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! [email protected] 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 SponsorsVerito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notesKarbon: https://karbonhq.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=jason-staatsMakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaatsCanopy: 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 Niches03:30 - Trust & Estate Firms04:50 - Nonprofit Tax Firms05:40 - Tax Representation Firms06:10 - Sales & Use Tax Firms07:20 - Foreign-Owned Business Firms08:10 - Expat Tax Firms08:40 - Crypto Compliance Firms09:00 - Cannabis Compliance Firms09:34 - 401(k) Plan Audit Firms10:40 - Government Grant Audit Firms14:04 - Nonprofit Audit Firms14:39 - HOA Audit Firms15:29 - Construction & Surety Firms16:14 - Affordable Housing Firms16:59 - Franchisor Audit Firms17:24 - Captive Insurance Audit Firms17:49 - Credit Union & Community Bank Firms18:24 - Business Valuation Firms19:09 - Divorce Forensics Firms19:44 - Forensic & Fraud Firms20:09 - Royalty & Contract Compliance Firms21:09 - Healthcare Reimbursement Firms21:53 - Government Contractor Firms26:13 - Building a Space Accounting Firm27:43 - Finding Space Companies30:02 - Cost Reimbursement Contracts31:33 - Space Industry Gateways32:33 - Finding Niche Opportunities33:08 - Let’s Make a Hire35:48 - 📫 Mailbag36:22 - Will AI Replace Juniors?41:47 - Using AI to Grow44:17 - Claude + QuickBooks45:32 - Private AI Models50:26 - Jason’s AI Spend52:36 - AI’s Environmental Cost54:36 - Closing Thoughts🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!X https://twitter.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 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! [email protected] 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 SponsorsCloud Accountant Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidatesFinancial 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-notesKarbon: https://karbonhq.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=jason-staatsMakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaatsCanopy: 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 Apps01:55 - Collaborative Email04:44 - Soft Phones + SMS06:25 - Loom for Client Communication08:55 - Social Media Scheduling10:19 - Password Management12:24 - Claude or ChatGPT14:04 - Slack or Microsoft Teams17:54 - Meeting Recorders19:04 - Scheduling Tools23:28 - 🔥 Roast a Firm24:54 - Why Specific Niches Work25:43 - Building a Side Website26:09 - Website Messaging28:38 - Capturing Visitor Emails30:23 - Adding Social Proof30:48 - Rethinking Website Pricing36:28 - Selling the Opportunity38:43 - 📞 Accountant Support38:58 - Cutting Lower-Paying Clients40:08 - How Many Clients to Cut44:02 - QuickBooks + Claude Outside the US48:12 - PC vs. Mac for AI50:32 - Trial Balance Software51:02 - Accounting Software Mount Rushmore53:02 - 10-Key ATB vs. Tallyfor54:47 - Is Software Too Expensive?57:02 - Should AI Replace CCH?01:00:22 - Starting an Accounting Firm01:05:26 - Realize🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!X https://twitter.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 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! [email protected] 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 SponsorsCloud Accountant Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidatesFinancial 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-notesKarbon: https://karbonhq.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=jason-staatsMakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaatsCanopy: 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 firms01:40 - Compliance-only firms03:15 - Finding a compliance niche05:19 - Compliance pros and cons07:53 - Tax firms doing bookkeeping09:08 - The hardest firm to niche10:33 - The fastest-growing firm model11:27 - Selling the back office13:13 - Books-first firm advantages15:12 - Beyond traditional bookkeeping18:51 - Accounting firm partnerships20:30 - Bookkeeping-only firms23:24 - Comparing all four models24:29 - The opportunity in seasonal tax24:44 - The Swear Jar27:58 - 🤓 Nerd Corner: AI agents31:15 - Grokbot and computer automation34:39 - Where to draw the AI line36:44 - Making AI agents safer39:13 - 📞 Accountant Support39:39 - AI fetching bank statements42:38 - Spotting cheap clients43:33 - Positioning around valuable problems44:08 - Three-tier pricing45:53 - Staff vs. senior accountants46:13 - CRM vs. practice management51:07 - Getting staff to adopt AI54:52 - Tax Season Simulator56:17 - Avoiding bottomless habits56:57 - The second stomach debate59:26 - Closing thoughts🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!X https://twitter.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 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! [email protected] 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 SponsorsCloud Accountant Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidatesFinancial 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-notesKarbon: https://karbonhq.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=jason-staatsMakersHub: https://makershub.com/get-started?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=jasonstaatsCanopy: 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 Themselves01:15 - Truth #1: Pricing Should Feel Uncomfortable03:45 - Truth #2: Clients Decide Your Value05:59 - Truth #3: Premium Pricing Isn’t Evil07:39 - Truth #4: Attract Better Clients, Don’t Sell More09:13 - Truth #5: Stop Listening to C & D Clients11:54 - Truth #6: Delivery Beats Technical Quality17:19 - Truth #7: You Get What You Pay For19:14 - Truth #8: Don’t Lock In Day One Pricing22:40 - 🔥 Roast a Listener’s Proposal31:47 - Building Better Three-Tier Proposals38:23 - 🗄️ Tales from the Vault: Getting Real Online42:03 - 📬 Mailbag42:16 - Should You Leave QuickBooks Desktop?45:43 - AI Is Replacing Software Subscriptions48:00 - Will AI Change Three-Tier Proposals?51:09 - Claude, MCPs & QuickBooks52:52 - Should Your Firm Sell Software?57:31 - The Golden Age of Accounting59:37 - Realize🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!X https://twitter.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 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! [email protected] 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 SponsorsCloud Accountant Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidatesFinancial 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-staatsSoraban: 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 Owners00:54 - Why Mindset Still Matters02:13 - #1 Stop Expecting Forever Clients05:00 - #2 Build a High-Agency Firm07:25 - #3 Do the Painful Thing09:40 - #4 Protect Your Own Time12:06 - The First Four Mindset Shifts15:21 - #5 Stop Figuring It Out Alone16:16 - #6 Build Around Your Passions21:05 - Why I Care About Accounting Firms24:13 - 🗄️ Tales From the Vault24:23 - My Cringey Early YouTube Video25:28 - The Reality of Starting With No Audience29:02 - Why I Kept Going29:41 - The $35 Fanny Pack Giveaway31:28 - 🔥 Unsolicited Takedowns31:28 - The Whisper Flow Productivity Flex34:00 - AI Usage Is Not Productivity38:17 - 📬 Mailbag38:29 - Can Claude Use Judy’s TenKey?42:50 - Should Firms Still Track Time?46:02 - Building a Side Firm Publicly50:05 - X or Instagram for Accountants?53:06 - Pricing a Brand-New Firm57:34 - Closing Thoughts🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!X https://twitter.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 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! [email protected] 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 SponsorsCloud Accountant Staffing: https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/candidatesFinancial 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-staatsSoraban: 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 Yet01:01 - Practice Management by Firm Size06:05 - Most-Loved Accounting Apps08:49 - Marketing That Actually Works11:20 - Delegate Your Inbox Smarter13:13 - AI’s Hidden Data Advantage16:15 - 🔥 Roast My Tech Stack18:53 - Workflow vs Practice Management20:47 - Bookkeeping or Tax First?22:35 - AI Accounting Stack Picks24:05 - Build a Smarter Tech Stack30:53 - AI Video Editing with Claude34:13 - 📬 Mailbag34:34 - Best KPIs for Firm Owners38:34 - Finding the Right Niche43:08 - Do You Need Google Reviews?45:04 - Growing Beyond $750K48:36 - AI Skills for New Accountants51:00 - Behind My YouTube Workflow53:14 - Realize Community🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!X https://twitter.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 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! [email protected] 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 SponsorsSoraban: 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-notes// Chapters:00:00 - Why Personal Branding Matters More Than Ever01:37 - Welcome to the Podcast02:03 - Stop Being Professionally Invisible04:12 - The Real Meaning of Personal Branding06:01 - Why Visibility Creates Opportunity07:44 - Finding a Game You Can Win10:02 - Why Specificity Beats Reach12:09 - Finding Your Unique Voice13:06 - Turning Content Into Opportunity17:09 - Will AI Make Personal Brands More Valuable?20:00 - Escaping the Hour-for-Dollar Trap22:04 - The Easiest Way to Stand Out23:56 - Roast a Firm24:42 - The Story Behind This Firm29:49 - The Challenge of Buying Other Firms' Leftovers35:08 - Choosing Between Seasonal and Year-Round Work36:03 - Finding Seasonal Tax Talent39:08 - Going Deeper Into Your Niche41:59 - Mailbag42:34 - Building AI Apps Inside Your Firm48:00 - Buying an Accounting Firm50:20 - Replacing Sage Intacct52:03 - Building Your Own AI Reconciliation Tool53:22 - Is Claude Cowork Secure?54:42 - Can Instead Replace Traditional Tax Software?57:14 - Specialized AI Agents vs Claude1:00:00 - Do You Really Need More Automation?1:01:54 - Choosing Between Canopy and TaxDome1:04:20 - What Happens When AI Can Do Everything?1:05:56 - Closing Thoughts🗣️ Continue the discussion on social!X https://twitter.com/jasononfirmsLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa