Accounting Firm Coach: Office Hours

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firms and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter📌 Check out the cool stuff our sponsors are doing here: https://accountingfirmcoach.com/sponsors/Welcome to Accounting Firm Coach Office Hours presented by Canopy. I’m Jason Staats. Ready to get 1% better at running an accounting firm? In this episode, I’m breaking down how AI could fundamentally change software pricing, why TaxDome’s latest price increases have accounting firms looking for alternatives, and the pricing advice every firm owner needs to hear. Plus, we’re reviewing October’s 💶Swear Jar, talking about whether webinars still work, exploring price increases after acquiring a firm, and comparing how practice management platforms charge for AI and MCP access. Finally, I tackle what happens when your client connects QuickBooks directly to Claude and what that means for the future of accounting advisory.// Chapters:01:13 - AI Just Broke Software Pricing09:32 - Pricing Just Broke TaxDome?22:05 - Universal Pricing Advice30:23 - Accountants Looking For Work31:53 - October Swear Jar35:38 - Why do firms run webinars?44:52 - Buy A Firm Then Jack Prices?48:56 - Practice Management MCP + AI Pricing54:16 - My Client Connected Their QuickBooks To Claude! 😱01:00:30 - These Apps Will Never D**📞 Leave me a voicemail at +1 (516) 980-4968!📧 Email me! [email protected]💰 Today's SponsorsCanopy: https://www.getcanopy.com/jasonTaxBandits: https://www.taxbandits.com/Stanford Tax: https://stanfordtax.com/Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notesCloud Accountant Staffing: https://www.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/MakersHub: https://makershub.com/Gusto: https://gusto.com/Kick: https://www.kick.co/🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!X https://x.com/jasononfirmsLinkedIn 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 firms and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter📌 Check out the cool stuff our sponsors are doing here: https://accountingfirmcoach.com/sponsors/Welcome to Accounting Firm Coach Office Hours presented by Canopy. I’m Jason Staats. Ready to get 1% better at running an accounting firm? In this episode, I’m breaking down nine essential AI security to-dos, explaining why responsible AI agent deployment matters more than compliance alone, and sharing some useful battery tech in 🤖 You Need This Tech. Then we’re building an HVAC accounting niche from scratch, tackling shareholder resistance to change, dealing with clients challenging tax returns using AI, and exploring why APIs and MCPs matter when choosing software. Plus, I respond to the local AI backlash, discuss whether accountants should buy sheep, and consider what a future with less work might look like.// Chapters:00:00 - Your 9 AI To-do’s17:42 - This Is More Important Than AI Rules!22:38 - Let’s Talk About Batteries25:29 - Live Build an HVAC Firm Niche from Scratch31:32 - Getting Shareholders to Change35:12 - Fighting My Client’s AI40:37 - Avoid Apps Without APIs?44:51 - Local AI Backlash!49:26 - Should Accountants Buy Sheep?50:06 - We Love Them🔒 Here’s the new AI security guide! https://accountingfirmcoach.com/ai-security📞 Leave me a voicemail at +1 (516) 980-4968!📧 Email me! [email protected]💰 Today's SponsorsCanopy: https://www.getcanopy.com/jasonRealize: https://www.rlz.io/Stanford Tax: https://stanfordtax.com/Cloud Accountant Staffing: https://www.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/Gusto: https://gusto.com/Kick: https://www.kick.co/🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!X https://x.com/jasononfirmsLinkedIn 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 firms and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter📌 Check out the cool stuff our sponsors are doing here: https://accountingfirmcoach.com/sponsors/Welcome to Accounting Firm Coach Office Hours presented by Canopy. I’m Jason Staats. Ready to get 1% better at running an accounting firm? In this episode, I share five ways to turn an underperforming accounting firm website into a lead-generating machine, break down a firm for sale with 6,000 clients and an 84% margin, and introduce the 👿 Mean Bag, where we read some of the internet’s harshest comments about me. Then I tackle your Mailbag questions on firm acquisitions, IT hardware, must-have apps, AI coaching, and delegating client onboarding. Plus, we explore why offshore staffing isn’t always the answer to scaling your firm.// Chapters:01:07 My Website Sucks!20:25 This 6,000 Client Firm Runs an 84% Margin30:19 Mean Bag39:40 These Accountants Are Looking For Work41:14 Does A Firms Purchase Price Include Client-Paid Software?42:14 IT Hardware for Firms?46:17 Desert Island Apps48:26 AI Coaching From Peers50:10 The Dark Side of Offshore54:09 The Profession’s Least Spooky Apps📌 Here’s that tax mill we discussed https://us.businessesforsale.com/us/premier-southern-california-tax-and-accounting-platform.aspx📞 Leave me a voicemail at +1 (516) 980-4968!📧 Email me! [email protected]💰 Today's SponsorsCanopy: https://www.getcanopy.com/jasonKick: https://www.kick.co/Stanford Tax: https://stanfordtax.com/MakersHub: https://makershub.com/Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notesRealize: https://www.rlz.io/🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!X https://x.com/jasononfirmsLinkedIn 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 firms and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter📌 Check out the cool stuff our sponsors are doing here: https://accountingfirmcoach.com/sponsors/Welcome to Accounting Firm Coach Office Hours presented by Canopy. I’m Jason Staats. Ready to get 1% better at running an accounting firm? In this episode, I break down Perplexity’s local AI capabilities and whether accounting firms should trust AI running entirely on their computers. Then I share Halloween costume ideas for accountants, explore whether it’s time to start cloning accounting software with AI, and explain why space accounting could be a massive niche opportunity. In 📬 Mailbag, I cover how to charge for midyear bookkeeping catch-up, building an email list that actually converts, developing future firm leaders, choosing between Intuit Link and other tax workflow tools, and whether buying leads is worth it.// Chapters:01:35 - The All-In-One Local AI!13:34 - 11 Halloween Costumes for Accountants19:04 - Time To Start Cloning Accounting Apps?29:23 - $21B Went Into This Niche In Q3 Alone!34:43 - How To Charge For Catch-Up?38:43 - Worth Building an Email List?44:08 - How To Develop Leaders47:47 - Is Intuit Link Good Enough?50:47 - Worth Buying Leads?53:27 - Because We Love Them!📞 Leave me a voicemail at +1 (516) 980-4968!📧 Email me! [email protected]💰 Today's SponsorsCanopy: https://www.getcanopy.com/jasonGusto: https://gusto.com/Kick: https://www.kick.co/Stanford Tax: https://stanfordtax.com/Tax Bandits: https://www.taxbandits.com/Cloud Accountant Staffing: https://www.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!X https://x.com/jasononfirmsLinkedIn 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 firms and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter📌 Check out the cool stuff our sponsors are doing here: https://accountingfirmcoach.com/sponsors/Welcome to Accounting Firm Coach Office Hours presented by Canopy. I’m Jason Staats. Ready to get 1% better at running an accounting firm? In this episode, I talk about whether independently owned convenience stores make a profitable accounting niche, share how one firm built a specialized practice serving disaster restoration companies, and tackle the growing frustration of clients using AI to challenge their accountants and attorneys. Plus, in 🤖 You Need This Tech, I share a battery management solution every parent needs, highlight accounting professionals looking for their next opportunity, and answer 📬 Mailbag questions about marketing bookkeeping services, finding and retaining talent, and whether free QuickBooks alternatives are worth considering.// Chapters:02:15 - Convenience Store Niche?15:39 - This Firm Built A Disaster Restoration Niche19:49 - Normies Vent About AI Being Better Than Professionals32:18 - You Need This Battery Tech!37:43 - Folks You Should Hire39:33 - How to Market Bookkeeping Without Calling It Bookkeeping43:28 - Finding and Retaining Talent?48:37 - Free QuickBooks Alternative?54:27 - We Love Them📞 Leave me a voicemail at +1 (516) 980-4968!📧 Email me! [email protected]📌 A link to Nikole Mackenzie’s niche story https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/messy-middle-what-one-tells-you-niching-nikole-mackenzie-qvcoe/🔋 Here’s that battery charger you need https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DSL7VZBP?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback💰 Today's SponsorsCanopy: https://www.getcanopy.com/jasonKick: https://www.kick.co/Stanford Tax: https://stanfordtax.com/MakersHub: https://makershub.com/Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notesTaxBandits: https://www.taxbandits.com/🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!X https://x.com/jasononfirmsLinkedIn 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 firms and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter📌 Check out the cool stuff our sponsors are doing here: https://accountingfirmcoach.com/sponsors/Welcome to Accounting Firm Coach Office Hours presented by Canopy. I’m 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 🏹 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 👿 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 🤓 Nerd Corner, and answer 📬 Mailbag questions about accounting ledgers, getting clients to sign proposals, AI agents, and keeping client data secure.// Chapters:01:32 - Do This By November 111:06 - Do This By December 120:44 - Do This By January 122:49 - 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 Ledgers45:38 - Simplify That Proposal!47:28 - Create An AI Agent User?49:12 - Claude MAX Plan Made Secure?52:07 - Lester Returns📞 Leave me a voicemail at +1 (516) 980-4968!📧 Email me! [email protected]📌 Here’s that $1.4M/yr firm https://privatepracticetransitions.com/business-listing/1265-established-cas-practice-with-strong-growth/💰 Today's SponsorsCanopy: https://www.getcanopy.com/jasonGusto: https://gusto.com/Kick: https://www.kick.co/Stanford Tax: https://stanfordtax.com/Realize: https://www.rlz.io/Cloud Accountant Staffing: https://www.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!X https://x.com/jasononfirmsLinkedIn 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 firms and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter📌 Check out the cool stuff our sponsors are doing here: https://accountingfirmcoach.com/sponsors/Welcome to Accounting Firm Coach Office Hours presented by Canopy. I’m 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 🤓 Nerd Corner, I cover eight major tech updates from Canopy, Financial Cents, Digits, Karbon, Gusto, Double, Kik, and RightTool. Then, in the 📬 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 YOU15:14 - 8 Tech Updates29:19 - Push This Work to Admins33:44 - Construction Accounting Software?36:09 - Microsoft AI Use-Cases37:59 - Don’t Buy This Tax Workflow Software42:54 - Lead Tracking App44:53 - Transitioning A Firm To Remote Work51:31 - We Love Them📞 Leave me a voicemail at +1 (516) 980-4968!📧 Email me! [email protected]💰 Today's SponsorsCanopy: https://www.getcanopy.com/jasonTaxBandits: https://www.taxbandits.com/Stanford Tax: https://stanfordtax.com/MakersHub: https://makershub.com/Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notesRealize: https://www.rlz.io/🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!X https://x.com/jasononfirmsLinkedIn 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 firms and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter📌 Check out the cool stuff our sponsors are doing here: https://accountingfirmcoach.com/sponsors/Welcome to Accounting Firm Coach Office Hours presented by Canopy. I’m 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 💾 You Need This Tech, I share a $400 artificial skylight designed to bring natural-looking light into your office. Then, in 🤓 Nerd Corner, I challenge some of the guidance around AI and taxpayer data presented at an IRS National Tax Forum session. Finally, I answer 📬 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 aren’t on my app recommendations list.📌 The skylight https://www.amazon.com/PHILIPS-Skylight-Ceiling-NatureConnect-inches/dp/B0HDTPRNSD?sr=8-1💲 The tax firm that’s for sale https://privatepracticetransitions.com/business-listing/1262-established-virtual-tax-practice/🧾 And the CAS firm that sold https://poegroupadvisors.com/practice/cp2024/// Chapters:00:00 - A 2-Person $1.6M Firm11:32 - A 60% Margin CAS Firm21:52 - You Need This Tech26:05 - Bad AI Advice From The IRS36:56 - Double As A PM?40:04 - Up-Front Cash?44:16 - AI For Fund Accounting47:35 - How To Know if an App Is Secure?49:21 - Firms Using Grok!?52:53 - BlackOre Basis and Accrual📞 Leave me a voicemail at +1 (516) 980-4968!📧 Email me! [email protected]💰 Today's SponsorsCanopy: https://www.getcanopy.com/jasonGusto: https://gusto.com/Kick: https://www.kick.co/Stanford Tax: https://stanfordtax.com/MakersHub: https://makershub.com/Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!X https://x.com/jasononfirmsLinkedIn 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 firms and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter📌 Check out the cool stuff our sponsors are doing here: https://accountingfirmcoach.com/sponsors/Welcome to Accounting Firm Coach Office Hours presented by Canopy. I’m 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 Claude’s faster AI models and new ChatGPT features, and explain why AI won’t 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.📌 Here’s 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 Near13:45 - Bad Booking Links17:35 - This AI Model is FAST24:20 - Hormozi Pops The Balloon26:20 - ChatGPT Updates31:45 - Accountants For Hire34:25 - Sell His Firm to PE?42:45 - I Dropped Xero47:55 - New Receipt Tech?📞 Leave me a voicemail at +1 (516) 980-4968!📧 Email me! [email protected]💰 Today's SponsorsCanopy: https://www.getcanopy.com/jasonGusto: https://gusto.com/Kick: https://www.kick.co/Stanford Tax: https://stanfordtax.com/MakersHub: https://makershub.com/Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!X https://x.com/jasononfirmsLinkedIn 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 firms and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter📌 Check out the cool stuff our sponsors are doing here: https://accountingfirmcoach.com/sponsors/Welcome to Accounting Firm Coach Office Hours presented by Canopy. I’m 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 Meta’s 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 September’s Swear Jar, and answer Mailbag questions about sponsorships, advisory positioning, buying versus building a firm, AI-powered email management, and tax research tools.📌 Here’s that firm we talked about https://poegroupadvisors.com/practice/va2036/// Chapters:01:54 - Building a Bookkeeping Firm Without QuickBooks or Xero11:20 - The Industry Ledger Opportunity17:05 - Meta VR Glasses: Goodbye, Monitors?23:25 - Technical Hire or Relationship Manager?26:49 - Planning for When Someone Leaves31:58 - A CPA Firm Run in 30 Owner Hours a Year33:46 - What You're Really Buying38:05 - The September Swear Jar42:41 - How Sponsors Work at Accounting Firm Coach45:01 - What's Wrong With the Word "Advisor"48:07 - Buy a Firm or Grow Organically?50:55 - Admin vs AI for Email Management57:00 - CoCounsel vs. Claude, ChatGPT or Blue J📞 Leave me a voicemail at +1 (516) 980-4968!📧 Email me! [email protected]💰 Today's SponsorsCanopy: https://www.getcanopy.com/jasonGusto: https://gusto.com/Kick: https://www.kick.co/Stanford Tax: https://stanfordtax.com/MakersHub: https://makershub.com/Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!X https://x.com/jasononfirmsLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa