Explore every episode of the podcast Accounting Firm Coach: Office Hours
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653 Accounting Firms MUST Do This Before November 1st [The decision that will make or break your 2027]
š Check out the cool stuff our sponsors are doing here: https://accountingfirmcoach.com/sponsors/
Welcome to Accounting Firm Coach Office Hours presented by Canopy. Iām Jason Staats. Ready to get 1% better at running an accounting firm? In this episode, I break down the three biggest priorities accounting firm owners need to tackle before year-end, including tech transitions, hiring, client renewals, and getting ahead of January production. Then, in š¹ Firm Hunters, we look at a $1.4 million accounting firm with an unbelievable 87% of revenue going to the owner. I also introduce a new segment called šæ Mean Bag to tackle whether AI is about to get dramatically more expensive, rethink the all-in-one versus best-of-breed software debate in š¤ Nerd Corner, and answer š¬ Mailbag questions about accounting ledgers, getting clients to sign proposals, AI agents, and keeping client data secure.
// Chapters: 01:32 - Do This By November 1 11:06 - Do This By December 1 20:44 - Do This By January 1 22:49 - This $1.4M/yr Firm Is Running An 87% Margin!? 28:38 - Is AI About To Get Expensive? 34:03 - Is All-in-One A Mirage? 42:38 - Double vs New AI Ledgers 45:38 - Simplify That Proposal! 47:28 - Create An AI Agent User? 49:12 - Claude MAX Plan Made Secure? 52:07 - Lester Returns
š Leave me a voicemail at +1 (516) 980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
š Hereās that $1.4M/yr firm https://privatepracticetransitions.com/business-listing/1265-established-cas-practice-with-strong-growth/
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://x.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
652 These Industries Are BEGGING For Better Accounting Firms [The greatest opportunities in the accounting profession today]
š Check out the cool stuff our sponsors are doing here: https://accountingfirmcoach.com/sponsors/
Welcome to Accounting Firm Coach Office Hours presented by Canopy. Iām Jason Staats. Ready to get 1% better at running an accounting firm? In this episode, I explore how to build a niche accounting firm by tapping into industry-specific communities and partnerships. In š¤Ā Nerd Corner, I cover eight major tech updates from Canopy, Financial Cents, Digits, Karbon, Gusto, Double, Kik, and RightTool. Then, in the š¬Ā Mailbag, I tackle delegating more work to admins, construction accounting software, Microsoft Copilot, tax workflow tools, lead tracking, and building a remote accounting firm.
// Chapters: 00:00 - These Industries Need YOU 15:14 - 8 Tech Updates 29:19 - Push This Work to Admins 33:44 - Construction Accounting Software? 36:09 - Microsoft AI Use-Cases 37:59 - Donāt Buy This Tax Workflow Software 42:54 - Lead Tracking App 44:53 - Transitioning A Firm To Remote Work 51:31 - We Love Them
š Leave me a voicemail at +1 (516) 980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://x.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
651 This 2 Person Accounting Firm Does $1.6M/Year [How todayās most scalable firms are built]
š Check out the cool stuff our sponsors are doing here: https://accountingfirmcoach.com/sponsors/
Welcome to Accounting Firm Coach Office Hours presented by Canopy. Iām Jason Staats. Ready to get 1% better at running an accounting firm? In this episode, I break down two surprisingly profitable accounting firms for sale, including one generating over $1.6 million with just two people, and explain why outsourcing and offshoring can create very different business models. In š¾ You Need This Tech, I share a $400 artificial skylight designed to bring natural-looking light into your office. Then, in š¤ Nerd Corner, I challenge some of the guidance around AI and taxpayer data presented at an IRS National Tax Forum session. Finally, I answer š¬ Mailbag questions about Double as a practice management tool, seller financing when buying a firm, AI for nonprofit accounting, software security, Grok, and why heavily funded tax AI startups arenāt on my app recommendations list.
š The skylight https://www.amazon.com/PHILIPS-Skylight-Ceiling-NatureConnect-inches/dp/B0HDTPRNSD?sr=8-1 š² The tax firm thatās for sale https://privatepracticetransitions.com/business-listing/1262-established-virtual-tax-practice/ š§¾ And the CAS firm that sold https://poegroupadvisors.com/practice/cp2024/
// Chapters: 00:00 - A 2-Person $1.6M Firm 11:32 - A 60% Margin CAS Firm 21:52 - You Need This Tech 26:05 - Bad AI Advice From The IRS 36:56 - Double As A PM? 40:04 - Up-Front Cash? 44:16 - AI For Fund Accounting 47:35 - How To Know if an App Is Secure? 49:21 - Firms Using Grok!? 52:53 - BlackOre Basis and Accrual
š Leave me a voicemail at +1 (516) 980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://x.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
650 AI Accountants Just Surpassed Human Accountants [What does this mean for accounting firms?]
š Check out the cool stuff our sponsors are doing here: https://accountingfirmcoach.com/sponsors/
Welcome to Accounting Firm Coach Office Hours presented by Canopy. Iām Jason Staats. Ready to get 1% better at running an accounting firm? In this episode, I break down a new AI accounting study suggesting that leading models can outperform human accountants, and explain what that actually means for our firms. I share why public booking links are a bad idea, explore Claudeās faster AI models and new ChatGPT features, and explain why AI wonāt fix bad business decisions. Then I highlight accountants available for hire and answer questions about selling a firm to private equity, why I dropped Xero from my recommendations, and whether standalone receipt management software still makes sense.
š Hereās that AI vs accountants study https://www.mercor.com/blog/human-baselines-for-benchmarks-ai-now-outperforms-junior-accountants/
// Chapters: 00:00 - The End Is Near 13:45 - Bad Booking Links 17:35 - This AI Model is FAST 24:20 - Hormozi Pops The Balloon 26:20 - ChatGPT Updates 31:45 - Accountants For Hire 34:25 - Sell His Firm to PE? 42:45 - I Dropped Xero 47:55 - New Receipt Tech?
š Leave me a voicemail at +1 (516) 980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://x.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
649 This Bookkeeper REPLACED QuickBooks and Xero [How AI-First Firms Are Evolving]
Welcome to Accounting Firm Coach Office Hours presented by Canopy. Iām Jason Staats. Ready to get 1% better at running an accounting firm? In this episode, I break down whether you can build a bookkeeping firm without QuickBooks or Xero, and why specializing around a painful industry-specific accounting system may be a much bigger opportunity than simply choosing a newer ledger. I also look at Metaās upcoming VR glasses, debate separating technical production from client relationship management, dissect a supposedly self-sufficient $1.2 million accounting firm for sale, empty out Septemberās Swear Jar, and answer Mailbag questions about sponsorships, advisory positioning, buying versus building a firm, AI-powered email management, and tax research tools.
š Hereās that firm we talked about https://poegroupadvisors.com/practice/va2036/
// Chapters: 01:54 - Building a Bookkeeping Firm Without QuickBooks or Xero 11:20 - The Industry Ledger Opportunity 17:05 - Meta VR Glasses: Goodbye, Monitors? 23:25 - Technical Hire or Relationship Manager? 26:49 - Planning for When Someone Leaves 31:58 - A CPA Firm Run in 30 Owner Hours a Year 33:46 - What You're Really Buying 38:05 - The September Swear Jar 42:41 - How Sponsors Work at Accounting Firm Coach 45:01 - What's Wrong With the Word "Advisor" 48:07 - Buy a Firm or Grow Organically? 50:55 - Admin vs AI for Email Management 57:00 - CoCounsel vs. Claude, ChatGPT or Blue J
š Leave me a voicemail at +1 (516) 980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://x.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
648 Should This Accounting Firm Say YES To $500k? [How to negotiate your largest projects]
Welcome to Accounting Firm Coach Office Hours presented by Canopy. Iām Jason Staats. Ready to get 1% better at running an accounting firm? In this episode, I break down how Iād approach a potential $540,000 client opportunity without simply discounting services, share a three-step system for eliminating reactive client status check-ins, and look at the latest AI models from Claude and ChatGPT for accounting firm work. Then I hit the š« Mailbag to talk three-tier pricing, niche positioning, getting an overwhelmed firm back under control, connecting Claude across multiple QuickBooks clients, AI security, and work-paper management.
// Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:04 - A $540K Opportunity 11:20 - A $243M Opportunity 18:58 - A System for Client Updates 27:06 - The Worst Thing A Client Can Feel 29:16 - A New AI Model in Claude 35:16 - New Models in ChatGPT 38:43 - 3-Tier Fails 41:43 - Fully-Automated Micro Bookkeeping 44:29 - What To Do When You Donāt Know What To Do 47:23 - Connecting Claude to Multiple QuickBooks Files 50:41 - Struggling To Capitalize On AI 53:16 - Workpaper Management for Small Firms 54:54 - Closing Thoughts
š Leave me a voicemail at +1 (516) 980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://x.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
647 AI Just Changed How We Should Run Our Accounting Firms [Itās time to acknowledge the truth]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I break down why the latest generation of AI models should force accounting firms to rethink how work actually gets done, from bookkeeping and tax prep to review, staffing, and firm structure. I explain why the biggest limitation is no longer the AI itself, but workflows that were never designed for AI, and how firms can rebuild production around more structured, reviewable systems. I also run through 10 recent accounting tech updates in š¤ Nerd Corner, answer š« Mailbag questions about app recommendations, AR services, Juno, document management, Power Automate, and Claude plus Beancount, and share the upcoming rebrand from Jason On Firms to Accounting Firm Coach.
āļø Tools I mentioned in the podcast: - Filed open sources their 1040 engine https://www.filed.com/blog/we-open-sourced-our-tax-engine - Ramp launches accounts receivable https://ramp.com/blog/introducing-accounts-receivable - Campfire forecast https://www.linkedin.com/posts/johnglasgow_campfire-is-the-first-erp-that-calls-the-activity-7507836212796227584-MPz- - Accrual Arc https://accrual.com/arc - Canopy + Juno integration https://juno.tax/integrations/canopy - QuickBooks updates https://www.firmofthefuture.com/product-update/september-2026-mpu - Double lower-cost AI model https://doublehq.com/ - Digitsā 11 new automated quality-control checks https://digits.com/blog/quality-checks/ - Financial Cents AI file routing https://financial-cents.canny.io/changelog/ai-file-routing - RightTool right-click QBO navigation https://righttool.app/release-notes/
š° Today's Sponsors Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes Soraban: https://hubs.ly/Q04cNLF80 MakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats Canopy: https://www.getcanopy.com/jason complete your demo for a $75 gift card
// Chapters: 00:00 - AI Changes the Workflow 04:30 - Building From Scratch 06:40 - AI at Any Scale 06:50 - Claude + QuickBooks 10:25 - Automating Tax Prep 12:05 - The Workflow Problem 13:30 - AI-Compatible Workflows 18:35 - Rebuilding Production 20:15 - Excel 1040 21:25 - Accounting AI Agents 24:40 - Solo + AI Firms 27:15 - The First Human Hires 30:15 - Rethinking Firm Structure 35:10 - Work Worth Doing 38:35 - Building AI Skills 40:03 - š¤ Nerd Corner 40:13 - Filed Open-Source Tax Engine 41:24 - Ramp Accounts Receivable 41:49 - Campfire Forecasting 42:19 - Accrual ARC 42:39 - Canopy + Juno 42:49 - QuickBooks Updates 45:04 - Double AI Costs 45:39 - Digits Quality Control 46:14 - Financial Cents File Sorting 46:49 - RightTool Updates 48:03 - š« Mailbag 48:13 - Apps by Firm Size 52:58 - Managing Client AR 56:23 - Juno for Tax Intake 58:28 - Replacing FileCabinet 01:00:48 - Microsoft Power Automate 01:02:18 - Claude + Beancount 01:03:53 - Accounting Firm Coach 01:05:03 - The Podcast Is Changing
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
649 Iām Begging You To Hire This Role In Your Accounting Firm [The single biggest staffing mistake in modern accounting firms]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I break down eight different types of hires accounting firm owners can make, ranking them based on how effectively they give the owner time back and reduce bottlenecks. In š¤ You Need This Tech, I share a simple hydration tool that can help you stay focused and productive throughout the day. Then I answer š« Mailbag questions about securely redacting PII, the future of my live events, buying your first accounting firm, audit tech stacks, contract review work for other firms, and whether I might eventually get involved in accounting firm M&A or rollups.
š° Today's Sponsors Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes Soraban: https://hubs.ly/Q04cNLF80 MakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats Canopy: https://www.getcanopy.com/jason complete your demo for a $75 gift card
// Chapters: 00:00 - Hiring Backwards 03:45 - Eight Hiring Paths 04:25 - Production Capacity 06:40 - The Growth Hire 08:00 - Specialist Expertise 09:50 - Operations Hire 14:50 - Client Experience 17:40 - Tech + Automation 20:35 - Your Future Successor 22:50 - Administrative Support 25:00 - Best Hiring Options 26:10 - š¤ You Need This Tech 27:25 - Autonomous Hydrate 31:00 - Four Available Accountants 33:45 - š« Mailbag 34:05 - Redacting Client PII 38:15 - Future Live Events 40:25 - Buying Your First Firm 45:35 - Audit Tech Stacks 48:05 - Contract Work for Firms 50:25 - JasonOnFirms M&A? 53:00 - Building a Firm Network 54:30 - Could It Become a Rollup? 56:00 - Closing Thoughts
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
645 8 Canāt Miss Accounting Firm Events Happening in 2026 [The best events to close out the year]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I break down the accounting conferences and industry events that are actually worth attending, including how to use client-facing events. š We talk in Niche of the Week on how to become more visible in a specific industry. I also share a simple lighting upgrade that can dramatically improve how you look on video, then answer š« Mailbag questions about industry-specific credentials, Mercury launching an accounting ledger, earning potential for accounting firm owners, AI-backed firm rollups, practice management platforms expanding into close automation, and whether joining a PE-backed platform really gives firm owners a meaningful seat at the table.
š Hereās that list of over 1,000 events https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1alr-NMmUWXUK4nC-JK-Nnr7R8Kg9BIJXSsLFqEQOU1s/edit?usp=sharing š¦ And hereās that video light https://amarancreators.com/pages/amaran-verge-max
š° Today's Sponsors Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes Soraban: https://hubs.ly/Q04cNLF80 MakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats Canopy: https://www.getcanopy.com/jason complete your demo for a $75 gift card
// Chapters: 00:00 - The Best Accounting Events 02:05 - 1,100 Upcoming Events 03:00 - Intuit Connect 03:45 - Scaling New Heights 04:45 - AICPA Conferences 05:35 - Bridging the Gap 06:25 - Reframe 07:20 - Customer Conferences 08:15 - Skip Technical Training 09:00 - State Society Events 09:35 - Client Industry Events 10:06 - š Niche of the Week 10:15 - Why In-Person Matters 11:25 - Industry User Conferences 15:05 - Certification Events 15:55 - Association Meetings 16:35 - Trade Shows 17:20 - Local Chapters 17:50 - Golf Fundraisers 18:30 - Member Alliances 20:15 - Virtual Events 20:50 - Mastermind Groups 21:00 - Events to Avoid 21:30 - Compliance Events 22:35 - Better Video Lighting 24:10 - Amaran Verge Max 27:48 - š« Mailbag 28:13 - Industry Credentials 30:33 - Favorite Star Trek Episode 30:48 - Mercuryās Accounting Ledger 32:00 - Replacing Traditional Ledgers 34:13 - Accounting Firm Income 35:13 - Selling Outcomes, Not Hours 36:33 - Finding Expensive Problems 38:18 - Moving Beyond Hourly Rates 41:03 - AI Accounting Rollups 43:48 - Built-In Close Automation 45:03 - Best-of-Breed vs. All-in-One 46:13 - PE Shareholder Seats 48:13 - Alternatives to PE 49:37 - Closing Thoughts
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
644 Recapping The Summerās Biggest Tech Announcements for Accounting Firms [And how to lock in your 2027 tech decisions now]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§Ā Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I compress a full year of accounting tech updates into one deep dive to help firms lock in their software decisions before year-end. I break down what changed across accounting ledgers, practice management, month-end close, tax workflow, tax software, proposal tools, meeting assistants, and generalist AI, including which tools moved into my leader categories and which AI features are actually worth paying attention to. I also explain why MCPs, AI agents, and computer use are becoming the biggest trends in accounting tech, while making the case that firms should still build next yearās stack around proven software instead of unreleased promises.
š° Today's Sponsors Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes Soraban: https://hubs.ly/Q04cNLF80 Financial Cents: sign up at https://hubs.li/Q03mLr_x0 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
// Chapters: 00:00 - The 2026 Tech Update 01:20 - Cutting Through AI Hype 02:05 - The App Categories 03:10 - Accounting Ledgers 04:00 - New Ledger Leaders 04:55 - QuickBooks Online Updates 06:05 - Intuit Accountant Suite 07:20 - Books Close 08:10 - Digits Updates 09:35 - Kik and MCP 11:45 - Practice Management 12:15 - The Four PM Leaders 13:00 - Canopy Updates 16:45 - Canopy Tax Workflow 17:15 - TaxDome Updates 19:20 - Financial Cents Updates 20:30 - Karbon Updates 23:50 - Month-End Close Automation 24:10 - Double Updates 26:20 - Ramp Stack 28:50 - Tax Workflow 29:00 - New Tax Workflow Leaders 29:10 - TallyFor 32:20 - Filed 33:20 - Filed Pro Work 35:05 - Stanford Tax 35:35 - Soraban 36:30 - Truss 37:45 - Tax Software 38:45 - ProConnect Updates 39:15 - Drake Smart Extract 40:15 - UltraTax Updates 41:55 - Proposal Tools 42:35 - Anchor Updates 43:40 - Ignition Updates 44:20 - Meeting Assistants 44:50 - Ping 45:45 - Abacore and Vinyl 46:15 - Better Client Meetings 49:40 - Generalist AI Assistants 50:45 - Claude Updates 52:00 - ChatGPTās Comeback 52:35 - Computer Use AI 54:30 - AI Using Your Apps 55:05 - Grokbot 57:00 - What Actually Changed 57:35 - Lock In Your Tech Stack 58:50 - Closing Thoughts
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
643 449 Accounting Firms That Are For Sale RIGHT NOW [The latest data about accounting firm valuations]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I break down what the current market for accounting firms is telling us about valuation, including which firms are commanding higher multiples, why size alone does not appear to drive value, and what makes virtual and niche firms more attractive to buyers. I also highlight a bizarre new office gadget, discuss how accounting firms should evaluate their IT support for the AI era, and answer š« Mailbag questions about AI readiness, acquisitions, three-tier proposals for simple services, and whether firms should grow organically or through acquisition.
š° Today's Sponsors Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes Soraban: https://hubs.ly/Q04cNLF80 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 Financial Cents: sign up at https://hubs.li/Q03mLr_x0 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
š Grab the firm listing data set here https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1HHxl5KGG-3zApXRbpok8Hkacvn4vE6D_/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=101670352005046800441&rtpof=true&sd=true šŖ Butt cushion https://www.xpolar-tech.com/pages/xpolar-c1 šļø The podcast episode with video advice https://youtu.be/xBitNWRIQeg?si=iDxnhxIlVWrMFHi9
// Chapters: 00:00 - Accounting Firm Valuations 01:40 - 449 Firms for Sale 02:30 - Typical Firm Size 03:25 - Fractional Acquisitions 03:50 - Size vs. Multiple 04:45 - CPA Credentials 05:35 - Premium Firm Characteristics 06:40 - Where Firms Are Listed 07:15 - Private Firm Sales 08:35 - Reasons for Sale 09:05 - Time on Market 11:55 - Valuation Outliers 13:25 - Premium Firm Examples 15:00 - Highly Profitable Firms 15:55 - The Coolest Office Gadget 16:05 - X Polar C1 17:05 - 8 Sleep Comparison 18:00 - Remote Workforce Monitoring 21:34 - š« Mailbag 21:59 - Choosing an AI-Savvy IT Provider 22:29 - ChatGPT and Claude 23:19 - AI Due Diligence 27:00 - Getting Started With Video 27:19 - Make 100 Videos 28:14 - Reduce Production Friction 28:39 - Invest in Lighting 29:04 - AI Video Editing 29:29 - Video as a Competitive Advantage 30:14 - Organic Growth vs. Acquisition 30:49 - Acquisition Efficiencies 31:24 - Firm Size and Valuation 31:44 - Industry vs. Geography 32:14 - Avoiding Capacity Problems 32:49 - AI and Diversification 33:49 - Work Yourself Out of the Firm 34:09 - Three-Tier 1040 Proposals 34:19 - Pricing Simple Services 35:29 - Premium Delivery Tiers 36:29 - Better Than Doing More 37:04 - Scoping Availability 37:44 - Bronze Client Economics 38:04 - Opinionated Proposal Design 40:34 - Firm360 and Intake 41:19 - Choosing the Right Workflow 43:04 - Practice Management Options 43:39 - Acquiring a Small Client Book 44:09 - Building a Side Hustle Firm 44:49 - Seller-Financed Acquisitions 45:14 - Finding A Clients 45:54 - Acquisition as a Launchpad 46:19 - Evolving Your Client List 47:24 - Closing Thoughts
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
642 The Most Important Page On Your Accounting Firm Website [Getting this wrong wastes hours every week]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I break down how accounting firms can make their sales and discovery process less painful by moving repetitive information upstream, introducing pricing earlier, setting better expectations, and using AI meeting transcripts to continuously improve the process. I also launch a new segment, š« Hot Tea, covering Xero drama, Drakeās new extraction tool, the Puzzle acquisition, practice management consolidation, and the growing tension between all-in-one platforms and open ecosystems. Then I answer š« Mailbag questions about remote staff accessing U.S. bank accounts, file management, accountant perfectionism, practice management for larger firms, K-1 and 1099 extraction, and building a tax planning and advisory practice.
š° Today's Sponsors Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes Soraban: https://hubs.ly/Q04cNLF80 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 Financial Cents: sign up at https://hubs.li/Q03mLr_x0 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
// Chapters: 00:00 - Fixing Your Sales Process 01:50 - The Sales Process Problem 02:47 - Stop Calling Everyone Tire Kickers 07:57 - Move Information Upstream 13:06 - Talk Price Earlier 14:00 - Better Discovery Meetings 17:30 - The Monthly Sales Review 21:10 - š« Hot Tea 21:42 - Xero Backlash 24:45 - Drake Smart Extract 24:45 - Puzzle and Accrual 26:50 - Carbon Updates 28:28 - The App Ecosystem War 32:42 - All-in-One vs. Best of Breed 35:15 - Double Updates 36:07 - Testing Instead 38:37 - š« Mailbag 39:00 - Remote Bank Access 43:07 - Accounting File Management 48:07 - Accountant Perfectionism 53:16 - Practice Management for Big Firms 55:37 - K-1 and 1099 Extraction 57:29 - Building a Tax Advisory Practice 01:03:16 - Closing Thoughts
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
641 Two HUGE AI Releases for Accounting Firms [A new generation of shockingly good AI models]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I break down the biggest AI developments of the last two weeks and what they could mean for accounting firms, especially the shift toward AI that can actually operate a computer instead of simply chatting with you. I explain why computer-use AI could be especially powerful in accounting, where firms are constantly stitching together disconnected software, and why security and due diligence become even more important as AI agents gain more autonomy. I also go through š„ Roast My Tech Stack and answer to some of your questions in š Accountant Support.
š° Today's Sponsors Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes Soraban: https://hubs.ly/Q04cNLF80 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 Financial Cents: sign up at https://hubs.li/Q03mLr_x0 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
// Chapters: 00:00 - The AGI Era 01:20 - Artificial General Intelligence 02:30 - Fable 5.1 04:45 - AI Benchmarks 06:10 - GPT6 Astra 07:55 - AI That Uses Your Computer 09:25 - Automating Accounting Work 10:40 - AI Inside Your Apps 12:15 - What Do I Do With My Hands? 13:05 - ChatGPT vs. Claude 13:49 - AI Security Risks 15:59 - Trusting AI Agents 18:00 - Sandboxing AI 19:45 - The Four-Monitor Accountant 21:15 - Talking to Your Computer 22:25 - Learning AI 23:25 - AI Due Diligence 25:35 - š„ Roast My Tech Stack 26:25 - The 3.5-Person Firm 27:54 - Practice Management 28:44 - Month-End Close Automation 32:24 - Drake Tax Hosting 34:09 - Filed vs. GruntWorx 34:49 - GoHighLevel 35:24 - Document Management 36:09 - Digits or Zero? 36:29 - Upfront Pricing 38:03 - Stop Building Software 38:38 - AI and the Tech Stack 40:44 - Submit Your Tech Stack 40:59 - š Accountant Support 41:19 - Acquisition Fatigue 43:14 - When to Acquire Firms 43:59 - Starting With Small Acquisitions 44:04 - Leaving Intuit 45:19 - The Case for AI 46:04 - Moving Beyond QuickBooks 48:59 - Raising Your Prices 49:44 - Migrating Existing Clients 51:19 - Outsourcing Bookkeeping 52:59 - Offshore Bookkeeping 53:58 - AI Bookkeeping 54:43 - Business Valuation Credentials 55:38 - Building a Valuation Practice 56:38 - Is an Accounting Degree Still Worth It? 57:28 - Accounting Beyond Bookkeeping 58:18 - AI Watermarks 59:08 - Talking to Clients About AI 01:00:14 - Closing Thoughts
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
640 I Analyzed 5,000 Accounting Firm Sales - 9 Things To Know [We found some surprising trends]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I dig into data from 5,000 accounting firm listings to see what firms are actually selling for, what drives higher multiples, and which common M&A assumptions donāt hold up. I also break down medical spas as a potential accounting niche in š Niche of the Week and map out how I would enter that market. Then I answer to your questions in š Accountant Support.
š Grab the Accounting Firm Acquisitions spreadsheet I talked about: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1HHxl5KGG-3zApXRbpok8Hkacvn4vE6D_/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=100194317059241398669&rtpof=true&sd=true
š° Today's Sponsors Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes Soraban: https://hubs.ly/Q04cNLF80 MakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats Canopy: Go toĀ https://www.getcanopy.com/jasonĀ and schedule a demo to see for yourself, and Canopy will send you a $75 gift card after your demo Financial Cents: sign up at https://hubs.li/Q03mLr_x0 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
// Chapters: 00:00 - 5,000 Accounting Firm Sales 01:15 - Accounting Firm M&A Data 02:35 - Multiples Are Rising 03:30 - Does Firm Size Matter? 05:45 - Virtual Firm Premium 06:25 - Why Owners Sell 07:15 - Geography and Firm Value 07:45 - Most Firms Sold Are Small 08:55 - Financing Firm Acquisitions 09:20 - Buyer Demand Is Rising 09:40 - Which Services Sell Best? 10:35 - The 1.5x Multiple Myth 14:55 - More M&A Surprises 16:50 - What Firms Actually Sell For 17:40 - š Niche of the Week 18:00 - Medical Spas 19:05 - Are Solo Med Spas Too Small? 20:20 - The Better Med Spa Client 21:25 - Targeting More Mature Med Spas 23:05 - Finding Med Spa Clients 28:30 - Med Spa Referral Channels 30:10 - The Swear Jar 32:30 - Accounting Cornerstone Foundation 32:35 - š Accountant Support 32:55 - Puzzle Acquired by Accrual 35:00 - How Fast Should Your Firm Grow? 41:55 - Claude Skills Security 44:35 - Claude Pro and Client Data 46:40 - Automating QBO Deposits 48:55 - Can Instead Replace UltraTax? 51:55 - App Recommendations 52:00 - Accounting Firm Sales Data
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
639 The 23 Types of Accounting Firm YOU Could Build [And when doing something different makes sense]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
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 š« 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 Iām spending on AI subscriptions, and the environmental tradeoffs of AI.
š„ Want the chance to have your firm anonymously roasted? Complete this form! https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12ag š A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° 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 - Letās Make a Hire 35:48 - š« Mailbag 36:22 - Will AI Replace Juniors? 41:47 - Using AI to Grow 44:17 - Claude + QuickBooks 45:32 - Private AI Models 50:26 - Jasonās AI Spend 52:36 - AIās Environmental Cost 54:36 - Closing Thoughts
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
638 Every Type of VC Accounting Firm Deal, Explained [And whatās available to each size of firm]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
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 š„ Roast a Firm and explain why an extremely specific niche can be a powerful advantage. Then in š 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.
š„ Want the chance to have your firm anonymously roasted? Complete this form! https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12ag š A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° 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 - š„ 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 - š« 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
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
637 9 Apps Every Accounting Firm Needs (that arenāt accounting apps) [These are required apps for accounting firms]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
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 š„ Roast a Firm and explain why an extremely specific niche can be a powerful advantage. Then in š 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.
š„ Hereās that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12agš A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° 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 - š„ 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 - š 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
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
636 The 20 Best Ways to find Accounting Firm Clients, Ranked [Letās throw out the bad strategies]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
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 Iād do with the network I have now, and what Iād do if I were starting with no connections at all. Then in the š« Mailbag, I tackle keeping premium clients after their original pain disappears, automating phone and messaging workflows, AIās impact on bookkeeping, preventing AI hallucinations, and whether the future of accounting really means everyone has to become an advisor.
š„ Hereās that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12agš A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° 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 - š„ Roast A Firm 39:00 - Starting With Jasonās Network 44:15 - The First Five Steps 45:20 - Starting With No Network 52:20 - Building a Lead Magnet 54:48 - š« 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
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
635 There Are 4 Types Of Accounting Firm [Which of these are YOU?]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§Ā Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
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 Nadellaās 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 š Accountant Support section.
š„ Hereās that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12agš A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° 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 toĀ https://www.getcanopy.com/jasonĀ 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 - š¤ 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 - š 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
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
634 This Is The Worst Case AI Scenario for Accounting Firms [How to prepare for what might come]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
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 Nadellaās 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 š« Mailbag section.
š That article from Satya https://snscratchpad.com/posts/frontier-ecosystem/
š„ Hereās that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12agš A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° 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 - Softwareās AI Disruption 06:00 - What Becomes Your Firmās 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 - š¤ 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 Clientās AI 44:25 - š 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
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
633 8 Brutal PRICING Truths for Accounting Firms [Let me fix your pricing!]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
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 listenerās 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.
š„ Hereās that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12agš A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° 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 Isnāt Evil 07:39 - Truth #4: Attract Better Clients, Donāt 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: Donāt Lock In Day One Pricing 22:40 - š„ Roast a Listenerās Proposal 31:47 - Building Better Three-Tier Proposals 38:23 - šļø Tales from the Vault: Getting Real Online 42:03 - š¬ 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
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
632 How Every Accounting Firm Changes After 6 Employees [You must plan for this!]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
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.
š„ Hereās that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12agš A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° 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 Firmās Identity 21:29 - š¹ 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 - āļø 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
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
631 The Psychology Of Building A Successful Accounting Firm [What todayās most successful accountants do different]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
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 šļø 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 š„ 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.
š„ Hereās that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12agš A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° 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 - šļø 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 - š„ Unsolicited Takedowns 31:28 - The Whisper Flow Productivity Flex 34:00 - AI Usage Is Not Productivity 38:17 - š¬ Mailbag 38:29 - Can Claude Use Judyās 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
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
630 The Workflow Secret Driving Profitable Accounting Firms [What the best firms are doing today]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
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 šļø Accounting Firms Gone Wild, where I review unusual accounting firms currently for sale, and answer listener questions in š¬ Mailbag.
š„ Hereās that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12agš A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° 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 - šļø Accounting Firms Gone Wild 34:35 - š¬ 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
š¼ 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/
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
629 This Data Shows The TECH Accounting Firms Are Using [New data from the worldās most advanced accounting firms]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I break down exclusive data from more some of the most progressive accounting firms to reveal which tech stacks firms actually use at every stage of growth. I also roast a listenerās proposed tech stack, share practical AI and marketing recommendations, answer questions about KPIs, niching, Google Business Profiles, accounting careers in the AI era, and explain how I create content for YouTube.
š„ Hereās that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12agš A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° 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 - Biggest Tech Stack Survey Yet 01:01 - Practice Management by Firm Size 06:05 - Most-Loved Accounting Apps 08:49 - Marketing That Actually Works 11:20 - Delegate Your Inbox Smarter 13:13 - AIās Hidden Data Advantage 16:15 - š„ Roast My Tech Stack 18:53 - Workflow vs Practice Management 20:47 - Bookkeeping or Tax First? 22:35 - AI Accounting Stack Picks 24:05 - Build a Smarter Tech Stack 30:53 - AI Video Editing with Claude 34:13 - š¬ Mailbag 34:34 - Best KPIs for Firm Owners 38:34 - Finding the Right Niche 43:08 - Do You Need Google Reviews? 45:04 - Growing Beyond $750K 48:36 - AI Skills for New Accountants 51:00 - Behind My YouTube Workflow 53:14 - Realize Community
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
628 13 Ways An Admin Should Support Your Accounting Firm [Why your admin may be your most important hire]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I explain why admins are the most underleveraged people inside accounting firms and share 13 practical ways to use them to increase capacity, improve client service, and free up your professional staff. I also count down my top 10 accounting conferences still happening in 2026, then wrap up with a rapid-fire āThis or Thatā Mailbag covering firm growth, tech, AI, conferences, and practice management decisions.
š„ Hereās that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12agš A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° 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 - Why Admins Matter More Than Ever 01:28 - The Power of Deskilling Work 05:45 - #1 Information Gathering 08:27 - #2 Client Tech Support 09:52 - #3 Phone Triage & Client Service 14:16 - Detail Review & Offshore Admins 17:22 - Admins as Project Managers 18:42 - Build Pods Around Admins 20:42 - Let Admins Run Your Inbox 22:29 - Grow Admins Into Accountants 26:53 - š¤ Nerd Corner ā Top 10 Accounting Conferences 37:14 - Mailbag
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
627 How Accountants Can Build A Personal Brand in 2026 [The best thing you can do for your career (and firm)]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I make the case that your personal brand may become your greatest career insurance policy in an AI-first world. I explain why most accountants remain professionally invisible, how the internet has fundamentally changed the way opportunities are created, and why becoming known for something incredibly specific can unlock a level of leverage that wasnāt possible a decade ago. I also roast a real accounting firm thatās grown through acquisitions, share my thoughts on seasonal tax firms, niche positioning, and staffing, and answer Mailbag questions about building AI apps, AI security, accounting firm acquisitions, practice management software, automation, and what the future looks like if AI can do the accounting work for us.
š„ Hereās that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12agš A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° Today's Sponsors Soraban: https://www.soraban.com/ MakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats Canopy: getcanopy.com/jason Schedule a demo to see for yourself, and receive a $75 gift card after your demo Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes
// Chapters: 00:00 - Why Personal Branding Matters More Than Ever 01:37 - Welcome to the Podcast 02:03 - Stop Being Professionally Invisible 04:12 - The Real Meaning of Personal Branding 06:01 - Why Visibility Creates Opportunity 07:44 - Finding a Game You Can Win 10:02 - Why Specificity Beats Reach 12:09 - Finding Your Unique Voice 13:06 - Turning Content Into Opportunity 17:09 - Will AI Make Personal Brands More Valuable? 20:00 - Escaping the Hour-for-Dollar Trap 22:04 - The Easiest Way to Stand Out 23:56 - Roast a Firm 24:42 - The Story Behind This Firm 29:49 - The Challenge of Buying Other Firms' Leftovers 35:08 - Choosing Between Seasonal and Year-Round Work 36:03 - Finding Seasonal Tax Talent 39:08 - Going Deeper Into Your Niche 41:59 - Mailbag 42:34 - Building AI Apps Inside Your Firm 48:00 - Buying an Accounting Firm 50:20 - Replacing Sage Intacct 52:03 - Building Your Own AI Reconciliation Tool 53:22 - Is Claude Cowork Secure? 54:42 - Can Instead Replace Traditional Tax Software? 57:14 - Specialized AI Agents vs Claude 1:00:00 - Do You Really Need More Automation? 1:01:54 - Choosing Between Canopy and TaxDome 1:04:20 - What Happens When AI Can Do Everything? 1:05:56 - Closing Thoughts
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
626 From $100/mo to $500k/yr - How To Sell Big Accounting Proposals [The story of how I outgrew commodity pricing]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I share the journey that took me from struggling to land $100/month bookkeeping clients to signing my firmās first million-dollar engagement. I explain what actually separates firms that command premium fees from those stuck competing on bookkeeping, why the biggest opportunity is becoming an outsourced accounting department instead of selling accounting tasks, and how entrepreneurs think differently about value than accountants do. I also dive into the opportunities and risks of using AI to automate desktop and cloud applications, discuss where AI agents fit into accounting firms today, and answer Mailbag questions about capturing institutional knowledge, practice management, AI adoption, offshore teams, tax return reviews, and building a successful accounting career in the age of AI.
š„ Hereās that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12agš A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° Today's Sponsors Financial Cents: Book a demo here: https://hubs.li/Q03PYVrp0 and use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users. Soraban: https://www.soraban.com/ MakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats Canopy: getcanopy.com/jason Schedule a demo to see for yourself, and receive a $75 gift card after your demo Karbon: https://karbonhq.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=jason-staats Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes
// Chapters: 00:00 - From $100 Clients to $1M Engagements 01:37 - Welcome to the Podcast 03:03 - Why Businesses Pay $40K/Month 04:50 - The Mindset Shift That Changed Everything 10:03 - Becoming an Outsourced Accounting Department 17:54 - Why Specialization Wins 23:57 - Nerd Corner: AI Computer Use 24:09 - OpenAI's Computer Use Models 25:23 - The Risks of AI Agents 27:20 - Claude vs. ChatGPT Computer Use 28:28 - Deploying AI Agents Safely 29:54 - Will AI Replace Automation Tools? 32:11 - Browser vs. Desktop Automation 41:29 - Let's Make a Hire 43:35 - Mailbag 43:53 - Capturing Institutional Knowledge 46:13 - Getting Your Team to Adopt AI 50:47 - Introducing AI to Offshore Teams 51:40 - AI vs. Hiring More Staff 53:06 - My Biggest Practice Management Mistake 57:21 - Why I Built Realize 59:56 - Coaching vs. Finding the Right Peer Group 1:00:54 - Helping Staff Learn a Client Faster 1:01:50 - AI for Checklists & Tax Reviews 1:03:56 - Building Repeatable AI Workflows 1:05:17 - Advice for New Accounting Graduates 1:09:52 - Closing Thoughts
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
625 Should Accounting Firms Build Their Own Software? [Actually.. hereās where it makes sense]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I break down what firms are actually creating, from custom integrations and reporting tools to trial balance workflows, and give my red-light/green-light take on whatās worth building. I also speedrun the latest AI releases, talk through whether small firms really need a practice management system, and answer questions about AI costs, offshoring, browser automation, and preparing your team for an AI-first accounting firm.
š„ Hereās that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12agš A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° Today's Sponsors Financial Cents: Book a demo here: https://hubs.li/Q03PYVrp0 and use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users. Soraban: https://www.soraban.com/ MakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats Canopy: getcanopy.com/jason Schedule a demo to see for yourself, and receive a $75 gift card after your demo Karbon: https://karbonhq.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=jason-staats Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes
// Chapters: 00:00 - Building Your Own Firm Software 02:07 - How Firms Are Building Software 04:08 - What Accounting Firms Are Building 10:17 - What Should You Actually Build? 18:13 - What Custom AI Apps Look Like 25:26 - Nerd Corner: AI Updates 26:00 - ChatGPT Work 26:52 - Claude Combines Chat and Cowork 29:17 - Grok Challenges Claude 31:04 - GPT Live and Voice AI 37:30 - OpenAIās New AI Models 45:29 - Mailbag 45:53 - Getting AI Past Bot Restrictions 49:03 - Do You Need a Practice Management System? 54:42 - Building Referral Relationships 57:32 - The Rising Cost of AI 1:00:08 - Finding Time to Implement AI 1:03:00 - What Happened When Clients Learned We Offshored 1:07:48 - Automating Home Depot Receipts 1:09:58 - Training Teams for an AI-First Firm 1:15:16 - The Future of Accounting Firms
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
624 The Faster Client Onboarding Method [Where most firms waste time]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I wrap up the Dirty Dozen series by tackling one of the highest-leverage areas in any accounting firm: client onboarding. I break down the four biggest onboarding mistakes, explain how the first 90 days shape the entire client relationship, and share ways to standardize the process without losing the human touch. Then I switch to hiring and career growth, how firms can attract ambitious people, how employees know when itās time to leave, and why AI wonāt replace great talent. Finally, I answer questions on pricing, AI tools, tax workflow automation, practice management software, IT providers, starting a firm, camera setups, and much more.
š„ Hereās that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12agš A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° Today's Sponsors Financial Cents: Book a demo here: https://hubs.li/Q03PYVrp0 and use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users. Soraban: https://www.soraban.com/ MakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats Canopy: getcanopy.com/jason Schedule a demo to see for yourself, and receive a $75 gift card after your demo Karbon: https://karbonhq.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=jason-staats Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes
// Chapters: 00:00 0 Client onboarding matters most 01:55 - Dirty Dozen finale 03:20 - Trap #1: Bad client filtering 06:10 - Trap #2: Wrong onboarding owner 11:20 - Trap #3: Chasing client documents 16:40 - Trap #4: Standardize before automating 21:05 - Hiring firms people wonāt leave 22:15 - When should you leave your firm? 38:00 - Mailbag begins 38:40 - Pricing and close rates 41:50 - AI tax workflow & Filed 47:10 - Starting your own bookkeeping firm 50:15 - Most surprising AI use cases 52:30 - Jasonās T-shirt recommendation 54:20 - Self-hosting AI models 55:45 - āAccounting department in a boxā 57:35 - Copilot vs Claude 01:00:35 - Replacing Thomson Reuters File Cabinet 01:02:50 - Camera, lighting & microphone setup 01:05:25 - Closing thoughts
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
623 Why Claude in Slack is DANGEROUS To Accounting Firms [The beginning of a troubling AI era]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§Ā Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I explore why Anthropic embedding Claude directly into Slack may be one of the biggest AI shifts weāve seen yetāand why it makes me both excited and uncomfortable. I explain how goals, MCP connections, and Slack integration could eventually make AI the operating layer of an entire company. I also share three creative AI workflows accounting firms are already using, discuss whether QuickBooks and Xero are losing their grip on the market, answer questions about Claude, onboarding bookkeeping clients, hiring with AI, and explain why firms should rethink their workflow statuses for the AI era.
š„ Hereās that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12ag š A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° Today's Sponsors Financial Cents: Book a demo here: https://hubs.li/Q03PYVrp0 and use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users. Soraban: https://www.soraban.com/ MakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats Canopy: getcanopy.com/jasonĀ Schedule a demo to see for yourself, and receive a $75 gift card after your demo Karbon: https://karbonhq.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=jason-staats Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes
šĀ Hereās that service library resource: https://youtu.be/T8rQzr3ogkM?si=DRjYWbe-2LobQcuS šThe Alex Hormozi book I mentioned: https://www.amazon.com/100M-Offers-People-Stupid-Saying-ebook/dp/B099QVG1H8
// Chapters: 00:00 - Claudeās Trojan Horse? 01:32 - Goals Change Everything 05:29 - Claude Inside Slack 10:34 - Is AI Running the Firm? 15:31 - Why Software Developers Matter 17:35 - Why MCP Wins 19:48 - 3 Wild AI Use Cases 20:23 - AI Proposal Generator 24:55 - AI Client Reporting 28:57 - AI Trial Balance Builder 36:30 - Mailbag Begins 38:13 - Will QuickBooks & Xero Lose? 41:18 - Claude Chat vs Cowork 46:58 - Best Alex Hormozi Book 48:16 - Claude Projects Best Practices 50:05 - Is ChatGPT Dead? 51:48 - Pricing Cleanup Work 56:27 - AI Resume Screening 59:38 - Rebuilding Workflow Statuses for AI
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
622 Accounting Firms: Watch This Before Selling Advisory [What The Industry Isnāt Saying About The Future]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I explain why I think advisory is often positioned the wrong way inside accounting firms and share five common traps that stop firms from building higher value services. I also cover Claude Fable returning to Claude, what its new pricing means, how Iād build a bookkeeping practice from scratch today, AI powered bookkeeping and review workflows, choosing practice management software, meeting transcript tools, Copilot versus Claude, training the next generation of accountants, and whether Intuit is falling behind.
š„ Hereās that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12agš A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° Today's Sponsors Financial Cents: Book a demo here: https://hubs.li/Q03PYVrp0 and use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users. Soraban: https://www.soraban.com/ MakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats Canopy: getcanopy.com/jason Schedule a demo to see for yourself, and receive a $75 gift card after your demo Karbon: https://karbonhq.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=jason-staats Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes
// Chapters: 00:00 - Is Advisory Really the Future? 01:43 - The Advisory Hype Problem 04:05 - Trap #1: Imposter Syndrome 09:31 - Trap #2: Giving Premium Work Away 16:10 - Trap #3: Death by Deadlines 19:07 - Trap #4: Selling Favors Instead of Products 22:25 - Trap #5: Sell Outcomes, Not Coaching 28:43 - Claude Fable Is Back 38:31 - Mailbag 38:58 - Best AI Meeting Transcript Tools 41:44 - Which Accounting Ledger Would I Choose Today? 44:10 - How Do You Avoid Buying the Wrong Software? 49:58 - Do You Actually Use All These AI Tools? 52:08 - Should Firms Standardize on Microsoft Copilot? 53:43 - How Good Is AI at Reviewing Tax Returns? 55:03 - Do File Naming Conventions Really Matter? 56:39 - Will AI Create an Accounting Knowledge Gap? 01:00:20 - Can Claude Help When Intuit Breaks?
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
621 The 9 Most Asked Questions About Accounting Firm AI [AI for accounting firms]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I answer the nine AI questions I hear most often from accounting firms, covering how to securely use AI with client data, why I recommend Claude over ChatGPT and Copilot, where firms should start with AI, and practical workflows for QuickBooks, spreadsheets, email, and tax software. I also share my thoughts on the latest IRS AI guidance and why I disagree that AI savings should automatically lower client fees, then wrap up with a Mailbag on bank statement automation, QuickBooks MCPs, IT security, work papers, value pricing, and why I believe AI will make human expertise even more valuable.
š„ Hereās that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12agš A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° Today's Sponsors Financial Cents: Book a demo here: https://hubs.li/Q03PYVrp0 and use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users. Soraban: https://www.soraban.com/ MakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats Canopy: getcanopy.com/jason Schedule a demo to see for yourself, and receive a $75 gift card after your demo
// Chapters: 00:00 - The 9 Biggest AI Questions 01:43 - AI & Client Data Security 06:22 - Why Claude Beats Copilot 08:04 - Should You Switch from ChatGPT? 08:17 - Where Should You Start with AI? 10:50 - Building Your First AI Agent 14:49 - Best Beginner AI Use Cases 17:00 - AI & QuickBooks Automation 20:56 - Can AI Automate Tax Software? 23:20 - Should Clients Know You Use AI? 25:37 - IRS Says AI Should Lower Fees? 32:23 - Mailbag 32:48 - How Do I Automatically Fetch Bank Statements? 38:09 - Secure Client Credentials Without Sharing Passwords 40:44 - Are Traditional Work Papers Still Worth It? 44:05 - How Do You Handle AI Discount Requests? 47:22 - Can Claude Post Journal Entries to QuickBooks? 52:04 - Is Thomson Reuters Falling Behind on AI? 54:06 - IT Security for a New Fractional CFO Firm 56:20 - Does AI Kill Creativity and Advisory? 01:02:00 - Closing thoughts
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
620 The Real Reason Clients and Staff Resist Change [Hereās what to do about it]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I break down five change management traps inside accounting firms, from overwhelming the team with too much change to letting C and D clients block the firm you actually want to build. I also talk about niche opportunities in soccer and space accounting, recurring AI workflows, Intuitās stock drop, simplifying client onboarding, rolling out Claude to a team, trial balance workflows, and how large a solo AI-powered firm could become.
š¤ Iām going live! Grab your tickets here: https://www.jasononfirms.com/events š„ Hereās that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12agš A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° Today's Sponsors Cloud Accounting Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates Soraban: https://www.soraban.com/ Canopy: getcanopy.com/jason Schedule a demo to see for yourself, and receive a $75 gift card after your demo Financial Cents: Book a demo here: https://hubs.li/Q03PYVrp0 and use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users. MakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats
// Chapters: 00:00 - Getting Everyone Aligned 01:19 - The Dirty Dozen Returns 02:12 - Change Management Traps 02:18 - Trap #1: Change Overload 06:10 - Trap #2: Incentives Gap 09:00 - Trap #3: Quiet Skeptics 15:17 - Trap #4: Carve-Out Clients 18:17 - Trap #5: Adoption Letdown 21:49 - Change Management Recap 22:27 - Accountants Power The World Cup 22:39 - Niche Of The Week 24:33 - Passion-Driven Firm Niches 27:47 - Space Accounting Returns 30:58 - Mailbag Begins 31:29 - Building Recurring AI Workflows 34:23 - Should I Sell Intuit Stock? 38:07 - Simplifying Client Onboarding 42:13 - Rolling Out Claude To A Team 44:42 - Trial Balance After Engagement Manager 49:27 - Fear Of AI Tool Switching 51:05 - How Big Can A Solo AI Firm Get?
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
619 The NEW AI Agent Approach for Accounting Firms [An entirely new AI agent platform for firms]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I explore the sudden rise of AI agent platforms built specifically for accounting firms and ask whether Claude will remain the long-term home for firm-built agents. I compare launches from Ramp, Digits, Pilot, Puzzle, Mercury, Canopy, and Double, then answer a listener question about what firm owners should focus on during the summer months. In the mailbag, I cover software firms should avoid,Ā practice management system selection, and what to do when Claude makes mistakes in bookkeeping workflows.
š¤ Iām going live! Grab your tickets here: https://www.jasononfirms.com/events š„ Hereās that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12agš A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° Today's Sponsors Cloud Accounting Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates Soraban: https://www.soraban.com/ Canopy: getcanopy.com/jason Schedule a demo to see for yourself, and receive a $75 gift card after your demo Financial Cents: Book a demo here: https://hubs.li/Q03PYVrp0 and use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users. MakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats
āļø Tools I mentioned -Ramp Stack https://ramp.com/lp2/stack -Digits Agentic Close https://digits.com/blog/agentic-close/ -Pilot Meridian https://meridian.pilot.com/ -Puzzle AI Close https://puzzle.io/ai-close -Canopy Coworker https://www.getcanopy.com/coworker/ -Mercury Command https://mercury.com/command -Double https://doublehq.com/
// Chapters: 00:00 - The AI Agent Gold Rush 07:58 - Where Agents Actually Live 12:11 - The Future Of Firm Automation 15:31 - Summer Priorities For Firms 18:36 - Take A Break This Summer 20:17 - Make Big Tech Changes 22:04 - Building Better Systems 26:51 - Planning For Growth 30:57 - Hiring Before Busy Season 31:53 - Strategic Thinking Time 33:32 - Mailbag 33:43 - Any Software To Completely Avoid? 36:22 - AI Influencers & Phantom Products 40:50 - Should Firms Try Instead? 42:18 - What Happened To SmartVault? 46:11 - Which Practice Management System Should I Choose? 49:30 - What If Claude Makes Mistakes? 54:01 - From How-To To What-To-Do 55:00 - The Future Of Space Accounting
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
618 Accounting Firms: Stop Taking New Clients. Watch This First. [How to know when youāre digging yourself a deeper hole]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§Ā Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I break down the six biggest traps accounting firm owners fall into when trying to build a higher-quality, more profitable client list. I explain why concentration risk is often overblown, why firms struggle to commit to a niche, how big-money clients can distract you from your ideal business, and why regularly curating your client list is one of the most important jobs of a firm owner. I also answer questions about firing clients through pricing increases, whether prompt libraries still matter in the AI era, partnering with specialists for services like sales tax and payroll, and what I think about Claudeās QuickBooks Online integration and the future of AI-powered accounting workflows.
š¤Ā Iām going live! Grab your tickets here: https://www.jasononfirms.com/events š„ Hereās that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12ag š A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° Today's Sponsors Cloud Accounting Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates Soraban: https://www.soraban.com/ Canopy: getcanopy.com/jasonĀ Schedule a demo to see for yourself, and receive a $75 gift card after your demo Financial Cents: Book a demo here: https://hubs.li/Q03PYVrp0 and use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users. MakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats
// Chapters: 00:00 - The Client List Asset 01:27 - The Dirty Dozen Returns 02:23 - Trap #1: Concentration Risk Fear 06:38 - Trap #2: The Commitment Gap 09:10 - Trap #3: Big Money Clients 10:28 - Trap #4: Curation Hesitation 13:09 - Trap #5: Big Fish vs Minnows 18:17 - Trap #6: The Machine Problem 22:24 - Protecting The Client List 23:18 - Mailbag 23:44 - Raising Prices to Lose Bad Clients 26:54 - Are Prompt Libraries Still Worth It? 30:17 - Goals vs Prompts in AI 32:07 - Strongest AI Use Cases Today 36:14 - Process Improvement Career Paths 38:14 - Sales Tax Apps for Ecommerce 43:18 - Claude + QuickBooks Integration 52:35 - Tour Wrap-Up & Community Thanks
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
617 5 More AI Use Cases for Accounting Firms [Number three is incredible]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I share five real AI workflows that accounting firms are already using in production, from reading handwritten checks and verifying tax transcripts to automating audit checklists, preparing spreadsheet workpapers, and building AI-powered email dashboards. I explain how firms should think about moving from AI assistants to AI-driven workflows and why documentation, goals, and process design matter more than prompts. Then I review an accounting firm built by a non-accountant, discuss pricing and niche strategy, and answer questions.
š¤ Iām going live! Grab your tickets here: https://www.jasononfirms.com/events š„ Hereās that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12agš A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° Today's Sponsors Cloud Accounting Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates Soraban: https://www.soraban.com/ Canopy: getcanopy.com/jason Schedule a demo to see for yourself, and receive a $75 gift card after your demo Financial Cents: Book a demo here: https://hubs.li/Q03PYVrp0 and use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users. MakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats
// Chapters: 00:00 - Five AI Workflows Firms Use Today 18:01 - AI-Powered Email Dashboards 20:24 - Roast a Firm 31:30 - Mailbag 35:20 - Buying Legacy Firms in the AI Era 49:45 - Mailbag 2 59:45 - Closing thoughts
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
616 Your Accounting Firm Pricing Is Broken (Hereās how to fix it)
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I break down the six biggest pricing traps holding accounting firms back and explain practical ways to fix them. We talk about moving beyond hourly billing, improving proposal design, avoiding underpricing, and building pricing systems that actually support profitability. I also share my reaction to the latest AI developments, including why new models like Fable have me questioning just how quickly the landscape is changing. We discuss what AI means for accounting firms today, where it creates leverage, and why pricing becomes even more important as AI reduces the relationship between effort and value.
š¤ Iām going live! Grab your tickets here: https://www.jasononfirms.com/events š„ Hereās that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12agš A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° Today's Sponsors Cloud Accounting Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates Soraban: https://www.soraban.com/ Canopy: getcanopy.com/jason Schedule a demo to see for yourself, and receive a $75 gift card after your demo Financial Cents: Book a demo here: https://hubs.li/Q03PYVrp0 and use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users. MakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
615 The First $1B Accounting Firm Rollup [What this means for small accounting firms]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I break down Thrive Holdingsā $1B accounting firm rollup, why OpenAI has a stake in it, and what this could mean for small firms. I explain why traditional rollups often fail, why AI may change the economics, and why client relationships still matter most. Then I walk through how an accounting firm could build a niche around indie authors, including choke points, live events, software vendors, and influencers. I also answer questions on moving clients from owner to staff, AI tax prep disappointments, whether Iām paid by Claude, MCPs for practice management, speech-to-text tools, CPA value, and AI disclosure to clients.
š¹ Hereās that video to help build your service library https://youtu.be/T8rQzr3ogkM?si=aCzmb_rfp0FmNGvb
š¤ Iām going live! Grab your tickets here: https://www.jasononfirms.com/events š„ Hereās that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12agš A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° Today's Sponsors Cloud Accounting Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates Soraban: https://www.soraban.com/ Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes Canopy: getcanopy.com/jason Schedule a demo to see for yourself, and receive a $75 gift card after your demo
// Chapters: 00:00 - The $1B AI accounting bet 22:41 - Nerd Corner 35:34 - Mailbag begins 35:53 - Getting clients to trust your team 38:22 - Why AI tax prep disappointed 46:37 - MCPs and the future of firm tech 55:00 - Do clients need AI disclosure?
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
614 The Three Types of Accounting Firm AI [And where to deploy each in your accounting firm]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§Ā Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I break down the three most likely AI futures for accounting firms, general-purpose AI assistants like Claude, AI assistants connected to software through MCPs, and AI embedded directly inside accounting software. I explain the pros, risks, and strategic implications of each approach, especially around security, software buying decisions, and vendor lock-in. I also share real-world AI use cases from firms around the country, answer questions about hiring AI specialists, security best practices, offshore staffing compliance, and helping teams navigate AI-related job fears.Ā
š¹Ā Hereās that video to help build your service library https://youtu.be/T8rQzr3ogkM?si=aCzmb_rfp0FmNGvb
š¤Ā Iām going live! Grab your tickets here: https://www.jasononfirms.com/events š„ Hereās that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12agš A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° Today's Sponsors Cloud Accounting Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates Soraban: https://www.soraban.com/ Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes Canopy: getcanopy.com/jasonĀ Schedule a demo to see for yourself, and receive a $75 gift card after your demo
// Chapters: 00:00 - Three AI Futures for Accounting Firms 09:04 - MCPs and the Future of Software 24:25 - AI Built Into Accounting Software 34:11 - Which AI Future Is Most Likely? 35:54 - Nerd Corner 44:31 - Mailbag 44:31 - Escaping the Capacity and Hiring Cycle 52:05 - Offshore Hiring and Cloud Accountant Staffing 59:26 - AI Hiring, Security, and Team Concerns
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
613 Stop Writing SOPs for Your Accounting Firm. Do This Instead [The NEW way to build your SOPs]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I argue that AI has fundamentally changed how accounting firms should think about SOPs, documentation, and standardization. I walk through six common documentation traps and explain why many traditional best practices are already becoming obsolete as AI agents can create, maintain, improve, and even execute processes themselves. Then I answer questions on CRMs vs practice management systems, building a niche advisory service, creating culture in remote teams, QuickBooks Desktop vs modern AI workflows, software being replaced by Claude, AI security for small firms, and whether QuickBooks Desktop might oddly become relevant again in an AI-first world.
š¹ Hereās that video to help build your service library https://youtu.be/T8rQzr3ogkM?si=aCzmb_rfp0FmNGvb
š¤ Iām going live! Grab your tickets here: https://www.jasononfirms.com/events š„ Hereās that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12agš A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° Today's Sponsors Cloud Accounting Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates Soraban: https://www.soraban.com/ Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes Canopy: getcanopy.com/jason Schedule a demo to see for yourself, and receive a $75 gift card after your demo
// Chapters: 00:00 - AI and the Future of SOPs 05:25 - Six Documentation Traps 17:11 - AI Agents and Process Management 30:32 - Mailbag 30:56 - Do Accounting Firms Need a CRM? 37:18 - Finding Clients for a New Niche 41:10 - Building Culture on Remote Teams 43:24 - QuickBooks Desktop vs Enterprise Suite 45:44 - How to Niche Your Accounting Firm 47:28 - Software Being Replaced by AI 51:24 - AI Security for Small Firms 56:06 - Which AI Models Should Firms Use? 57:48 - Is QuickBooks Desktop the Future?
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
612 The Accountant Desk Setup: A Guide [10 tips to dial in your battle station]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I break down the 10 commandments of an accountantās desk setup and why your office environment directly affects productivity. I cover monitor limits, desk wheels, underside mounting, monitor arms, eye level, cable management, keyboards, team hardware standardization, chairs, lighting, and CO2 levels. Then I play Hot or Not with office trends like standing desks, gaming chairs, glass desktops, L-shaped desks, and keyboard trays.
š¤ Iām going live! Grab your tickets here: https://www.jasononfirms.com/events š„ Hereās that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12agš A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° Today's Sponsors Cloud Accounting Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates Soraban: https://www.soraban.com/ Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes Canopy: getcanopy.com/jason Schedule a demo to see for yourself, and receive a $75 gift card after your demo
// Chapters: 00:00 The accountant desk setup problem 01:02 Why office setup affects productivity 02:00 Commandment 1: know your limits 05:23 Commandments 2ā3: wheels + underside mounting 08:55 Sponsors: hiring + tax workflow 10:53 Commandments 4ā8: monitors, cables, keyboards, hardware 18:57 Sponsors: Canopy + Verito 21:14 Commandments 9ā10: chairs, lighting, and CO2 25:17 Hot or Not: office trends 33:01 Final desk setup advice
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
611 The Most Important Software in your Accounting Firm [And the cost of getting it wrong]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I break down why practice management systems become such a nightmare for accounting firms and the six biggest traps firms fall into when selecting, migrating, and rolling out a PM platform. I explain why thereās no perfect system, why demos are misleading, how firms overload their teams with change, and why client portals fail adoption. Then I speedrun listener questions on AI pricing, niching risk, automating client back offices, workflow bottlenecks, and whether AI threatens accounting firms. I also debut a new segment.
š¤ Iām going live! Grab your tickets here: https://www.jasononfirms.com/events š„ Hereās that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12agš A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° Today's Sponsors Cloud Accounting Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates Soraban: https://www.soraban.com/ Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes Canopy: getcanopy.com/jason Schedule a demo to see for yourself, and receive a $75 gift card after your demo
// Chapters: 00:00 - Practice management systems are high-stakes 01:21 - Dirty Dozen+ PM headaches 02:01 - The 6 biggest PM traps 14:17 - PM setup, migration, and adoption mistakes 24:07 - Roast My Podcast Reviews 31:24 - Mailbag 32:02 - Human vs AI accounting work 41:13 - Is AI replacing accounting firms? 43:49 - Does AI make niching riskier? 48:56 - AI automation opportunities in client workflows 51:15 - Why more accountants are starting firms 54:19 - Closing thoughts
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
610 Most Accounting Firms Are Using Claude Wrong [5 Steps To Automate Agentic Work]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I break down how firms can move from live Claude conversations to AI workflows that run in the background. I walk through five levels of AI autonomy, from simple chats and scheduled tasks to hosted routines and managed agents. Then I roast a $700K bookkeeping/CFO firm dealing with operational heaviness, SOP sprawl, niche opportunities, and scaling pains. I also answer questions on custom AI tools, Claude for Small Business, referral partnerships, where to build agents first, email triage, and whether old-school firms are worth buying.
š¤ Iām going live! Grab your tickets here: https://www.jasononfirms.com/events š„ Hereās that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12agš A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° Today's Sponsors Cloud Accounting Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates Soraban: https://www.soraban.com/ Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes Canopy: getcanopy.com/jason Schedule a demo to see for yourself, and receive a $75 gift card after your demo
// Chapters: 00:00 - AI in the walls 02:12 - Five levels of AI autonomy 06:17 - Claude Code routines + webhooks 14:18 - Managed agents explained 18:20 - Roast a $700K bookkeeping firm 27:45 - SOPs, systems, and standardization 33:07 - Local vs national niche strategy 35:28 - Mailbag 35:45 - Custom AI tools vs software 46:03 - Where to build AI agents first 48:25 - AI email management 52:58 - Buying old-school firms 56:09 - Closing thoughts
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
609 6 Blockers to Adopting AI In Accounting Firms [And how to build an AI native accounting firm]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I break down the six biggest blockers keeping accounting firms from becoming AI native. I explain why Claude is the best starting point right now, why AI adoption needs daily team habits, and why incentives matter more than training. I also cover pricing fears, staff anxiety, AI replacing task-based work, and how firm owners should think about their responsibility to help teams adapt.
š¤ Iām going live! Grab your tickets here: https://www.jasononfirms.com/events š„ Hereās that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12agš A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° Today's Sponsors Cloud Accounting Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates Soraban: https://www.soraban.com/ Makershub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats Canopy: getcanopy.com/jason Schedule a demo to see for yourself, and receive a $75 gift card after your demo Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes Missive: https://missiveapp.com/jason
// Chapters: 00:00 - Why firms are struggling with AI 02:54 - The 6 blockers to becoming AI native 10:02 - Why teams resist AI adoption 17:30 - AI pricing fears + job replacement 29:23 - Mailbag 44:15 - Will AI kill accounting work? 49:31 - Content strategy + scaling content 53:36 - Closing thoughts
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
608 6 Claude Cowork Use-Cases for Accounting Firms [Accounting firms are actually doing this!]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§Ā Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I break down six real AI use cases accounting firms are actively using right now, from Claude creating SOPs from screen recordings and consolidating multi-entity financials, to tax checklist automation, document renaming, crypto dashboards, and AI-powered prospecting. I also explain where AI agents still break down, especially around month-end close document collection and browser automation. Then I answer questions on pricing confidence, niching, fast growth vs profitability, hallucinations, personal finance workflows, and whether firms should master app-specific AI or focus on cross-platform AI agents like Claude Cowork.
š¤Ā Iām going live! Grab your tickets here: https://www.jasononfirms.com/events š„ Hereās that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12agš A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° Today's Sponsors Cloud Accounting Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates Soraban: https://www.soraban.com/ Makershub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats Canopy: getcanopy.com/jasonĀ Schedule a demo to see for yourself, and receive a $75 gift card after your demo Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes Missive: https://missiveapp.com/jason
// Chapters: 00:00 - Six real AI use cases for firms 07:40 - AI checklists + hallucination risks 17:24 - AI prospecting + newsletter CTA 21:14 - Nerd Corner: month-end close chaos 35:34 - Mailbag 35:55 - Pricing confidence + charging more 42:28 - Fast growth vs profitability 49:16 - Personal finance + Claude vs Digits 54:18 - AI hallucinations explained 59:42 - Learn Claude or app-specific AI 01:01:17 - Closing thoughts
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
607 Stop Trying To Land LEADS In Your Accounting Firm. Do This Instead. [This is putting accounting firms out of business]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I break down why accounting firms donāt just need more clients, they need better clients. I explain why referrals, low pricing, weak niche positioning, and poor proposal design can keep firms stuck with too much work and not enough profit. I also cover how to raise prices, cut bad-fit clients, build visibility with the right audience, and structure three-tier proposals around both scope and client access.
š¤ Iām going live! Grab your tickets here: https://www.jasononfirms.com/events š„ Hereās that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12agš A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° Today's Sponsors Cloud Accounting Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates Soraban: https://www.soraban.com/ Makershub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats Canopy: getcanopy.com/jason Schedule a demo to see for yourself, and receive a $75 gift card after your demo Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes Missive: https://missiveapp.com/jason
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
606 Is Now The Time To SELL Your Accounting Firm? [Timing the AI wave]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I unpack whether AI is a real reason to sell your accounting firm right now. I walk through both sides: why AI creates more risk than ever, but also why accountants may become more valuable as human advisors and integrators. Then I break down how accounting firm websites should shift from faceless service pages to founder-led expertise, especially for niche advisory firms. In the mailbag, I cover AI for cash flow and budgeting, practice management mistakes, accounting firm margins, career moves, CFO services, and tax workflow tools.
š¤ Iām going live! Grab your tickets here: https://www.jasononfirms.com/events š„ Hereās that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12agš A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° Today's Sponsors Cloud Accounting Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates Soraban: https://www.soraban.com/ Makershub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats Canopy: getcanopy.com/jason Schedule a demo to see for yourself, and receive a $75 gift card after your demo Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes Missive: https://missiveapp.com/jason
// Chapters: 00:00 - Should you sell before AI changes accounting? 01:31 - AI risk + firm value 03:00 - Are you selling what AI replaces? 06:44 - The case for selling now 07:28 - Accountants as human integrators 10:59 - The real asset is you 16:39 - Founder-led accounting websites 27:48 - Mailbag 28:07 - AI for cash flow and budgets 32:04 - No practice management software 37:56 - Accounting firm margins explained 39:55 - Career path into a better firm 44:30 - CFO advisory vs bookkeeping 46:29 - Tax workflow tools
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
605 6 Steps To Workflow Your Way Into A Better Accounting Firm [Letās get more work out the door]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§Ā Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I break down why most accounting firm workflow problems are actually capacity problems. I walk through six common capacity bottlenecksāfrom not knowing your real bandwidth and busy season overload to owner burnout, hiring paralysis, and the client communication death spiral. The core issue usually isnāt workflow softwareāitās pricing, bad-fit clients, and trying to serve too many people without enough margin. Then I shift into a rapid-fire āthis or thatā segment comparing accounting firm tools like Financial Cents vs TaxDome, Digits vs Double, MakersHub vs Ramp, offshore vs onshore hiring, firm acquisition vs building a sales team, and more. The big takeaway: better firms come from better clients, not just better workflows.
š¤Ā Iām going live! Grab your tickets here: https://www.jasononfirms.com/events š„ Hereās that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12agš A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps
š° Today's Sponsors Cloud Accounting Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates Soraban: https://www.soraban.com/ Makershub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats Missive: https://missiveapp.com/jason Canopy: g[etcanopy.com/jason](http://getcanopy.com/jason)Ā Schedule a demo to see for yourself, and receive a $75 gift card after your demo
// Chapters: 00:00 - Workflow problems are really capacity problems 01:30 - Dirty Dozen + six capacity bottlenecks 20:00 Hire vs workflow + firing clients 23:20 Client responsiveness + service quality 30:30 This or That begins (tech + firm decisions) 46:40 Staffing: offshore vs onshore 52:20 Buy a firm or build a sales team 58:40 AI, hiring, and the future of accounting 01:01:00 Events + final CTA
š£ļø Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
604 Two Incredible Claude Cowork Updates for Accounting Firms [The two best updates of 2026]
āļø Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! š§ Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com
In this episode, I break down two major Claude updates for accounting firms: Live Artifacts and Claude Design. I explain how Live Artifacts can become a personal dashboard across email, calendar, practice management, and month-end tools, and why AI agents working across apps may matter more than AI built inside one app. I also walk through how Claude could generate financial reports, slide decks, landing pages, and even workpaper documentation. Then I answer questions on going national with a niche firm, replacing SafeSend, building referral partnerships, changing tech stacks, using AI safely, and when to hire for a nonprofit accounting firm.
// Chapters: 00:00 - Claude updates + nationwide growth 01:25 - Claude Live Artifacts explained 04:02 - Building a personal AI dashboard 10:16 - Should PM systems be worried? 17:31 - AI accounting ledger experiment 22:20 - Claude Design + client deliverables 37:54 - Mailbag begins 38:15 - Scaling beyond local clients 44:09 - Replacing SafeSend 47:08 - White label bookkeeping partnerships 50:18 - Changing tech when the team is tired 57:30 - Safe AI agents + OpenClaw 01:04:28 - Nonprofit CFO firm question 01:07:21 - AI workpaper automation experiment