocus, and refine, revealing how they used this time to tackle everything from cybersecurity upgrades to team candor training after completing a firm acquisition. The duo candidly grade their own performance while discussing the challenges of maintaining momentum when team members are taking well-deserved vacations.
Introducing Collective by DBA
https://collective.cpa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba
Learn More About Dillon Business Advisors
https://www.dillonadvisors.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors
Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast
https://earmarkcpe.com
Download the Earmark CPE App
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app
(00:00) - Welcome to Who's Really the Boss
(00:55) - Family Updates
(03:01) - Accounting Firm's Busy Season
(03:44) - Improvement Season Concept
(07:51) - Recharge: Rest and Relaxation Strategies
(15:54) - Review: Analyzing Feedback and Performance
(22:49) - Refocus: Aligning with Mission and Vision
(24:56) - Refine: Setting Goals and Execution Plans
(28:43) - Technology and Security Enhancements
(35:03) - Soft Skills and Team Dynamics
(39:15) - Client Alignment and Service Models
(43:34) - Growth Strategies and Future Planning
(49:46) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts
52 min

About Who's Really the BOSS?

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"Who's Really the BOSS?" highlights the joys and challenges of running a CPA firm with your spouse or family. From hiring and terminating to improving capacity, cash flow, and culture, our…