Profit First for Lawyers

 ”You don’t have to have a million dollar law firm to do the things that cause people to have million and multimillion dollar law firms.“ – RJon Robins, author of Profit First for Lawyers When is the right time to start Profit First? In this episode, we hear from Marie Drake who went from struggling solo practitioner to a profitable multi-attorney law firm owner following Profit First Accounting Principles. She reveals the subconscious sabotage that almost derailed her Profit First journey, a challenge many entrepreneurs face when building wealth. Marie also shares why one particular segment from Chapter 12 of the Profit First for Lawyers book resonated so deeply. In the clip, RJon explains the principles behind the behaviors of multimillion dollar law firm owners. Marie now understands these principles in ways she couldn’t when she first appeared on the podcast two years ago. Key Takeaways: Start Profit First with small percentages now rather than wait for higher revenue Automate profit allocation to remove decision fatigue and emotional interference Expect subconscious resistance when building substantial business reserves Commit to a 12-36 month testing period before evaluating results Having financial security enhances client service quality Marie’s transformation demonstrates that Profit First isn’t just accounting methodology, it’s the foundation for building a business that serves both owners and clients at the highest levels. Her message to hesitant law firm owners is direct: Get off the fence and experiment with Profit First. After all, what do you have to lose? Resource: Profit Leak Assessment The Profit Leak Assessment is a practical, on-demand course to help law firm owners find thousands of dollars in potential profit leaks. Karli teamed up with Evelyn Aucoin, Financial Literacy and Strategy Expert with How To Manage A Small Law Firm to create this resource for law firm owners. Click the button below to start plugging the profit leaks in your firm. Your future self will thank you for it! Connect and Engage Connect with Marie Drake directly at www.thedrakelawfirm.com Listen to “Just Grow Up” featuring Marie Drake in 2023 Subscribe to the Profit First for Lawyers podcast Watch episodes on YouTube Follow Profit First For Lawyers on social media: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook And most importantly, order your copy of Profit First for Lawyers today!

“I remember the owner of a multimillion dollar law firm who had positive cash flow. Yay! Unfortunately, the law firm was slowly going out of business because it was losing $100,000 each month and the owner didn’t even know it.” – RJon Robins If you’ve ever looked at cash coming into your firm and assumed that meant you were profitable, this episode is a wake-up call you can’t afford to miss. In a segment pulled from Chapter 13, page 118 in the Profit First for Lawyers book, you’ll hear about the crucial difference between cash flow and actual profit – and why confusing the two could quietly destroy your law firm. From The Recording Studio In a conversational clip from the audiobook recording session, RJon breaks down the four key financial metrics every law firm owner needs to track. Karli joins in with questions to get clarity on why cash flow projections matter. RJon further illustrates the importance of knowing the difference between cash flow and profits with a cautionary tale about a multimillion dollar law firm that was secretly bleeding money. When RJon revealed the truth about what the financial reports actually showed, the owner’s response was…surprising. You’ll want to hear this conversation to understand why some business owners prefer comfortable lies over uncomfortable truths. This episode is a great reminder to go back and reread Profit First for Lawyers, Chapter 13 The Basics. Key Takeaways: Cash flow measures money in and out while profitability measures whether you’re actually making money after all costs. Positive cash flow can hide the fact that your law firm is slowly going out of business Your balance sheet tells the real story. If you’re not reading it, then your business is flying blind. Find out where your cash flow is coming from: new sales, borrowed money, or unfulfilled work? You cannot delegate financial oversight completely. You must personally verify the systems are in place and review regularly to ensure they are being followed. Resource: Profit Leak Assessment The Profit Leak Assessment is a practical, on-demand course to help law firm owners find thousands of dollars in potential profit leaks. Karli teamed up with Evelyn Aucoin, Financial Literacy and Strategy Expert with How To Manage A Small Law Firm to create this resource for law firm owners. Click the button below to start plugging the profit leaks in your firm. Your future self will thank you for it! Connect and Engage Subscribe to the Profit First for Lawyers podcast Watch episodes on YouTube Follow Profit First For Lawyers on social media: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook And most importantly, order your copy of Profit First for Lawyers today!

“You know what every single personal injury lawyer can tell you that every single one of their clients all have in common without one single exception? None of them expected to get in a car wreck the morning they woke up, left the house, and got in the car wreck. Life just happens.” – RJon Robins In this episode of the Profit First for Lawyers podcast, we look at what happens to your business and family if you get hit by a bus tomorrow. It sounds dramatic, but this sobering question matters more than almost anything else we’ve talked about so far. For a topic this important, RJon delivers some real talk about the difference between having a business versus having a job where you work for yourself. Here’s a hint: If your business cannot run without you, you don’t really have a business. RJon in the Studio and on the Stage In a clip from the audiobook recording session, which has since become cutting room floor content, RJon breaks down what it really means to build a sustainable business. The reality is no logical person would invest in a business without understanding how it is expected to generate revenue and profit. So why would you ask your family to invest in a business that does not have clear systems for continuing on without you? A second clip from a 2023 How To MANAGE a Small Law Firm Live Quarterly Meeting brings to light the three choices we all make when it comes to financial literacy. Choice one: become financially literate and be in control of your future. Choice two: remain financially illiterate and settle for life’s leftovers. Choice three: be financially literate but ignore your financials. The question both clips bring to the surface: Are you making the right financial literacy decisions? Resource: Profit Leak Assessment The Profit Leak Assessment is a practical, on-demand course to help law firm owners find thousands of dollars in potential profit leaks. Karli teamed up with Evelyn Aucoin, Financial Literacy and Strategy Expert with How To Manage A Small Law Firm to create this resource for law firm owners. Click the button below to start plugging the profit leaks in your firm. Your future self will thank you for it! Tea Time with Karli Karli shares a recent conversation with RJon that left her silent and stunned. It started with a simple question and ended with a reality check so powerful it sent her into immediate action. The scenario RJon painted will make you rethink everything you know about protecting the people you love. Key Takeaways Life happens without warning so build systems that ensure your business can run without you Financial literacy is a choice Stop waiting for the “right time” to take action This episode is a reality check about taking responsibility for both your business and your family’s future. Whether it’s building systems that allow your law firm to generate revenue without your constant presence Or creating legal documents that protect your loved ones, the message is clear: if you love them, plan like you won’t be here tomorrow. Connect and Engage Subscribe to the Profit First for Lawyers podcast Watch episodes on YouTube Follow Profit First For Lawyers on social media: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook And most importantly, order your copy of Profit First for Lawyers today!

“You don’t have to know hardly anything about bookkeeping or accounting or math to become very effective in your use of these important financial concepts.” – RJon Robins In this episode, hear how law firm owner Xavier Martine has transformed his law mindset around his firm’s finances, from financial fear to full command of the numbers. As a member of How To Manage A Small Law Firm, he didn’t just grow his revenue, he rewired how he thinks about profitability, systems, and what it truly means to run a law firm like a business. After adopting Profit First Accounting principles, he began treating profitability like a new language, one he could study, speak, and eventually master. RJon in the Studio RJon reminds listeners that profit management doesn’t require complex math. What it does require is clarity and a willingness to stop avoiding your law firm’s financials. The clip is pulled directly from Chapter 12 of the Profit First for Lawyers book. Read it and put the concepts into action to begin your journey towards financial fluency. Key Takeaways: Financial fluency is a language you can learn Profit is not a reward for what’s left over, it’s a decision made first Reading your financial reports helps prevent costly blind spots Setting profit goals raises your firm’s standards and performance Value and profit go hand-in-hand when service is prioritized Resource: Profit Leak Assessment The Profit Leak Assessment is a practical, on-demand course to help law firm owners find thousands of dollars in potential profit leaks. Karli teamed up with Evelyn Aucoin, Financial Literacy and Strategy Expert with How To Manage A Small Law Firm to create this resource for law firm owners. Click the button below to start plugging the profit leaks in your firm. Your future self will thank you for it! Connect and Engage Connect with Xavier Martine directly by visiting Martine Law Subscribe to the Profit First for Lawyers podcast Watch episodes on YouTube Follow Profit First For Lawyers on social media: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook And most importantly, order your copy of Profit First for Lawyers today!

“Profit cannot be treated as an event. It must be treated as a habit, but that is not how most business owners approach the profitability of their business.” – RJon Robins If you’ve been waiting for your next client or that one big case to swoop in and save your law firm’s profitability, this episode is your wake-up call. RJon drops some serious truth bombs about why chasing the next big thing is actually sabotaging your success. RJon in the Studio To understand why profit cannot be an event, RJon breaks down the Primacy Effect (page 186-187) and how it is secretly blocking your law firm’s profitability. Here’s the kicker: you naturally pay attention to what comes first and ignore everything else. So when you put profit last (after payroll, bills, everything else), your brain treats profit as an afterthought. The solution? Flip the script entirely! Decide what you want to take out first before anyone else gets their hands on it, and force your business to get creative with what’s left over. In a clip from a guest appearance on The Agile Attorney podcast hosted by John Grant, RJon delivers a vivid warning to law firm owners who have a hard copy version of the Profit First for Lawyers book. “You wouldn’t want your spouse or significant other to get their hands on my book if you’re not already doing Profit First, ’cause they’re gonna beat you with it until you do.” Tea Time with Karli Karli was in the podcast recording session with RJon and found the mental image of a law firm owner being hit with the Profit First for Lawyers book by their spouse for not taking their profit first humorous, until she realized she was guilty of the same offense. This “tea time” moment was when she knew there was no excuse for her or anyone not to take their profit first. This was one of the many reasons why she opened up her own personal profit account. Key Takeaways: How the Primacy Effect impacts your business success Why chasing the “next big thing” is not a profitable solution Your brain ignores what comes last, so make profit come first Don’t wait for a potential profit event. Build a profit habit. Small consistent actions are better than gambling on a “someday” windfall. Resource: Profit Leak Assessment The Profit Leak Assessment is a practical, on-demand course to help law firm owners find thousands of dollars in potential profit leaks. Karli teamed up with Evelyn Aucoin, Financial Literacy and Strategy Expert with How To Manage A Small Law Firm to create this resource for law firm owners. Click the button below to start plugging the profit leaks in your firm. Your future self will thank you for it! Connect and Engage Subscribe to the Profit First for Lawyers podcast Watch episodes on YouTube Follow Profit First For Lawyers on social media: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook And most importantly, order your copy of Profit First for Lawyers today!

“If your law school experience was anything like mine, chances are they taught you nothing in law school about the business of how to manage a law firm. In fact, they may have even given you the same bad advice that I have heard repeated from many thousands of lawyers who I have had the opportunity to work with over the years. Just be a great lawyer and the rest will take care of itself. Yeah, right.” – RJon Robins In this episode, Karli sits down with Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, shares her law firm owner journey from struggling to hit $250,000 in her first year to being on track to break the $10 million barrier. She opens up about her resistance to putting profits first, the dark times of cash crunches, and how proper financial structures transformed not just her business but her entire life and relationships. Kate’s advice for early-career lawyers: choose curiosity over resistance, and say yes to opportunities for growth and learning. In The Studio: In a clip from the recording studio for the Profit First for Lawyers audiobook, RJon Robins talks about how law school does little to prepare lawyers to be business owners. A story about  magic law firm management elves illustrates how many law firm owners run their business on fairytale thinking instead of taking action with a proper plan. Key Takeaways: Profit First creates personal and professional transformation Law school doesn’t prepare you for business Fire yourself by hiring people better than you Enjoy the journey, not just the milestones Be curious and open-minded Resource: Profit Leak Assessment The Profit Leak Assessment is a practical, on-demand course to help law firm owners find thousands of dollars in potential profit leaks. Karli teamed up with Evelyn Aucoin, Financial Literacy and Strategy Expert with How To Manage A Small Law Firm to create this resource for law firm owners. Click the button below to start plugging the profit leaks in your firm. Your future self will thank you for it! Connect and Engage Learn more about Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch Subscribe to the Profit First for Lawyers podcast Watch episodes on YouTube Follow Profit First For Lawyers on social media: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook Email us your feedback at podcast@profitfirstforlawyers.com And most importantly, order your copy of Profit First for Lawyers today!

“When we implement Profit First accounting principles in your law firm, we begin by deciding ahead of time what percentage of every dollar of revenue we’re going to scoop off the top and protect for you and your family.” If your law firm feels like it eats cash faster than you can make it, you’re not wrong. The traditional approach to law firm finances is completely backwards. In this episode we are making the case for why you should stop procrastinating and finally take your profits first. RJon Robins, author of Profit First for Lawyers, explains why the typical formula of “sell as much as you can, pay everyone else first, keep whatever’s left over” simply doesn’t work for entrepreneurial law firm owners who want to be profitable on purpose. Key Takeaways: The traditional approach is backwards The reason why Parkinson’s Law also applies to money Why Profit First forces innovation Gain objective accountability across your entire business ecosystem Kick procrastination to the curb Resource: Profit Leak Assessment The Profit Leak Assessment is a practical, on-demand course to help law firm owners find thousands of dollars in potential profit leaks. Karli teamed up with Evelyn Aucoin, Financial Literacy and Strategy Expert with How To Manage A Small Law Firm to create this resource for law firm owners. Click the button below to start plugging the profit leaks in your firm. Your future self will thank you for it! Mentioned In This Episode Focus on Things That Matter with Daniel Ferro Does Your Accountant Have An Entrepreneurial Mindset? with Oscar Ferenczi Profit First – More Than Just A Book with Mike Michalowicz Connect and Engage Subscribe to the podcast Watch episodes on YouTube Follow Profit First For Lawyers on social media: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook Email us your feedback at podcast@profitfirstforlawyers.com And most importantly, order your copy of Profit First for Lawyers today!

This bonus episode of the Profit First For Lawyers podcast was originally featured on The Managing Partners Podcast hosted by Kevin Daisey. This interview with RJon Robins is the second in a two-part series. Part one of the series can be heard on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and watched on YouTube. The Definition of a Successful Law Firm RJon picks up the conversation from last week’s episode by discussing How To MANAGE a Small Law Firm’s definition of a successful law firm – one that serves the owner in at least three ways: It must serve you financially by providing enough income to live the lifestyle you want. It must serve you professionally by giving you a platform to make a positive impact and work with people you enjoy. It must serve you personally by running efficiently so you can step away confidently. Hiring The Right People RJon focuses on the importance of hiring experienced lawyers who can hit the ground running, rather than lower cost inexperienced lawyers who require more training. The cost of onboarding and potential turnover make hiring experienced lawyers more profitable in the short and long term. As part of a path to overall growth, RJon also emphasizes the importance for law firms to support their team members’ personal and professional goals. The Profit First for Lawyers Book RJon provides an overview of his new book Profit First for Lawyers, which he wrote as a rallying cry for law firm owners to put their profits first. He explains that even if you’ve read the Profit First book by Mike Michalowicz, this book builds on the Profit First methodology with specific applications and insights for lawyers. He walks through the table of contents touching on key topics like why CPAs may resist Profit First, how GAAP accounting standards differ from law firm needs, tracking Total Owner Benefits, and more. Key Takeaways The Profit First methodology offers a unique framework for financial management in the legal industry. Successful law firms should aim for growth that benefits owners personally, professionally, and financially. Strategic hiring and investing in experienced professionals, can significantly enhance firm profitability, service delivery, and efficiency. Hiring superstar staff and graduating employees demonstrates a healthy, growth-oriented culture. Small boosts in law firm profitability can translate to more free time and improved quality of life. Links How To MANAGE a Small Law Firm https://howtomanageasmalllawfirm.com The Managing Partners Podcast with RJon Robins Ep 281 https://thisisarray.com/managing-partners-podcast/episode-281-rjon-robins Connect and Engage Subscribe to the podcast Watch episodes on YouTube Follow Profit First For Lawyers on social media: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook Email us your feedback at podcast@profitfirstforlawyers.com And most importantly, order your copy of Profit First for Lawyers today! https://youtu.be/44cm-2xiPXI?sub_confirmation=

This bonus episode of the Profit First For Lawyers podcast was originally featured on The Managing Partners Podcast hosted by Kevin Daisey. This interview with RJon Robins is the first in a two-part series. Redefining Success RJon shares his transformative journey from financial adversity to profitability. This episode focuses on the critical mindset shift law firm owners should embrace as entrepreneurial professionals who sell legal services. RJon’s insights into ethical profitability and strategic business management serve as a guide for law firms seeking sustained growth and success. Look for the second episode of the two-part series next week. Watch the podcast on video https://youtu.be/1oX3pTLHT3w?sub_confirmation= Key Takeaways The simplicity of running a law firm with the right processes and mindset How To MANAGE a Small Law Firm is for entrepreneurial law firm owners The ethical obligation of law firm owners to market their services and the importance of running a profitable law firm The marketing and profit misconception The transformative impact law firm owners experience when adopting the entrepreneurial mindset Big News A new season of the Profit First For Lawyers is coming soon! Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get the latest episodes the moment they are released. Visit https://profitfirstforlawyers.com/subscribe Links Mentioned How To MANAGE a Small Law Firm https://howtomanage.com The Managing Partners Podcast https://thisisarray.com/managing-partners-podcast/episode-280-rjon-robins Connect and Engage Subscribe to the podcast Watch episodes on YouTube Follow Profit First For Lawyers on social media: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook Email us your feedback at podcast@profitfirstforlawyers.com And most importantly, order your copy of Profit First for Lawyers today!