Has your business scaled beyond $1 million in annual revenue? Do you employ a staff of 20 or more people? If so, you've likely experienced a whirlwind of highs and lows that come with growth. You're not alone in your journey. Since 2002, Summit CPA Group, now Summit Virtual CFO Services by Anders, has helped businesses and creative agencies across America and the globe by providing Virtual CFO Services, cash flow management, business tax planning, financial forecasting, and much more. We've also performed hundreds of 401(k) audits and provided CPA firms with accounting outsourcing services and Virtual CFO consulting. This podcast seeks to...
Mon, January 06, 2025
Episode Title: Mastering the Art of Agency Growth: Lessons from Brad Ferris Episode Summary: In this episode of "The Creative Agency Success Show," hosts engage with Brad Farris from Anchor Advisors, a seasoned expert with over 20 years in the marketing and creative agency space. The discussion centers on scaling agency businesses, highlighting the importance of strategic hiring, financial planning, and maintaining cash reserves. Brad shares insights on the differences between consulting and coaching, emphasizing the empowerment of agency owners to find their own solutions. Success stories and challenges are discussed, offering practical advice on navigating growth stages and making informed decisions. The episode concludes with actionable steps for agency owners to achieve sustainable growth. Episode Notes: "I truly believe that a lot of visionaries and entrepreneurs think they can outsell anything, but they need to be intentional and build up that cash reserve to dive into the next level." -Brad Farris The finer details of this episode: Focus on strategies for agency owners to scale their businesses. Discussion of the challenges faced by agency owners during growth. Importance of hiring the right people for agency success. Distinction between consulting and coaching in the agency context. The role of cash reserves in supporting growth initiatives. Insights on navigating different stages of agency growth. The significance of revisiting goals and aspirations regularly. Addressing conservative mindsets and encouraging calculated risks. The value of external perspectives in identifying areas for improvement. Episode resources: ● Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ ● Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.summitcpa.net/summit-newsletter ● Digital Dollars and Cents: A Virtual CFO’s Playbook to help Digital Companies Create a Financial Roadmap to Success , is now an audio book! Download it here: https://vcfo.summitcpa.net/ddc Timestamps: Introduction to the Show (00:00:00) Overview of "The Creative Agency Success Show" and its focus on helping agency owners. Discussion on Growth Strategies (00:00:15) Brad Ferris shares insights on achieving the next stage of agency growth. Importance of Coaching (00:00:40) Speaker 3 highlights Brad's extensive experience and the value of coaching for agencies. Hiring Considerations for Growth (00:01:21) Discussion on when to hire and which roles to prioritize for agency success. Consulting vs. Coaching (00:02:32
Mon, December 30, 2024
Episode Title: 2024 Year in Review Episode Notes : In our year end wrap up: Jody, Brett, Tom, Hannah, and Jamie share favorite moments from the show, podcasting resolutions and holiday gift wishes. the hosts reflect on personal anecdotes and provide their aspirations for the upcoming year. They also introduce a new behind-the-scenes team member. "It’s super common for us to go into a conference and have someone say, "Hey, I love that podcast you’re on." It’s really cool, and we really enjoy it." – Jody Grunden The finer details of this episode: Reflection on the past year in podcasting Personal podcasting resolutions for the upcoming year Highlights of memorable podcast episodes and guest contributions Episode resources: ● Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ ● If you have questions or would like to be a guest on the show, email us at mcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com ● Check out the Virtual CFO Playbook Course: https://vcfoplaybook.summitcpa.net/ Timestamps: Introduction to the Episode (00:00:00) The host welcomes listeners to the Creative Agency Success Show, highlighting its value for agency owners. Productivity in One Room (00:00:14) Jodi humorously comments on the team's low productivity due to everyone being together, setting a light-hearted tone. Congratulations to Indiana University (00:00:41) Brett congratulates Indiana University on a sports victory and transitions into a discussion about online gambling. Online Gambling Discussion (00:01:05) The speakers engage in a light banter about online gambling's legality in Indiana and personal stakes in upcoming games. Introducing Christine (00:01:31) Jodi introduces Christine, acknowledging her contributions to the team and welcoming her to the show. Christine's Favorite Podcast (00:02:08) Christine shares her favorite podcast episode, highlighting the Young CPA as relatable for her college experience. Introducing Mina (00:04:04) Mina, a new team member, shares her background in agricultural tech and politics, expressing excitement for her role. Podcast Ranking Discussion (00:04:41) Brett mentions the podcast's ranking, humorously clarifying its position within the United States. Mina's Podcasting Resolution (00:05:39) Mina discusses her goal of maintaining organized scheduling for the podcast, emphasizing the importance of planning ahead. Favorite Podcast Moments (00:06:33) The team discusses their favorite moments and guests from their
Tue, December 17, 2024
Episode Title: Riding the Entrepreneurial Rollercoaster: Insights from Tom Conlon Episode Summary: In this episode, the hosts engage with Tom Conlon, founder of North Street Creative, to discuss his entrepreneurial journey and the cyclical nature of business. Tom shares insights on the challenges of running a creative agency, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and timely decision-making. He recounts the impact of economic cycles on business operations and the significance of maintaining strong banking relationships. The conversation also covers the role of structured operating systems like EOS in achieving strategic goals and the necessity of financial visibility. The episode concludes with reflections on media influences and the enduring value of print publications. Episode Notes: "I didn't even have a line of credit until COVID. When it started happening, I realized how crucial it was to have that financial safety net." Tom Conlon The finer details of this episode: Entrepreneurial journey and background of the guest. The cyclical nature of business and its impact on creative agencies. Challenges faced while running a creative agency, including financial and cultural impacts. Importance of adaptability and making timely decisions in business. Strategies for surviving economic downturns, including financial planning and having a safety net. The role of structured operating systems in enhancing business operations. Financial visibility and its significance in strategic planning. Engaging team members in the goal-setting process for personal and professional development. Influence of media and publications on personal and professional growth. Episode resources: ● Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ ● Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.summitcpa.net/summit-newsletter ● Digital Dollars and Cents: A Virtual CFO’s Playbook to help Digital Companies Create a Financial Roadmap to Success , is now an audio book! Download it here: https://vcfo.summitcpa.net/ddc Timestamps: (00:00:00) Introduction to the podcast and its focus on helping agency owners scale their businesses. Appreciation for Insights (00:00:14) Discussion on the value of insights brought by co-host Hannah compared to previous co-hosts. Conversation with Tom (00:00:23) Hannah shares her positive experience speaking with guest Tom about his entrepreneurial journey. Tom's Background (00:02:14) Tom Conlon introduces himself and his branding agency, North Street Creative, and its focus areas
Mon, December 02, 2024
“The good thing about retargeting is that most of the sales don't actually come from people clicking on the ad. They come from people seeing the ad and then either Googling the company or typing in the URL in the browser.” – Zaid Ammari The finer details of this episode: Marketing strategies focused on paid advertising and retargeting. The significance of understanding data analytics in marketing. Explanation of retargeting and its psychological impact on consumers. Common mistakes businesses make in retargeting campaigns. The importance of lead quality over quantity in marketing efforts. The role of Google Analytics 4 (GA4) in optimizing marketing strategies. Differences between hiring freelancers and agencies for marketing services. Effective communication and client management in marketing. The onboarding process for new clients and setting realistic expectations. Practical applications of retargeting across various platforms. Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.summitcpa.net/summit-newsletter Digital Dollars and Cents: A Virtual CFO’s Playbook to help Digital Companies Create a Financial Roadmap to Success , is now an audio book! Download it here: https://vcfo.summitcpa.net/ddc Connect with Zaid here: linkedin.com/in/zaidammari Check out PPC Masterminds here: ppcmasterminds.com Free audit: https://ppcmasterminds.com/free-google-ads-audit/ Studio report mentioned in the show: https://lookerstudio.google.com/reporting/cc7472bf-0d0e-40d4-b275-22f1996ca339/page/VAzeB . Timestamps: Introduction to the Episode (00:00:00) Overview of the Creative Agency Success Show and its purpose for agency owners. Discussion of Different Mindsets (00:00:14) Jamie and Jody reflect on their different perspectives during the episode with Zaid. Topics Covered in the Episode (00:00:42) Jody highlights the focus on retargeting and its common mistakes discussed with Zaid. Guest Introduction (00:01:38) Jamie introduces Zaid Ammari, a marketing expert from PPC Masterminds. Zaid'
Mon, November 18, 2024
“We try to help the sellers understand what the buyer's long-term vision is, what changes they expect to make, and over what period of time, because all of these things have implications on the business but also on emotions.” – Jonathan Baker The finer details of this episode: Overview of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the creative agency sector. Importance of preparation for agency owners considering M&A. Insights on valuation factors influencing agency sales. Discussion on the current M&A landscape and market trends. The significance of maintaining clean financial records for M&A readiness. Exploration of deal structures and their implications, including Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). The role of agency owners post-acquisition and the need for clear communication with buyers. Timing considerations for initiating the M&A process. The impact of economic changes on agency valuations and buyer interest. Recommendations for agency owners to proactively prepare for potential sales. Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.summitcpa.net/summit-newsletter Digital Dollars and Cents: A Virtual CFO’s Playbook to help Digital Companies Create a Financial Roadmap to Success , is now an audio book! Download it here: https://vcfo.summitcpa.net/ddc Connect with Jonathan here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathandavidbaker/ Check out Punctuation here: https://punctuation.com/ Timestamps: Welcome to the Creative Agency Success Show (00:00:00) Introduction to the podcast's purpose and focus on agency owners looking to scale. Discussion on M&A Preparation (00:00:15) Insights from Jonathan Baker about the importance of preparation for mergers and acquisitions. M&A Landscape Insights (00:00:39) Hannah reflects on the evolving trends in the M&A landscape and its implications for clients. Importance of Understanding M&A (00:01:13) Discussion on how understanding the M&A process can aid clients in their decision-making. Preparation Equals Easier Transition (00:01:39) Jimmy emphasizes that being well-prepared leads to a smoother M&A process and better outcomes. Introduction of Jonathan Baker (00:02:52) Jonathan Baker shares his background and expertise in helping firms prepare for M&A. Jonathan's M&A Journey (00:04:07) Jonathan recounts
Mon, November 18, 2024
“The good thing about retargeting is that most of the sales don't actually come from people clicking on the ad. They come from people seeing the ad and then either Googling the company or typing in the URL in the browser.” – Zaid Ammari The finer details of this episode: Marketing strategies focused on paid advertising and retargeting. The significance of understanding data analytics in marketing. Explanation of retargeting and its psychological impact on consumers. Common mistakes businesses make in retargeting campaigns. The importance of lead quality over quantity in marketing efforts. The role of Google Analytics 4 (GA4) in optimizing marketing strategies. Differences between hiring freelancers and agencies for marketing services. Effective communication and client management in marketing. The onboarding process for new clients and setting realistic expectations. Practical applications of retargeting across various platforms. Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.summitcpa.net/summit-newsletter Digital Dollars and Cents: A Virtual CFO’s Playbook to help Digital Companies Create a Financial Roadmap to Success , is now an audio book! Download it here: https://vcfo.summitcpa.net/ddc Connect with Zaid here: linkedin.com/in/zaidammari Check out PPC Masterminds here: ppcmasterminds.com Free audit: https://ppcmasterminds.com/free-google-ads-audit/ Studio report mentioned in the show: https://lookerstudio.google.com/reporting/cc7472bf-0d0e-40d4-b275-22f1996ca339/page/VAzeB . Timestamps: Introduction to the Episode (00:00:00) Overview of the Creative Agency Success Show and its purpose for agency owners. Discussion of Different Mindsets (00:00:14) Jamie and Jody reflect on their different perspectives during the episode with Zaid. Topics Covered in the Episode (00:00:42) Jody highlights the focus on retargeting and its common mistakes discussed with Zaid. Guest Introduction (00:01:38) Jamie introduces Zaid Ammari, a marketing expert from PPC Masterminds. Zai
Mon, November 04, 2024
“It's never too early to start planning because you never know when that end is going to be. Operate with optimism. There's a lot of activity that's really unprecedented in the industry right now, and I think for the years ahead, it's going to be very good for agency owners who build really solid, predictable, nice operating practices.” – Phil Daniels The finer details of this episode: Overview of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the agency sector. Insights on exit readiness for agency owners. Discussion of motivations for agency owners considering a sale. Current trends in the M&A market and their implications. Importance of a strong management team in enhancing agency value. Evolving dynamics of purchase agreements and deal structures. The role of private equity in the agency landscape and common misconceptions. Strategies for presenting a compelling narrative to potential buyers. Importance of early planning and preparation for agency sales. Common pitfalls during the due diligence process and how to avoid them. Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.summitcpa.net/summit-newsletter Digital Dollars and Cents: A Virtual CFO’s Playbook to help Digital Companies Create a Financial Roadmap to Success , is now an audio book! Download it here: https://vcfo.summitcpa.net/ddc Connect with Phil here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillipdaniels/ Check out Season Advisors here: https://seasonadvisors.com/ Timestamps: Welcome to the Show (00:00:00) Introduction to the "Creative Agency Success Show" and its focus on helping agency owners. Discussion of Topics (00:00:14) Overview of the episode's topics: mergers & acquisitions and basketball, highlighting guest Phil Daniels. Phil Daniels Introduction (00:01:20) Phil shares his background in M&A and agency ownership, setting the stage for his insights. Early Career in M&A (00:01:35) Phil discusses starting his career at JP Morgan, focusing on acquiring and integrating businesses. Transition to Agency Ownership (00:02:20) Phil recounts his journey to starting his own agency, motivated by low barriers to entry. Agency Sales Experience (00:03:22) Phil explains his experience with agency sales, emphasizing the emotional aspects of selling. <
Thu, October 31, 2024
In this special episode of The Creative Agency Success Show, four speakers with Halloween-themed personas—Jamie Nightmare, Hannah Hexed Hood, Adam Haunted Hale, and Joey Killing Kenny—engage in a lively draft-style discussion about their favorite Halloween movies. Jamie, the enthusiastic host, sets the stage and outlines the draft rules. Hannah humorously admits her limited horror movie experience, while Adam and Joey share their deep knowledge and personal anecdotes. The conversation is filled with playful banter and passionate debates as they each select and defend their top horror film picks, creating an engaging and entertaining Halloween-themed episode.
Mon, October 21, 2024
”When I think about sales, it's really nurturing relationships and manufacturing opportunities. That is your job all day, every day.” - Adam Kurzawa The finer details of this episode: Insights on business development strategies for creative agencies. Emphasis on nurturing existing client relationships for agency growth. Discussion on effective outreach efforts and relationship-building in sales. Importance of hiring for business development roles, focusing on soft skills and industry knowledge. Strategies for identifying growth opportunities within current clients. Challenges and considerations in the hiring process for sales positions. The significance of maintaining personal connections in business. Episode Resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.summitcpa.net/summit-newsletter Digital Dollars and Cents: A Virtual CFO’s Playbook to help Digital Companies Create a Financial Roadmap to Success , is now an audio book! Download it here: https://vcfo.summitcpa.net/ddc Connect with Adam here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamkurzawa Check out Infinum here: https://infinum.com/ Timestamps: Introduction to the Show (00:00:00) Jamie and Jody welcome listeners to "The Creative Agency Success Show," highlighting its purpose for agency owners. Friendship and Professional Journey (00:00:35) Jody discusses his long friendship with Adam and Adam's professional growth in business development. Practical Business Development Insights (00:01:14) Jamie emphasizes the practicality of Adam's insights for agencies struggling with business development and sales. Discussion on Pipeline and Biz Dev (00:03:33) The conversation shifts to building a sales pipeline and strategies to enhance business development. The Importance of Existing Clients (00:04:14) Adam stresses focusing on upselling and nurturing relationships with existing clients for growth. Outbound Marketing Strategies (00:07:41) Discussion on effective outbound marketing tactics, emphasizing personalized approaches over traditional methods. Manufacturing Opportunities (00:10:37) Adam shares ideas on creating memorable events to foster connections and generate new business opportunities. Building Relationships for Biz Dev (00:13:09) Adam discusses the importance of having advocates within client organizations to facilitate business development
Mon, October 07, 2024
“Having a strong forecasting process really should make it easier to eliminate things—like knowing if the seventh project is really one of the top seven things we need to do to hit our goals.” – Tom Wadelton “When you build a budget, you're creating a plan for the next year, and then things happen. No one really expects a pandemic to happen, but things do happen. The question is, how do you adjust?” – Jamie Nau The finer details of this episode: Importance of dynamic forecasting over static budgeting Client's growth journey and challenges during the pandemic Centralized vs. decentralized decision-making in budgeting Regular conversations about forecasts for informed decision-making Adapting to new realities and aligning hiring with growth goals Changes in sales leadership and their impact on business development Role of pipeline meetings in assessing demand and resource allocation Transitioning from fractional CFO services to full-time financial leadership Strategies for prioritizing projects and initiatives Reflecting on achievements and the evolution of business practices over time Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ Email us with questions or if you’d like to be a guest on the show: youngcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com We’re hiring! Check out our open positions: https://www.summitcpa.net/career-opportunities Check out the 2019 episode here: https://www.summitcpa.net/blog/forecasting-for-growth Timestamps: Introduction to the Episode (00:00:00) The host welcomes listeners to the Creative Agency Success Show and sets the context for the episode. Revisiting 2019 (00:00:14) Jamie introduces the "fast forward" episode, referencing a previous discussion about a client's growth in 2019. Client's Growth Overview (00:01:03) Tom provides a recap of the client's financial growth goals and challenges faced in 2019. Impact of the Pandemic (00:02:16) Discussion on how the pandemic affected the client's growth trajectory and forecasting adjustments. Forecasting vs. Budgeting (00:02:31) Jamie emphasizes the importance of dynamic forecasting over static budgeting in uncertain times. Decentralization Mistakes (00:03:16) Tom shares how decentralizing budgeting decisions led to frustration during the pandemic. Importance of Regular Forecast Updates (00:04:02) Discussion on how frequent updates to forecasts can guide business decisions amidst unexpected c
Mon, September 23, 2024
Importance of podcasting for business owners Enhancing visibility and credibility through podcast appearances Networking opportunities provided by podcasting Role of podcast guest booking agencies in facilitating appearances Content repurposing strategies for maximizing podcast impact Overcoming imposter syndrome in podcasting Engaging team members in podcasting for brand representation Process of working with a podcast guest booking agency Personal anecdotes and experiences related to travel and confidence Resources for preparing to be an effective podcast guest Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.summitcpa.net/summit-newsletter Digital Dollars and Cents: A Virtual CFO’s Playbook to help Digital Companies Create a Financial Roadmap to Success , is now an audio book! Download it here: https://vcfo.summitcpa.net/ddc Connect with Julie here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fryjulie/ Check out Your Expert Guest here: https://yourexpertguest.com/ Timestamps: Introduction to the Episode (00:00:00) Overview of the Creative Agency Success Show and its purpose for agency owners. Guest Introduction (00:00:15) Jamie introduces Julie Fry and shares his experience of missing part of the interview. Interview Context (00:00:45) Hannah reflects on the fun interview with Julie and her background. Podcasting as a Meta Topic (00:01:29) Discussion about the episode being focused on podcasting and its benefits. Hannah's Passion for Podcasting (00:02:03) Hannah expresses her excitement about podcasting and its advantages for business owners. Julie's Background (00:03:02) Julie shares her journey and the founding of her podcast guest booking agency. Genesis of Julie's Business (00:04:51) Julie explains how her business idea emerged during the early COVID-19 pandemic. Benefits of Podcast Guesting (00:06:57) Discussion on how podcast guesting can enhance visibility and referrals for service providers. Content Repurposing Importance (00:09:19) Julie highlights the value of repurposing podcast content for marketing. Overcoming Stage Fright (00:12:04) Advice for individuals feeling anxious about speaking on podcasts. Mindset Shift for Podcasters (00:12:18) Julie encourages focusing on the value of sharing knowledge during p
Mon, September 09, 2024
“If you sit down and really make sure that your profile resonates and is truly you, it feels good, and you smile. Ultimately, you become a person who doesn't have to look for a job. Jobs find you. You become a person whose phone rings because there are opportunities, because people know you, remember you, have worked with you, and they want to work with you again.” —Donna Serdula The finer details of this episode: Importance of personal branding on LinkedIn Shift in perception of the platform Challenges of creating and maintaining a professional presence on social media Controlling one's personal brand and its impact on career opportunities Showcasing values, actions, and descriptions to create a strong and memorable brand Balancing professionalism with personal authenticity on LinkedIn Importance of consistency and cadence in posting content on LinkedIn Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.summitcpa.net/summit-newsletter Digital Dollars and Cents: A Virtual CFO’s Playbook to help Digital Companies Create a Financial Roadmap to Success , is now an audio book! Download it here: https://vcfo.summitcpa.net/ddc https://Donnanaserdula.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/toDonnana/ Timestamps: The importance of personal branding on LinkedIn (00:01:13) Discussion on the psychology behind personal branding and deliberate control of perception. The shift in perception of LinkedIn (00:02:07) The change from a passive networking platform to a more active and personal branding platform. The challenges of maintaining a professional presence on social media (00:02:44) Struggles with the perception of LinkedIn as a purely professional platform and the fear of being too personal. The evolving concept of professionalism on LinkedIn (00:04:25) Debunking the traditional image of professionalism and the need to move away from the concept of a suit and tie. The importance of personal branding for career growth (00:08:08) Emphasizing the significance of personal branding for career development and the need to control one's brand. Strategies for personal branding on LinkedIn (00:09:49) Discussion on the vision, mission, and consistent portrayal of oneself to create a strong personal brand. The value of personal connection in professional work (00:12:49) The significance of bringing one's who
Mon, August 26, 2024
"Alignment is going in the same direction, fighting for the same things, and looking at the same big picture together.” – Rachel Gertz The finer details of this episode: ● Importance of project management and operations in digital agencies and creative studios ● Challenges in project management and the need for alignment between sales and project management ● Solutions to improve communication and alignment between departments ● Importance of understanding client goals and business objectives during the sales process ● Concept of time in the sales process and optimizing operations for long-term efficiency ● The three questions of project management: "Where are we? Where are we going? Are we okay?" ● Importance of ongoing alignment, regular check-ins, and alignment exercises for client satisfaction and project success Episode resources: ● Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ ● Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.summitcpa.net/summit-newsletter ● Digital Dollars and Cents: A Virtual CFO’s Playbook to help Digital Companies Create a Financial Roadmap to Success , is now an audio book! Download it here: https://vcfo.summitcpa.net/ddc Connect with Rachel here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-gertz-trainer/ Check out Louder than Ten here: https://louderthanten.com Timestamps: Welcome to the Creative Agency Success Show (00:00:00) Introduction to the podcast and anticipation of the upcoming discussion with Rachel Gertz. Insights from Rachel Gertz's Interview (00:00:14) Discussion about the valuable tips and insights shared by Rachel Gertz in the podcast episode. Improving Client Onboarding Process (00:00:36) The importance of implementing new client onboarding strategies and the potential impact on client efficiency and improvements. Implementing Advice from Rachel Gertz (00:01:11) Encouragement to implement the advice shared by Rachel Gertz and the anticipation of positive outcomes from the episode. Introduction of Rachel Gertz and Hannah (00:02:10) Introduction of Rachel Gertz as the guest and Hannah as the special guest host for the episode. Rachel Gertz's Background and Passion (00:02:35) Insight into Rachel Gertz's background, passion for project management, and the focus of Louder Than Ten. Rachel Gertz's Transition to Project Management (00:03:15) Rachel Gertz's transition to project management, her background in teachin
Mon, August 12, 2024
“Standing out is great, but conversion is crucial.” – Jason Swenk It’s hard to build a business if you don’t invest in systems.” – Jason Swenk The finer details of this episode: Analysis and insights on building a strong email list Sales cycle and close percentage Unique marketing strategies Importance of systems in building a successful business Concept of "land and expand" Effectiveness of email marketing campaigns Providing quick financial statements with industry comparison Importance of creativity and innovation in marketing strategies Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.summitcpa.net/summit-newsletter Digital Dollars and Cents: A Virtual CFO’s Playbook to help Digital Companies Create a Financial Roadmap to Success , is now an audio book! Download it here: https://vcfo.summitcpa.net/ddc Catch the full episode of What All Successful Agencies Have in Common: How to Separate from the Pack, with Tim Condon here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-all-successful-agencies-have-in-common-how-to/id870206013?i=1000653823029 Check out Jason here: https://jasonswenk.com/ Timestamps: The welcome (00:00:00) Introduction to the show "Creative Agency Success Show" and its purpose. Discussing Jason Swank's podcast (00:00:15) Introduction to the podcast "The Smart Agency Podcast" and its relevance to the speakers. Analyzing the podcast episode (00:00:43) Introducing the episode featuring Tim Condon and discussing its potential impact on the audience. Building a strong email list (00:02:20) Discussion on the importance of building a strong email list and the shift in the agency's marketing strategy. The importance of conversion (00:04:52) Emphasizing the importance of conversion in marketing efforts and its relevance to the audience. Sales cycle and close percentage (00:06:11) Analyzing the sales cycle and close percentage, comparing industry standards, and sharing insights on reducing the sales cycle. Unique marketing strategy (00:11:15) Exploring a unique marketing strategy involving leveraging established brands to generate leads and its implications. Best piece of advice for leaders (00:12:30) Discussing the best piece of advice for leaders, focusing on utilizing assets and generating what is needed. Using cu
Mon, July 29, 2024
“As you're building your business, you're building your agency, you're going to realize that there's some prospects that are just not right. You have to go through that Vegas buffet and get sick and food poisoning because you overate and you ate a lot of the bad shit and you tell yourself, ‘I'm not going to eat those raw craw legs anymore.’” -Jason Swenk The finer details of this episode: Jason Swenk's journey from agency owner to consultant and mastermind leader Importance of knowing target audience and sales process for agency success Value of creating a community of like-minded individuals through masterminds Emphasis on maintaining a high-quality community over quantity in mastermind groups Importance of building strong client relationships and conducting thorough research Unique approach to hiring by setting specific instructions for applicants to follow Significance of qualifying leads early in the sales process Value of personal challenges and experiences in shaping one's perspective and approach to business Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.summitcpa.net/summit-newsletter Digital Dollars and Cents: A Virtual CFO’s Playbook to help Digital Companies Create a Financial Roadmap to Success , is now an audio book! Download it here: https://vcfo.summitcpa.net/ddc Connect with Jason here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonswenk/ Listen to Jason’s podcast here: https://www.agencymastery360.com/podcast Check out Agency Mastery 360 here: https://jasonswenk.com/ Subscribe to Jason’s YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/jasonswenk Timestamps: Accidental Agency Owner (00:00:00) Jason's accidental entry into the agency world and his agency's growth and eventual sale. Transition to Consulting (00:03:08) Jason's transition from running an agency to helping other agency owners and the inspiration behind his consulting practice. Mastermind Community (00:04:45) Jason's approach to running a mastermind community, its structure, and the experiences it offers to its members. Exclusive Mastermind (00:08:28) Jason's encounter with an exclusive mastermind and his decision to create a more genuine and impactful community. Client Relationships (00:11:51) Jason's insights on maintaining client relationships
Mon, July 15, 2024
“After almost 20 years of doing that nonstop, I started to lose myself a little bit. I started to wonder, is this what I want to do for the next chapter of my life? Is there something else out there for me? When I looked around in corporate America, what I realized and what I saw was that there were a lot of people like me. I really wanted to get off autopilot. I felt like nobody in my life was getting the best part of me.” – Traci Barrett The finer details of this episode: Review and analysis of The Root of All Success with The Real Jason Duncan’s Beyond HGTV Success Featuring Traci Barrett Emphasis on the unique thought of the episode Exploration of success and life transitions Importance of identifying the right client fit and company culture Impact of generosity on business relationships and company culture Transformational impact of Traci's strategic life mapping process Appreciation for diverse perspectives on success from Jason Duncan's podcast Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.summitcpa.net/summit-newsletter Digital Dollars and Cents: A Virtual CFO’s Playbook to help Digital Companies Create a Financial Roadmap to Success , is now an audio book! Download it here: https://vcfo.summitcpa.net/ddc Connect with Traci here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracischubertbarrett/ Check out Navigate the Journey here: https://www.navigatethejourney.com/ Check out Traci’s website here: https://www.tracischubertbarrett.com/ Catch the full episode here: https://www.therealjasonduncan.com/podcasts/the-root-of-all-success-with-the-real-jason-duncan/episodes/2148159261 Timestamps: The unicorn (00:04:05) Discussion on the most unique thought of the episode, focusing on success beyond money and titles. Traci's journey (00:05:28) Traci's transition from corporate world to entrepreneurship, and the realization of wanting more from life. Defining success (00:08:03) Traci's personal definition of success and the importance of using unique talents to have a positive impact. Visionary vantage (00:13:12) Discussion on identifying what one wants and why, and the journey to create a different and entrepreneurial company cultur
Thu, July 11, 2024
Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.summitcpa.net/summit-newsletter Digital Dollars and Cents: A Virtual CFO’s Playbook to help Digital Companies Create a Financial Roadmap to Success , is now an audio book! Download it here: https://vcfo.summitcpa.net/ddc Timestamps: The podcasting journey (00:00:14) Jamie recounts the evolution of the podcast, from its humble beginnings to its current loyal listener base. Introduction of the new podcast format (00:01:04) Jamie introduces the new format, inspired by the "Rewatchable" podcast, and discusses the idea of discussing existing material through 11 topics. The 11 topics of the new format (00:02:49) Jamie explains the 11 topics that will be used to discuss existing material, ranging from financial advice to marketing and pipeline strategies. Excitement for the new format (00:08:28) Jamie expresses excitement and anticipation for the new format, emphasizing the importance of being excited about the podcast's content.
Mon, July 01, 2024
“Shifting from advocacy to inquiry is really important, and I think most leaders today are probably advocacy heavy because it's the model that we see most.” – J. Scott The finer details of this episode: Importance of leading the way in marketing and working with clients Transforming high-potential individuals into high-functioning teams Rationalizing tasks and initiatives to align with customer satisfaction, team member satisfaction, and profitability Change management and involving stakeholders in driving change Approach to problem-solving and decision-making in leadership Balancing advocacy and inquiry in leadership and marketing Involving team members in leadership meetings and problem-solving process Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.summitcpa.net/summit-newsletter Digital Dollars and Cents: A Virtual CFO’s Playbook to help Digital Companies Create a Financial Roadmap to Success , is now an audio book! Download it here: https://vcfo.summitcpa.net/ddc Connect with Jason here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonscott120vc/ Check out 120Vc here: https://www.120vc.com/ Timestamps: Leadership and Change Implementation (00:00:14) Discussion on leadership, change implementation, and project management with J Scott from 120 VC. Marketing and Thought Leadership (00:00:29) Transition from thought leadership to marketing strategies and leading teams in marketing efforts. Creating High Performing Teams (00:01:32) Introduction to the topic of creating high performing teams with J. Scott from 120 VC. Transforming Cost Centers to Profit Centers (00:02:32) Discussion on transforming groups from cost centers to profit centers and focusing on customer satisfaction, team member satisfaction, and profitability. Working with Fortune 1000 Clients (00:02:58) Details about working with Fortune 1000 clients and the process of transforming various teams within those businesses. Shifting Mindsets and Canceling Initiatives (00:04:23) Insights into shifting mindsets, rationalizing initiatives, and repurposing existing team members to create growth. Impact on Smaller Teams (00:06:17) Exploration of how smaller teams can contribute to the three pillars of customer satisfaction, team member satisfaction, and profitability. Applying Marketing Principles to Business (00:08:06) <
Mon, June 17, 2024
“Clients don’t want to ask us for new ideas; they want us to come to them with new ideas.” Hannah Hood The finer details of this episode: ● Shortening of the sales cycle indicating a positive shift in the industry ● Trend of clients seeking specialized services from agencies ● Emphasis on the need for agencies to specialize and market their expertise effectively ● Importance of being proactive in presenting new ideas to clients and pricing services based on value ● Significance of building trust with clients and maintaining long-term relationships ● Communication of the value of agency services effectively ● Strategies for navigating the evolving landscape of the agency industry Episode resources: ● Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ ● Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.summitcpa.net/summit-newsletter ● Digital Dollars and Cents: A Virtual CFO’s Playbook to help Digital Companies Create a Financial Roadmap to Success , is now an audio book! Download it here: https://vcfo.summitcpa.net/ddc ● https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahchood/ Timestamps: The welcome (00:00:00) Introduction and purpose of the podcast episode. Hannah's agency events (00:00:14) Discussion about Hannah's experiences at agency events and their importance. The Build Better Agency Summit (00:00:53) Highlights from the Build Better Agency Summit and the value of attending such events. Impact of COVID on the industry (00:01:52) Discussion on the industry's recovery from the impact of COVID-19 and changes in client behavior. Shift in client needs and agency specialization (00:05:22) Insights into the evolving client needs and the importance of agency specialization. Value-based pricing and client relationships (00:08:20) Importance of value-based pricing, building client trust, and maintaining long-term relationships. Pricing strategies and advice (00:12:22) Insights into pricing strategies, price pressure, and the importance of building trust with clients. Post-event reflection and team communication (00:16:10) Recommendations for post-event reflection and team communication to share insights and implement learnings. Denver Experience (00:17:55) Discussion about the food, weather, and environment in Denver, and the impact of altitude on the speaker's health. Effects of Altitude (00:18:30) The speaker's experience with altitude sickness and the importance of drinking water at high altitudes. Dry
Mon, June 03, 2024
Episode Notes: “Delegation is challenging; it requires a lot of thought process and a lot of preparation. But you shouldn’t try to do everything on your own; use your team. Delegation is about giving them enough information so that they know what the end goal is.” Vicky Brown The finer details of this episode: Importance of supporting managers and helping them grow their leadership skills Challenges of delegation and setting boundaries in leadership roles Emphasis on teamwork and collaboration within a business Creating a culture of trust and open communication within the organization Understanding implications of being a multi-state employer Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.summitcpa.net/summit-newsletter Digital Dollars and Cents: A Virtual CFO’s Playbook to help Digital Companies Create a Financial Roadmap to Success , is now an audio book! Download it here: https://vcfo.summitcpa.net/ddc www.idomeneoinc.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicky-brown-4160061 Morehumanmoreresources.info/podcastgift Time stamps: HR conversation (00:00:14) The conversation covers the broad scope of HR, including coaching, delegation, and more. Introduction of Vicky Brown (00:01:42) Vicky Brown introduces herself as an HR professional and shares her background in opera singing. Vicky's company and clients (00:02:24) Vicky talks about her HR consulting company, Dominion Enterprises, and her range of clients. Transition from opera singing to HR (00:04:24) Vicky shares her transition from an opera singer to an HR professional and the challenges she faced. Services provided by Vicky's company (00:07:32) Vicky explains the comprehensive services her company offers, including regulatory compliance, benefits, and payroll administration. Employee relations and manager coaching (00:08:27) Vicky emphasizes the importance of employee relations and coaching managers to enhance leadership skills. Delegation challenges (00:10:30) Vicky discusses the challenges of delegation and the need for proper training and trust in the delegation process. Setting boundaries for delegation (00:14:08) The discussion addresses the need for clear boundaries and healthy communication in delegation, especially between leaders and team members. Preparation for e
Mon, May 20, 2024
Sales is the engine of any agency, but oftentimes it's the hardest part to grow and scale when you move from a founder-centric shop to a full marketing organization. The clips in this episode offer some of the best pieces of advice our hosts of the Creative Agency Success Show have gathered, provided to you in bite-sized form, so that you can digest and try your favorites. The finer details of this episode: Who makes a good salesperson? -- with Diane Helbig How to warm up your cold calls -- with Nikki Rausch What to do when owners hate sales? -- with Karl Sakas 9 steps to speedier sales -- with Simon Severino How a product catalogue helps the sales process -- with Joe Ardeeser Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.summitcpa.net/summit-newsletter Digital Dollars and Cents: A Virtual CFO’s Playbook to help Digital Companies Create a Financial Roadmap to Success , is now an audio book! Download it here: https://vcfo.summitcpa.net/ddc Full episodes included in the podcast: RETHINK YOUR SALES APPROACH with Diane Helbig SELLING FOR ACCOUNTANTS with Nikki Rausch HOW AGENCY OWNERS CAN WORK LESS AND EARN MORE with Karl Sakas STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING LONGER SALES PIPELINES with Simon Severino STREAMLINING THE AGENCY PROPOSAL PROCESS AND MANAGING SCOPE with Joe Ardeeser
Mon, May 06, 2024
“As a little bit of contextual background for our listeners, if you don't already know, as a part of the suite of meetings and services that we offer our clients, we are in what we call our pipeline meeting. During these meetings and throughout our client relationship, we stress the importance of knowing your data. At the end of the day, you absolutely need to be looking at your data and understanding the story that it tells you about where your agency currently is. Having conversations with my clients so that I can really dive into what the data is telling me is crucial.” –Hannah Hood The finer details of this episode: Challenges and trends in the agency industry Extended sales cycles and delays in closing deals Slower lead generation and new client acquisition Strategies for managing low utilization Whitespace analysis for evaluating services provided to clients Impact of the current economic state on client decisions Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter: https://vcfo.summitcpa.net/ddc https://www.summitcpa.net/summit-newsletter Digital Dollars and Cents: A Virtual CFO’s Playbook to help Digital Companies Create a Financial Roadmap to Success , is now an audio book! Download it here: https://vcfo.summitcpa.net/ddc https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahchood/ Love hearing insight from Hannah? Check her out on the Young CPA Success Show: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHIPahPXE1HhfZO1Ig5pGiB-eHA4hrFzQ Timestamps: The state of the industry (00:00:00) Introduction to the episode and discussion about the agency industry's challenges and trends. Extended sales cycle (00:01:25) Analysis of the extended sales cycle, identifying the pain points and strategies for improving the sales process. Slower lead generation and new client acquisition (00:05:56) Discussion on tracking lead sources and making informed decisions based on lead metrics to improve client acquisition. Whitespace analysis (00:06:34) Explanation of the whitespace analysis tool to identify opportunities for service expansion and niche specialization. Companies wanting more for less (00:10:23) Exploration of the challenge of clients seeking more services for reduced costs and strategies for communicating and evaluating the value of services. Evaluation of team uti
Mon, April 22, 2024
“I'm the CEO. I'm not a CFO, but I was acting as one. It was not my favorite part of running a company because math doesn't excite me like it does some of you. I can do it, and I think I did it pretty well. But it was invaluable to be able to have your firm come in and take a look at how we've been running the company and just to get the reassurance of, 'You guys are good, you're not doing things wrong.' You've been able to come in and tweak things and make it even better. It's been quite the journey from first meeting you, in 2015.” -Karla Santi The finer details of this episode: ● Importance of mentoring in personal and professional growth ● Value of finding a mentor or coach in the professional world ● Significance of advisory boards and diverse perspectives in decision-making Episode resources: ● Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ ● Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter: https://vcfo.summitcpa.net/ddc https://www.summitcpa.net/summit-newsletter ● Digital Dollars and Cents: A Virtual CFO’s Playbook to help Digital Companies Create a Financial Roadmap to Success , is now an audio book! Download it here: https://vcfo.summitcpa.net/ddc ● https://www.blendinteractive.com/ Timestamps: Karla's Background and Agency (00:00:15) Discussion about Karla's impressive background and her agency, Blend Interactive. Karla's Journey and Agency Evolution (00:01:51) Karla shares her personal journey and how her agency has evolved since its founding in 2005. Long-time Friendship and Events (00:03:25) Discussion about the long-time friendship between Karla and the hosts, as well as their shared experiences at various events. Karla's Decision to Seek Financial Help (00:07:03) Karla discusses the triggering event that led her to seek financial help and the decision to commit to working with a financial team. Adoption of AI and Employee Development (00:10:45) Karla talks about the adoption of AI in web development and the focus on employee development within her agency. Empowering Leadership Team and Future Plans (00:12:24) Discussion about empowering the leadership team to make decisions and future plans for the agency. Karla's Role as a Mentor (00:15:26) Karla's role as a mentor and the importance of personal connections in mentoring relationships. Influence of Sports on Mentoring (00:20:01) Karla reflects on the influence of ballet and tennis on her leadership style and team collaboration. Fi
Mon, April 08, 2024
“You want to be around people who are better than you – more talented, more experienced; go and soak it in. The places where I find the most growth for myself and my agency is where I’m around other people, and we’re just sharing ideas.” – Jay Owen The finer details of this episode: ● Jay’s journey of agency ownership and hosting events ● Why attending events is good for networking, business growth, and personal growth ● Building a successful agency without sacrificing self and family Episode resources: ● Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ ● Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.summitcpa.net/summit-newsletter ● Digital Dollars and Cents: A Virtual CFO’s Playbook to help Digital Companies Create a Financial Roadmap to Success , is now an audio book! Download it here: https://vcfo.summitcpa.net/ddc ● https://businessbldrs.com/ ● https://www.agencybuildersretreat.com/ ● https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayowen/ ● https://GetJaysBook.com/
Mon, March 25, 2024
“When you start the agency, everyone expects you to be the contact. But you probably don't want to do that forever. Maybe initially you delegate implementation work, the subject matter expert stuff, or project management. Then you probably want to delegate account management stuff. Usually you're still doing client strategy, at least in the early to mid-days. The idea here is you're like, ‘Hey, so-and-so is great. They are your account manager. They're your day-to-day contact.’ They're running the, say, the monthly call or every other call. But you're still the client strategist. You're involved at the beginning of the engagement, and then things pass over to the account manger. Maybe you're making a quarterly or a semi-annual or annual appearance with those higher-level insights that only you could provide. But importantly, you are not the client’s day-to-day contact. You're not the one getting every single email or call. You just show up and share the magic. Your team is taking it from there.” – Karl Sakas The finer details of this episode: Delegation and streamlining processes Understanding time management within an agency Marketing agency operations Preparing for an agency owner exit strategy Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter: https://vcfo.summitcpa.net/ddc https://www.summitcpa.net/summit-newsletter Digital Dollars and Cents: A Virtual CFO’s Playbook to help Digital Companies Create a Financial Roadmap to Success , is now an audio book! Download it here: https://vcfo.summitcpa.net/ddc https://sakasandcompany.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlsakas/ Timestamps: The Creative Agency Success Show (00:00:00) Introduction to the podcast and its purpose. The title of the book (00:00:14) Discussion about the book "Work Less, Earn More" by Karl Sakas and its relevance to agency owners. Workshop during team retreat (00:00:36) Praise for the workshop conducted by Karl Sakas during a team retreat and its impact on the team's perspective on creative agencies. Introduction of Karl Sakas (00:01:30) Introduction of Karl Sakas as a guest on the show and a brief overview of his background and expertise. Starting point of reading the book (00:04:03) Discussion on the reasons why people tend to read the book "Work Less, Earn More" and the relevance of the concepts in the book to agency owners.
Mon, March 11, 2024
“Managers are far more costly than we realize. The more managing you have going on, the lower the overall productivity of the organization. Leadership matters, don't get me wrong, but agencies are managed to success.” – Jake Skeels The finer details of this episode: Challenges of managing a growing agency or service-based business Impact of management structures on productivity Concept of matrix managing and its effects on innovation and productivity Importance of financial management and productivity in achieving higher profit margins for agencies Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter: https://vcfo.summitcpa.net/ddc https://www.summitcpa.net/summit-newsletter Digital Dollars and Cents: A Virtual CFO’s Playbook to help Digital Companies Create a Financial Roadmap to Success , is now an audio book! Download it here: https://vcfo.summitcpa.net/ddc https://agencyagile.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackaskeels/
Mon, February 26, 2024
“When you are doing business development, you need to build your own identity. You need to have something that somebody will remember you for.” - Goran Kovacevic The finer details of this episode: Transition of individuals from production roles to business development in creative agencies Importance of building a strong brand identity in sales and business development Changing dynamics of business development as companies grow Significance of processes in supporting growth and measuring key metrics Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ This Quiz Will Tell You What Financial Help Your Business Needs: https://rxkebp5191f.typeform.com/summitquiz?typeform-source=statics.teams.cdn.office.net https://infinum.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/goran-kovacevic-621b351a/
Mon, February 12, 2024
"Certainly, from an accountability perspective, that's the biggest benefit in coaching. The coach is going to help you follow through on the plan, and if you deviate, they'll ask why and what's the next mission as a result." – Russ Sorrells The finer details of this episode: Importance of strategy, communication, financial oversight, and sales focus in businesses The role of a coach in holding business leaders accountable The impact of not having a forecast or plan in place for small businesses Value of understanding financial statements and having a clear financial strategy Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ Email us with questions or if you’d like to be a guest on the show: vcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com This Quiz Will Tell You What Financial Help Your Business Needs: https://rxkebp5191f.typeform.com/summitquiz?typeform-source=statics.teams.cdn.office.net https://www.ownyourcategory.com/
Mon, January 29, 2024
"Two or three days of delay, because it takes you so long to create a scope of work or proposal, could be the difference between a potential client engaging with one of your competitors and building a lot of rapport." – Joe Ardeeser The finer details of this episode: Importance of proposal and pricing process in agency-client interactions Creating a product catalog for streamlining the proposal process Strategies to avoid scope creep and maintain clear pricing conversations with clients Importance of a well-structured pricing tool Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ Email us with questions or if you’d like to be a guest on the show: vcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com This Quiz Will Tell You What Financial Help Your Business Needs: https://rxkebp5191f.typeform.com/summitquiz?typeform-source=statics.teams.cdn.office.net smartpricingtable.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeardeeser/
Mon, January 15, 2024
"For companies that have been around for a long time, often they get very disconnected from their actual client, and then they wonder why their growth just sort of flatlines." – Michael Johnson The finer details of this episode: Distinguishing between coaching, consulting, and agency roles Maintaining control and alignment as a CEO or owner Understanding and improving customer experience Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ Email us with questions or if you’d like to be a guest on the show: vcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com This Quiz Will Tell You What Financial Help Your Business Needs: https://rxkebp5191f.typeform.com/summitquiz?typeform-source=statics.teams.cdn.office.net http://BizChoreo.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-johnson-3149151ab/ Business Choreography: Changing the Way People Look at Accounting with Jody Grunden: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/changing-the-way-people-look-at-accounting-with/id1543832214?i=1000636780953
Tue, January 02, 2024
Important Financial Metrics for Creative Agencies with David C. Baker https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/important-financial-metrics-for-creative-agencies-with/id1481877575?i=1000621344461 Business Coaching, Staying Relevant, Achieving Success: Insight from Pinnacle Business Guides Founder Greg Cleary https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/business-coaching-staying-relevant-achieving-success/id1481877575?i=1000618300601 The Future of AI: Balancing Innovation and Ethical Considerations with Shanif Dhanani https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-future-of-ai-balancing-innovation/id1481877575?i=1000627415283 "What if There's More?" with Traci Barrett https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-if-theres-more-with-traci-barrett/id1481877575?i=1000603865819 Rebranding Your Agency for Success with Todd Nienkerk https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rebranding-your-agency-for-success-with-todd-nienkerk/id1481877575?i=1000623632381 Building an Enduring Business: The Three Pillars of Success with Natalie Eckdahl https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/building-an-enduring-business-the-three-pillars/id1481877575?i=1000615656509 Forecasting as a Team Sport with Tom O’Neil https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forecasting-as-a-team-sport-with-tom-oneil/id1481877575?i=1000620425413 Adapting to a Hybrid Work Environment with Tammy Bjelland https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adapting-to-a-hybrid-work-environment-with-tammy-bjelland/id1481877575?i=1000619084869 Finding Balance in Life as an Entrepreneur with Coach Bob Shenefelt https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-balance-in-life-as-an-entrepreneur-with-coach/id1481877575?i=1000638924357 Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: <a href='https://www.su
Mon, December 18, 2023
“I went through life going through the motions. Around 30, I accomplished everything I set out to do. It was then that I realized it was time to work on my life, rather than doing things I thought I was supposed to do. I hit the delete button and everything in my life started fresh, realizing what matters most and clarifying who I am.” – Bob Shenefelt The finer details of this episode: ●Finding the right group of people for business success ●Defining your vision and self-actualization in pursuing happiness and fulfillment ●Importance of trust, open communication, and positive culture in organizations Episode resources: ●Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ ●Email us with questions or if you’d like to be a guest on the show: vcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com ● This Quiz Will Tell You What Financial Help Your Business Needs: https://rxkebp5191f.typeform.com/summitquiz?typeform-source=statics.teams.cdn.office.net https://www.imatter.com/ (12) Bob Shenefelt | LinkedIn
Mon, December 04, 2023
“The first piece of advice that I give a client is ‘stop selling.’ And what I mean about that is, sales in the traditional sense of the word don’t work; people are engaging in behaviors that don’t work for most small business owners. It’s much more natural to engage in building relationships.” – Diane Helbig The finer details of this episode: Discussion on the ineffectiveness of traditional sales techniques Hiring salespeople with industry-specific knowledge and curiosity Shift toward educating potential clients and being a trusted source Uncovering reasons for clients not being a good fit Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ Email us with questions or if you’d like to be a guest on the show: vcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com This Quiz Will Tell You What Financial Help Your Business Needs: https://rxkebp5191f.typeform.com/summitquiz?typeform-source=statics.teams.cdn.office.net https://www.helbigenterprises.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhelbig/
Mon, November 20, 2023
Importance of finding a single metric to measure firm performance Importance of exploring client budgets and validating them in the sales process Benefits and the potential of AI for automation in business Challenges faced by agencies in terms of burnout and stress Importance of having a trusted advisor in your business Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ Email us with questions or if you’d like to be a guest on the show: vcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com This Quiz Will Tell You What Financial Help Your Business Needs: https://rxkebp5191f.typeform.com/summitquiz?typeform-source=statics.teams.cdn.office.net Don’t miss our other podcasts! Young CPA Success Show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-young-cpa-success-show/id1707049255 Modern CPA Success Show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-modern-cpa-success-show/id1485035727
Mon, November 06, 2023
“You don't rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” -Simon Severino The finer details of this episode: Longer sales cycles and ghosting from potential clients Crafting a culture of opportunity creation within agencies Standardizing and creating standard operating procedures (SOPs) in client delivery Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ Email us with questions or if you’d like to be a guest on the show: vcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com This Quiz Will Tell You What Financial Help Your Business Needs: https://rxkebp5191f.typeform.com/summitquiz?typeform-source=statics.teams.cdn.office.net https://www.strategysprints.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonseverino/
Mon, October 23, 2023
“I think the biggest thing is just simply mixing and mingling afterwards and sharing candid conversations on how things are going in the industry—how things are going with their shops, what's going right, what's going wrong. I think those are really the biggest takeaways that you get from really any event."– Jody Grunden The finer details of this episode: Trends that the agency industry is experiencing Importance of networking with attendees and engaging outside the conference Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ Email us with questions or if you’d like to be a guest on the show: vcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com This Quiz Will Tell You What Financial Help Your Business Needs: https://rxkebp5191f.typeform.com/summitquiz?typeform-source=statics.teams.cdn.office.net https://www.getparallax.com/ https://www.sodaspeaks.com/
Mon, October 09, 2023
"Most agencies try to market the solution and convince clients that they're the best. What they should do is market the problem, and then they become the default solution." - Logan Lyles The finer details of this episode: Challenges in allocating resources for agency marketing efforts, especially during uncertain economic times Systematic approach to generating new pipeline and positioning in the market Leveraging people as the product and face of the brand, thought leadership, client testimonials, and case studies to build credibility and attract business Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website – https://www.summitcpa.net/ Email us with questions or if you’d like to be a guest on the show – vcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com This Quiz Will Tell You What Financial Help Your Business Needs! https://rxkebp5191f.typeform.com/summitquiz?typeform-source=statics.teams.cdn.office.net Teamwork https://www.teamwork.com/ The State of Agency Operations Report | Teamwork https://www.linkedin.com/in/loganlyles/
Mon, September 25, 2023
“Be patient with SEO. It takes time. It's not immediate. So if you want that immediate traction, paid ads will get you up there quickly. But over the long-term play, you have to build it up and keep building trust with Google.” - Brandon Leibowitz The finer details of this episode: Importance of consistency and quality in SEO Google's algorithms focusing on quality over quantity Considering both PPC and SEO in marketing efforts Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website – https://www.summitcpa.net/ Email us with questions or if you’d like to be a guest on the show – vcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com This Quiz Will Tell You What Financial Help Your Business Needs: https://rxkebp5191f.typeform.com/summitquiz?typeform-source=statics.teams.cdn.office.net https://seooptimizers.com/ Claim your free SEO Masterclass from Brandon: https://seooptimizers.com/gift
Mon, September 11, 2023
“AI can be used to automate tasks that originally took people a lot of time to do. If you're a small business and you're growing quickly, you're probably going to be able to use automation to really hypercharge your growth. However, you have to know how to do it and implement it properly; if you're really focused on that, you can really get some good productivity going." - Shanif Dhanani The finer details of this episode: Ethical concerns and misconceptions about AI Benefits of AI, such as automation and consistent performance Potential of AI tools in improving productivity, efficiency, and automation Advice on getting started with AI for business owners Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website – https://www.summitcpa.net/ Email us with questions or if you’d like to be a guest on the show – vcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com This Quiz Will Tell You What Financial Help Your Business Needs: https://rxkebp5191f.typeform.com/summitquiz?typeform-source=statics.teams.cdn.office.net https://www.locusive.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanifdhanani/
Mon, September 04, 2023
"We want to provide the most value that we can in our clients' lives, in the impact that we're trying to make, and the legacy we're trying to leave." - Crista Grasso The finer details of this episode: Finding the right support and leadership for successful scaling Mindset shifts for business owners as they grow their businesses Importance of systems and processes in managing a growing business Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website – https://www.summitcpa.net/ Email us with questions or if you’d like to be a guest on the show – vcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com This Quiz Will Tell You What Financial Help Your Business Needs: https://rxkebp5191f.typeform.com/summitquiz?typeform-source=statics.teams.cdn.office.net https://www.leanoutmethod.com/
Mon, August 28, 2023
“Let's build a strategy based on document systems. Let's build a culture that actually wants to do this and be a part of this to make a company of continuous improvement. And then let's just give them the tools to do it.” - Josh Fonger The finer details of this episode: Building a system that allows for flexibility and creativity while maintaining consistency The continuous process of system documentation and how systems can keep evolving and improving over time Exploration of how a creative agency implemented design guidelines and systemized their work process to save time, money, and deliver better designs Benefits of narrowing down and focusing on specific industries for design agencies Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website – https://www.summitcpa.net/ Email us with questions or if you’d like to be a guest on the show – vcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com This Quiz Will Tell You What Financial Help Your Business Needs! https://wtsenterprises.com/ Josh Fonger | LinkedIn
Mon, August 21, 2023
"Being positioned well within an industry can be really powerful. If you're good at helping the client understand that you've done this before and you understand their issues, it can be a really easy sell once you get to that point." -Logan Hoffman The finer details of this episode: The importance of niching and verticals: Benefits of specializing in a specific industry and how it can lead to more efficient work and higher perceived value Different ways to find a niche: Bringing experience to the table, organic discovery, and intentional building of expertise Advice on entering new industries: Exploring strategies for entering new industries, including documenting past successes and intentional pursuit of projects in specific spaces Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website – https://www.summitcpa.net/ Email us with questions or if you’d like to be a guest on the show – vcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com This Quiz Will Tell You What Financial Help Your Business Needs! https://www.madcollective.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/logan-hoffman-60b75a40/
Mon, August 14, 2023
"The idea of change is the primal force. It's the end that we're all looking for in terms of storylines. We want to see things change, improve, and grow; we want to have a change of mind. That is a kind of change that happens inside people's hearts and minds." - Jeff Bartch The finer details of this episode: The concept of "and, but, therefore" – gateway to any kind of story structure Exploration of the shift in accounting toward translating numbers into actionable insights and the importance of communicating the meaning behind the numbers The importance of understanding the client's perspective Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website – https://www.summitcpa.net/ Email us with questions or if you’d like to be a guest on the show – vcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com This Quiz Will Tell You What Financial Help Your Business Needs! Story Greenlight with Jeff Bartsch Jeff Bartsch | LinkedIn
Mon, August 07, 2023
"We have real responsibilities not just to ourselves but to people and to our clients who are increasingly reliant on the work that we do." - Todd Nienkerk The finer details of this episode: Adoption of brand guidelines and templates within the team Rebranding process of Four Kitchens, including working with a branding agency and defining company values Impact of rebranding on external and internal communications Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website – https://www.summitcpa.net/ Email us with questions or if you’d like to be a guest on the show – vcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com Four Kitchens - Websites made with love. For good. Todd Ross Nienkerk | LinkedIn
Mon, July 31, 2023
Episode Notes: “Synchronous time is not always used wisely and people are really having meeting fatigue or feeling like they're not productive in meetings.” - Laïla von Alvensleben The finer details of this episode: The benefits of asynchronous communication in distributed teams Utilizing asynchronous communication to manage workload and availability Overcoming pushback against asynchronous communication Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website – summitcpa.net Email us with questions or if you’d like to be a guest on the show – vcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com lailavon *Laïla is no longer working at Mural.
Mon, July 24, 2023
"Everyone's hungry’ everybody is out there trying to catch those leads. We've seen a ton of RFPs go out recently, and one thing we're seeing is that a lot of clients are not going right back with the incumbent. We've been invited to a lot of dances where the incumbents weren't part of the equation or were eliminated quickly because they're looking for new blood. So that really tells you that the RFP process is going to become more and more competitive." - Lauren Minors The finer details of this episode: The slow pipeline and increased competition Retaining clients vs attracting new ones Tracking success in RFPs and client feedback Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website – summitcpa.net Email us with questions or if you’d like to be a guest on the show – vcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com Home (reasononeinc.com) Lauren Minors | LinkedIn
Mon, July 17, 2023
"Building a solid cash cushion is super important to any successful business and to any marketing firm out there." - David C. Baker The finer details of this episode: Different approaches to financial management The importance of financial planning and forecasting Building a solid cash cushion Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website – summitcpa.net Email us with questions or if you’d like to be a guest on the show – vcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com Business Insight for Expert Marketing Firms (davidcbaker.com) David C. Baker | LinkedIn
Mon, July 10, 2023
"We focus not only on what a project manager would think, but how we can give that project manager a wider-angle view that they'd have if they were a COO, CEO, or CFO, so that when they're making decisions closer to the business, they're doing it with the perspective that's outside of their point of view. Because, overall, I believe that forecasting as a team is going to change your business." Tom O’Neill The finer details of this episode: The importance of a wider-angle view Defining a methodology for consistent delivery of productized services, rather than micromanaging down to every single task The need for agencies to shift from a reactive approach to a more proactive and planful approach in forecasting and resource planning Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website – summitcpa.net Email us with questions or if you’d like to be a guest on the show – vcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com Capacity & Resource Planning Software | Parallax (getparallax.com)
Mon, July 03, 2023
"The companies that are going to succeed in the long term, or even in the next five years, are going to be the ones that are thinking right now about how they can question the way that they're working right now and see how they might be able to adapt to become more resilient, flexible, and adaptable." - Tammy Bjelland The finer details of this episode: Why some companies are failing to adapt to hybrid work Shifting to async communication Tools for successful hybrid work Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website – summitcpa.net Email us with questions or if you’d like to be a guest on the show – vcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com Tammy Bjelland Remote Work Training | Workplaceless
Mon, June 26, 2023
"The marketplace is always changing, and you have to be willing to change with it." - Greg Cleary The finer details of this episode: The changing models of training and coaching businesses The importance of having a toolbox of tools for success in today's fast-paced world. The importance of constantly evolving and improving tools to stay ahead in business Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website – summitcpa.net Email us with questions or if you’d like to be a guest on the show – vcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com Gregory Cleary | Leadership Team Coach Click here to preorder Greg's new book
Mon, June 19, 2023
"I love working with a team that wants to climb the mountain together–from the CEO to the janitor; we're all in it together and if we do it right, we can all celebrate success when it comes.” -Peter Van Nest The finer details of this episode: The importance of finding the right people and putting them in the right place The role of a strong management team in putting KPIs in place to manage business cycles and performance The importance of understanding industry vernacular and targets Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website – summitcpa.net Email us with questions or if you’d like to be a guest on the show – vcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com Crazy Good Solutions – Pinnacle Business Guide
Mon, June 12, 2023
"Leadership is crucial to any company because the more people who want to be part of where you're going, the more successful the team's going to be." - Dan White The finer details of this episode: The importance of a growth mindset The role of the leader in setting the vision and rallying the team around it The importance of active listening, paying attention, and probing to understand motivations to build rapport Episode resources: Summit CPA website – summitcpa.net Email us with questions or if you’d like to be a guest on the show – vcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com SMART MARKETING - Home
Mon, June 05, 2023
"I think it's really important to have a clear vision and mission for your business and to communicate that effectively to your team and your clients.” - Natalie Eckdahl The finer details of this episode: Lifecycle of a client: Importance a great onboarding experience and checking in with clients to maintain a good relationship The three pillars of building an enduring business: enjoyable, profitable, and sustainable Managing cash flow and who’s responsible for it Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website – summitcpa.net Email us with questions or if you’d like to be a guest on the show – vcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com Home - BizChix
Mon, May 29, 2023
“I think that there's going to be agencies that will come out of this as a new niche–super AI agencies that get you to market faster. But humans are the last line of defense between whether the creativity works or whether it’s just data driven because AI doesn't have any ideas. It just sits there waiting for an input; it still needs the spark of human creativity.” - JP Holecka The finer details of this episode: Impact of AI on work and skills Importance of ethics in technology The emergence of AI-focused agencies Episode resources: Summit CPA website – summitcpa.net Email us with questions or if you’d like to be a guest on the show – vcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com Power Shifter
Mon, May 22, 2023
“In-person events are not gonna go away. Just like the virtual component is not going away. I think that we've just adapted and learned new ways to communicate through covid. And the convenience of having a virtual option is very appealing to our clients. We can get the message across to thousands of associates company wide, while saving thousands of dollars. I don't think it's ever gonna go back to the way it was.” - Tommy Nolan Finer details of the episode: Virtual vs in-person conferences Maintaining company culture in a hybrid workplace Lessons learned from remote work Episode Resources: Summit CPA website – summitcpa.net Email us with questions or if you’d like to be a guest on the show – vcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com Vidionix | Video, Virtual, Hybrid, Onsite Production Experts
Mon, May 15, 2023
“The idea of productizing a service is creating a category for something that you do really well and marketing it as it is.” - Ernesto Tagwerker The finer details of this episode: Productizing services and scaling businesses Remote company culture: Benefits, team retreats, and working across time zones Niching down and pricing strategies for productized services Qualifying leads for product type services Episode resources: Summit CPA website – summitcpa.net Email us with questions or if you’d like to be a guest on the show – vcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com OmbuLabs :: The Lean Software Boutique
Mon, May 08, 2023
“When you take ordinary messages and you elevate them into something extraordinary, incredible things happen. And the even cooler part is that you can do the exact same thing in business. You can take what some people might consider ordinary or boring, and you connect humanity to it, which can literally drive results in your business through the process.” - Jeff Bartsch The finer details of this episode: Using storytelling in business communication Unlocking the power of storytelling for business success Crafting tailored presentations for different audiences Episode resources: Summit CPA website – www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions or if you’d like to be a guest on the show – vcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com Story Greenlight
Mon, May 01, 2023
“Over the course of your career, the more that you can reject what you feel is not for your highest and best use, the better off you're gonna be. Your decisions become more and more intentional; you choose A over B, C over D. And that is a process of coming to your own highest and best use. What happens over time is that, as your career goes on, you have more and more success. ” - Robert Jordan The finer details of this episode: Characteristics of exceptional leaders Exploring the different leadership styles of entrepreneurs and founders What kind of leader are you: fixer, artist, builder, and strategist? Episode resources: Summit CPA website – www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions or if you’d like to be a guest on the show – vcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com Interim Executives | Interim Management Services (interimexecs.com) Home - Right Leader
Mon, April 24, 2023
“There are so many agency owners doing great work, and I think if they can solve some of these challenges that are inherently hard for an agency, they can actually get back to why they started their agency, which is to do good creative work or to make a difference. That helps eliminate so many of those business challenges that I think either forces a lot of agencies to shut their doors or make people tired. If you can position your agency and learn to be truly effective and provide value, I think it inherently solves some of those challenges.” –Russel Dubree The finer details of this episode: Unique challenges of running a creative marketing agency Benefits of having a business coach for agency owners Leveraging unique strengths and thought leadership to generate leads Episode resources: Summit CPA website – summitcpa.net Email us with questions – vcfo@summitcpa.net Russel Dubree - Growth Advisor - Performance Faction
Mon, April 10, 2023
“I love having the opportunity to help an agency owner see how much easier their lives can be, how much bigger their bank accounts can be, if they put a little time and attention into being proactive about putting measures in place, such as making sure their teams are well trained about the legal issues that matter to them and the work that they put out every day.” -Sharon Toerek The finer details of this episode: Benefits of proactive contract management for agency owners Exploring Common mistakes in agency legal contracts The benefits of working with a lawyer who understands your business and industry Episode resources: Summit CPA website – summitcpa.net Email us with questions – vcfo@summitcpa.net Legal + Creative (legalandcreative.com)
Mon, March 27, 2023
“If I’ve learned anything in my agency journey, it’s to figure out your numbers. It took us probably two years to dial in the formulas and figure out what we wanted to see when we looked at theoretical revenue generated. And now we know what works for the business, and we check our metrics once a month.” – JD Graffam The finer details of this episode: Benefits and risks of agency life Importance of understanding your business’s financials and metrics Resources: Summit CPA website – summitcpa.net Email us with questions – vcfo@summitcpa.net Simple Focus | Web Design, Interface Design, User Experience
Mon, March 20, 2023
Episode Notes: “Any business, whether it's startup, tech, any business across the board, should really have a strategy of diversification of the funds that they don't particularly need on a 90-day basis to a six-month basis. If they've got that cash flow, let's start to diversify the rest of those funds.” –Paul Rhea The finer details of this episode: Risk vs. Reward: Diversifying funds for optimal returns Exploring strategies for diversifying excess cash Bank protection strategies for business owners Bank security and diversification strategies Episode resources: Summit CPA website – summitcpa.net Email us with questions – vcfo@summitcpa.net
Mon, March 13, 2023
“I talk to a lot of business owners who have created something fabulous, and sometimes it becomes stale to them because they don't understand what their place is now that they've scaled their company. I hope this book will help them reconnect with their ‘why’ and reconnect with who they are so that they can play a new, fresh role in their company. Or maybe go ahead and follow that next dream and start the next company.” – Traci Barrett The finer details of this episode: The importance of leadership, recognizing potential, and finding new ways to grow. Following your dreams at any point in your career and making necessary changes to achieve them. Exploring the mid-career crossroads and how to live a meaningful life beyond just checking all the boxes and going through predetermined mile markers. Episode resources: Summit CPA website – summitcpa.net Email us with questions – vcfo@summitcpa.net Traci Schubert Barrett Navigate The Journey
Mon, February 27, 2023
“If an organization views human resources as the “HR police” that only values and enforces compliance, it's a disservice not only to HR as a discipline, but to each employee's experience of what work ought to be like.” – John Baldino The finer details of this episode: Career mapping vs. one career map Human resources as a service, not a department Boomerang employees and adding skillsets for opportunities Episode resources: Summit CPA website – summitcpa.net Email us with questions – vcfo@summitcpa.net Human Resources Outsourced, and more. - Humareso
Mon, February 13, 2023
“I think right now the biggest problem is people, whether it's hiring or internal leadership challenges—people understanding how to lead generational shifts, work-from-home shifts, or cultural shifts. So, people in general is a constant; turnover is huge right now. The job market in the agency space is very cutthroat. People are getting stolen from agencies at premiums.” Steve Guberman The finer details of this episode: Today’s biggest challenges in the digital agency industry Benefits of having a coach for agency owners (culture, leadership, operations, procedures, growth, etc.) Evaluating the health of your agency and when to bring in a coach Episode resources: Summit CPA website – summitcpa.net Email us with questions – vcfo@summitcpa.net Outsight (agencyoutsight.com)
Mon, January 30, 2023
“Don't stop challenging yourself. It's really easy to get comfortable, especially if your business is doing well. We always need to be pushing and stretching ourselves and thinking about our mindset. Look for what's changing and stay open to that; be receptive to changing what we do and how we do it.” – Chuck Mollor The finer details of this episode: Understanding how leadership roles have changed so dramatically over the past decade Establishing trust and building relationship with your team in a virtual environment Implementing resources like a business coach and time-management practices to boost both morale and success within your business Episode resources: Summit CPA website – summitcpa.net Email us with questions – vcfo@summitcpa.net Chuck Mollor – The Rise of the Agile Leader
Mon, January 16, 2023
“GTD® doesn't deliver a solution; it delivers hope. How much people want to take advantage of that is up to them. GTD® and implementing these best practices—capture, clarify, organized, reflect, and engage—of how you get stuff under control in your life and work, they don't give you more time. They give you more room. What you do with that room is unique to you.” – David Allen The finer details of this episode: • Meeting management and setting boundaries for back-to-back meetings • The need for GTD® in a team environment—not just individually • The importance of setting and understanding what your priorities are Episode resources: • Summit CPA website – summitcpa.net • Email us with questions – vcfo@summitcpa.net • Getting Things Done® – https://gettingthingsdone.com/
Mon, January 02, 2023
I learned that most small business owners never hired before doing it within their own business, or they were coming from corporate jobs where they had HR departments, senior leaderships, and job postings that were already created. They were pretty much being given everything that they needed, and now that they needed to create it on their own, they were lost.” – Jamie Van Cuyk The finer details of this episode: How to improve your hiring strategy How to know when an employee isn’t a good fit in a position How to find the right candidate when it’s time to hire Episode resources: Summit CPA website – summitcpa.net Email us with questions – vcfo@summitcpa.net Jamie’s website – GrowingYourTeam.com
Mon, December 19, 2022
“Think of us like bookkeepers for your non-financial data. We've essentially built QuickBooks for time tracking and project management data. It's an environment where we can more efficiently do this type of analysis and quality assurance.” – Marcel Petitpas The finer details of this episode: The importance of time tracking and data analysis What is the right amount of data to track and study Structured versus unstructured data Episode resources: Summit CPA website – summitcpa.net Email us with questions – vcfo@summitcpa.net Marcel Petitpas | Agency Profitability Expert
Mon, December 05, 2022
“We got some really great results in terms of a lot of the things that we were kind of hypothesizing and wanted to see. Employee stress level went down and feelings of burnout went down by a magnitude of almost 20%. Personal satisfaction went up 25%.” – Morgan Witham The finer details of this episode: How to pilot a four-day work week schedule What factors play a part in moving to a four-day work week Understanding the pros and cons of a four-day work week schedule, such as clients’ needs and employee performance Episode resources: Summit CPA website – summitcpa.net Email us with questions – vcfo@summitcpa.net COLAB – teamcolab.com Agency Example of a Reimagined, 4-Day Workweek in Action - COLAB (teamcolab.com)
Mon, November 21, 2022
Episode Notes: “Everyone has Caveman Brain, and once you know how to harness it and focus it, you can be super successful.” – Dr. Jean Oursler The finer details of this episode: Understand what Caveman Brain is and how to put it to use for business success Know who your target audience is and be able to easily identify them Close a new client with less follow-up Resources: Summit CPA website – summitcpa.net Email us with questions – vcfo@summitcpa.net Dr. Jean Oursler – cavemanbrain.com
Mon, November 07, 2022
“People don't want to make changes. And a lot of times, we've normalized using software that doesn't understand us and doesn't understand what we want out of it. We expect to have to adapt ourselves to software. At Enliven, we believe it shouldn’t be that way.” -Ian Robinson The finer details of this episode: The importance of creating processes and software that lasts Gauging how employees interact with software and understanding their respective needs to complete their tasks Understand how custom software can improve inefficiencies in your business Episode resources: Summit CPA website – summitcpa.net Email us with questions – vcfo@summitcpa.net Ian Robinson – enlivenhq.com
Mon, October 24, 2022
“I came across this emotional appeal theory, and this is something that was developed in the sixties; there’s lots of research behind it. And essentially their thesis is, we are all motivated by one of four emotional needs, and that drives all our decisions in life—not just in your personal life, but your career, your hobbies, every single decision you make. This really resonated with me.” Sandy Gerber The finer details of this episode: • Learn which emotional magnet best suits you: Safety, achievement, value, or experience • How to understand emotional magnetism in your life to experience better relationships • Being able to interact with others personally and professionally and meet their needs based on their emotional magnets Episode resources: Summit CPA website – summitcpa.net Email us with questions – vcfo@summitcpa.net Sandy Gerber – sandygerber.com
Mon, October 10, 2022
“There are timeless concepts and universal principles that work in businesses across the board. At Pinnacle, we've taken this best-of-the-best approach and created a model with very specific tools and a process.”– Tom Barrett The finer details of this episode: How can the Pinnacle platform help businesses overcome obstacles and achieve better functionally? How to leverage the Pinnacle system to grow your team with the right people Accessing tools and resources from Pinnacle’s “Endless Toolbox” to customize a growth plan for business How can a business operating system improve your business model? Episode resources: Summit CPA website – www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions – vcfo@summitcpa.net Tom Barrett – pinnaclebusinessguides.com/guide/tom-barrett and navigatethejourney.com
Mon, September 26, 2022
“Long before COVID, people were feeling frustrated, particularly younger people who were feeling like the market was leaving them behind. Then, along came COVID, which completely shook the entire job market. And it sent people home to sit on their couch and think about themselves and what they're doing. The pandemic shook the market and caused there to be some realization on the part of the employees that maybe they weren't getting everything out of this bargain.” – Chris Williams The finer details of this episode: How to navigate the current marketplace for employment opportunities Being able to reflect on current employment circumstances and understand alternative options How to stop compromising personal situations for the sake of a career Being able to cultivate a good leadership team Episode resources: Summit CPA website – www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions – vcfo@summitcpa.net Chris Williams – clwill.com
Mon, September 12, 2022
In this episode, Jamie Nau, our host and Summit CPA's Director of Accounting, sits down with Adam Hale, Partner at Anders CPAs + Advisors, and Jake Grimm, Summit CPA's Director of Technology, to discuss financial tools for remote and distributed companies. If you are a business owner of a fully distributed company, this episode is for you! Jamie, Adam, and Jake discuss must-have tools to implement in your remote business to help it run efficiently and grow it to the next level. The finer details of this episode : How to choose the best technology for your remote business How to leverage technology in a remote world Being a business owner or member of leadership of a remote business Being a fully distributed, start-up company and implementing the right tools to run your business Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net
Thu, September 01, 2022
"I'm just authentic me. When I meet people, I don't talk about me and what I can do for you and what I do for a living. Ask questions about other people, like: Why are you here? What made you wanna do this business? What can you offer? Who can I connect you to? It's adding value to other people. And one thing I've figured out is people notice people who notice them. Simple little things like giving someone else a shout out or sharing their post or saying, "Hey, I saw you the other day. That was great." It's bringing that sense of community into everything you do." - Monica Parkin The finer details of this episode : How to choose something that you're passionate about How to contribute to your community in order for your business to thrive Being a good listener and asking intentional questions Being authentic when building your brand and networking Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net Monica Parkin - Courtenay Mortgage Specialist | Monica Parkin, Mortgage Specialist
Wed, August 17, 2022
"When you showcase your best, you attract the best." - Donna Serdula. The finer details of this episode : Why is LinkedIn an essential tool to grow your network? Practical tips build your brand on LinkedIn. Understanding your purpose on LinkedIn and using your purpose to achieve success. Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - cpa @summitcpa.net
Tue, August 02, 2022
"Honestly, the way we've structured our kickoff call week. 80% of the kickoff call, just letting the CFO and the client kind of start to have those conversations, which is huge. We listen and we hear the things that are most important to them." - Lydia Rapp The finer details of this episode : What are we doing now that we haven't done before? Why you should have a client onboarding process in place What are the important things to consider when building an onboarding client? Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - cpa @summitcpa.net
Wed, July 20, 2022
"I think a lot of it has to be started through exploration because if we don't start with a mindset around exploration and learning...If we're just changing for the sake of changing, then we really, we're not coming from an informed perspective." - Douglas Ferguson The finer details of this episode : The mindset and behavior that is essential to change management in an organization What do businesses need to do? What strategies should they put in place? How important is having a culture of curiosity? How should change management need to change as the company gets larger? Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net Voltage Control website - voltagecontrol.com
Tue, June 28, 2022
"I never thought I'd be in sales for this long and you know - 16 years later here I still am in a sales role, but I've made it my own because I've made it myself. I've made it genuine. I have made it about relationships, about people, about trust, and about the thing, I'm passionate and believe in." - Danielle Hendricks The finer details of this episode : The business development and sales process of Pixo How does Pixo work on pushbacks between the business development, operations, and finance departments How important is the organizational culture in employee retention? How does Pixo communicate culture in their day-to-day activities? Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net Pixo website - www.pixotech.com
Wed, June 15, 2022
"It's amazing to watch their creative process in the agency space, they generally are very skilled at what they do (but) it's the financial piece that mystifies them, somewhat. And, even if they understand it, many of them have a very solid understanding, they don't have the tools that we have, and they don't have the backgrounds that we have. Were some things may be a little bit more obvious, so it'd be able to bring them ideas." - James Enney The finer details of this episode : What are the signs a business owner should know to tell them that they need a Virtual CFO? Why are a budget and a forecast important for business owners? What should a business owner consider before hiring a Virtual CFO? Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net
Thu, June 02, 2022
"Give yourself little wins and celebrate them, but ultimately, make sure you know where you're going to, not just what you're running from. " - Carl Smith The finer details of this episode : What are the latest trends in the digital agency space? How has the industry changed since the start of the pandemic until now? With all the shifts happening in the industry, what should business owners remember and consider as they run their businesses? Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net
Wed, May 25, 2022
"From my perspective, when I look at what businesses need today, I think it's absolutely positioned for massive growth." - Dave Hartley The finer details of this episode : What does the future look like for Summit after the merger with Anders? What does the firm of the future look like? What value will the merger bring to our clients? Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net
Tue, May 03, 2022
"One thing I'm seeing is a lot more confidence from distributed teams that still value in-person connection and are wanting to create a really memorable experience." - Lily Hocevar The finer details of this episode : What has changed in the travel landscape since 2020? The impact of location choice, planning ahead, and culture in planning and pricing What important things you should consider as you plan your team retreat Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net
Mon, April 11, 2022
" Just because things are going well doesn't mean they can't be better. So that's what we try to live by. " - Robert Minkler Jr. The finer details of this episode : The merger story of Summit CPA and Anders How the merger benefits both Summit CPA and Anders What stakeholders should expect with the merger Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net Summit CPA Group to Merge with Anders CPA + Advisors
Mon, March 28, 2022
"Going to the Bureau events was well...One, it's a lot of fun. There's always something to do. And two, they're just a great learning experience. It was great training. " - Ashley Vaughn The finer details of this episode : How did Ashley adapt coming from a tax background to providing consulting and Virtual CFO services to digital agencies How attending the Bureau of Digital Owner Camp and Owner Summit help her as a Virtual CFO Trends in the digital space that are important to agency owners and how Summit Virtual CFO's use this information The difference between the Bureau of Digital Owner Camp and Owner Summit Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net
Thu, March 17, 2022
"We have to realize that we speak this technical language riddled with acronyms, that when our audience isn't like us, we need to find a way to translate it into plain English. So there's understanding." - Peter Margaritis The finer details of this episode : How to connect and become relatable when discussing technical terms with clients Tips and tricks to remember when communicating with clients from different industries Importance of communicating clearly to achieve a common goal Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net The Accidental Accountant website - www.petermargaritis.com/
Mon, February 28, 2022
"Sometimes we get so caught up in the sales and the revenue side of the business that we take our eye off some of the cost side of the business... You know, one of the phrases we use is that 'revenue hides mistakes or revenue hides problems'. So if your revenue has been growing, your cash has been good there still might be some opportunity to trim your costs" - Greg Wallis The finer details of this episode : What does it mean to run your business like you're ready to sell it? Views from a financial perspective and a decisions perspective What you need to consider before selling The role of forecasting in decision making Different business scenarios before selling Different acquisition types Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net
Wed, February 16, 2022
"Where we provide a lot of value and solve a lot of problems is when clients have made it past startup and then that growth stage, they're starting to realize they can't keep all the numbers in their head anymore." - Courtney DeRonde The finer details of this episode : Who is Courtney DeRonde? What does TDT CPAs and Advisors do? What similarities and differences does TDT CPAs and Advisors have with Summit CPA Group? How does these similarities and differences benefit their clients? Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net
Mon, January 31, 2022
"Honestly, the way we've structured our kickoff call week. 80% of the kickoff call, just letting the CFO and the client kind of start to have those conversations, which is huge. We listen and we hear the things that are most important to them." - Lydia Rapp The finer details of this episode : What are we doing now that we haven't done before? Why you should have a client onboarding process in place What are the important things to consider when building an onboarding client? Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net
Wed, January 26, 2022
"This information is really important for us in terms of organizing and planning our podcast going into 2022. So we wanted to let the listeners know what 2022 is going to look like." - Jamie Nau The finer details of this episode : What are the top performing podcasts episodes on the Virtual CPA Success Show in 2021? What three topics drive more podcast downloads? Why did these topics perform well? Top 10 Episodes: Developing a Growth Marketing Strategy with Dev Basu Developing Systems to Scale Your Business with David Jenyns (Part 1) Developing Systems to Scale Your Business with David Jenyns (Part 2) Deep Dive with Virtual CFO Client Tiffany Farriss of Palantir Pulse of the Industry with Tom Beck Value-Based Pricing with Geraldine Carter Financing with QuickFee Establish Smarter Ways of Working for you and your Clients with Bill.Com The Great Resignation Planning Memorable Company Retreats for Remote Companies (Part 1) Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net
Wed, January 19, 2022
"The end of curiosity is that understanding and it's engagement. And if we get to that and then we're going to increase our quality of interactions with our internal stakeholders and with our teammates, we're going to increase the quality of the service we provide to our clients because we are fully engaged. We are better understanding who, who they are and what they want." - Josh Jeans The finer details of this episode : What having curiosity means to Summit CPA Group? In the hiring process, what are Summit CPA's best practices that help qualify candidates who imbibes the core value curiosity? How is curiosity a learned skill and how do we hone it? How does curiosity contribute to developing a team of constant learners? Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net
Tue, December 21, 2021
"Just do it. It's one of those things that if you think about it and you try and make it perfect it never will be. No one working in the office will ever be perfect. So (it's always) come out of your comfort zone and step into the risky area and go remote. You just have to do it." - Jody Grunden The finer details of this episode : What to consider and what to prepare for before going remote How to start and how to maintain a remote workplace What helped Summit CPA Group? (Tools, processes, people management) People management strategies Summit CPA Group implemented - what works and what doesn't Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net
Wed, November 24, 2021
"Today, it's about rethinking your business model to adjust to new societal needs because society has evolved, science has evolved, what makes sense and what doesn't make sense in society has evolved and will further evolve." - Fabiaan van Vrekhem The finer details of this episode : Definition of Organization Reinvention What approach you need to take when reinventing your organization? What questions to ask and consider before reinventing your organization? The difference between a roadblock and a wrong turn How organization reinvention impacts people management Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net Email Fabiaan - fabiaan.van.vrekhem@accordgroup.be Purchase Fabiaan's book on Amazon - Disruption@Work
Tue, October 12, 2021
"This is another really great thing about using an online platform like this - you could have a support person who has never seen your model be able to figure out what's going on in like five or 10 minutes versus like taking all afternoon to figure it out in an Excel." - Martin Zych The finer details of this episode : What is Jirav? How does Jirav help Summit CPA serve our clients better? Why did Summit CPA decide to move to Jirav? How Jirav helps Summit CPA as a cloud-based forecasting solution What are Jirav's features that will make you consider shifting to a cloud-based forecasting solution? Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net Jirav website - www.jirav.com
Wed, September 29, 2021
"You have got to understand everyone on your team's unique ability and best and highest contribution and put that to work. Create a place where they can make a meaningful contribution given their motivations and their unique abilities." - Zach Montroy The finer details of this episode : What to consider if you want to keep your people Understanding the needs and motivations of people Compensation and benefits - how important benefits come into play How personalization of benefits has helped Summit CPA Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net
Wed, September 15, 2021
"We're seeing it all across different disciplines, all different types of employment and what we're finding is that people are quitting - and that really started from probably I'd say January and still continuing on through today - where they're quitting for all kinds of reasons" - Jody Grunden The finer details of this episode What is "The Great Resignation"? What are the reasons behind this phenomenon? What companies can do to take the employee retention to the next level? Finding candidates, the evaluation process and preventing no-shows. Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net
Wed, September 01, 2021
"In order to get at value for your clients, it's helpful to think of the three questions that you can. Why now, why me and why this way. " - Geraldine Carter The finer details of this episode What is Value-Based Pricing? Why digital agencies should consider Value-Based Pricing What questions to ask when pricing your services according to value Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net She Thinks Big website - www.shethinksbigcoaching.com
Wed, August 18, 2021
“In terms of passionate, absolutely essential as there's a rule in the practice of thought leadership, that your audience will never be more interested in your topic than you. So you have to choose something that you're going to be excited to talk about for the next five or 10 years.” - - Bill Sherman The finer details of this episode What is thought leadership? What questions should you ask yourself before you start? Steps you need to take before you launch your brand's thought leadership Thought leadership and its correlation to passion, relevance and responsibility Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net Thought Leadership Leverage website - https://thoughtleadershipleverage.com/
Thu, August 05, 2021
“Make it easy for them to say yes and dont make it anything about making money. Make it about making connections and launching the ship in a direction with the right people where everybody understands that this is about getting better together.” - Carl Smith The finer details of this episode What does Bureau of Digital do? How did they start this community? How to manage members of the community that are competitors or in the same market? What you need to do/prepare to start your own community How to build a community of highly engaged professionals and retaining the members Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net Bureau of Digital website - www.bureauofdigital.com
Thu, July 22, 2021
"I think being in my role one of the things I've seen is the fact that we haven't had this conference for a full year. I think it definitely affects the morale" - Jamie Nau The finer details of this episode Difference between Director and CFO retreat and why it's important to have both Purpose and benefits of team retreats Process of organizing team retreats Impact of team retreats to employee morale Difference of team retreats for remote vs. non-remote companies Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net YouTube Link
Wed, July 07, 2021
"I really think what Summit has created, and Jody and Adam have created together is something unique; and also is something that should be looked at by other companies and replicated with how they treat their employees and creating that connection in a very remote working environment" - Lillian Hocevar The finer details of this episode Postmortem discussion of the Director's Retreat When to include family members in company retreats Selecting the perfect location for retreats that include family members Ultimate goal of company retreats What are the 6 Working Geniuses? How did Summit use this information to help teams Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net
Tue, May 25, 2021
"It's actually easy to be cheap and it's easy to be a generalist. It's relatively hard to be narrow because you have to take that leap of faith and suspend your disbelief that you'll be pigeonholed into only working with a specific kind of client or selling a specific kind of product" - Dev Basu The finer details of this episode What is Powered by Search? How does it help businesses and agencies? Why is narrowing your niche an important first step? Common mistakes business/agencies make How positioning affects pricing and perceived value Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net Tweet Dev - www.twitter.com/devbasu Powered by Search - www.poweredbysearch.com
Mon, May 10, 2021
“We were built to a certain kind of project, that they weren't looking from us anymore. We had to really reshape the firm and it was a really painful moment. So we really had to learn and step back.” - Tiffany Farriss The finer details of this episode Growth as an outcome of success not as a metric The challenges that influenced the changes for Palantir How long does it take to create a 360 shift within the organization How a virtual CFO was able to help them through challenging times Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net Palantir website - www.palantir.net
Tue, April 27, 2021
Quote “That's what systems do. They enable you to solve problems once, and then the business over can move over to the next problem which should be a higher level” - David Jenyns The finer details of this episode The need for a Business Systems Champion in your organization How systems shape business cultures The impact and change systems bring to a business Getting your teams onboard with changes in business systems Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net David's website - davidjenyns.com
Fri, April 16, 2021
Quote “All the business owners that I chat with, every single one of them, I don't think we'd ever had a discussion where we haven't come to the conclusion that business systems are important.” - David Jenyns The finer details of this episode Why business systems are important How SYSTEMology is different from process improvement practices What business owners should do to get started Key practices to adopt for better business systems Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net David's website - davidjenyns.com
Mon, March 22, 2021
“Certainly, confidence never recovered to the levels that we would see. And even most of the members that I talked with, who even ended having a good year, expressed that it was volatile and uncertain throughout the year.” - Tom Beck The finer details of this episode What's going on in the Digital Marketing Agency industry? What industry trends emerged over the past year Overview of the 2020 Agency Tracking Study by SoDA High-level understanding of the Pricing Models as presented in SoDA's research findings Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net SoDa website - www.sodaspeaks.com
Thu, March 11, 2021
"You have an opportunity to digitally transform your clients' life." - Pete Potsos The finer details of this episode What is Bill.com? How Bill.com helped Summit CPA revolutionize their processes Features can help you and your clients How you can improve your own practice using the Bill.com platform Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net Bill.com website - www.bill.com
Tue, February 23, 2021
"In our industry, we're always looking at what can save time and what's not going to break down all the time” - Jody Grunden The finer details of this episode Understanding your company's needs to find the right solution for you How to choose the best vendor for your company Things to consider before saying "yes" to a vendor How Summit CPA Group weeds out all proposals to find the best one Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net
Tue, February 09, 2021
Quote “If you want to be a big business that continues to grow with some scale, then you need to learn how to use these.” - Stephen Pope The finer details of this episode How video helps you connect to your audience Why it's important to incorporate a video marketing strategy into your social media and other marketing efforts in general How to be comfortable in video Tips on getting your very first video done Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net Email Stephen - stephen@sgplabs.com
Wed, February 03, 2021
Quote “One of the partners there was sharing that their firm no longer has an overdraft thanks to using our payment plans” - Bruce Coombes The finer details of this episode What is QuickFee What are the three payment solutions offered by QuickFee Advantages of using QuickFee How it helped firms collect payments faster How QuickFee can help enhance your relationship with your client Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net QuickFee - https://quickfee.com/
Mon, December 14, 2020
Quote “Let’s build the plan and plug the engineers into the plan instead of the other way around.” - Casey Cobb The finer details of this episode How the beginning of this client relationship changed the way we pitched Casey’s amazing backstory and how a virtual CFO was able to help him through challenging times The 80/20 rule, Parkinson's Law, and how Casey implemented them into his business idea How Casy found his blue ocean strategy Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net Email Casey - casey@projectricochet.com
Mon, November 23, 2020
Quote “Taking this time and investment in your team will show dividends in the future.” - Zach The finer details of this episode How to choose the right venues, restaurants, and activities for the group Tips for structuring the content of your company retreat Balancing team-building and business development activities Choosing the right location for your retreat The importance of working with the right team to organize your retreat Budgeting and forecasting to cover your retreat financially Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net Contact Lily - lillian@traveluxeofficial.com
Mon, November 09, 2020
Quote “This applies to more agencies than not, and if you don’t ask you are not going to receive.” - Dave Danic The finer details of this episode The four parts of qualifying for the R&D tax credit What if you are a Canadian-based company with USA operations? Things that might exclude you from the tax credit Extra steps you can take to make sure you get the credit How to find a tax accountant who can help you qualify for the R&D credit The amount of money you could save with the R&D credit Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions/comments- vcfo@summitcpa.net
Tue, October 27, 2020
Quote “The key to keeping employees happy is to get the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in the right seats.” - Tom Barrett The finer details of this episode How to keep your employees happy Using accountability charts to get everyone into “the right seat” Processes for transitioning and onboarding employees into their roles Making sure that everyone gets into seats that fit their strengths Seeing people’s potential for leadership or supervising Tips for the interview process to assess potential new team members The importance of solidifying your company values when it comes to getting teammates into the right seat Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions/comments- vcfo@summitcpa.net
Mon, October 12, 2020
Quote “We were growing, I was wearing a lot of hats, and I started to realize our finances should be doing better.” - Greg Bear The finer details of this episode How Bear Group got started and their experience as a remote company Their process of hiring a CFO How Summit CPA has helped Bear Group to uplevel their business New financial management tricks Greg learned during the onboarding process Bear Group’s financial workflow Factors that attributed to fast cash growth for The Bear Group What to consider if your business is looking to hire a CFO Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions/comments- vcfo@summitcpa.net
Mon, September 21, 2020
Quote “Scope out the wifi situation before you arrive somewhere. The worst workweeks have been when I had to use my phone hotspot to work.” - Mikala Paige The finer details of this episode Angie and Mikala’s stories and how they joined Summit CPA Tips for creating a remote/travel lifestyle Things to research before moving to a new location How Angie worked from a van Having a social life when you work remotely and travel Challenges and advantages of working remotely and traveling Equipment you will need for remote work Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net
Mon, September 07, 2020
Quote “The time you spend on EOS tools, you are going to save that time and more in the long run.” - Tom Barrett The finer details of this episode How to determine if your organization needs EOS The process of implementing EOS Advantages of working with an EOS implementer The six key components of EOS Setting priorities using the EOS model Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net Navigate the Journey - https://navigatethejourney.com/
Mon, August 24, 2020
Quote “We need to be committed to the boring stuff in our business because it is the backbone of how everything runs.” - Emily Morgan The finer details of this episode Tips for small businesses on delegating their admin tasks Advantages of having a virtual assistant How to start delegating some of your admin work in your business How to get comfortable letting go of tasks in your business What the day-to-day looks like working with a virtual assistant Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net Delegate Solutions - https://www.delegatesolutions.com/
Mon, August 10, 2020
Quote “Intentionally fostering serendipity in a distributed company will help keep isolation at bay.” - Matt Westgate The finer details of this episode What brought Matt to Summit CPA Why Lullabot decided to become a distributed company The benefits of working with a distributed team Maintaining company culture when your team is distributed The evolution of the Lullabot leadership team How Matt pulled his company out of financial hardship Creating psychological safety in your company culture Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions - vcfo@summitcpa.net Lullabot - https://www.lullabot.com/
Fri, July 31, 2020
Quote “If you don’t have the gross profit to support the bottom line, then you aren’t going to have a bottom line.” - Kristen Reinking The finer details of this episode The three meetings every organization should have about their finances How often to have meetings about your finances Using the IDS model in your financial meetings Who is normally in each meeting How the size of your organization affects the frequency of financial meetings Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions/comments- vcfo@summitcpa.net
Thu, July 16, 2020
Quote “The most important thing is to build a short-term cash flow forecast to know what you are working with.” - Jamie Nau The finer details of this episode Cash flow - the most common issues we help our clients with as CFOs What factors could contribute to your cash flow issues Preparing your firm for taxes Ownership issues and how we handle them with our clients Things to consider about partnerships before jumping into it How to plan for growth Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions/comments- vcfo@summitcpa.net Forecasting for Growth - https://www.summitcpa.net/blog/forecasting-for-growth
Wed, July 01, 2020
Quote “We split out the different types of profit in order to focus our conversations.” - Jamie Nau The finer details of this episode What “cost of goods” means for agencies and media companies How to separate your production costs on your payroll The most common conversations we have with our clients about gross profit Hiring contractors vs employees and how that affects your gross profit Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions/comments- vcfo@summitcpa.net
Mon, June 15, 2020
Quote “It’s important to understand your company before setting your average bill rate. You might have an advantage if you can charge less and make more.” - Jody Grunden The finer details of this episode When it’s ok to lower your average bill rate How to use your average bill rate for pricing The importance of having a project manager involved in the sales conversation The difference between a standard bill rate and an average bill rate How to maintain your desired average bill rate Calculating fixed fee projects into the average bill rate Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions/comments- vcfo@summitcpa.net
Tue, June 02, 2020
Quote “Documentation is key when it comes to calculating how much forgiveness you have.” - Jamie Nau The finer details of this episode Changes related to compensation of employees and owners Rules for bonus and hazard pay for your employees Limits on owner compensation Changes that self-employed and partner filers can expect What this means for you based on your number of employees Rehiring procedures and requirements Forgiveness of interest Utilities and expenses in loan forgiveness How to calculate your payroll for loan forgiveness How these changes can be beneficial to your business Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions/comments- vcfo@summitcpa.net
Tue, May 19, 2020
Quote “We are trying to learn about a candidate, know how they are going to fit into the culture, and know how they are going to do the job in a very small amount of time.” - Zach The finer details of this episode How Summit CPA has struggled in the past with hiring The hiring assessments that Zach introduced to Summit CPA Why Emotional Intelligence is such an important factor in a potential employee How the EQ assessment works and how to read the results The Kolbe assessment and how to use it in your hiring process Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions/comments- vcfo@summitcpa.net Zach’s Website - https://navigatethejourney.com/
Tue, May 05, 2020
Quote “Don’t try to game the system with these. The government is going to be really scrutinizing the details with this.” - Jody Grunden The finer details of this episode Which expenses are included in loan forgiveness What you should do if your business uses contractors How to approach documentation What you need to know about the regulations and guidelines The timing and process to obtain forgiveness How to work with any loan that isn’t forgiven Do you need to pay taxes on the loan forgiveness? Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions/comments- vcfo@summitcpa.net
Tue, April 21, 2020
Quote “The first thing you want to do is identify what you think is going to happen over the next 2-3 months.” - Jody Grunden The finer details of this episode The main things to look at in your forecast when your business is struggling How often to look at your forecast when times are tough The 15% net income model and how you can use your forecast to achieve it A walkthrough of how we are serving one of our clients during the COVID-19 crisis Scenario planning to eliminate unnecessary worry Tips and insights on the PPP loan Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions/comments- vcfo@summitcpa.net
Mon, April 06, 2020
Quote “You are not trying to just increase your top-line revenue. Your bottom line needs to be increasing too.” - Jody Grunden The finer details of this episode How Summit CPA used forecasting to help a client double their revenue What part of your business to work on in order to create growth Determining if you have the capacity to grow the way you want to The “Four Levers of Growth” that you need to cover in your growth plan How to manage a distributed team as your firm gets bigger Getting your team excited about the goal and keep the motivation up Tips on the hiring process as your team gets bigger Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions/comments- vcfo@summitcpa.net
Mon, March 23, 2020
Quote “It doesn’t make sense to drain your cash in order to save for taxes” - Jody Grunden The finer details of this episode Tax laws and how to follow them Cash-based vs accrual-based What you can do to lower your tax bill How to forecast your tax bill What creative agencies need to know about their taxes Is it your location or the client’s locations that matter? Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions/comments- vcfo@summitcpa.net
Fri, March 20, 2020
Quote “Creating a dedicated space for your work is one of the most essential things you can do when working from home.” - Adam Hale The finer details of this episode How Summit CPA became a virtual company Work from home tips from the Summit CPA team Perks of working from home Our favorite tools for working online How this can actually be a blessing in disguise for your company How to support yourself and your coworkers through this quarantine period How virtual teams can support business growth even better than in-person teams Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions/comments- vcfo@summitcpa.net Secoco - https://www.sococo.com/ LastPass - https://www.lastpass.com/ Sharepoint - https://products.office.com/en-us/sharepoint/collaboration Boxcryptor - https://www.boxcryptor.com/en/
Mon, February 24, 2020
Quote “The fact that you created a process is more important than what process you use. What matters is that you have a process.” - Jamie Nau The finer details of this episode How often you should be looking at your bank balance How to determine your inflow to start a cash flow forecast How to forecast your outflows Reasons you should reconcile your account as often as possible Why your business should have a line of credit as opposed to taking out loans Things you can do to make sure you always have cash flowing into your business Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions/comments- vcfo@summitcpa.net
Mon, February 10, 2020
Quote “When you have a lot of recurring revenue, you are able to increase your capacity for more projects and take more risks.” - Adam Hale The finer details of this episode How Summit CPA started with recurring revenue streams How the subscription based model solved many of the problems we faced early on in business Different ways that marketing firms can take advantage of the recurring revenue model Key things to remember when setting up recurring revenue in your business How recurring revenue enhances your cash flow and allows you to take more risks in your business The process of setting up automatic regular payments with your clients Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions/comments- vcfo@summitcpa.net
Mon, January 27, 2020
Quote “You know that it’s going to happen, but it’s not possible to predict exactly when, so the key is to prepare for it.” - Jody Grunden The finer details of this episode What is a recession? What happens during a recession Tips to prepare your business for a recession Why you should start planning now for the next recession The biggest tool you have against a recession The advantages of going into a recession strong and well prepared Things you can do right now to ensure your success in the next recession Why you should run scenarios and some sample scenarios to think through Why you shouldn’t be worried or heavily impacted by a recession Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions/comments- vcfo@summitcpa.net
Wed, January 15, 2020
Quote “Forecasting gives us the opportunity to reroute, so we can stay on track with the goal.” - Adam Hale The finer details of this episode The difference between budgeting, forecasting, and resourcing How Summit CPA began to implement forecasting with our clients How far ahead you should look when forecasting How forecasting can help you reach your long-term goals How to create a forecast for your business The importance of separating out your expenses in forecasts The best time of year to put together a forecast for your business Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions/comments- vcfo@summitcpa.net
Sat, January 04, 2020
“It’s important that the amount you have in your pipeline varies based on what your future outlook looks like.” - Jamie Nau The finer details of this episode How often you should look at pipeline metrics The different parts of the pipeline that can be measured and controlled The three inputs that should be evaluated regularly How to calculate Recognized Revenue and why that’s important Why looking ahead 3 months is the best way to look at pipeline metrics The formula to calculate the percent capacity How the pipeline metrics fit into the other numbers in your business Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions/comments- vcfo@summitcpa.net
Thu, December 26, 2019
“A service-based company should be making 15% net income, 10% is the break-even.” - Jody Grunden The finer details of this episode Why 10% is the new break-even How profit margins get smaller as your company gets bigger The sections of an income statement and why they are important How to calculate your actual gross profit and determine what it should be How much to invest in your employees outside of their paycheck The difference between overhead cost and production cost What you can do to increase your gross profit How to prepare for a recession Episode resources Summit CPA website - www.summitcpa.net Email us with questions/comments- vcfo@summitcpa.net
Thu, December 05, 2019
“Measuring something and then consistently looking at it really helps you understand exactly how you’re doing.” - Jamie Nau The finer details of this episode Production metrics 101. How to calculate your utilization rate. Standard rate vs. average bill rate. Where do service businesses fail? What is an effective rate? How to improve your average bill rate. A Summit CPA client success story. Episode resources Summit CPA website Production metrics guide Email us with questions/comments- vcfo@summitcpa.net
Sun, November 24, 2019
“If the client knows you're going to reach out every time a payment is due and you do it, there’s no question that it will improve your receivables process.” - Audrey Giannini The finer details of this episode How much cash should you have in the bank? Understanding client concentration and why it’s important. The way Summit CPA looks at short term cash flow. Penalties and incentives for collecting account receivables. Suggestions for securing lines of credit. How to calculate tax payment and set aside reserves. Episode resources Summit CPA website Email us with questions/comments- vcfo@summitcpa.net
Tue, October 29, 2019
“Many times, it’s the last thing they want to deal with, but they know things could go so much further if they had the proper staff. The back of the napkin doesn’t work anymore.” - Michelle Lesifko The finer details of this episode How Summit CPA helped coin the term “Virtual CFO” Traditional bookkeeping and accounting vs. Summit CPA Should you hire a full-time CFO? How Summit CPA uses forecasting to hit milestones and goals Michelle takes a closer look into cash flow The three types of services Summit CPA offers When should business owners start reaching out for help? Episode resources Summit CPA website Email us with questions/comments- vcfo@summitcpa.net
Thu, October 17, 2019
“We’ve put together processes and deliverables for our clients. They’ve seen a big impact on their businesses, so there’s tons of value.” - Adam Hale The finer details of this episode Adam’s shares his Jerry Maguire moment when leaving the previous firm What made Summit CPA stick with creative agencies as a customer base since The two types of ways Summit CPA works with creative agencies How one client made an extra $800K on a deal by asking a simple question The power of attending industry conferences and events How Summit CPA is changing the industry by helping other firms Episode resources Summit CPA website Email us with questions/comments- vcfo@summitcpa.net
Mon, September 30, 2019
“The strategy, speaking with the clients weekly and making sure they have enough cash in the bank to survive the next eight weeks or 12 months, that’s really the differentiator and why we’ve grown so fast.” - Jody Grunden The finer details of this episode How Jody and Adam started their careers in accounting What was Jody's philosophy when starting Summit CPA Group How to value clients and build long term relationships with them Fix-priced billing vs. billing per hour: how to price the clients in the right way The difference between VCFO and fractional CFO services Summit CPA group’s focus on creative agencies Episode resources Summit CPA website Email us with questions/comments- vcfo@summitcpa.net
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