The Practicing Accountant

Turning a Tax Practice into an Advisory Business (Live Coaching)

68. In this live coaching session, Doug sits down with Kisha Shabazz, CPA, who just wrapped her first full tax season after leaving corporate America. With 85 clients under her belt, Kisha is now facing the next challenge: how to transition into an advisory model that brings year-round value and pricing power without getting overwhelmed.
We talk through packaging, pricing, onboarding, and the mindset shifts required to evolve from tax preparer to trusted advisor. If you're sitting on a book of business and wondering how to go from reactive to intentional, this one’s for you.
🔗 Connect with Kisha: Website: ⁠futurefinancialdesign.com⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠Kisha Shabazz, CPA⁠ @futurefinancialdesign on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram
🎙 Want live coaching on the podcast? Apply at ⁠www.thepracticingaccountant.com/podcast⁠
 

From Burnout to Niche Authority: Andrew Hunzicker on Cannabis Accounting

67. In this episode of The Practicing Accountant, Doug sits down with Andrew Hunzicker, CPA and founder of DOPE CFO, to unpack how he turned an unexpected niche—cannabis accounting—into a thriving business and national movement.
Andrew shares how he went from burnout in oil & gas to becoming a leading expert in one of the fastest-growing, underserved industries in the U.S. They discuss niching, pricing power, the looming federal legalization of cannabis, and how AI is reshaping low-value work.
Whether you’re stuck in the generalist grind or thinking about pivoting to a niche with serious upside, this episode shows what’s possible when you go deep, not wide.
Learn more about Andrew at ⁠www.dopecfo.com⁠, email him directly at ⁠andrew@dopecfo.com⁠ or follow him on Instagram ⁠HERE⁠
More episodes and resources at ⁠www.thepracticingaccountant.com⁠
 

If You Had $10K to Improve Your Firm… What Would You Actually Do?

66. In this episode of The Practicing Accountant, Doug and Dan go back and forth on one simple—but powerful—thought experiment: if you had $10,000 to spend on your firm, how would you use it? They cover options that increase client quality, free up your time, strengthen your team, and boost your long-term marketing power. From firing a toxic client to hosting a niche event or investing in a badass assistant, this episode explores real ways to grow a better firm with intentional choices—not just more hustle.
Want the simplest path to pricing power and fewer clients? Grab the free guide at ⁠www.thepracticingaccountant.com/vbp⁠

Why More Clients Isn’t the Goal — And What to Focus on Instead

65. Dan and Doug unpack the dangerous obsession with client volume and why it’s time to stop measuring success by how many people you serve. From Facebook group hot takes to real-world stories, they explore why having fewer, better clients leads to more freedom, better margins, and a business that actually serves you.
Doug shares how one firm owner created pricing power by packaging services, setting boundaries, and building a business on his terms. Plus: what Baskin-Robbins, hot dogs, and value-based pricing have in common.
If you're stuck in the volume game, this is your permission to get out.
🎯 Free value pricing guide: ⁠thepracticingaccountant.com/vbp⁠

What I’d Tell Myself If I Were Starting My Firm Today

Over half of today’s accountants dream of starting their own firm—and nearly 80% of Gen Z accountants do too. But most new firm owners hit the same walls early on: pricing confusion, unclear offers, and the myth that you must “niche from day one.” In this episode, Doug and Dan reflect on what they'd do differently (and what they did right) in the early days of their firms. They share advice for new firm owners—like how to land early clients without getting stuck in bad pricing, when to niche, and why founder pricing might be the fastest path to pricing power.
✅ Free guide: How to set pricing that grows with you — thepracticingaccountant.com/vbp

The Easiest Way to Get New Clients Without Running Ads or Cold Calling

Tired of chasing leads or pouring money into ads that don’t convert? This episode is all about co-firming—a simple, high-leverage strategy to get better clients by building referral relationships with other accounting firms. Doug and Dan break down what co-firming is, why it works (especially if you specialize), and how to put it into action this summer.
If you're a bookkeeper, tax pro, or fractional CFO trying to grow your firm the smart way, don’t miss this conversation.
🔗 Download our free value pricing guide: thepracticingaccountant.com/vbp

62. What Happens When Your Biggest Client Leaves?

Doug and Dan dive into a powerful client case study about concentration risk—when too much of your firm’s revenue depends on one client. In this episode, you'll hear real-world stories from Doug's coaching work with firm owners who are navigating everything from losing major clients to rethinking their entire offer. The guys also unpack the problem with generic service lists, why too many firms ignore long-term planning, and how shifting your offer to focus on outcomes—not tasks—can help you stand out and grow smarter.
👉 If you're ready to rethink your pricing and communicate real value, grab our free value pricing guide at thepracticingaccountant.com/vbp

61. Post-Busy Season Priorities: Where to Focus Next

Doug’s been deep in it this week — coaching over a dozen accountants just days after the March 15th deadline. In this episode, he shares raw insights straight from the front lines: partner drama, people leaving to start firms, burnout, misaligned goals, and the surprising patterns showing up across firms of all sizes.
We cover:
Why partners are burning out and how staff are silently watching it unfold
The post-deadline mistakes firms make that kill momentum
Why business development dials are stuck on zero when they should be heating up
A contrarian take on AI: stop obsessing and start fixing your pricing
This episode is a wake-up call — not just to debrief the season, but to break the hamster wheel before next year’s hits.
📘 Ready to take pricing seriously? Download our free value pricing guide at thepracticingaccountant.com/vbp

60. The Busy Season Is Over — Now It's Time to Build Your Dream Firm

Busy season might be over, but the real work of building your firm starts now. In this episode, Doug and Dan talk about the hidden “aftershocks” of busy season — layoffs, client churn, and why now is the best time to crank up your business development dial.
We dig into:
Why “getting more clients” isn’t the real goal — it’s getting better clients.
How networking (done right) can add ideal clients faster than social media.
Where accountants are wasting time marketing (and what to do instead).
Why intentional business development now creates pricing power later.
Ready to build pricing power and future-proof your firm? 👉 Download the free Value Pricing Guide here: ⁠thepracticingaccountant.com/vbp

59. Why Fewer Options Close More Deals: The Power of Two Packages

What if offering fewer choices actually made clients say yes faster — and at higher prices? In this episode, Doug shares a real story of how cutting from three proposal options down to two led to better conversions, less confusion, and stronger positioning.
We talk about how to make your value obvious, how to hold the line on pricing, and why “just dropping the price” is the fastest way to lose authority.
🎯 Want to price with more confidence? Grab our free value pricing guide at thepracticingaccountant.com/vbp