Profit First for Lawyers

“Everyone is better off when your law firm is more profitable. No one is better off when your law firm is less profitable.” – RJon Robins, author of Profit First for Lawyers If you’ve ever caught yourself saying, “It’ll be faster if I just do it myself,” this episode is for you. That is a trap many lawyers and business professionals fall into without even knowing it. The reality is that every hour spent on tasks beneath your role, whether it’s admin, paralegal work, or chasing invoices, impacts your law firms profits. In this episode, RJon explains why profit depends on efficiency and why the most ethical, professional choice is making sure the right work goes to the right role. In a 2021 clip from a pre-book livestream, he shares memorable examples of why law firm owners cannot afford to do paralegal, receptionist, or admin tasks – even when it feels faster. Key Takeaways Profit is a function of efficiency: Every stakeholder, (clients, family, staff, and referral sources) benefits when your law firm is more profitable.  Protect your highest-value work: Identify the highest and best use of your time as a lawyer and law firm owner. Define work by the work, not the worker: Work value should be defined by the minimum skills required, not by who performs it. Spot invisible inefficiencies: From lawyers chasing invoices to receptionists handling tasks that automation could handle. Fix workflow leaks: Hiring, delegate, train and automate. Leaks often hide in plain sight. These aren’t just business moves, they’re ethical obligations to your stakeholders. When you structure your business so everyone does their highest-value work, you don’t just increase profitability, you also deliver better client service. Read more: matching work with appropriate skill levels, law firm efficiency, profitability, and more in the Profit First for Lawyers book. Order your copy today! 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 link below to start plugging the profit leaks in your firm. Your future self will thank you for it! Connect and Engage Discover more about How To Manage A Small Law Firm 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!

“The first reason so many small law firms struggle to become or remain profitable is a lack of education about the business of how to manage a successful small law firm.” – RJon Robins, author Profit First for Lawyers Working Smarter, Not Harder Have you been spinning on the hamster wheel working countless hours while profitability eludes you? Nequosha Anderson, founder of Anderson Law Firm, knows that feeling intimately. Despite her data science background, she found herself trapped in the cycle of working harder instead of smarter. Her journey from struggling law firm owner to profitable practice reveals why education about the business side of law is critical, and why redefining “profit” beyond just money changes everything. RJon In The Studio Which is why one particular segment from Chapter 4 (page 28-29) of the Profit First for Lawyers book resonated with Nequosha’s experience. RJon’s explanation of how law firm owners lack business education and make problems worse by working harder on the wrong things hit home. She realized her tireless efforts were not actually accomplishing meaningful goals, and that something needed to change. Key Takeaways: Working harder on the wrong things compounds profitability problems rather than solving them Use profitability as your decision-making filter: If it’s not profitable, don’t do it Service and profit are married concepts, not opposing forces Profit isn’t just about money – it’s about happiness, health, and the ability to help others Stop making excuses and face the truth about what you really want You don’t need to understand every step of Profit First to know it will benefit your firm Nequosha’s transformation demonstrates that once you face the reality of where you spend your time and energy, you can build a practice that serves you and your clients. Her message is clear: examine your definition of profit, figure out what you really want, and start taking the steps to build that life. You are cordially invited to live a profitable life. Will you accept the invitation? 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 directly with Nequosha Anderson at www.andersonlawfl.com Book mentioned: On Bullshit by Harry G. Frankfurt Discover more about How To Manage A Small Law Firm 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 know you don’t want to talk about your A/R, but you’ve got to talk about your A/R. – RJon Robins, author Profit First for Lawyers If you’ve ever looked at your accounts receivables (A/R) as simply delayed income, this episode will completely change how you understand what those unpaid invoices are really costing you. In segments pulled from the A/R section of Chapter 13 (pages 120-121) and the A/R section from Chapter 14 (curated from pages 133-138) in the Profit First for Lawyers book, you’ll discover why outstanding A/R isn’t just inconvenient, it’s actively sabotaging your profits. From The Recording Studio RJon breaks down the hidden mathematics of accounts receivables with a step-by-step demonstration that reveals how one non-paying client can force you to work two additional cases just to break even. But understanding the problem is only half the battle. RJon also lists the specific reports your bookkeeper should be providing you every month to stay on top of your firm’s A/R. Key Takeaways: Every dollar you collect from A/R is pure profit since you’ve already incurred the costs to do the work A good bookkeeper will generate aged A/R reports broken down in 30 day increments, with client name, contact info, and lawyer working on client matters Unpaid invoices create a profit cascade effect that can force you to work multiple additional cases to break even on one non-paying client Movement tracking in A/R reports reveals when staff members are doing unauthorized free work If you’ve ever wondered why your firm stays busy but your bank account doesn’t reflect all that activity, this episode will connect some dots you may not want to see, but absolutely need to understand. Because you can’t keep working for free and expect to have a profitable law firm. 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 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!