CPA & Consultant for Accounting Firms

The Growth Trifecta & Seeing You in Vegas.

Happy Frye-Day.

Community Over Dogma

It was incredible seeing so many of you in person at Ronnie and Logan's Launch Your Firm event recently. There's an energy you just can't replicate over Zoom.

One thing that really stuck with me was how "non-denominational" the atmosphere was. Usually these events can feel like a "my way or the highway" sermon on firm growth. Instead, this was a refreshing gathering of diverse strategies. Everyone acknowledged that while there are many paths to building a successful firm, there isn't just one "holy grail" methodology.

Left to right: Logan Graf, Erica Goode, Ronnie Withaeger at the Launch Your Firm event.

The Frye-Day Fundamentals

For this second edition, I want to break down what I call The Growth Trifecta. These are the three non-negotiable pillars for any modern firm looking to scale without losing their mind.

1. Own your data: the CRM

If it isn't in the CRM, it didn't happen. You need a dedicated space to track leads, deals, and, most importantly, nurture those long-term contacts. Treat sales with the same rigidity that you do your Master Client List or Month End Close Checklist.

• AccountGroove is worth checking out. Stop living out of your inbox; it's a recipe for dropped balls and missed revenue.
• HubSpot is tried and true.

2. Capture the context: call recording

Your brain is for creating value, not for acting as a transcription service. Record every single call. Whether it's the native tools in Google Meet or Zoom, or a specialized power tool, having a record is vital for training and clarity.

• Vinyl, Ping, or Abacor are all solid options.
• Already on Canopy for practice management? Skip the third-party apps and do it all right there in the platform.

3. Kill the timesheet: upfront subscriptions

Trading your limited hours for dollars is a losing game. Move to a subscription model where you bill upfront. You should be getting paid for the value you provide before you commit your team's resources.

• Ignition, Anchor, or Canopy Billing are the tools to look at.

Why the hourly model is broken:

As Ron Baker points out in Time's Up!, the billable hour is an outdated relic. Seth Godin nails the coffin shut:

"Hourly billing rewards inefficiency. It penalizes the provider for being fast and skilled, and it penalizes the client for the provider's slowness. It aligns everyone's interests in the wrong direction."

Stop financing your client's work. Align your incentives with their success, not your duration.

Where to find me

I'm hitting the road! If you're attending either of these, please reach out. Would love to grab a coffee or something stronger:

• AICPA Engage in Las Vegas, June 8 to 11
• Scaling New Heights in Orlando, June 14 to 17

Connect & Collaborate

• Follow: Follow me on LinkedIn for the day-to-day.
• Learn: Catch the replay of my LinkedIn Live with Matt Tait and Tyler Clark where we went deep on firm operations.
• Speak: Do you have a story to tell? Reply to this email or send me a DM on LinkedIn and I will get you on the Canopy Practice Success podcast.