Shows
The Lifestyle Accountant ShowS3 Ep5 - The GrowthMD Strategy That Has Clients Happily Waiting Months To Be Onboarded with Kelly ChardOn today's episode, I'm talking to Kelly Chard who is the founder of GrowthMD, an accounting firm providing specialised services to medical practices.
Earlier in the year I heard Kelly speak about how GrowthMD uses a waiting list strategy and only runs ‘client intakes’ for new clients at certain times of the year and I knew I had to have her on the podcast to talk about it.
Waiting lists are the topic for today's episode. We cover:
[3:50] Studying the CA program, working and bringing up 3 kids
[16:28] The pros and cons of listing...
2023-12-1945 min
The Lifestyle Accountant ShowS3 Ep 4 - Why Connected Accounting Runs Cybersecurity In House with Nicole MeloniToday’s guest is Nicole Meloni from Connected Accounting. She’s generally not client-facing but runs all of the other areas to make sure the firm is running smoothly.
She recently ran a cyber security project which included cancelling their contract with an IT-managed service provider and bringing it in-house.
Having some kind of data breach at a firm would be terrible. I see it as one of the major risks in our industry and something that we should all be thinking about.
We cover"
[05:19] Why they ch...
2023-12-1040 min
The Lifestyle Accountant ShowS3 Ep 3 - Running a CFO firm in 3 days a week with Luke TemplinToday we’re talking with Luke Templin a CFO with a number of different businesses on the go.
Luke runs a CFO firm called A2 advisers, a software product called FinDaily and two newsletters. He also spends most Fridays doing something in the outdoors with friends. Usually golf or fly fishing.
Prior to building his own firm, Luke has grown three CAS/coaching lines into over six figures, including top-100 regional firm.
We cover:
[08:58] Is it the outsourced CFO’s role to hold the bookkeeping team accounta...
2023-12-0446 min
The Lifestyle Accountant ShowS3 Ep 2 - Managing Underperforming Team Members and Other Leadership Lessons with Rob PillansToday’s guest is Rob Pillans. He spent 10 years as an accountant at PcW and held leadership roles at several accounting firms including the GM role at Pitcher Partners in Sydney.
For the last 7 years, Rob has been running Planet Consulting which helps owners and managers run better acounting firms.
Today we’re focusing on leadership and management skills. We’re working through a series of challenging situations a new manager could face and discussing how to approach them.
We cover:
[09:20] Encouraging accounting firm owners to...
2023-11-2155 min
The Lifestyle Accountant ShowS3 Ep 1 - From 0-60 staff in 5 years with Alex Oxford from TaxValetToday I’m talking with Alex Oxford, CMI from TaxValet.
Alex is the founder and former CEO of TaxValet. These days he serves as their Visionary and Community Ambassador.
TaxValet is a bootstrapped sales tax services company with no investors or debt, which has scaled to about sixty employees.
Today we cover:
[04:41] From product marketing at a sales tax software company to starting a sales tax firm
[11:38] Hiring his mum as Employee #1
[25:51] How to attract talented people when you can’t pay market-rate salaries
[31:25] Why putti...
2023-11-1656 min
The Lifestyle Accountant ShowS2 Ep 10 - Exit strategy: Selling a bookkeeping business with Kelly BergerKelly Berger sold her bookkeeping business a few months ago.
In this episode she breaks down the process for us and shares some mistakes to watch out for in acquiring or selling a firm.
We discuss:
[09:55] The pros and cons of working with a broker
[13:06] Vetting the acquirers: what Kelly was looking for
[16:48] Why the first deal fell through
[17:52] A clever way to structure the retention clause
[21:08] Vendor financing and why Kelly decided against it
[25:12] How Kelly selected the successful acquirer
[27:20] When to tell your staff the firm is...
2023-09-1839 min
The Lifestyle Accountant ShowS2 Ep 9 - Turning Down a Big4 Director Role and Growing His Own Firm with Tyler CaskeyIn this episode I’m talking with Tyler Caskey from the Bean Counters.
Tyler is an experienced CFO and Accounting Partner with a demonstrated track record improving or maintaining high performance Finance and IT functions.
He’s known for installing the Day 1 month-end reporting methodology.
We’re discussing why Tyler turned down a director role at a Big4 Firm and a partnership opportunity at a mid-tier firm and ultimately started his own firm.
We cover:
[8:39] How Senior CFO roles compared to director roles at the Big4
[10:02] A partne...
2023-09-1436 min
The Lifestyle Accountant ShowS2 Ep 8: Lessons from 3 Bookkeeping Firm Acquisitions with Sarah ParkinsonIn this episode, Sarah Parkinson walks us through three different acquisitions she’s made.
We discuss:
[07:02] The story of Sarah’s buying into a bookkeeping firm
[10:00] - why Sarah became interested in acquisitions
[14:35] A breakdown of the 1st acquisition - buying a book of fees from Bean Ninjas
[22:00] Why Sarah believes a retention clause is critical and how to negotiate it with the seller
[28:14] Acquisition No 2 and the pros and cons of buying through a broker
[38:34] Transitioning clients and an unexpected factor that can make the transition difficult
[47:29] Acquisition No 3 and lessons from three very diffe...
2023-09-0459 min
The Lifestyle Accountant ShowS2 Ep 7: Jason Andrew: Acquisition opportunitiesIn this episode, we hear from Jason Andrew about acquisition opportunities in the accounting space.
We cover a range of topics including:
[03:58] The Arbor group's strategy to partner with accounting firms
[08:52] - how would a bookkeeping or accounting firm owner benefit from selling down a 40-60% stake in their firm?
[16:10] - how Jason would finance these deals
[20:10] Jason and his business partner Rohan also have a VC fund. Accounting firms don’t fit the brief of a typical VC investment. Jason explains how these acquisitions sit in the over...
2023-08-2831 min
The Lifestyle Accountant ShowS2 Ep 6: Jason Andrew: On Wealth CreationIn this episode, I chat with Jason Andrew about a range of topics including:
[04:04] Why Jason recommends graduate accountants start at a small firm rather than a mid-tier or Big 4 firm
[11:32] Starting SBO.Financial and not getting paid for the first two years
[13:07]: Hiring a CEO to run SBO.Financial and what Jasons’ role looks like today
[20:38]: The Arbor Group structure and the benefits of using a Hold Co
[23:51] Incentivising team members and why Jason prefers bonuses to equity
[26:22] Why SBO.Financial started a tax division...
2023-08-2138 min
The Lifestyle Accountant ShowS2 Ep 5 - Christine Oliver - Big 4: What it's Really Like to Be a PartnerIn this episode, I chat with Christine Oliver about What It’s Really like to be a Partner at a Big 4 Firm!
[08:08] Networking: Fun, work … or both?
[21:10] The surprising benefits of the Big 4 brand
[22:49] The expectations of a Big 4 partner and how it ties to compensation
What sacrifices will you need to make along the way?
What kind of salary can you expect?
How does the buy-in process work?
How is performance measured?
Who should consider becoming a partner at a Big 4 firm and who shouldn’t
Why Christine left the Big 4...
2023-08-1448 min
The Lifestyle Accountant ShowS2 Ep 4 - Matthew May: On Accounting Firm Mergers and Acquisitions In this episode, we chat with Matthew May. He’s a CPA who works with technology companies and the president of Acuity, a US based client accounting services practice.
We chat about a range of topics including:
[05:12] Why Matthew’s business partner Kenji decided to bring Matthew into the business when Acuity was almost 10 years old
[14:42] Their unique approach to employee compensation which allows team members to share in the risks and rewards
[20:05] How Acuity leverages professional sales people to generate leads and run the end to end sales process
[23:39] How Acuity generates deal flow
[26...
2023-08-0755 min
The Lifestyle Accountant ShowS2 Ep 3 - Leaving Public Practice: The Path to Becoming a Full-Time Creator with Jason StaatsIn this episode, Jason Staats talks about making the decision to leave public practice. This was especially hard as it was a two-partner firm and he was one of the partners.
In particular, we discuss:
[06:17] How Jason originally came to buy into an accounting firm
[14:40] Why he started to consider leaving the firm
[20:23] How he approaches making tough decisions knowing he is going to disappoint people
[23:51] How Jason brought up leaving with his business partner
[27:11] Putting in place a transition plan
You might know Jason from his daily YouTube show for accountants ‘Jason Daily’.
...
2023-07-3131 min
The Lifestyle Accountant ShowS2 Ep 2 - Employee Equity: Empowering Your Leadership Team Through Ownership with Andrew Van De BeekDoes giving your team the opportunity to own equity encourage them to act like business owners?
Andrew Van De Beek has had 4 team members buy into Illumin8. In this episode, we walk through the details of each situation including:
[07:14] Why Andrew decided to have his leadership team own some of the business
[09:52] Key terms of the shareholder agreement to consider
[12:20] Agreeing on salaries and when dividends should be paid
[14:54] What happens if a team member who owns equity no longer wants to work at Illumin8
[24:06] Andrew’s evolution from full-time co-founder of Illumin8 to part-tim...
2023-07-2436 min
The Ecomcrew Ecommerce PodcastE505: Everything You Need to Know About Sales Tax with TaxValetOur guest, Alex Oxford from TaxValet, shares his expertise in Sales Tax, exploring its complexities and implications for entrepreneurs, offering valuable insights and strategies to help you go through the challenging world of sales tax compliance. While it may not be the most thrilling subject, understanding your obligations and options is crucial for your business's success. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 03:09 - The Complexities of Sales Tax Compliance 06:46 - The Louisiana Sales Tax System 09:19 - The Case of Colorado and Home Rule Jurisdictions 13:31 - Setting up sales tax obligations for clients 14:33 - Dete...
2023-06-1935 min
SALTovation: Navigating the Complexities of State and Local Tax by AprioA Conversation with Alex Oxford, CEO, and Growth Lead at TaxValet: Part 2In this episode of the SALTovation podcast, Meredith Smith and Judy Vorndran continue their conversation with Alex Oxford, Founder of TaxValet. Alex discusses how businesses have begun to shift their traditional cold and concrete environment to one with more emotional intelligence. He shares why he believes this shift has allowed for more of an emotionally safe environment for people to work in and how creating a culture with more emotional intelligence, allows for better communication and collaboration between teams, ultimately leading to more success for companies. Topics discussed in this episode:T...
2023-02-2515 minSALTovation: Navigating the Complexities of State and Local Tax by AprioA Conversation with Alex Oxford, CEO, and Growth Lead at TaxValet: Part 1In this episode of the SALTovation podcast, Meredith Smith and Judy Vorndran speak with Alex Oxford, Founder of TaxValet, a company focused on providing innovative tax solutions and helping clients navigate the complexities of the tax system with comprehensive solutions that are tailored to their individual needs. Alex discusses common emotional reactions clients have, like stress, anxiety, and overwhelm, when walking through sales tax problems and why it is important to create positive experiences for them. He also talks about TaxValet's core purpose: to transform negative emotions into something positive for its clients, partners, and employees.
2023-02-1218 min
Pay Play ProfitWhat To Know & Understand About Building a Team Across Multiple StatesA lot of people have this idea that they can just open a shop in whatever state they want and just send the paycheck to the person working remotely. Well, it's actually more complicated than that because there are some things you need to consider to ensure compliance when it comes to hiring from outside of your state. At The Bottom Line®, we've been doing this for almost 10 years now, and so, we'd like to share with you what has worked for us – and not. Joining us today is Chris Mahler, our strategic partner and compliance consultant here...
2022-10-0433 min
Accounting High055 Intentional by Nature (feat. Chad Davis, CPA)Episode 55 | Recorded February 7, 2022
Guest: Chad Davis, CPA the Co-Founder of LiveCA and Co-Host of AutomationTown
Hosts: Zachary Call and Scott Scarano
Sponsor: Dark Horse CPAs - abetterway.cpa
Listen in as we pick Chad’s brain, as there's no shortage of great information up there. How to be intentional and naturally solve problems. Manage a team of over 100ppl. Chad lives in an RV w/ his wife and two kids, down by the river. + what the hell is NO-CODE!?
3 Chad shares how he co-founded LiveCA with Josh Zweig back in 20...
2022-07-131h 04
TaxValet: The Smart & Safe Small Business PodcastHow New E-Commerce Entrepreneurs Can Form an LLC QuicklyWe met with Sam Mollaei, the #1 Rated Business Lawyer For Entrepreneurs, to discuss the importance of forming your business entity correctly the first time, and common traps to avoid. Learn more on Sam's website here.
2021-01-1209 minTaxValet: The Smart & Safe Small Business PodcastHow DigiTax PRO™ Minimize Multi-State Income Tax Risk For E-Commerce CompaniesWe sat down with Chris Mahler, CPA from the DigiTax PRO team to talk about why it's critical that e-commerce businesses understand their multi-state income tax risk, and what they can do to minimize their risk. Learn more at https://www.digitaxpro.com/
2021-01-1211 minTaxValet: The Smart & Safe Small Business PodcastHow JJMansField Helps Small Businesses Mitigate Multi-State Income Tax RiskIn this episode, Alex interviews Jennifer Mansfield of JJMansfield, an accounting firm that specializes in accounting, tax, and advice. Jennifer discusses how small businesses and e-commerce companies can minimize their risk of a costly multi-state income tax audit.
2021-01-0710 minTaxValet: The Smart & Safe Small Business PodcastHow airCFO Helps Startups Manage Multi-State Income Tax RiskIn this episode, we talk about how airCFO helps fast-growing startups mitigate the risk of multi-state income tax. You can learn more about airCFO on their website.
2021-01-0709 minTaxValet: The Smart & Safe Small Business PodcastHow to Minimize Sales Tax Risk When Selling Your BusinessIn this episode, Alex interviews Kyle Brehm of Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., a law firm that specializes in sales tax disputes. Kyle discusses how entrepreneurs can avoid potentially costly mistakes when they are looking to sell their business. See more on TaxValet's website.
2021-01-0720 minTaxValet: The Smart & Safe Small Business PodcastBusiness Brokers & Business Advisors: What's the Difference When Selling Your E-commerce Business? with Chris Shipferling from Global Wired AdvisorsIn this episode, Alex interviews Chris Shipferling of Global Wired Advisors, a digital investment bank that focuses on optimizing the business sale process. Chris discusses how Global Wired Advisors works with e-commerce businesses, digitally native brands, SaaS, and digital agencies to yield the best outcome when it comes to an exit.
2020-08-1800 minTaxValet: The Smart & Safe Small Business PodcastHow to Protect Your E-Commerce Images from Theft on Amazon and Everyone Online - with Hansen Tony from TOS LawyerIn this episode, Alex interviews Hansen Tong. Hansen shares how to protect your e-commerce images from theft.
2020-07-2700 minTaxValet: The Smart & Safe Small Business PodcastHow Privacy Policies Impact Your E-Commerce Business - with Abe Lichy from The Lichy Law FirmIn this episode, Alex interviews Abe Lichy of The Lichy Law Firm. Abe shares how privacy policies may impact your e-commerce business.
2020-06-0800 minTaxValet: The Smart & Safe Small Business PodcastHow Running Your Business Can Be Easier with Expert Bookkeeping - with Steven Muller from Bookkeeper360In this episode, Alex interviews Steven Muller from Bookkeeper360 where he talks about the importance and impact of running a business with expert bookkeeping.
2020-06-0500 minTaxValet: The Smart & Safe Small Business PodcastHow To Get Investor-Ready Financial Records for Your E-commerce Business - with Tyler Jeffcoat from Seller AccountantIn this podcast episode, Alex interviews Tyler Jefcoat of Seller Accountant. Seller Accountant provides bookkeeping and financial coaching services to E-commerce businesses and specializes in helping businesses considering a future sale to get “investor-ready” financials.
2020-06-0500 minTaxValet: The Smart & Safe Small Business PodcastHow to Get More Pay, Play, and Profit out of Your Business - with Marilyn Parham from The Bottom LineIn this episode, Alex interviews Marilyn Parham from The Bottom Line who addresses the issue of business owners not paying themselves.
2020-05-1300 minTaxValet: The Smart & Safe Small Business PodcastHow to Protect Your E-commerce Brand with The Right Insurance - with Matt Lovell from Well InsuranceAlex interviews Matt Lovell from Well Insurance who shares how to protect your e-commerce brand with insurance.
2020-05-1100 minTaxValet: The Smart & Safe Small Business PodcastHow to Write Amazon Listings that Increase Your Conversions and Build Your Brand - with Emma Schermer Tamir from Marketing by Emma
2020-05-1100 minTaxValet: The Smart & Safe Small Business PodcastHow To Think About Business Structure for Your E-Commerce Business - with Michael VeazeyIn this episode, Alex interviews Michael Veazey from Amazing FBA where we learn about creating a successful business structure for the bigger picture.
2020-05-0100 minTaxValet: The Smart & Safe Small Business PodcastHow to Triple Optimize Your Amazon Listings - with Danny Carlson from KenjiROIIn this episode, Alex interviews Danny Carlson of KenjiROI. Danny is an Amazon FBA entrepreneur who shares with us his secrets on how to triple optimize your Amazon listings.
2020-04-2900 minTaxValet: The Smart & Safe Small Business PodcastHow Entrepreneurs Can Source Custom Designed Sustainable Products Internationally — with Konark Ogra from Rural HandmadeIn this episode, Alex interviews Konark Ogra from Rural Handmade who helps budding entrepreneurs source custom-designed sustainable products from global artisan communities.
2020-04-2800 minTaxValet: The Smart & Safe Small Business PodcastWhy Detailed and Accurate Financials are Critical for E-Commerce Businesses — with Scott Scharf from Catching CloudsIn this episode, Alex interviews Scott Scharf, Co-founder of Catching Clouds. Scott is passionate about helping business owners run better businesses by having detailed, accurate financials so they can make great decisions.
2020-04-2700 minTaxValet: The Smart & Safe Small Business PodcastHow to Manage Cash Flow Effectively in a Post-COVID World - with Luke Frye from TimberTaxIn this episode, Alex interviews Luke Frye from TimberTax. Luke supports business owners who want to optimize their income tax situation by managing their cash flow effectively.
2020-04-2700 min