When we (we = The 15 Hour Accountant newsletter community) started brainstorming ideas for Aligned Accountants back in December 2024, there were two clear asks from the group. Accountants in this community agreed that they needed…

We’re talking about the “casual drop” today…

When I was about 1 year into my accounting firm ownership life, I was in a Girl Scout carpool headed to a weekend jamboree camp.  Me in the driver’s seat, my newish mom-friend Amy in the passenger seat, and lots of 8 year old girls in the back. (I later found out that my spiritual gift is not carpooling lots of small children, but I digress.)

It’s no secret that I do my best to run my firm with iron-clad boundaries. But I do this from a place of being part of a two-income household with my husband holding a W-2 accounting job that offers health insurance.

For most of the life of my firm (7 years and counting), I’ve held the belief that: the bigger the client, the higher level of service they need, the more I can charge (as long as I’m providing said services), and the more profit my firm makes.

Currently on vacation, but scheduled this so you didn’t feel like I forgot you, but I’m keeping it light today.

Sometimes, upgrading current clients is a much easier and faster way to increase revenue than pounding pavement for brand new clients.

“Nature does not hurry. Yet everything is accomplished.” -Lao Tzu

NOT sponsored content…just what I do in real life.

I was raised as a kid in typical American culture where “success” was defined as 1st place trophies in little league, straight As, high scores, and perfect attendance in school.

What Does the State of the Economy Mean for the Accounting Industry?

There were a couple great follow up questions coming out of last week’s email that were worth answering here for the group.

There is so much noise in the accounting industry media-space about raising your rates and offering high-priced services. Heck, I’m some of that noise! But there is a time and place for everything.

I'm also former KPMG but with 25 years of financial services industry experience in various finance and controlling functions.  I'd like to make the jump like you did but don't have the tactical experience just yet.

Most importantly…congrats to all who made it through this week’s deadline!! You’re almost there!!

I love this!! When we get busy, we forget about all the “going concerns” for each client and the impact it can have on our revenue.  Thank you for sharing this. We are in the process of acquiring another firm and this sheet will help so much with all the new clients we will inherit.

I’ve been thinking about my client roster and sales pipeline a lot the past few weeks.

Sometimes I hear new firm owners say something like…

A picture is worth a thousand words, so let’s start with that…

And now for a whole bunch of random stuff…

The first two years of my firm (with only two clients), I charged hourly…$50/hr. I was so proud of myself. ::rolls eyes::