Growing Your Firm | Strategies for Accountants, CPA's, Bookkeepers , and Tax Professionals

Growing Your Firm is the top podcast for ambitious firm owners to find tips, tactics, and strategies on how to grow their firm (or practice). In this podcast we'll be interviewing unique thought leaders in accounting, tax, and bookkeeping about topics including: practice management, marketing, social media, succession planning, partner relations, hiring, pricing, and much more.

The M&A Shift Toward Adjusted EBITDA Margins 03/25/2026

The M&A Shift Toward Adjusted EBITDA Margins Are you building a firm to last, or building it to sell? Whether you’re a CPA starting a firm or a Managing Partner eyeing retirement, understanding the current M&A (Mergers & Acquisitions) landscape is critical for your largest wealth-generation tool: your practice. In this episode of Growing Your Firm, host Dave Cristella sits down with Doug Lewis, Managing Director at The Visionary Group, to pull back the curtain on how buyers are actually evaluating accounting and bookkeeping firms in 2026. From the impact of Private Equity (PE) to the "sticky revenue" of Client Accounting Services (CAS), Doug breaks down the metrics that determine your firm's valuation. In this episode, we discuss: 1. The Shift in Valuation: Why firms are moving away from gross revenue multiples and toward Adjusted EBITDA. 2. The CAS Premium: Why Client Accounting Services and outsourced bookkeeping are trading for higher multiples than traditional audit or tax. 3. The Talent Shortage & M&A: How the pipeline shortage is moving "Talent" to the #1 spot on buyer wishlists. 4. The "Layover Test": Why culture alignment is the first thing that kills a deal (and how to spot red flags early). 5. Internal Succession Stress Testing: What to do when your "locked-in" successors have other plans (like opening a tiki bar in Thailand). 6. Staying Fiercely Independent: Why selling isn't the only path and how to build value even if you never plan to exit. Featured Guest: Doug Lewis Take control of your practice: Optimize your workflow with Jetpack Workflow: https://bit.ly/4bj4a0H 🚀 Sign up for a 14-day free trial to Jetpack Workflow! https://app2.jetpackworkflow.com/auth/login 🚀 Stay Connected: Subscribe for bi-weekly stories from firm owners and modern accounting strategies. 👋 Say hi on social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jetpackworkflow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jetpackworkflow Twitter: https://x.com/jetpackworkflow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jetpack_workflow/# 🎙 Listen to Growing Your Firm Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growing-your-firm-strategies-for-accountants-cpas-bookkeepers/id923004172 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6MauXYaHFyS0rlb6L3Qb1U Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jetpack-workflow/growing-your-firm /episode/index/show/jetpackworkflow/id/40595700

The EOS Lite Framework for Growing a Remote Firm 03/13/2026

Why Accounting Firm Owners Burn Out (And How to Fix It with Better Operations) 03/10/2026

Why Talent Is the Real Growth Constraint for Accounting Firms: Insights from Jennifer Wilson 03/10/2026

GYF Summit: Future of Professional Roundtable 02/26/2026

How Matt Gardner Scaled a Niche Accounting Firm Without Chasing Referrals 02/12/2026

Fixing Turnover and Capacity Problems Inside Growing Accounting Firms with Erin Daiber 01/29/2026

How William Hamilton Breaks Down Pricing, Packaging, and Value for Accounting Firms 01/15/2026

How Justine Lackey Turned a Focused Bookkeeping Firm Into a Successful Exit 12/27/2025

AI Tools That Help Accounting Firms Scale Faster: Insights from Anderson Petergeorge 12/04/2025

The Future of Accounting Firms in an AI Driven World with Ryan Lazanis 11/07/2025

How Coaching Transforms Accounting Leaders: Lessons from Douglas Slaybaugh 10/23/2025

Firm as a Service: How Dark Horse is Transforming the Accounting Firm Model 08/22/2025

From CPA to Software Entrepreneur: How Ben Taylor Launched SoftLedger 08/04/2025

From CPA to Software Entrepreneur: How Ben Taylor Launched SoftLedger In this episode of Growing Your Firm, host David Cristello welcomes Ben Taylor, CEO of SoftLedger, to discuss the emerging trend of CPAs transitioning into technology entrepreneurs. With over a decade of experience as a practicing CPA, Ben shares his journey from accounting to software development, highlighting the growing interest among accountants in launching their own tech solutions. David and Ben explore examples of other industry leaders, such as Jackie Meyer and Kelly Mann, who have made similar transitions, and delve into the motivations behind this shift. This conversation offers valuable insights for ambitious accountants looking to innovate and expand their impact in the financial sector. Tune in to uncover the opportunities that lie at the intersection of accounting and technology! In a recent podcast episode featuring Ben Taylor, CEO of SoftLedger, the discussion highlights how many CPAs, including Ben himself, have experienced firsthand the limitations of existing accounting software. Ben's journey began about ten years ago while managing various areas in the accounting department of a small public company. Frustrated with the outdated and inefficient Microsoft Dynamics GP, which led to delays in financial reporting, he realized there had to be a better way to handle accounting processes. This frustration sparked the idea for SoftLedger. The episode also emphasizes that this trend is not isolated to Ben. Many other accountants have made similar transitions, moving from traditional firm roles to developing innovative software solutions. For instance, host David Cristello mentions several individuals who have successfully made this leap, including Jackie Meyer, Kelly Mann, and Hector Garcia. These examples illustrate a broader movement within the accounting profession, where practitioners leverage their industry knowledge to create tools that address specific pain points. /episode/index/show/jetpackworkflow/id/37443650