Business Strategy for CPA's

Geraldine Carter
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Nov 12, 2025 • 45min

372 [WIP Series] 1/3 Fewer Clients, 2x-3x the Prices, and Sundays Off, with Jan Schaffner, EA

Get your FREE 7 Pricing Essentials for CPAs and EAs here:https://geraldinecarter.com/7Ever wonder what it really feels like to let go of a third of your clients?It’s not spreadsheets and strategy.In this episode, Jan Schaffner, EA, shares how hard it was to release clients she genuinely cared about—and the fear that no one would stay or pay more.But when she finally did it, the reaction surprised her: the clients who valued her most were the ones who stayed.This episode is an honest look at what it takes to make space for better work, a calmer firm, and—finally—Sundays off in tax season.…Link to full shownotes: https://www.businessstrategyforcpas.com/372…Want Pricing Essentials?If you feel trapped by your own accounting firm, it’s not because of the work – it’s how you’ve priced the work. Too many accountants are stuck in undercharging, overdelivering, and people-pleasing cycles. Break the pattern with my short PDF guide: 7 Pricing Essentials »It’s free and you can read it in 5 minutes.I want to help you get your prices up without losing loyal clients.  …Want client interviews?310 From Exhausted to Having Her Life Back: Wendy Norman, CPA304 From 55 Down to 15 Hours; Same Take-Home Pay with Melissa Downs, EA293 What it Takes to Work 15 Hours per Week with Erica Goode, CPAComplete list:geraldinecarter.com/client-interview-episodes…Connect with Jan:https://www.schaffnertaxsolutions.com/…FOUR ways I help overworked CPAs go down to 40 hours without losing revenue or hiring:THE EMAIL COURSE – Freegeraldinecarter.com/stop-working-weekendsStop Working Weekends will teach you how to reduce your hours without giving up revenue. THE BOOK – $9.99geraldinecarter.com/bookDown to 40 Hours – A Roadmap for CPAs to End Overworking Without Losing RevenuePEAK FREEDOM COMMUNITY – $197/mogeraldinecarter.com/peak-freedomFor solo and small accounting firm owners who want to rise above the insanity of hustle-cultureDOWN TO 40 HOURS ACCELERATOR – $995/mogeraldinecarter.com/40For the overworked CPA at multiple six figures of revenue who is ready to stop working weekends, wants to implement overdue changes, and doesn’t want to do it alone. You’ll make progress faster and with more confidence. … Get your FREE 7 Pricing Essentials for CPAs and EAs here:https://geraldinecarter.com/7
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Nov 5, 2025 • 13min

371 How to Handle Client Referrals Without Burning Bridges

Get your FREE 7 Pricing Essentials for CPAs and EAs here:https://geraldinecarter.com/7Ever get a referral email from a great client and think, “Ugh… now what?” You want to honor the relationship, but you’re dreading another 45-minute discovery call that goes nowhere. In this episode, I share a simple, transparent system that saves everyone’s time — yours, your client’s, and the prospect’s. You’ll learn how to filter early, protect every relationship in the chain, and stay in control of your calendar without burning your energy or goodwill.…Link to full shownotes: https://www.businessstrategyforcpas.com/371…Want Pricing Essentials?If you feel trapped by your own accounting firm, it’s not because of the work – it’s how you’ve priced the work. Too many accountants are stuck in undercharging, overdelivering, and people-pleasing cycles. Break the pattern with my short PDF guide: 7 Pricing Essentials »It’s free and you can read it in 5 minutes.I want to help you get your prices up without losing loyal clients.  …Want client interviews?310 From Exhausted to Having Her Life Back: Wendy Norman, CPA304 From 55 Down to 15 Hours; Same Take-Home Pay with Melissa Downs, EA293 What it Takes to Work 15 Hours per Week with Erica Goode, CPAComplete list:geraldinecarter.com/client-interview-episodes…FOUR ways I help overworked CPAs go down to 40 hours without losing revenue or hiring:THE EMAIL COURSE – Freegeraldinecarter.com/stop-working-weekendsStop Working Weekends will teach you how to reduce your hours without giving up revenue. THE BOOK – $9.99geraldinecarter.com/bookDown to 40 Hours – A Roadmap for CPAs to End Overworking Without Losing RevenuePEAK FREEDOM COMMUNITY – $197/mogeraldinecarter.com/peak-freedomFor solo and small accounting firm owners who want to rise above the insanity of hustle-cultureDOWN TO 40 HOURS ACCELERATOR – $995/mogeraldinecarter.com/40For the overworked CPA at multiple six figures of revenue who is ready to stop working weekends, wants to implement overdue changes, and doesn’t want to do it alone. You’ll make progress faster and with more confidence. … Get your FREE 7 Pricing Essentials for CPAs and EAs here:https://geraldinecarter.com/7
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Oct 29, 2025 • 30min

370 From Launch to Autopilot: A 3-Year Journey with Matt Chiappetta, CPA

Get your FREE 7 Pricing Essentials for CPAs and EAs here:https://geraldinecarter.com/7Ever wonder what really happens between “starting from scratch” and “running on autopilot”?Most success stories skip the messy middle. Over three years, Matt Chiappetta went from zero clients to a $250K solo firm working 25 hours a week. Hear the real story: the things that didn’t pan out, the fixes, the mindset shifts, and what actually matters at each stage. It’s the rare, unvarnished look at what a sustainable, calm practice really takes to build.…Link to full shownotes: https://www.businessstrategyforcpas.com/370…Want Pricing Essentials?If you feel trapped by your own accounting firm, it’s not because of the work – it’s how you’ve priced the work. Too many accountants are stuck in undercharging, overdelivering, and people-pleasing cycles. Break the pattern with my short PDF guide: 7 Pricing Essentials »It’s free and you can read it in 5 minutes.I want to help you get your prices up without losing loyal clients.  …Want client interviews?310 From Exhausted to Having Her Life Back: Wendy Norman, CPA304 From 55 Down to 15 Hours; Same Take-Home Pay with Melissa Downs, EA293 What it Takes to Work 15 Hours per Week with Erica Goode, CPAComplete list:geraldinecarter.com/client-interview-episodes…Matt’s website:https://www.mattchia.cpa/…FOUR ways I help overworked CPAs go down to 40 hours without losing revenue or hiring:THE EMAIL COURSE – Freegeraldinecarter.com/stop-working-weekendsStop Working Weekends will teach you how to reduce your hours without giving up revenue. THE BOOK – $9.99geraldinecarter.com/bookDown to 40 Hours – A Roadmap for CPAs to End Overworking Without Losing RevenuePEAK FREEDOM COMMUNITY – $197/mogeraldinecarter.com/peak-freedomFor solo and small accounting firm owners who want to rise above the insanity of hustle-cultureDOWN TO 40 HOURS ACCELERATOR – $995/mogeraldinecarter.com/40For the overworked CPA at multiple six figures of revenue who is ready to stop working weekends, wants to implement overdue changes, and doesn’t want to do it alone. You’ll make progress faster and with more confidence. … Get your FREE 7 Pricing Essentials for CPAs and EAs here:https://geraldinecarter.com/7
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Oct 22, 2025 • 12min

369 Your Marketplace Is Malleable; You’re the One Who Shapes It

Get your FREE 7 Pricing Essentials for CPAs and EAs here:https://geraldinecarter.com/7Think you’re stuck with the clients you’ve got?You’re not. This episode shows how your marketplace isn’t fixed—it’s something you can shape. Through three simple examples, you’ll see how pricing, network, and positioning all affect who shows up at your door, and how to move your firm toward clients you actually want to work with.…Link to full shownotes: https://www.businessstrategyforcpas.com/369…Want Pricing Essentials?If you feel trapped by your own accounting firm, it’s not because of the work – it’s how you’ve priced the work. Too many accountants are stuck in undercharging, overdelivering, and people-pleasing cycles. Break the pattern with my short PDF guide: 7 Pricing Essentials »It’s free and you can read it in 5 minutes.I want to help you get your prices up without losing loyal clients.  …Want client interviews?310 From Exhausted to Having Her Life Back: Wendy Norman, CPA304 From 55 Down to 15 Hours; Same Take-Home Pay with Melissa Downs, EA293 What it Takes to Work 15 Hours per Week with Erica Goode, CPAComplete list:geraldinecarter.com/client-interview-episodes…FOUR ways I help overworked CPAs go down to 40 hours without losing revenue or hiring:THE EMAIL COURSE – Freegeraldinecarter.com/stop-working-weekendsStop Working Weekends will teach you how to reduce your hours without giving up revenue. THE BOOK – $9.99geraldinecarter.com/bookDown to 40 Hours – A Roadmap for CPAs to End Overworking Without Losing RevenuePEAK FREEDOM COMMUNITY – $197/mogeraldinecarter.com/peak-freedomFor solo and small accounting firm owners who want to rise above the insanity of hustle-cultureDOWN TO 40 HOURS ACCELERATOR – $995/mogeraldinecarter.com/40For the overworked CPA at multiple six figures of revenue who is ready to stop working weekends, wants to implement overdue changes, and doesn’t want to do it alone. You’ll make progress faster and with more confidence. … Get your FREE 7 Pricing Essentials for CPAs and EAs here:https://geraldinecarter.com/7
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Oct 15, 2025 • 13min

368 Outworking Exhaustion: The Rest You’ve Been Denying Yourself

Get your FREE 7 Pricing Essentials for CPAs and EAs here:https://geraldinecarter.com/7Do you keep telling yourself you’ll rest when the work is done?That time never comes. Rest isn’t what you do after the work — it’s what makes the work go well.This episode breaks down eight kinds of rest accountants need, how to get them, and why your firm runs better when you stop running on fumes.…Link to full shownotes: https://www.businessstrategyforcpas.com/368…Want Pricing Essentials?If you feel trapped by your own accounting firm, it’s not because of the work – it’s how you’ve priced the work. Too many accountants are stuck in undercharging, overdelivering, and people-pleasing cycles. Break the pattern with my short PDF guide: 7 Pricing Essentials »It’s free and you can read it in 5 minutes.I want to help you get your prices up without losing loyal clients.  …Want client interviews?310 From Exhausted to Having Her Life Back: Wendy Norman, CPA304 From 55 Down to 15 Hours; Same Take-Home Pay with Melissa Downs, EA293 What it Takes to Work 15 Hours per Week with Erica Goode, CPAComplete list:geraldinecarter.com/client-interview-episodes…FOUR ways I help overworked CPAs go down to 40 hours without losing revenue or hiring:THE EMAIL COURSE – Freegeraldinecarter.com/stop-working-weekendsStop Working Weekends will teach you how to reduce your hours without giving up revenue. THE BOOK – $9.99geraldinecarter.com/bookDown to 40 Hours – A Roadmap for CPAs to End Overworking Without Losing RevenuePEAK FREEDOM COMMUNITY – $197/mogeraldinecarter.com/peak-freedomFor solo and small accounting firm owners who want to rise above the insanity of hustle-cultureDOWN TO 40 HOURS ACCELERATOR – $995/mogeraldinecarter.com/40For the overworked CPA at multiple six figures of revenue who is ready to stop working weekends, wants to implement overdue changes, and doesn’t want to do it alone. You’ll make progress faster and with more confidence. … Get your FREE 7 Pricing Essentials for CPAs and EAs here:https://geraldinecarter.com/7
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Oct 8, 2025 • 19min

367 Strategy-Based Pricing & the October Pivot

Get your FREE 7 Pricing Essentials for CPAs and EAs here:https://geraldinecarter.com/7Tired of hearing “value-based pricing” and still not sure how to price without working 80–hour weeks?In this episode, I cut through the hype and show you how to pick the right pricing tool for the problem you actually have.I walk through the October Pivot, share a simple one-price, two-payment option you can deploy fast, and how to batch-test prices to find your price ceiling.Fewer clients, saner workflow, same revenue – on purpose.…Link to full shownotes: https://www.businessstrategyforcpas.com/367…If you feel trapped by your own accounting firm, I can help you stop the chaos and end the long hours without losing revenue or hiring. Join 3000+ other CPAs who get my single-tip daily emails..Subscribe here: geraldinecarter.com/subscribe.Readers say they love it because they’re short and on point.…Want client interviews?310 From Exhausted to Having Her Life Back: Wendy Norman, CPA304 From 55 Down to 15 Hours; Same Take-Home Pay with Melissa Downs, EA293 What it Takes to Work 15 Hours per Week with Erica Goode, CPAComplete list:geraldinecarter.com/client-interview-episodes…FOUR ways I help overworked CPAs go down to 40 hours without losing revenue or hiring:THE EMAIL COURSE – Freegeraldinecarter.com/stop-working-weekendsStop Working Weekends will teach you how to reduce your hours without giving up revenue. THE BOOK – $9.99geraldinecarter.com/bookDown to 40 Hours – A Roadmap for CPAs to End Overworking Without Losing RevenuePEAK FREEDOM COMMUNITY – $197/mogeraldinecarter.com/peak-freedomFor solo and small accounting firm owners who want to rise above the insanity of hustle-cultureDOWN TO 40 HOURS ACCELERATOR – $995/mogeraldinecarter.com/40For the overworked CPA at multiple six figures of revenue who is ready to stop working weekends, wants to implement overdue changes, and doesn’t want to do it alone. You’ll make progress faster and with more confidence. … Get your FREE 7 Pricing Essentials for CPAs and EAs here:https://geraldinecarter.com/7
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8 snips
Oct 1, 2025 • 16min

366 Scheduled Tax Prep: Why 90-Hour Weeks Are a Choice

Explore a revolutionary approach to the upcoming tax season with practical strategies to regain control. Discover a simple seven-step system that includes choosing your own hours, calculating your workload capacity, and raising prices to match your revenue goals. Learn how scheduling clients thoughtfully and communicating clearly can lead to a calmer, more efficient tax experience. Expect some hiccups, but prioritize improvement over perfection to achieve a more balanced workload and enhance the quality of your work.
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Sep 24, 2025 • 20min

365 SOLD OUT! The Business Move No One Teaches CPAs

Get your FREE 7 Pricing Essentials for CPAs and EAs here:https://geraldinecarter.com/7What if clients lined up for you instead of you chasing them?In this episode, I show you 12 ways selling out changes everything – your confidence, your focus, your pricing power, even how your clients behave.Most CPAs think being oversold and overwhelmed is “just how tax season works.”It’s not. I’ll show you why being sold out is the ninja move that lowers your stress and gives you back time, money, and control.…Link to full shownotes: https://www.businessstrategyforcpas.com/365…If you feel trapped by your own accounting firm, I can help you stop the chaos and end the long hours without losing revenue or hiring. Join 3000+ other CPAs who get my single-tip daily emails..Subscribe here: geraldinecarter.com/subscribe.Readers say they love it because they’re short and on point.…Want client interviews?310 From Exhausted to Having Her Life Back: Wendy Norman, CPA304 From 55 Down to 15 Hours; Same Take-Home Pay with Melissa Downs, EA293 What it Takes to Work 15 Hours per Week with Erica Goode, CPAComplete list:geraldinecarter.com/client-interview-episodes…FOUR ways I help overworked CPAs go down to 40 hours without losing revenue or hiring:THE EMAIL COURSE – Freegeraldinecarter.com/stop-working-weekendsStop Working Weekends will teach you how to reduce your hours without giving up revenue. THE BOOK – $9.99geraldinecarter.com/bookDown to 40 Hours – A Roadmap for CPAs to End Overworking Without Losing RevenuePEAK FREEDOM COMMUNITY – $197/mogeraldinecarter.com/peak-freedomFor solo and small accounting firm owners who want to rise above the insanity of hustle-cultureDOWN TO 40 HOURS ACCELERATOR – $995/mogeraldinecarter.com/40For the overworked CPA at multiple six figures of revenue who is ready to stop working weekends, wants to implement overdue changes, and doesn’t want to do it alone. You’ll make progress faster and with more confidence. … Get your FREE 7 Pricing Essentials for CPAs and EAs here:https://geraldinecarter.com/7
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Sep 17, 2025 • 26min

364 A Handful of High-Level Clients with Radhika Sundar, CPA

Get your FREE 7 Pricing Essentials for CPAs and EAs here:https://geraldinecarter.com/7What happens when you stop trying to serve everyone and commit to a few high-level clients?Radhika Sundar shares how choosing agencies and working with a small, premium roster sharpened her focus and increased confidence.She explains transparent tiered pricing, catching scope creep early, and giving upgrade/downgrade paths.If you want a calmer, profitable firm by serving fewer, better clients, this episode maps it.…Link to full shownotes: https://www.businessstrategyforcpas.com/364…If you feel trapped by your own accounting firm, I can help you stop the chaos and end the long hours without losing revenue or hiring. Join 3000+ other CPAs who get my single-tip daily emails..Subscribe here: geraldinecarter.com/subscribe.Readers say they love it because they’re short and on point.…Want client interviews?310 From Exhausted to Having Her Life Back: Wendy Norman, CPA304 From 55 Down to 15 Hours; Same Take-Home Pay with Melissa Downs, EA293 What it Takes to Work 15 Hours per Week with Erica Goode, CPAComplete list:geraldinecarter.com/client-interview-episodes…FOUR ways I help overworked CPAs go down to 40 hours without losing revenue or hiring:THE EMAIL COURSE – Freegeraldinecarter.com/stop-working-weekendsStop Working Weekends will teach you how to reduce your hours without giving up revenue. THE BOOK – $9.99geraldinecarter.com/bookDown to 40 Hours – A Roadmap for CPAs to End Overworking Without Losing RevenuePEAK FREEDOM COMMUNITY – $197/mogeraldinecarter.com/peak-freedomFor solo and small accounting firm owners who want to rise above the insanity of hustle-cultureDOWN TO 40 HOURS ACCELERATOR – $995/mogeraldinecarter.com/40For the overworked CPA at multiple six figures of revenue who is ready to stop working weekends, wants to implement overdue changes, and doesn’t want to do it alone. You’ll make progress faster and with more confidence. …Connect with Radhika:https://www.sundaraccounting.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/radhika-sundar-a854b819/ Get your FREE 7 Pricing Essentials for CPAs and EAs here:https://geraldinecarter.com/7
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Sep 10, 2025 • 8min

363 Pick Your Primary Lane: Full-Service is a Trap

Get your FREE 7 Pricing Essentials for CPAs and EAs here:https://geraldinecarter.com/7Feeling scattered because you’re offering every service under the sun to every kind of client?In this episode, I talk about the real cost of being in too many lanes — the wasted time, the extra software, the messy systems, and the lost leverage. I’ll walk you through the four lanes you can choose from, how to decide on your primary lane, and when it actually makes sense to allow exceptions. If you’re tired of tax season chaos and running on fumes, this episode will help you simplify and get your sanity back.…Link to full shownotes: https://www.businessstrategyforcpas.com/363…If you feel trapped by your own accounting firm, I can help you stop the chaos and end the long hours without losing revenue or hiring. Join 3000+ other CPAs who get my single-tip daily emails..Subscribe here: geraldinecarter.com/subscribe.Readers say they love it because they’re short and on point.…Want client interviews?310 From Exhausted to Having Her Life Back: Wendy Norman, CPA304 From 55 Down to 15 Hours; Same Take-Home Pay with Melissa Downs, EA293 What it Takes to Work 15 Hours per Week with Erica Goode, CPAComplete list:geraldinecarter.com/client-interview-episodes…FOUR ways I help overworked CPAs go down to 40 hours without losing revenue or hiring:THE EMAIL COURSE – Freegeraldinecarter.com/stop-working-weekendsStop Working Weekends will teach you how to reduce your hours without giving up revenue. THE BOOK – $9.99geraldinecarter.com/bookDown to 40 Hours – A Roadmap for CPAs to End Overworking Without Losing RevenuePEAK FREEDOM COMMUNITY – $197/mogeraldinecarter.com/peak-freedomFor solo and small accounting firm owners who want to rise above the insanity of hustle-cultureDOWN TO 40 HOURS ACCELERATOR – $995/mogeraldinecarter.com/40For the overworked CPA at multiple six figures of revenue who is ready to stop working weekends, wants to implement overdue changes, and doesn’t want to do it alone. You’ll make progress faster and with more confidence. … Get your FREE 7 Pricing Essentials for CPAs and EAs here:https://geraldinecarter.com/7

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