Podcast
Jason On Firms Podcast
Hosted by Jason Staats · EN
I'm Jason Staats, and on this podcast we talk through practical tips to run more profitable, calm accounting firms
129episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
607 Stop Trying To Land LEADS In Your Accounting Firm. Do This Instead. [This is putting accounting firms out of business]
4d ago00:51:37Tap to summarize🚀 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.comIn this episode, I break down why accounting firms don’t 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.🎤 I’m going live! Grab your tickets here: https://www.jasononfirms.com/events🔥 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 SponsorsCloud Accounting Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidatesSoraban: https://www.soraban.com/Makershub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaatsCanopy: getcanopy.com/jason Schedule a demo to see for yourself, and receive a $75 gift card after your demoVerito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notesMissive: https://missiveapp.com/jason// Chapters:00:00 - Why firms need better clients01:57 - The Dirty Dozen: client quality03:17 - Better clients fix capacity05:08 - Cut low-margin clients08:18 - Word-of-mouth has limits16:20 - Why niching feels scary22:47 - Visibility creates better clients29:14 - Three-tier proposal problems35:45 - Mailbag40:46 - Should you discount pricing?44:59 - Catching scope creep49:16 - Better clients solve everything🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!X https://twitter.com/jasononfirmsLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
Transcribe →606 Is Now The Time To SELL Your Accounting Firm? [Timing the AI wave]
1w ago00:51:09Tap to summarize🚀 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.comIn 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.🎤 I’m going live! Grab your tickets here: https://www.jasononfirms.com/events🔥 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 SponsorsCloud Accounting Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidatesSoraban: https://www.soraban.com/Makershub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaatsCanopy: getcanopy.com/jason Schedule a demo to see for yourself, and receive a $75 gift card after your demoVerito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notesMissive: https://missiveapp.com/jason// Chapters:00:00 - Should you sell before AI changes accounting?01:31 - AI risk + firm value03:00 - Are you selling what AI replaces?06:44 - The case for selling now07:28 - Accountants as human integrators10:59 - The real asset is you16:39 - Founder-led accounting websites27:48 - Mailbag28:07 - AI for cash flow and budgets32:04 - No practice management software37:56 - Accounting firm margins explained39:55 - Career path into a better firm44:30 - CFO advisory vs bookkeeping46:29 - Tax workflow tools🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!X https://twitter.com/jasononfirmsLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
Transcribe →605 6 Steps To Workflow Your Way Into A Better Accounting Firm [Let’s get more work out the door]
2w ago01:03:05Tap to summarize🚀 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.comIn this episode, I break down why most accounting firm workflow problems are actually capacity problems. I walk through six common capacity bottlenecks—from not knowing your real bandwidth and busy season overload to owner burnout, hiring paralysis, and the client communication death spiral. The core issue usually isn’t workflow software—it’s pricing, bad-fit clients, and trying to serve too many people without enough margin. Then I shift into a rapid-fire “this or that” 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.🎤 I’m going live! Grab your tickets here: https://www.jasononfirms.com/events🔥 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 SponsorsCloud Accounting Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidatesSoraban: https://www.soraban.com/Makershub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaatsMissive: https://missiveapp.com/jasonCanopy: g[etcanopy.com/jason](http://getcanopy.com/jason) Schedule a demo to see for yourself, and receive a $75 gift card after your demo// Chapters:00:00 - Workflow problems are really capacity problems01:30 - Dirty Dozen + six capacity bottlenecks20:00 Hire vs workflow + firing clients23:20 Client responsiveness + service quality30:30 This or That begins (tech + firm decisions)46:40 Staffing: offshore vs onshore52:20 Buy a firm or build a sales team58:40 AI, hiring, and the future of accounting01:01:00 Events + final CTA🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!X https://twitter.com/jasononfirmsLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
Transcribe →604 Two Incredible Claude Cowork Updates for Accounting Firms [The two best updates of 2026]
2w ago01:13:39Tap to summarize🚀 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 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. 🎤 I’m going live! Grab your tickets here: https://www.jasononfirms.com/events 🔥 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 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: getcanopy.com/jason Schedule a demo to see for yourself, and receive a $75 gift card after your demo // 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 🗣️ Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
Transcribe →603 He Runs a $400k Accounting Firm and Takes 8 Weeks of Vacation [But now he’s become the bottleneck]
3w ago00:57:27Tap to summarize🚀 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 a real accounting firm doing over $400K in revenue while the owner works about 30 hours a week most of the year and takes eight weeks off. I walk through the firm’s revenue mix, team structure, seasonal workflow, pricing model, billing approach, tech stack, and why the owner is still the main bottleneck. Then I explain the six most common owner bottlenecks in accounting firms, from review and knowledge transfer to structure, delegation, escalation, and pricing. 🎤 I’m going live! Grab your tickets here: https://www.jasononfirms.com/events 🔥 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 TeamUp: https://www.hireteamup.com/jason 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: getcanopy.com/jason Schedule a demo to see for yourself, and receive a $75 gift card after your demo Cloud Accounting Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates // Chapters: 00:00 - A $400K calm firm 01:31 - Firm snapshot + revenue mix 05:36 - Seasonal workflow + vacation 08:51 - Three-tier pricing model 16:10 - Upfront billing strategy 20:21 - Marketing + tech stack 22:53 - Main pain: owner bottleneck 26:50 - The Dirty Dozen + events 30:23 - Six bottleneck causes 34:50 - Knowledge bottleneck 37:50 - Structural bottleneck 40:17 - Meddling bottleneck 43:02 - Escalation bottleneck 48:24 - Pricing bottleneck 54:55 - Community + referral network CTA 🗣️ Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
Transcribe →602 How Accounting Firms Pick Software Just Changed
3w ago01:08:29Tap to summarizeHere’s that Delphi app we discussed in Nerd corner https://www.delphi.ai/And a link to my own Delphi assistant https://www.delphi.ai/jasonstaats/chat🚀 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.comIn this episode, I break down how AI agents are changing the way accounting firms should think about their tech stack. We’re in the middle of tech selection season, but AI is moving so fast that traditional buying decisions don’t really make sense anymore. I walk through eight major shifts, from why you shouldn’t lock into long term software contracts. I also explain how switching tools is getting easier, why audit logs suddenly matter, and how AI is changing hiring and outsourcing decisions.🎤 I’m going live! Grab your tickets here: https://www.jasononfirms.com/events🔥 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 SponsorsTeamUp: https://www.hireteamup.com/jasonSoraban: https://www.soraban.com/Makershub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaatsMissive: https://missiveapp.com/jasonCanopy: getcanopy.com/jason Schedule a demo to see for yourself, and receive a $75 gift card after your demoCloud Accounting Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates// Chapters:00:00 - AI agents are changing tech decisions02:11 - Why 2026 is the year of AI agents03:13 - How software buying is changing11:16 - Why audit logs matter now15:33 - All-in-one vs best-of-breed19:53 - AI changes hiring and outsourcing24:04 - Client agents and firm agents26:37 - Nerd Corner: client-facing AI assistants35:05 - Building proprietary AI context40:30 - Knowledge automation is coming41:40 - Mailbag begins42:10 - Double vs Financial Sense44:17 - Sending 12-month proposals now47:06 - Three-tier pricing mistake49:29 - Perplexity’s personal computer AI55:14 - Building AI models vs using wrappers01:01:44 - Marketing a newly acquired firm🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!X https://twitter.com/jasononfirmsLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
Transcribe →601 Why Hiring Is Now Impossible [Practical accounting firm hiring advice]
4w ago01:08:07Tap to summarize🚀 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.comIn this episode, I break down why hiring feels impossible for accounting firms and why that’s usually not true. I walk through the nine most common hiring bottlenecks I’m seeing across firms right now, from first hire paralysis and offshore vs onshore decisions to training challenges and being the bottleneck as an owner. I also share why most firms aren’t doing enough to attract talent, and how small changes in positioning, pricing, and structure can unlock hiring. Then I cover AI updates from OpenAI and Claude, plus answer questions on tools, hiring strategy, and whether simple tax firms are at risk.🎤 I’m going live! Grab your tickets here: https://www.jasononfirms.com/events🔥 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 SponsorsTeamUp: https://www.hireteamup.com/jasonSoraban: https://www.soraban.com/Makershub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaatsCanopy: getcanopy.com/jason Schedule a demo to see for yourself, and receive a $75 gift card after your demoMissive: https://missiveapp.com/jasonCloud Accounting Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates// Chapters:00:00 Why hiring feels impossible01:28 The Dirty Dozen: hiring data08:17 First hire paralysis12:04 Onshore vs offshore hiring18:46 What kind of admin should you hire?23:32 Why great hires aren’t finding you27:30 Capacity, pricing, and hiring32:08 Succession and client transition38:22 The owner is the bottleneck40:16 The lighthouse strategy for hiring42:26 Mailbag43:08 OpenAI vs Claude59:02 Double vs Aider01:04:23 Will AI kill simple tax firms?🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!X https://twitter.com/jasononfirmsLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
Transcribe →600 A Claude Cowork SECURITY Guide for your Accounting Firm
4w ago01:12:12Tap to summarize🚀 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.comIn this episode, I share a simple framework for deciding whether to keep hiring or intentionally contract, centered on tightening your client revenue band, narrowing your services so they are easier to systematize, and building distribution so you can specialize. I apply it to a real bookkeeping firm that feels overstaffed and stuck on pricing, and I close with mailbag answers on buying a book of business, letting go of legacy clients, charging for consults, finding first clients, and positioning a niche before you have ideal case studies.🎤 I’m going live! We’ll announce new dates and cities. Stay tuned for the presale🔥 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 SponsorsSoraban: https://www.soraban.com/TeamUp: https://www.hireteamup.com/Verito: https://verito.com/Financial Cents: https://hubs.li/Q03mLr_x0Use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!X https://twitter.com/jasononfirmsLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
Transcribe →599 How To Become An Accounting Firm Thought Leader [And why our industry needs you]
Apr 1401:00:25Tap to summarize🚀 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.comIn this episode, I break down how I transitioned from running a 40-person firm to helping other accounting firms, and why there’s a massive opportunity right now for accountants to step into education, AI, and advisory roles. I share a practical framework for starting, including how to stay independent, build an audience, and structure your value ladder. Then I walk through a teardown of a $50M accounting firm, highlighting pricing, tech stack, and org structure issues. We close with a mailbag covering acquisitions, scaling CFO services, proposals, client pruning, delegation, and tools.🎤 I’m going live! Grab your tickets here: https://www.jasononfirms.com/events🔥 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 SponsorsTeamUp: https://www.hireteamup.com/jasonMakershub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaatsSoraban: https://www.soraban.com/Financial Cents: https://hubs.li/Q03mLr_x0 Use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users.Canopy: getcanopy.com/jason Schedule a demo to see for yourself, and receive a $75 gift card after your demoMissive: https://missiveapp.com/jason// Chapters:00:00 - Why accountants should help accountants02:00 - From firm owner to educator09:30 - Building an accounting education business15:40 - Email lists, niche, and positioning22:00 - $50M firm teardown (pricing, tech, structure)36:00 - Org structure beyond partner model41:30 - Mailbag: scaling, clients, and pricing57:00 - Tools and final takeaways🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!X https://twitter.com/jasononfirmsLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
Transcribe →598 Managing PHONE Calls In An Accounting Firm [How this should look in 2026]
Apr 1001:15:07Tap to summarize🚀 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.comIn this episode, I break down how accounting firms should actually think about communication, from whether phones still matter to how to structure client expectations and response times. I walk through why most firms get overwhelmed by making the wrong people too accessible, and how to design a communication system that protects focus while still delivering a high-touch client experience. I dig into what happens when someone replaces their CPA with an AI agent, what that signals about where things are heading, and how firms should respond. I also cover how to prepare your systems for AI, what actually makes software “agent-ready,” and how AI may or may not change when you should start your own firm.🎤 I’m going live! Grab your tickets here: https://www.jasononfirms.com/events🔥 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☎️ VOIP Phone Options:Dialpad https://www.dialpad.com/Quo https://www.quo.com/Allo https://www.withallo.com/Nextiva https://nextiva.com/Ooma https://www.ooma.com/💰 Today's SponsorsTeamUp: https://www.hireteamup.com/jasonMakershub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaatsFinancial Cents: https://hubs.li/Q03mLr_x0 Use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users.Soraban: https://www.soraban.com/Canopy: getcanopy.com/jason Schedule a demo to see for yourself, and receive a $75 gift card after your demoCloud Accountant Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidates// Chapters:00:00 - Why communication breaks firms03:20 - Who should talk to clients07:30 - Designing a scalable communication system16:00 - Why accessibility is the real problem20:30 - What happens when AI replaces your CPA25:00 - AI agents vs assistants30:40 - Why APIs matter more than tools37:20 - Sponsor break41:20 - Where current systems fail46:30 - Where AI is actually going49:40 - Closing thoughts🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!X https://twitter.com/jasononfirmsLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa
Transcribe →