Jason On Firms Podcast

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/ 📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firm and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter ☎️ Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! 📧 Email me! 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 year’s stack around proven software instead of unreleased promises. 💰 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 - ChatGPT’s 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 🗣️ Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/ 📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firm and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter ☎️ Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! 📧 Email me! 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 📫 Mailbag questions about AI readiness, acquisitions, three-tier proposals for simple services, and whether firms should grow organically or through acquisition. 💰 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 📄 Grab the firm listing data set here https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1HHxl5KGG-3zApXRbpok8Hkacvn4vE6D_/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=101670352005046800441&rtpof=true&sd=true 🪑 Butt cushion https://www.xpolar-tech.com/pages/xpolar-c1 🎙️ 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 - 📫 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 🗣️ Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/ 📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firm and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter ☎️ Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! 📧 Email me! 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, 🫖 Hot Tea, covering Xero drama, Drake’s new extraction tool, the Puzzle acquisition, practice management consolidation, and the growing tension between all-in-one platforms and open ecosystems. Then I answer 📫 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. 💰 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 - 🫖 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 - 📫 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 🗣️ Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/ 📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firm and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter ☎️ Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! 📧 Email me! 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 🔥 Roast My Tech Stack and answer to some of your questions in 📞 Accountant Support. 💰 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 - 🔥 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 - 📞 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 🗣️ Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/ 📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firm and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter ☎️ Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! 📧 Email me! 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 don’t hold up. I also break down medical spas as a potential accounting niche in 🐝 Niche of the Week and map out how I would enter that market. Then I answer to your questions in 📞 Accountant Support. 📄 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 💰 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 - 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 - 🐝 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 - 📞 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 🗣️ Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/ 📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firm and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter ☎️ Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! 📧 Email me! 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 📫 Mailbag, I dig into whether AI will eliminate junior accounting roles, how firms can use AI to attract better clients, connecting Claude directly to QuickBooks Online, private versus cloud AI models, what I’m spending on AI subscriptions, and the environmental tradeoffs of AI. 🔥 Want the chance to have your firm anonymously roasted? Complete this form! https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12ag 📚 A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps 💰 Today's Sponsors Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes Karbon: https://karbonhq.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=jason-staats MakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats Canopy: Go to https://www.getcanopy.com/jason and schedule a demo to see for yourself, and Canopy will send you a $75 gift card after your demo // Chapters: 00:00 - 23 Accounting Firm Niches 03:30 - Trust & Estate Firms 04:50 - Nonprofit Tax Firms 05:40 - Tax Representation Firms 06:10 - Sales & Use Tax Firms 07:20 - Foreign-Owned Business Firms 08:10 - Expat Tax Firms 08:40 - Crypto Compliance Firms 09:00 - Cannabis Compliance Firms 09:34 - 401(k) Plan Audit Firms 10:40 - Government Grant Audit Firms 14:04 - Nonprofit Audit Firms 14:39 - HOA Audit Firms 15:29 - Construction & Surety Firms 16:14 - Affordable Housing Firms 16:59 - Franchisor Audit Firms 17:24 - Captive Insurance Audit Firms 17:49 - Credit Union & Community Bank Firms 18:24 - Business Valuation Firms 19:09 - Divorce Forensics Firms 19:44 - Forensic & Fraud Firms 20:09 - Royalty & Contract Compliance Firms 21:09 - Healthcare Reimbursement Firms 21:53 - Government Contractor Firms 26:13 - Building a Space Accounting Firm 27:43 - Finding Space Companies 30:02 - Cost Reimbursement Contracts 31:33 - Space Industry Gateways 32:33 - Finding Niche Opportunities 33:08 - Let’s Make a Hire 35:48 - 📫 Mailbag 36:22 - Will AI Replace Juniors? 41:47 - Using AI to Grow 44:17 - Claude + QuickBooks 45:32 - Private AI Models 50:26 - Jason’s AI Spend 52:36 - AI’s Environmental Cost 54:36 - Closing Thoughts 🗣️ Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/ 📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firm and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter ☎️ Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! 📧 Email me! 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 🔥 Roast a Firm and explain why an extremely specific niche can be a powerful advantage. Then in 📞 Accountant Support, I answer questions about cutting lower-paying clients, using Claude with QuickBooks, choosing PC versus Mac for AI, trial balance software, replacing traditional software with AI, and whether new accounting graduates should start their own firms. 🔥 Want the chance to have your firm anonymously roasted? Complete this form! https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12ag 📚 A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps 💰 Today's Sponsors Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes Karbon: https://karbonhq.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=jason-staats MakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats Canopy: Go to https://www.getcanopy.com/jason and schedule a demo to see for yourself, and Canopy will send you a $75 gift card after your demo // Chapters: 00:00 - Private Equity in Accounting 01:45 - Accounting Firm Exit Options 04:49 - $1M to $3M Firms 06:34 - $3M to $10M Firms 09:29 - Larger Firm Deals 11:09 - Six Types of Deals 14:04 - Minority Recapitalization 15:09 - External Sales and Succession 15:34 - What Makes Firms Valuable 17:18 - Alliances and Franchises 19:23 - 🔥 Roast My Firm 20:05 - The $1.9M Tax Firm 21:15 - Pricing Problems 22:45 - Family Office Opportunity 23:25 - The $100K Tech Stack 24:19 - The Owner Bottleneck 28:43 - Four Delegation Strategies 32:27 - The Senior Hire Problem 35:36 - 📫 Mailbag 35:51 - Choosing Practice Management 38:26 - Finding Audit Clients 39:56 - Outsourcing Tax Production 42:50 - Claude as Accounting Software 43:50 - QuickBooks MCP Connector 47:49 - MCP Security Risks 48:49 - Building a Firm While Working 51:09 - AI Advisory for Clients 52:49 - Tax Return Delivery 53:34 - Luca Pacioli Joins the Podcast 56:19 - Closing Thoughts 🗣️ Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/ 📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firm and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter ☎️ Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! 📧 Email me! 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 🔥 Roast a Firm and explain why an extremely specific niche can be a powerful advantage. Then in 📞 Accountant Support, I answer questions about cutting lower-paying clients, using Claude with QuickBooks, choosing PC versus Mac for AI, trial balance software, replacing traditional software with AI, and whether new accounting graduates should start their own firms. 🔥 Here’s that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12ag📚 A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps 💰 Today's Sponsors Cloud Accountant Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates Financial Cents: Book a demo https://hubs.li/Q03PYVrp0 and use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users. Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes Karbon: https://karbonhq.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=jason-staats MakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats Canopy: Go to https://www.getcanopy.com/jason and schedule a demo to see for yourself, and Canopy will send you a $75 gift card after your demo // Chapters: 00:00 - 9 Essential Non-Accounting Apps 01:55 - Collaborative Email 04:44 - Soft Phones + SMS 06:25 - Loom for Client Communication 08:55 - Social Media Scheduling 10:19 - Password Management 12:24 - Claude or ChatGPT 14:04 - Slack or Microsoft Teams 17:54 - Meeting Recorders 19:04 - Scheduling Tools 23:28 - 🔥 Roast a Firm 24:54 - Why Specific Niches Work 25:43 - Building a Side Website 26:09 - Website Messaging 28:38 - Capturing Visitor Emails 30:23 - Adding Social Proof 30:48 - Rethinking Website Pricing 36:28 - Selling the Opportunity 38:43 - 📞 Accountant Support 38:58 - Cutting Lower-Paying Clients 40:08 - How Many Clients to Cut 44:02 - QuickBooks + Claude Outside the US 48:12 - PC vs. Mac for AI 50:32 - Trial Balance Software 51:02 - Accounting Software Mount Rushmore 53:02 - 10-Key ATB vs. Tallyfor 54:47 - Is Software Too Expensive? 57:02 - Should AI Replace CCH? 01:00:22 - Starting an Accounting Firm 01:05:26 - Realize 🗣️ Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/ 📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firm and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter ☎️ Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! 📧 Email me! 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 I’d do with the network I have now, and what I’d do if I were starting with no connections at all. Then in the 📫 Mailbag, I tackle keeping premium clients after their original pain disappears, automating phone and messaging workflows, AI’s impact on bookkeeping, preventing AI hallucinations, and whether the future of accounting really means everyone has to become an advisor. 🔥 Here’s that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12ag📚 A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps 💰 Today's Sponsors Cloud Accountant Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates Financial Cents: Book a demo https://hubs.li/Q03PYVrp0 and use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users. Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes Karbon: https://karbonhq.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=jason-staats MakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats Canopy: Go to https://www.getcanopy.com/jason and schedule a demo to see for yourself, and Canopy will send you a $75 gift card after your demo // Chapters: 00:00 - Finding New Clients 01:15 - Ranking 20 Acquisition Strategies 02:15 - Accounting Software Directories 03:40 - Paid Ads 06:50 - Cold Email 09:00 - TikTok 10:50 - Google Ads 11:40 - Virtual Events 13:40 - Hiring Industry Insiders 14:30 - Webinars 18:00 - Direct Mail 18:55 - Google Business Profile 19:55 - LinkedIn 21:05 - Physical Signage 22:20 - Online Communities 23:25 - Industry Software Directories 24:40 - YouTube 26:40 - Industry Partnerships 28:35 - Industry Authorities 30:55 - Brand Partnerships 32:25 - Industry Gates 35:40 - In-Person Events 38:01 - 🔥 Roast A Firm 39:00 - Starting With Jason’s Network 44:15 - The First Five Steps 45:20 - Starting With No Network 52:20 - Building a Lead Magnet 54:48 - 📫 Mailbag 55:15 - Keeping Premium Clients 58:15 - Automating Phone & SMS 1:01:10 - Is AI Crushing Bookkeeping? 1:03:45 - Preventing AI Hallucinations 1:06:25 - Does Everyone Need Advisory? 1:09:45 - Realize 🗣️ Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/ 📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firm and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter ☎️ Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! 📧 Email me! 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 Nadella’s framing of human capital and token capital, I explore why firm-specific knowledge, meeting transcripts, client conversations, and feedback loops could become some of the most valuable intellectual property inside an accounting firm. I also walk through three practical AI loops firms can start building today, dig into why accountants increasingly want MCP access instead of separate AI assistants inside every app, and answer listener questions in the 📞 Accountant Support section. 🔥 Here’s that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12ag📚 A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps 💰 Today's Sponsors Cloud Accountant Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates Financial Cents: Book a demo https://hubs.li/Q03PYVrp0 and use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users. Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes Karbon: https://karbonhq.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=jason-staats MakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats Canopy: Go to https://www.getcanopy.com/jason and schedule a demo to see for yourself, and Canopy will send you a $75 gift card after your demo // Chapters: 00:00 - Four types of accounting firms 01:40 - Compliance-only firms 03:15 - Finding a compliance niche 05:19 - Compliance pros and cons 07:53 - Tax firms doing bookkeeping 09:08 - The hardest firm to niche 10:33 - The fastest-growing firm model 11:27 - Selling the back office 13:13 - Books-first firm advantages 15:12 - Beyond traditional bookkeeping 18:51 - Accounting firm partnerships 20:30 - Bookkeeping-only firms 23:24 - Comparing all four models 24:29 - The opportunity in seasonal tax 24:44 - The Swear Jar 27:58 - 🤓 Nerd Corner: AI agents 31:15 - Grokbot and computer automation 34:39 - Where to draw the AI line 36:44 - Making AI agents safer 39:13 - 📞 Accountant Support 39:39 - AI fetching bank statements 42:38 - Spotting cheap clients 43:33 - Positioning around valuable problems 44:08 - Three-tier pricing 45:53 - Staff vs. senior accountants 46:13 - CRM vs. practice management 51:07 - Getting staff to adopt AI 54:52 - Tax Season Simulator 56:17 - Avoiding bottomless habits 56:57 - The second stomach debate 59:26 - Closing thoughts 🗣️ Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/ 📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firm and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter ☎️ Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! 📧 Email me! 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 Nadella’s framing of human capital and token capital, I explore why firm-specific knowledge, meeting transcripts, client conversations, and feedback loops could become some of the most valuable intellectual property inside an accounting firm. I also walk through three practical AI loops firms can start building today, dig into why accountants increasingly want MCP access instead of separate AI assistants inside every app, and answer listener questions in the 📫 Mailbag section. 📄 That article from Satya https://snscratchpad.com/posts/frontier-ecosystem/ 🔥 Here’s that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12ag📚 A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps 💰 Today's Sponsors Cloud Accountant Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates Financial Cents: Book a demo https://hubs.li/Q03PYVrp0 and use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users. Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes Karbon: https://karbonhq.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=jason-staats MakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats Canopy: Go to https://www.getcanopy.com/jason and schedule a demo to see for yourself, and Canopy will send you a $75 gift card after your demo // Chapters: 00:00 - The AI-Native Accounting Firm 01:35 - What Happens When AI Does the Work? 03:05 - Software’s AI Disruption 06:00 - What Becomes Your Firm’s Moat? 07:15 - Human Capital + Token Capital 09:45 - Meeting Transcripts as Firm IP 12:15 - Building Valuable Accounting IP 15:59 - Human Judgment Still Matters 16:50 - Building AI Learning Loops 19:15 - Three Practical AI Loops 20:05 - AI Month-End Workpapers 24:35 - AI Tax Transcript Verification 26:55 - Automating Meeting Follow-Up 27:55 - Building Feedback Into AI 29:10 - Automating AI Workflows 31:50 - The Future Firm as AI Loops 34:15 - 🤓 Nerd Corner 34:30 - MCPs vs Built-In AI 36:35 - Will Claude Replace Tax Software? 39:05 - Why Firms Want Better MCPs 41:55 - Helping Your Client’s AI 44:25 - 📞 Accountant Support 44:45 - Replacing QBO With Claude 49:50 - Building Your Own Software 54:55 - AI-Powered Bank Rules 56:15 - Cloud Practice Management Security 57:55 - Losing Three Staff in a Month 59:45 - Pricing Through a Capacity Crisis 1:00:44 - Closing Thoughts 1:00:59 - Realize Community 🗣️ Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/ 📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firm and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter ☎️ Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! 📧 Email me! 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 listener’s proposal and explain how to structure three-tier proposals that command higher fees without adding more work. We also dive into how AI is changing proposals, bookkeeping software, and custom apps built by firms, before wrapping up with questions about QuickBooks, MCPs, AI-led accounting, and why I think the golden age of accounting is still ahead. 🔥 Here’s that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12ag📚 A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps 💰 Today's Sponsors Cloud Accountant Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates Financial Cents: Book a demo https://hubs.li/Q03PYVrp0 and use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users. Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes Karbon: https://karbonhq.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=jason-staats MakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaats Canopy: Go to https://www.getcanopy.com/jason and schedule a demo to see for yourself, and Canopy will send you a $75 gift card after your demo // Chapters: 00:00 - Why Most Firms Underprice Themselves 01:15 - Truth #1: Pricing Should Feel Uncomfortable 03:45 - Truth #2: Clients Decide Your Value 05:59 - Truth #3: Premium Pricing Isn’t Evil 07:39 - Truth #4: Attract Better Clients, Don’t Sell More 09:13 - Truth #5: Stop Listening to C & D Clients 11:54 - Truth #6: Delivery Beats Technical Quality 17:19 - Truth #7: You Get What You Pay For 19:14 - Truth #8: Don’t Lock In Day One Pricing 22:40 - 🔥 Roast a Listener’s Proposal 31:47 - Building Better Three-Tier Proposals 38:23 - 🗄️ Tales from the Vault: Getting Real Online 42:03 - 📬 Mailbag 42:16 - Should You Leave QuickBooks Desktop? 45:43 - AI Is Replacing Software Subscriptions 48:00 - Will AI Change Three-Tier Proposals? 51:09 - Claude, MCPs & QuickBooks 52:52 - Should Your Firm Sell Software? 57:31 - The Golden Age of Accounting 59:37 - Realize 🗣️ Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/ 📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firm and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter ☎️ Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! 📧 Email me! 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. 🔥 Here’s that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12ag📚 A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps 💰 Today's Sponsors Cloud Accountant Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates Financial Cents: Book a demo https://hubs.li/Q03PYVrp0 and use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users. Karbon: https://karbonhq.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=jason-staats Soraban: https://www.soraban.com/ Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes // Chapters: 00:00 - The Firm Identity Tipping Point 01:20 - Why Firms Hit the $1M Wall 02:46 - #1 The One-Face Firm 05:02 - Becoming the Industry Expert 06:24 - Scaling Beyond One-to-One Work 08:03 - Who the One-Face Model Fits 09:31 - #2 The Two-Face Firm 10:43 - The Traditional Partner Problem 13:28 - Who the Two-Face Model Fits 14:20 - #3 The No-Face Firm 15:20 - Building a Repeatable Machine 16:27 - The Outcome Must Be Consistent 17:01 - Finding the Golden Problem 19:00 - Who the No-Face Model Fits 20:08 - Choose Your Firm’s Identity 21:29 - 🏹 Firm Hunters 21:40 I- s 1.5x Revenue a Good Deal? 23:10 - Is a 30% Margin Too Low? 26:37 - What Makes This Acquisition Work? 29:09 - Accounting Firm Valuation Benchmarks 30:00 - Should the Owner Sell? 31:17 - ☎️ Accountant Support 31:32 - Five Ways AI Can Classify QBO Transactions 31:53 - #1 AI Browser Use 32:36 - #2 AI Computer Use 33:12 - #3 Build a Chrome Extension 33:46 - #4 Automate QBO Bank Rules 34:48 - #5 Use a Dedicated App 37:33 - Is the CPA Still Worth It? 38:54 - Can Claude Send Emails? 41:21 - Are Tax Workflow Programs Worth It? 42:51 - Complex Property Classifications 43:03 - How Much Is Claude Paying Me? 44:15 - Best Cloud Hosting Providers 45:38 - Building an IRS Controversy Firm 49:00 - Closing Thoughts 🗣️ Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/ 📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firm and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter ☎️ Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! 📧 Email me! 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 🗄️ Tales From the Vault, where we revisit one of my earliest YouTube videos, its 300 views, painfully slow delivery, and an economically disastrous fanny pack referral program. Then, in 🔥 Unsolicited Takedowns, I question whether AI usage statistics and productivity flexes actually reflect meaningful work. I also dig into whether Claude can automate old-school accounting applications, the continued importance of time tracking, how to promote a side firm, where accountants should post online, and how new firms should approach pricing. 🔥 Here’s that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12ag📚 A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps 💰 Today's Sponsors Cloud Accountant Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates Financial Cents: Book a demo https://hubs.li/Q03PYVrp0 and use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users. Karbon: https://karbonhq.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=jason-staats Soraban: https://www.soraban.com/ Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes // Chapters: 00:00 - Six Mindset Shifts for Firm Owners 00:54 - Why Mindset Still Matters 02:13 - #1 Stop Expecting Forever Clients 05:00 - #2 Build a High-Agency Firm 07:25 - #3 Do the Painful Thing 09:40 - #4 Protect Your Own Time 12:06 - The First Four Mindset Shifts 15:21 - #5 Stop Figuring It Out Alone 16:16 - #6 Build Around Your Passions 21:05 - Why I Care About Accounting Firms 24:13 - 🗄️ Tales From the Vault 24:23 - My Cringey Early YouTube Video 25:28 - The Reality of Starting With No Audience 29:02 - Why I Kept Going 29:41 - The $35 Fanny Pack Giveaway 31:28 - 🔥 Unsolicited Takedowns 31:28 - The Whisper Flow Productivity Flex 34:00 - AI Usage Is Not Productivity 38:17 - 📬 Mailbag 38:29 - Can Claude Use Judy’s TenKey? 42:50 - Should Firms Still Track Time? 46:02 - Building a Side Firm Publicly 50:05 - X or Instagram for Accountants? 53:06 - Pricing a Brand-New Firm 57:34 - Closing Thoughts 🗣️ Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/ 📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firm and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter ☎️ Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! 📧 Email me! 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 🏖️ Accounting Firms Gone Wild, where I review unusual accounting firms currently for sale, and answer listener questions in 📬 Mailbag. 🔥 Here’s that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12ag📚 A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps 💰 Today's Sponsors Cloud Accountant Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates Financial Cents: Book a demo https://hubs.li/Q03PYVrp0 and use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users. Karbon: https://karbonhq.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=jason-staats Soraban: https://www.soraban.com/ Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes // Chapters: 00:00 - The Biggest Workflow Bottleneck 01:24 - Why Most Firms Stay Inefficient 03:06 - Good Portal vs. Bad Portal 08:03 - Better Client Request Systems 15:23 - Portal Workflows That Actually Scale 23:37 - 🏖️ Accounting Firms Gone Wild 34:35 - 📬 Mailbag 35:06 - Is Acupuncture Too Small a Niche? 38:08 - Mercury vs. Relay 41:33 - EA vs. CPA for Firm Owners 43:27 - Growing a Bookkeeping Firm Faster 45:56 - Handling Bad Google Reviews 47:28 - Should I Leave My Firm? 49:21 - AI and Citizen Developers 51:20 - Leaving a $200K Job to Start a Firm 💼 Links to those accounting firm listings: Peer Review Practice https://accountingpracticesales.com/united-states/west/utah/20901-Utah-Based+CPA+Peer+Review+Practice/ Cupertino Firm https://www.bizbuysell.com/business-opportunity/rapid-growth-cpa-wants-another-cpa-25-49/2441221/ NW Montana Firm https://accountingpracticesales.com/united-states/west/montana/20849-Northwest+Montana+CPA+Practice/ 🗣️ Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/ 📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firm and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter ☎️ Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! 📧 Email me! 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 listener’s 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. 🔥 Here’s that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12ag📚 A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps 💰 Today's Sponsors Cloud Accountant Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates Financial Cents: Book a demo https://hubs.li/Q03PYVrp0 and use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users. Karbon: https://karbonhq.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=jason-staats Soraban: https://www.soraban.com/ Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes // Chapters: 00:00 - 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 - AI’s Hidden Data Advantage 16:15 - 🔥 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 - 📬 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 🗣️ Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/ 📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firm and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter ☎️ Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! 📧 Email me! 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 “This or That” Mailbag covering firm growth, tech, AI, conferences, and practice management decisions. 🔥 Here’s that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12ag📚 A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps 💰 Today's Sponsors Cloud Accountant Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates Financial Cents: Book a demo https://hubs.li/Q03PYVrp0 and use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users. Karbon: https://karbonhq.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=jason-staats Soraban: https://www.soraban.com/ Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes // Chapters: 00:00 - 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 - 🤓 Nerd Corner — Top 10 Accounting Conferences 37:14 - Mailbag 🗣️ Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/ 📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firm and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter ☎️ Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! 📧 Email me! 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 wasn’t possible a decade ago. I also roast a real accounting firm that’s 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. 🔥 Here’s that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12ag📚 A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps 💰 Today's Sponsors 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 🗣️ Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/ 📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firm and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter ☎️ Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! 📧 Email me! jason@jasononfirms.com In this episode, I share the journey that took me from struggling to land $100/month bookkeeping clients to signing my firm’s 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. 🔥 Here’s that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12ag📚 A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps 💰 Today's Sponsors 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 🗣️ Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/ 📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firm and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter ☎️ Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! 📧 Email me! 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 what’s 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. 🔥 Here’s that Roast-My-Firm intake form: https://airtable.com/appZ7dtNz3oaTWWZT/shrybn5166E9t12ag📚 A curated list of the apps I actually use and recommend: https://www.jasononfirms.com/apps 💰 Today's Sponsors 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 - OpenAI’s 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 🗣️ Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa