Earmark Podcast | Earn Free Accounting CPE

Rising CPA star Logan Graf joins Blake to discuss his success in growing a profitable firm in just three years. Logan shares his unique transparent approach, how he rapidly increases his pricing year over year, and how he structures productized service packages to maximize profits. Blake and Logan talk about automating the client onboarding process, and key strategies around requiring upfront payments. This eye-opening episode is full of actionable advice to help CPAs accelerate firm growth and build their dream practice.SponsorShareFile - https://earmarkcpe.promo/sharefileChapters(07:40) - How Logan spends his time making content (10:41) - What type of services do you offer at your firm? (17:12) - How do you reevaluate pricing and implement higher pricing? (26:25) - Do you have any tips to raise prices without making clients angry? (29:48) - Getting clients to pay you upfront (35:55) - Have you started sending out proposals for next year yet? (49:03) - Tell me about your package offerings on your website (55:29) - How do you track projects and thoughts on practice management software? (01:03:14) - Blake demonstrates the ChatGPT CapCut integration (01:08:30) - Thanks for listening and remember to subscribe Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comDownload the Earmark CPE App Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.appConnect with Our Guest, Logan GrafLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/logangraf/Twitter: https://twitter.com/LoganGrafTaxYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF2X_OgakltGGp-r5AJNsPQLearn more about The Graf Tax Co. PLLChttps://www.graftaxco.com/Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Jody Grunden, founder of Summit CPA Group and virtual CFO services pioneer, reveals his $10 million secret: weekly client meetings. Learn about his transition from traditional monthly engagements, the power of driver-based modeling in forecasting, the benefits of remote work, and the considerations of selling the practice. Discover the importance of content creation and podcasting for building a public presence in the accounting world.

Examining how digital marketing and AI are disrupting accounting firm marketing. Successful firms utilizing marketing automation, CRMs, and content marketing. The shift from old models to new ones. Utilizing tools like HubSpot and Introhive for data scraping. Setting up marketing teams for success. The impact of AI on accounting marketing. Benefits of using generative AI for content creation. Exploring podcasting, live streaming, and email collection.

Mike Manalac, guest went from public accounting to a dream role at Google. He shares advice on personal branding and job interviews. Topics include AI in accounting, Excel at Google, transitioning from public accounting, tips for interviews, and his book 'No Flux Given'.

Wayne Berson, CEO of BDO USA, discusses the firm's transition to an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), attracting talent, financial incentives, becoming a partner, talent shortage, and the future of the accounting profession. They also give advice for firms considering an ESOP.

Blake is joined by Twyla Verhelst, Head of Accountant Channel at FreshBooks, to discuss a groundbreaking concept in advisory known as "Collaborative Accounting." This innovative approach aims to enhance collaboration between accountants and clients by providing a platform for efficient financial management. They delve into various aspects of this new approach, including FreshBooks' certification program, dedicated support for accounting partners, and a community for accountants to exchange best practices and insights. Prepare to be inspired by the transformative power of Collaborative Accounting!SponsorFreshBooks - https://earmarkcpe.promo/freshbooksTo learn more about Collaborative Accounting and join the FreshBooks partner program, visit https://freshbooks.com/accountantsChapters(00:19) - Earn Free CPE (01:02) - Welcome Twyla Verhelst to the show (08:02) - How do you make advisory services efficient? (11:54) - What is "collaborative accounting"? (14:10) - Who are we collaborating with? (19:28) - Can you give us an example of this? (24:13) - How do we make the time for this when we're so busy helping with clients with other problems? (35:54) - Why clients are seeking financial advice elsewhere (39:36) - What is FreshBooks doing to help make collaborative advisory possible? (45:08) - FreshBooks has top-notch support (46:01) - Community partnership is a huge part of this (47:10) - Wrap up and where to learn more about FreshBooks (50:32) - Remember to Earn Free CPE by listening to this Episode Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comDownload the Earmark CPE App Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.appConnect with Our Guest, Twyla VerhelstLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/twylav/?originalSubdomain=caTwitter: https://twitter.com/TwylaVerhelstInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thattwylagirl/?hl=enLearn more about FreshBooks: Website: https://www.freshbooks.com/Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Jerry Maginnis, an experienced accountant with over 40 years of experience, shares advice for young accountants on building a successful career. He emphasizes the importance of soft skills, navigating busy season, expanding business acumen, and the pros and cons of different career paths. This episode offers indispensable guidance to maximize your career as an accountant.

Think the pathway to owning an accounting firm is linear? Think again.In this episode, Blake has a fascinating conversation with Scott “OKR” Scarano, an accounting firm owner with an unconventional background.Before becoming a successful firm owner, Scott started dealing drugs, got kicked out of UNC, and ended up with a felony conviction. But with persistence and grit, Scott cleaned up his act, got back on track with his accounting degree, and hustled his way up to leading an accounting practice approaching $2 million in annual revenue.Scott gives an honest account of his journey—the highs, the lows, and the lessons learned along the way. He talks about the mistakes he made scaling his firm and the tools and systems he implemented to get “out of the work” and create more freedom in his life.These days Scott is pursuing his creative passions, like rapping as "OKR," while his firm runs smoothly in the background.His story offers inspiration that firm ownership isn't one-size-fits-all and that with the right mindset and support, unlikely entrepreneurs can thrive in accounting.Sponsor Check out our Sponsor LiveFlow — Advanced Financial Reporting on AutopilotChapters(00:46) - Blake's first impressions of Scott (07:14) - The definition of a successful firm (11:28) - Scott works an hour a week on his firm (12:09) - The bottom line: What Scott takes home (13:32) - Are you planning to grow the firm? (15:33) - Scott felt guilty about not doing the work (16:55) - How Scott started his firm (21:34) - Learning from mistakes (23:29) - Scott's felony charge and what it taught him about business (26:02) - The similarities between pricing drugs and accounting services (32:09) - What did you do after you bought the firm? (35:55) - Getting stuck at $1.2 million revenue (36:40) - How EOS changed things (38:25) - What is Padgett? (39:24) - Back to EOS (44:48) - Joining XPAC, the Xero Partner Advisory Council (48:27) - Stuck in Mexico during COVID caused a mindset shift (51:16) - Cal Newport and digital minimalism (56:05) - What Scott is working on next (01:01:37) - Where to reach Scott and how to listen to Accounting High (01:04:01) - Where do you want to see the accounting profession go? Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comDownload the Earmark CPE App Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.appConnect with Our Guest, Scott ScaranoWebsite: https://www.accountinghigh.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottscarano/Twitter: https://twitter.com/scottscaranoLearn more about Scott's firm, Padgett NCWebsite: https://raleigh.padgettadvisors.com/index.phpConnect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

From offsetting winnings with losses to tracking gambling sessions, this podcast explores tax strategies for beating the house. The speaker, a CPA specializing in gambling taxation, discusses what counts as gambling income and how to properly track activity. They also address the importance of record-keeping, IRS publications on gambling, tax implications for recreational and professional gamblers, understanding tax forms for gambling winnings, and the intricacies of the gambling niche.

Major changes are afoot in the world of QuickBooks. QBO and Payroll prices are going up. Intuit is phasing out QuickBooks Desktop Pro while touting QuickBooks Online and Enterprise as the future, though Hector predicts Desktop will still have a 2024 edition. QBO Advanced still needs improvements, like reverting to a static navigation bar, and Hector is excited about new integrations with QuickBooks Checking. Tune in for insights from Hector Garcia, CPA, on the past, present, and future of Intuit’s small business accounting software.Sponsor South Carolina Association of CPAs (SCACPA) - https://earmarkcpe.promo/scacpaChapters(00:00) - Quickbooks dropped the ball with QuickBooks Checking (00:57) - Earn Free CPE (01:18) - Welcome Hector back to the show (02:41) - QuickBook Online price changes (06:46) - How will Intuit make sure its LLM is learning the right things? (10:17) - What's new with QuickBooks Desktop Pro and Premier? (18:26) - Why can't QBO do better inventory and what apps do you recommend for inventory? (19:43) - Let's talk about QuickBooks Checking (27:25) - Are you recommending QuickBooks checking to clients? And what do they need to do to get to that point? (31:30) - Revisiting Hector's 2022 predictions for QuickBooks Desktop (33:06) - Some new features (37:41) - Hector's QuickBooks browser extension RightTool (40:44) - How do you protect client information in RightTool (42:12) - Hector sold his tax practice and he's having a conference in Miami (46:19) - We're launching a new QuickBooks podcast! Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comDownload the Earmark CPE App Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.appConnect with Our Guest, Hector Garcia, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hectormgarciacpa/Subscribe to updates about the Unofficial QuickBooks Podcast: http://eepurl.com/iw4kpELearn more about Hector's conference in Miami: https://altaccountant.com/creative/Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/