Podcast appearances and mentions of jody grunden

SHOW NOTES:In this episode, Matt Zaun sits down with Jody Grunden to unpack the financial habits, mindset shifts, and forecasting principles that help entrepreneurs build healthier, more scalable businesses. Jody shares his journey from reluctant entrepreneur to building and selling a highly successful virtual CFO firm, along with the lessons he learned the hard way about cash flow, pricing, risk, and growth.They discuss why so many business owners misunderstand cash, when debt is helpful versus harmful, how AI can support financial decision-making without replacing human oversight, and why every entrepreneur needs a real forecast instead of just a budget. Jody also opens up about the gritty early years of entrepreneurship, bootstrapping with credit cards, learning to price properly, and discovering the kind of business he actually wanted to build.

Most agency owners say they serve everyone. The ones building real, sustainable profit say the opposite. In this episode, Rachel Knutton, CEO and Founder of Alluvia Studio, shares how she built a thriving niche agency in one of the most regulated and complex industries in the world: MedTech. You'll hear how her background inside hospital C-suites, operating rooms, and medical device sales became the foundation of everything her agency does today. Rachel also covers her conference strategy for LSI Life Science Intelligence events, how she built a referral network with investors and strategic partners, and why core values like Joy and Continuous Improvement are two of her most powerful business tools.Key takeaways:Deep industry experience. Rachel Knutton built Alluvia Studio on firsthand knowledge of hospital systems.Niching in a highly regulated industry. MedTech marketing requires understanding regulatory issues, reimbursement systems, and payer complexity.Conference strategy is a long game worth playing. Sit in sessions and generate media assets through sponsorships.Your best referral sources may not be your current clients. Most valuable relationships at industry events.Pitch deck expertise in the MedTech space. Ability to simplify complex data clearly.If your agency is still trying to be everything to everyone, this episode is your wake-up call. Tune in to the full episode of Med Tech Marketing with Rachel Knutton.Find more podcast episodes on our website: anderscpa.com/learn/podcasts/  Episode resources:●       Anders Virtual CFO website: anderscpa.com  ●       Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter:  https://anderscpa.com/learn/    ●       Check out the Virtual CFO Playbook Course:  https://anderscpa.com/virtual-cfo-services/vcfo-playbook/     Quotes-Rachel Knutton: "Once you identify your core values, you're going to attract the right clients, partners, and team members." -Jamie Nau: "You're only as good as the work you've done, the people you've met, and the books you've read."Rachel Knutton is a medtech marketing strategist and founder of Alluvia Studio. She has 30+ years in healthcare and leads a 17-person team serving startups and global medtech brands. Rachel is the CEO and Founder of Alluvia Studio, a MedTech marketing agency based in Cookeville, Tennessee. With a background spanning hospital C-suite leadership, medical device launches, and direct device sales, Rachel brings rare, firsthand industry knowledge to every client engagement. Alluvia Studio specializes in branding, content development, and presentation design for medical device startups, investors, and large strategics in the life science space.LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/rachelknuttonCompany: Alluvia StudioWebsite: http://www.alluviastudio.com FB: https://www.facebook.com/alluviastudio/ LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alluviastudio/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/alluviastudio/?hl=en  The Creative Agency Success Show helps service-based business owners master the financial side of growth. Hosted by Jamie Nau, Director of Virtual CFO Services/ Virtual CFO, and Jody Grunden, Partner and Virtual CFO Practice Leader at Anders, the podcast dives into essential financial strategies for scaling creative agencies.  Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2458889    FB: https://www.facebook.com/vcfobyanders    LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vcfobyanders/   IG: https://www.instagram.com/vcfobyanders    YT: https://www.youtube.com/@vcfobyanders     Jamie Nau, CPA, Director of Virtual CFO Services/ Virtual CFO, is a seasoned financial expert with a deep understanding of business growth stages.  Jamie has worked extensively with middle-market and large companies, providing key financial insights.  Website: https://anderscpa.com/    FB: https://www.facebook.com/vcfobyanders   LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamienau/   https://www.linkedin.com/company/vcfobyanders/  IG: https://www.instagram.com/vcfobyanders/ YT: https://www.youtube.com/@vcfobyanders 

The most profitable agencies do more than deliver great work.  In this episode, Sharon Toerek, Owner and Founder of Legal+Creative | Toerek Law, shares how legal foundations, intellectual property, agency contracts, AI risk management, marketing compliance, data privacy, value-based pricing, agency profitability, and business growth work together to strengthen your agency. You'll learn why legal should be viewed as a profit generator, how agencies can manage AI-related risks, and what business owners need to do to protect and grow their firms in a rapidly changing market.Key takeaways:Legal foundation is a profit generator, not a cost center. Stop treating it as an expense.AI introduces new legal risks for agencies. Intellectual property ownership and data privacy require careful attention. Data privacy compliance is becoming more complex. Agencies must navigate varying state regulations. Contracts remain one of your most important business tools. Regular contract reviews help protect profitability.AI works best when paired with human expertise. Professional judgment still drives results.Learn how to turn legal strategy and smarter business decisions into a stronger, more profitable future. Tune in to the full episode of Legal Foundations That Actually Drive Agency Profit with Sharon Toerek.Find more podcast episodes on our website: anderscpa.com/learn/podcasts/  Episode resources:●       Anders Virtual CFO website: anderscpa.com  ●       Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter:  https://anderscpa.com/learn/    ●       Check out the Virtual CFO Playbook Course:  https://anderscpa.com/virtual-cfo-services/vcfo-playbook/     Quotes-Sharon Toerek: “Legal foundation for marketing service firms should be a profit generator, not a cost center.”-Jamie Nau: “The safest compliance strategy is often to follow the most conservative regulations.”-John C. Scott: “AI should handle repeatable tasks so professionals can focus on higher-value work.”Sharon Toerek is the Owner and Founder of Legal+Creative | Toerek Law, a law firm built exclusively for independent marketing and creative agencies. She specializes in intellectual property law, contract development and negotiation, marketing regulation compliance, and AI risk management for agency clients. Sharon is also the host of the Innovative Agency Podcast, a forward-looking resource for independent agency owners navigating innovation, business model evolution, and the future of the industry.Website: https://legalandcreative.com/ LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharontoerek/?isSelfProfile=false  https://www.linkedin.com/company/legal-creative/  The Creative Agency Success Show helps service-based business owners master the financial side of growth. Hosted by Jamie Nau, Director of Virtual CFO Services/ Virtual CFO, and Jody Grunden, Partner and Virtual CFO Practice Leader at Anders, the podcast dives into essential financial strategies for scaling creative agencies.  Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2458889    FB: https://www.facebook.com/vcfobyanders    LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vcfobyanders/   IG: https://www.instagram.com/vcfobyanders    YT: https://www.youtube.com/@vcfobyanders     Jamie Nau, CPA, Director of Virtual CFO Services/ Virtual CFO, is a seasoned financial expert with a deep understanding of business growth stages.  Jamie has worked extensively with middle-market and large companies, providing key financial insights.  Website: https://anderscpa.com/     FB: https://www.facebook.com/vcfobyanders  LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamienau/  https://www.linkedin.com/company/vcfobyanders/  IG: https://www.instagram.com/vcfobyanders/  YT: https://www.youtube.com/@vcfobyanders  John C. Scott, CPA, AEP, is a Partner in Tax and a leader in legal industry financial strategy by Anders. He helps law firms win high-stakes cases with smart strategy by delivering clear financial insights, identifying key performance indicators, and strengthening decision-making at every level. With deep expertise in estate planning and financial analysis, John works closely with attorneys and firm leaders to align financial goals with long-term business success and case readiness. His approach brings scalability, flexibility, and data-driven clarity to complex legal environments, helping firms stay focused, prepared, and competitive.Connect with John C. Scott:LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-c-scott-cpa/ X: https://x.com/JohnScottCPA

The rules of business growth are changing faster than ever. The businesses that adapt will find new opportunities. The ones that resist change risk falling behind.In this episode, Rachel Ody, Project Management Operations Consultant and Coach at Hello Rachel, talks about what it takes to grow a service-based business in today's rapidly shifting environment. You'll hear why the project management role is evolving beyond task execution, how AI and automation are squeezing project budgets and timelines, why value-based pricing, niching, and strategy are now the three non-negotiables for agency growth, and how businesses can close the growing talent gap when the traditional path to developing senior-level expertise no longer exists.  Key takeaways:Project management is no longer just about getting tasks done.  PMs now need to think and operate strategically.There is a real counter-argument to the strategy-first approach.  Some clients are overwhelmed by strategy and just need someone to execute well.Simplicity may be the next competitive edge. a return to simplicity — and businesses that can offer clarity, connection. AI needs a human operating system. Project managers are becoming the connective tissue of the business.Value-based pricing, niching, and strategy. The three things separating growing agencies from struggling ones.Your business is not going to grow by waiting for the market to stabilize. Tune in the full episode of ▶️Adapt or Fall Behind: The New Rules of Business Growth with Rachel Ody.Find more podcast episodes on our website: anderscpa.com/learn/podcasts/  Episode resources:●       Anders Virtual CFO website: anderscpa.com  ●       Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter:  https://anderscpa.com/learn/    ●       Check out the Virtual CFO Playbook Course:  https://anderscpa.com/virtual-cfo-services/vcfo-playbook/     Quotes-Rachel Ody: “You have to be able to read underneath the surface, not just the logical way to solve a business problem, but what you actually know to be true.”-Jamie Nau: “The three things that are going to separate you right now are value-based pricing, niching, and strategy.”Rachel Ody is a Project Management Operations Consultant and Coach at Hello Rachel. She is the co-founder of Louder Than Ten, a respected project management training company, and has spent years helping agencies and small businesses build operational systems that actually work. Rachel now focuses on supporting business owners through strategic change, operational clarity, and the kind of honest leadership thinking that drives real, sustainable growth.Website: https://hellorachel.ca/ LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-ody-coach/?isSelfProfile=false IG: https://www.instagram.com/thestraymuse     The Creative Agency Success Show helps service-based business owners master the financial side of growth. Hosted by Jamie Nau, Director of Virtual CFO Services/ Virtual CFO, and Jody Grunden, Partner and Virtual CFO Practice Leader at Anders, the podcast dives into essential financial strategies for scaling creative agencies.  Website: https://anderscpa.com/learn/podcasts/the-creative-agency-success-show/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/vcfobyanders    LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vcfobyanders/   IG: https://www.instagram.com/vcfobyanders    YT: https://www.youtube.com/@vcfobyanders     Jamie Nau, CPA, Director of Virtual CFO Services/ Virtual CFO, is a seasoned financial expert with a deep understanding of business growth stages.  Jamie has worked extensively with middle-market and large companies, providing key financial insights.  Website: https://anderscpa.com/     FB: https://www.facebook.com/vcfobyanders  LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamienau/  https://www.linkedin.com/company/vcfobyanders/  IG: https://www.instagram.com/vcfobyanders/  YT: https://www.youtube.com/@vcfobyanders  

The future of agency growth is not just more automation. It is also a more human connection.In this episode, Jay Owen, CEO of Business Builders, joins Jamie Nau to talk about agency community, event strategy, thought leadership, organic growth, and the practical ways AI is changing how agency owners work. Jay shares the story behind Agency Builders Retreat, why in-person connection matters more in an AI-driven world, how he thinks about building events that people want to return to, and why consistent thought leadership can create opportunities long before a direct sales conversation begins.Key takeaways:• The future is both autonomous and human. AI can create leverage, but agency owners still need trust, relationships, and real connection.• Community can become a growth engine. Jay explains how Agency Builders grew through connection, referrals, and shared learning.• Events are a form of stage-building. Creating your own event, podcast, or platform can help agency owners build authority.• Thought leadership compounds over time. Consistent content around a real problem can create opportunities that direct outreach may not.• AI works best when it removes real friction. Jay shares how connected tools can support follow-up, email, research, and daily operations.If you are trying to grow an agency in a way that is profitable, sustainable, and ready for the future of AI, tune in to the full episode of ▶️The Future of Agency Growth Is Human and AI-Driven with Jay Owen.Find more podcast episodes on our website: anderscpa.com/learn/podcasts/Episode resources:●       Anders Virtual CFO website: anderscpa.com  ●       Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter:  https://anderscpa.com/learn/    ●       Check out the Virtual CFO Playbook Course:  https://anderscpa.com/virtual-cfo-services/vcfo-playbook/     Quotes- Jay Owen: "The future is two things at the same time, highly autonomous and AI driven, for sure, and deeply human."- Jay Owen: "The best way to grow a business is to do a great job for somebody, ask them to tell somebody else, and you will never run out of business."- Jamie Nau: "Sometimes it is a long tail, which is a hard thing for marketers to get their hands around sometimes."Jay Owen is the CEO of Business Builders. He helps businesses and organizations with clear messaging, website and video production, and online promotion. With more than 25 years of experience in web design, marketing communications, and creative direction, Jay also shares ideas with business leaders through events, podcasts, coaching, webinars, and workshops.Website: https://jayowenlive.com/aboutIG: https://www.instagram.com/jayowenFB: https://www.facebook.com/jayowenlive/X: https://x.com/owendesignLi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayowen/YT: https://www.youtube.com/@jayowenlivePodcast: https://buildingabusinessthatlasts.com/about/Business BuildersWebsite: https://businessbldrs.com/YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3SN1I1FwktpF_lMqaZveIgIG: https://www.instagram.com/businessbldrs/Li: https://www.linkedin.com/company/businessbldrs/FB: https://www.facebook.com/businessbldrsThe Creative Agency Success Show helps service-based business owners master the financial side of growth. Hosted by Jamie Nau, Director of Virtual CFO Services/ Virtual CFO, and Jody Grunden, Partner and Virtual CFO Practice Leader at Anders, the podcast dives into essential financial strategies for scaling creative agencies.  Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2458889    FB: https://www.facebook.com/vcfobyanders    LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vcfobyanders/   IG: https://www.instagram.com/vcfobyanders    YT: https://www.youtube.com/@vcfobyanders     Jamie Nau, CPA, Director of Virtual CFO Services/ Virtual CFO, is a seasoned financial expert with a deep understanding of business growth stages.  Jamie has worked extensively with middle-market and large companies, providing key financial insights.  Website: https://anderscpa.com/     FB: https://www.facebook.com/vcfobyanders  LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamienau/  https://www.linkedin.com/company/vcfobyanders/  IG: https://www.instagram.com/vcfobyanders/  YT: https://www.youtube.com/@vcfobyanders  

AI adoption gets risky when agency owners move faster than their teams can follow.In this episode, Rob Harr, co-founder and President of Sparkbox, joins Jamie Nau and Tom Wadelton to talk about AI, agency operations, leadership, team adoption, innovation, and business model change. You will hear why AI cannot stay trapped with the owner, how internal communities help teams experiment safely, and why agency leaders need to separate messy exploration from operational execution.You will also learn how Rob thinks about the three main ways agencies use AI, why teams need permission to share failures, and how agency owners can avoid selling AI-driven work before their teams are ready to deliver it.Key takeaways:AI adoption needs team momentum. When the owner gets too far ahead, the agency creates a delivery gap that can become risky.Community helps teams keep up. Internal communities give people a place to experiment, share wins, and learn together.Start with existing problems. Rob recommends using tomorrow's tech to solve yesterday's problems before chasing new service lines.Failure has to be safe. Teams need permission to share what did not work if they are going to innovate consistently.Exploration needs a different space. Sparkbox uses expedition-style thinking for open experimentation, then operationalizes ideas with business value.If your agency is trying to turn AI excitement into real adoption, listen to this episode of ▶️ How Agency Owners Can Make AI a Team Sport with Rob HarrFind more podcast episodes on our website: anderscpa.com/learn/podcasts/ Episode resources:●       Anders Virtual CFO website: anderscpa.com    ●       Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter:  https://anderscpa.com/learn/    ●       Check out the Virtual CFO Playbook Course:  https://anderscpa.com/virtual-cfo-services/vcfo-playbook/     Quotes- Rob Harr: "Step one is using tomorrow's tech to solve yesterday's problems."- Rob Harr: "Innovation can't happen without failure."- Rob Harr: "Stop trying to guess where this is going to end up in three years because you're wrong."Rob Harr is a developer, software consultant, co-founder, and President of Sparkbox, a web design and development studio focused on long-term client partnerships and creating a better Web through education. Rob has deep experience in agency operations, pricing, leadership, finance, software development, and helping agency teams build stronger businesses.IG: https://www.instagram.com/robert.harr/LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertharr/SparkboxWebsite: https://sparkbox.com/The Creative Agency Success Show helps service-based business owners master the financial side of growth. Hosted by Jamie Nau, Director of Virtual CFO Services/ Virtual CFO, and Jody Grunden, Partner and Virtual CFO Practice Leader at Anders, the podcast dives into essential financial strategies for scaling creative agencies.  Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2458889    FB: https://www.facebook.com/vcfobyanders    LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vcfobyanders/   IG: https://www.instagram.com/vcfobyanders    YT: https://www.youtube.com/@vcfobyanders     Jamie Nau, CPA, Director of Virtual CFO Services/ Virtual CFO, is a seasoned financial expert with a deep understanding of business growth stages.  Jamie has worked extensively with middle-market and large companies, providing key financial insights.  Website: https://anderscpa.com/    FB: https://www.facebook.com/vcfobyanders   LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamienau/   https://www.linkedin.com/company/vcfobyanders/  IG: https://www.instagram.com/vcfobyanders/ YT: https://www.youtube.com/@vcfobyanders  Tom Wadelton is a Partner and Virtual CFO at Anders, bringing over 20 years of financial expertise from his tenure at a Fortune 500 company. He has extensive experience spanning financial management, accounting operations, and information technology integration. Tom specializes in delivering strategic Virtual CFO services, helping businesses optimize their financial performance through advanced accounting solutions.Website: https://anderscpa.com/about/your-anders-team/#thomas-d-wadelton LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomwadelton/ 

When your messaging, positioning, and systems stay aligned, you create clarity, trust, and momentum for the next stage of growth.In this episode, Amy Maxwell, Founder and Creative Director at Maxwell Design Co, breaks down the hard truth about rebranding, business growth, brand strategy, thought leadership, positioning, operational systems, and scaling a service-based business. You'll hear practical insights on how to know when your business has outgrown its current brand, how to align your identity with growth goals, and why brand systems, messaging consistency, and operational structure matter more than just a new logo. Key takeaways:A rebrand should support growth. Without systems and structure behind it, a rebrand becomes “an expensive mood board” instead of a growth tool.Your brand is bigger than your logo. Messaging, positioning, and client experience shape how people understand your business.Consistency builds trust. Inconsistent messaging across marketing, sales, and leadership creates friction that weakens growth.Growth often creates the need for rebranding. Your systems, identity, and positioning need to reflect where you are going.Brand audits reveal hidden problems. Reviewing collateral, messaging, and customer perception.If your brand no longer reflects who you are or where you're headed, tune in to the full episode of ▶️The Pricing Strategy That Unlocks Real Profit Growth with Logan Lyles.Find more podcast episodes on our website: anderscpa.com/learn/podcasts/  Episode resources:●       Anders Virtual CFO website: anderscpa.com  ●       Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter:  https://anderscpa.com/learn/    ●       Check out the Virtual CFO Playbook Course:  https://anderscpa.com/virtual-cfo-services/vcfo-playbook/     Quotes-Amy Maxwell: "A successful rebrand starts with auditing what already works and what's hurting the business."-Jody Grunden: "Business owners often struggle to separate their personal identity from their brand."-Jamie Nau: "Rebranding sounds exciting until you realize how much work and strategy it actually takes."Amy Maxwell is Founder and Creative Director at Maxwell Design Co, a lean, senior-led creative agency she launched in 2019. With 15 years of experience across agencies and in-house teams, Amy specializes in brand strategy, visual identity, and go-to-market systems for growing businesses. She helps companies at inflection points of growth align their brand, operations, and identity so they can scale with clarity and consistency.LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxwelldesignco/?isSelfProfile=false IG: https://www.instagram.com/maxwelldesignco/ Maxwell Design CoWebsite: https://maxwelldesignco.com FB: https://www.facebook.com/MaxwellDesignCo/ LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/maxwelldesignco/        The Creative Agency Success Show helps service-based business owners master the financial side of growth. Hosted by Jamie Nau, Director of Virtual CFO Services/ Virtual CFO, and Jody Grunden, Partner and Virtual CFO Practice Leader at Anders, the podcast dives into essential financial strategies for scaling creative agencies.  Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2458889    FB: https://www.facebook.com/vcfobyanders    LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vcfobyanders/   IG: https://www.instagram.com/vcfobyanders    YT: https://www.youtube.com/@vcfobyanders     Jamie Nau, CPA, Director of Virtual CFO Services/ Virtual CFO, is a seasoned financial expert with a deep understanding of business growth stages.  Jamie has worked extensively with middle-market and large companies, providing key financial insights.  Website: https://anderscpa.com/     FB: https://www.facebook.com/vcfobyanders  LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamienau/  https://www.linkedin.com/company/vcfobyanders/  IG: https://www.instagram.com/vcfobyanders/  YT: https://www.youtube.com/@vcfobyanders  Jody Grunden, CPA, is Partner and Virtual CFO Practice Leader at Anders. Jody revolutionized financial advisory by introducing remote CFO services, helping businesses scale with strategic financial insights. He specializes in guiding companies, especially creative agencies, through financial maturity.  Website: https://www.anderscpa.com/   FB: https://www.facebook.com/vcfobyanders    LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodygrunden/    https://www.linkedin.com/company/vcfobyanders/    IG: https://www.instagram.com/vcfobyanders/      

Jody Grunden reveals how he built the first fully distributed Virtual CFO practice in North America — and the pricing mistakes, partnership lessons, and non-financial KPIs that transformed his firm.If you're running an agency, accounting practice, or service business and struggling with profitability, pricing, or scaling, this episode is packed with practical insights. Jody Grunden, co-founder of Summit CPA Group (now Anders Virtual CFO), shares how he pioneered the subscription-based Virtual CFO model and the lessons he learned along the way.In this episode, you'll discover:• Why non-financial KPIs matter more than the numbers — and how focusing only on financials can lead to the wrong behaviors (51:40)• The biggest pricing mistake Jody made early on — undercharging and giving away free consulting that hurt profitability (12:27)• Why cash should be viewed as a safety net, not profit• The partnership principle — finding people who are great at what you're not (51:18)• How Jody built the first fully distributed Virtual CFO firm in North America (23:54)• Why subscription-based billing transformed his accounting practice• The profit-focused maturity model he uses to help agencies scale sustainably• Early entrepreneurial mistakes and what actually drives business growth (01:46)About Jody Grunden:Jody Grunden is a pioneer in the accounting industry and co-founder of Summit CPA Group, now Anders Virtual CFO. He introduced subscription-based billing to accounting firms and built the first fully distributed Virtual CFO practice in North America. Since 2002, he has specialized in helping digital and creative agencies improve profitability and scalability through his profit-focused maturity model.He is the author of Digital Dollars and Cents and Building the Virtual CFO Firm in the Cloud, and has been recognized by CPA.com as one of the most innovative practitioners in the country.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction: Hockey Talk and Business Mistakes02:02 - From Accountant to Virtual CFO Pioneer12:27 - Early Pricing Mistakes and the Free Consulting Trap23:54 - Building the First Distributed Virtual CFO Firm39:50 - The Partnership Principle50:55 - Non-Financial KPIs and Cash as Safety53:36 - Connecting with Jody and Closing ThoughtsConnect with Jody Grunden here:https://anderscpa.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodygrunden/https://www.linkedin.com/company/andersvcfohttps://www.facebook.com/vcfobyanders/https://www.instagram.com/andersvcfo/https://anderscpa.com/learn/podcasts/the-creative-agency-success-show/

Your CPA firm is growing but is your team growing with it? Terrell Turner, co-founder of TLTurner Group, talks about how growing CPA firms can take control of their capacity. Terrell shares the exact framework his firm uses to measure workload, standardize processes, and know with confidence when to add more clients without overwhelming the team.Terrell brings a manufacturing mindset to accounting, mapping out every step of the client service process and measuring how long each step takes. That discipline gave his 11-person firm clarity on capacity that most accounting firms never reach. If your firm is growing but capacity feels like a ceiling, this episode will help you break through. Hit play on Smarter Capacity Planning For Growing CPA Firms with Terrell Turner.Episode resources:● Website: https://anderscpa.com/ ● 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://anderscpa.com/virtual-cfo-services/vcfo-playbook/   QuotesTerrell Turner: "Since 70% of our recurring work is on the bookkeeping side, it functions a little bit more like a manufacturing line."Tom Wadelton: "When you invest that time doing internal reviews before client meetings, it's worth it."Jody Grunden: "We get paid as owners to make decisions. We don't get paid as owners to put in hours."Terrell Turner is the co-founder of TLTurner Group, a firm specializing in bookkeeping and CFO services for law firms. With a background in Fortune 500 financial management and a passion for translating complex financial information into clear business decisions, Terrell has built a niche-focused firm that uses a process-driven, capacity-first approach to client service and team management. LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terrellturner/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/terrell.turner.7/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/terrell_a_turner/  Connect with TLTurner Group:LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tlturnergroup/ The Modern CPA Success Show is the go-to podcast for accounting firm owners eager to enhance profitability and master Virtual CFO services. This podcast leverages combined expertise in delivering top-tier Virtual CFO services across North America.Website: https://anderscpa.com/learn/podcasts/the-modern-cpa-success-show/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndersCPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/anders-cpa/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anderscpa/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@andersvcfo Tom Wadelton is a Partner and Virtual CFO at Anders, bringing over 20 years of financial expertise from his tenure at a Fortune 500 company. He has extensive experience spanning fin

You put in the work to plan a webinar and still walk away with no sales calls booked, no pipeline, and no clear path forward.In this episode, Logan Lyles, Founder of DemandShift, shares his proven webinar strategy for B2B service-based businesses that want to generate leads, book sales calls, and build pipelines without turning their webinars into a hard sell. You'll learn how to fix the two biggest webinar mistakes, the registration rut and the conversion cliff, and how a two-step signup process helped Logan 5X his conversion rate from webinar registrants to booked sales calls. This episode gives you a clear, actionable framework for turning your next webinar into a real lead generation engine.Key takeaways:Avoid the two webinar killers. Knowing which problem you have is the first step to fixing your webinar strategy.Use the two-step signup process to capture leads before the event. The two-step signup process captures interest right at registration.Make your CTA outcome-based, not ask-based. Framing your call to action around a clear outcome dramatically improves results.Design your survey to qualify and disqualify leads. Post-registration survey separates your ideal clients from those who aren't ready yet.Balance brand and demand in every webinar. Your webinar should educate and build trust, but it also needs to drive pipeline.Tune in now to ▶️The Pricing Strategy That Unlocks Real Profit Growth with Logan Lyles.Find more podcast episodes on our website: anderscpa.com/learn/podcasts/  Episode resources:●       Anders Virtual CFO website: anderscpa.com  ●       Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter:  https://anderscpa.com/learn/    ●       Check out the Virtual CFO Playbook Course:  https://anderscpa.com/virtual-cfo-services/vcfo-playbook/     Quotes-Logan Lyles: “If your CTA and the prompt you're giving someone to take the next step is only during the live event, you're missing 65% of your swings.”-Jody Grunden: "Webinars can educate your audience while also creating real opportunities for leads and clients."Logan Lyles is the Founder of DemandShift, where he helps B2B brands turn underperforming webinars into consistent revenue drivers. After struggling with low conversions early in his career, Logan rebuilt his approach and increased webinar-driven sales calls by 5X. Today, he specializes in aligning content, offers, and conversion strategy to drive real pipeline. His Webinar Fast Track framework focuses on creating clear next steps that translate attention into profit.Website: https://demandshift.co/ , https://demandshift.co/prompt LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loganlyles/  FB: https://www.facebook.com/logan.lyles.96/    DemandShiftLI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/demandshift/       The Creative Agency Success Show helps service-based business owners master the financial side of growth. Hosted by Jamie Nau, Director of Virtual CFO Services/

When your processes are structured and your team knows what to do next, you gain time and improve performance.In this episode, Kenny Harper, Growth Coach at Growth Amplifiers, shares how to systemize your business, simplify operations, and multiply impact using scalable systems, repeatable processes, and a proven framework. You'll learn how to move from custom work to standardized workflows, shift from service provider to trusted advisor, improve client relationships, build a coaching culture, and scale your service-based business without losing control or quality. You'll also hear how Jody was featured on the Growth Amplifiers podcast, where deeper insights on building and scaling a successful firm are shared.Key takeaways:Shift from service provider to advisor. Focusing on transformation increases value and improves client retention.Build a coaching culture inside your team. Encouraging questions and solutions reduces bottlenecks.Put the right people in the right roles. Aligning strengths with responsibilities leads to better performance.Follow a clear system for scaling. From vision to diagnosis, each step builds consistency and growth.Co-create solutions with clients. Working together to choose the best path leads to better decisions.Tune in the full episode of ▶️How to Systemize Your Business and Multiply Impact with Kenny Harper.Find more podcast episodes on our website: anderscpa.com/learn/podcasts/  Episode resources:●       Anders Virtual CFO website: anderscpa.com  ●       Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter:  https://anderscpa.com/learn/    ●       Check out the Virtual CFO Playbook Course:  https://anderscpa.com/virtual-cfo-services/vcfo-playbook/     Quotes-Kenny Harper: “A clear, documented plan strengthens both execution and client alignment."-Jody Grunden: "Scale comes from systemizing most of your work while keeping flexibility where it matters."Kenny Harper is a Growth Coach at Growth Amplifiers, helping service-based business owners systemize their operations and scale without burnout. Drawing from his experience building and running a marketing agency, Kenny now guides leaders to simplify complexity and focus on what truly drives impact. Through his Amplified Growth System, he helps firms align vision, team, and execution to create consistent, scalable results. Website: https://kennyharper.rocks/   LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennyharper/  FB: https://www.facebook.com/kenny.w.harper/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/kennywharper/  X: https://x.com/KennywHarper Growth AmplifiersLI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/growthamplifiers/      The Creative Agency Success Show helps service-based business owners master the financial side of growth. Hosted by Jamie Nau, Director of Virtual CFO Services/ Virtual

Still pricing by the hour? You are limiting your cash flow.  Ron Baker, founder of VeraSage Institute and co-founder of THRESHOLD, talks about why the billable hour fails business owners and what to do instead. You'll hear why pricing is a core skill, why mindset blocks change, and why most firms stay stuck even when better models exist. Learn how fixed pricing removes surprises and builds trust. Offering options increases revenue and strengthens decision-making. You'll also see how AI is reducing billable work and forcing businesses to rethink how they charge.This episode gives you a clear shift in thinking. Tune in to People You Should Know: Ron Baker and challenge the way you price before it limits your growth.Episode resources:● Website: https://anderscpa.com/ ● 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://anderscpa.com/virtual-cfo-services/vcfo-playbook/   QuotesRon Baker: "The billable hour creates a poor customer experience. Clients don't want surprises, they want clarity upfront."Tom Wadelton: "If we rethink pricing and value, the entire profession could look completely different in a short time."Adam Hale: "Value-based pricing is a mindset shift. Once firms embrace it, everything from growth to client relationships improves."Jody Grunden: "Moving away from hourly billing forced a complete rethink of how services are packaged."Ron Baker is the founder of VeraSage Institute and co-founder of THRESHOLD. A globally recognized thought leader in value pricing, business model innovation, and the future of professional firms. As the host of The Soul of Enterprise and author of multiple influential books, Ron has spent decades challenging the status quo, especially the reliance on billable hours. LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronbaker1/ Connect with THRESHOLD:LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thresholdnow/  The Modern CPA Success Show is the go-to podcast for accounting firm owners eager to enhance profitability and master Virtual CFO services. This podcast leverages combined expertise in delivering top-tier Virtual CFO services across North America.Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2458888  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndersCPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/anders-cpa/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anderscpa/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@andersvcfo Tom Wadelton is a Virtual CFO at Anders, bringing over 20 years of financial expertise from his tenure at a Fortune 500 company. He has extensive experience spanning financial management, accounting operations, and information technology integration. Tom specializes in delivering strategic Virtual CFO services, helping businesses optimize their financial performance through advanced accounting solutions.Website:

Time is one of the most valuable assets in a service-based business. Yet many owners and teams spend most of their week searching for information, copying data, formatting documents.In this episode, Greg Boone, CEO at Walk West, explains how artificial intelligence, AI tools, automation, and agent workflows can give business owners back nearly 80% of their time. You learn how AI transforms marketing, consulting, operations, and knowledge work by reducing manual work, improving research, accelerating analysis, and helping teams move faster with better insights. The conversation focuses on AI adoption, AI strategy, productivity, marketing technology, data analysis, AI agents, and practical ways to integrate AI into everyday business workflows.Key takeaways:AI can eliminate massive time waste. Explains how knowledge workers spend 50–60% of their week searching for information.You can reclaim up to 80% of administrative work. AI can complete weeks of work in minutes by automating research and analysis.AI works best as a thinking partner. Using AI to instruct, analyze data, generate ideas, and support decision making.AI reveals insights hidden in your data. Businesses can analyze meeting transcripts, reports, and unstructured data.Training matters for AI adoption. Without guidance, employees may misuse tools or rely on basic features, leaving most of AI's real value unused.Tune in to the full episode of ▶️How AI Can Give You Back 80% of Your Time with Greg Boone.Find more podcast episodes on our website: anderscpa.com/learn/podcasts/  Episode resources:●       Anders Virtual CFO by Anders website: anderscpa.com  ●       Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter:  https://anderscpa.com/learn/    ●       Check out the Virtual CFO Playbook Course:  https://anderscpa.com/virtual-cfo-services/vcfo-playbook/     Quotes-Greg Boone: "We get hyper-focused on the process of how we do things. AI doesn't care about your process—it only cares about the outcome.”-Jody Grunden: "Most firms struggle with growth because they rely on habits that worked when the company was smaller."Greg Boone is the CEO of Walk West and a technology leader known for building high-performing teams that drive digital transformation. With decades of experience across leadership roles from director to CEO and advisor, Greg champions a people-first approach to business and innovation. His philosophy is simple: build great people first, and they will build a great company. Greg has led teams that served major brands including Charter, Panera Bread, Nascar, and Le Creuset while maintaining exceptional client loyalty. Today, he focuses on helping organizations leverage technology and AI to work smarter, unlock productivity, and give leaders back valuable time.LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregboone/IG: https://www.instagram.com/greg.boone/  Walk WestWebsite: https://walkwest.com/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/WalkWestLI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/

Today we have clips from 6 past guests talk about how they were able to navigate a difficult market or recession from their time in business. Guests include: Jody Grunden, Stanley Genadek, George and Peter of Oriole Landscaping, Phil of PJE Lawn and Landscaping, Sam Bauman of Earthscapes, and Neil Pond of Urban Landscaping.Sponsors:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cycle CPA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Knowledge Tree Consulting⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠How to Hardscape Headquarters⁠⁠

When leads feel inconsistent and results do not match the spend, the problem is rarely effort. The problem is visibility, measurement, and knowing what actually drives growth.In this episode, Jeff Greenfield, CEO of Provalytics, breaks down why so many service-based businesses feel like half their marketing budget is wasted. You hear clear explanations around marketing measurement, attribution, GA4 limits, impressions versus clicks, full-funnel marketing, privacy-driven data loss, AI-driven buyer journeys, and how attention, awareness, and timing impact revenue. The focus stays on fixing what feels broken so your marketing spend works harder.Key takeaways:Clicks do not tell the full story. Last-click attribution hides the real impact of awareness, impressions, and upper-funnel marketing.Attention comes before conversion. You learn how marketing dollars first create attention and awareness before leads.GA4 shows behavior, not influence. Understanding what Google Analytics actually measures helps prevent bad budget decisions.Impressions matter more than most teams think. Tracking impressions over time reveals patterns that clicks alone will never show.Better measurement protects profit. Clear attribution helps you invest in the channels that truly move revenue.Tune in to the full episode of ▶️Why Half Your Marketing Budget Feels Wasted (And How to Fix It) with Jeff Greenfield.Find more podcast episodes on our website: anderscpa.com/learn/podcasts/  Episode resources:●       Anders Virtual CFO by Anders website: anderscpa.com  ●       Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter:  https://anderscpa.com/learn/    ●       Check out the Virtual CFO Playbook Course:  https://anderscpa.com/virtual-cfo-services/vcfo-playbook/     Quotes-Jeff Greenfield: "Most marketing decisions break because finance and marketing are looking at two different sets of numbers."-Jody Grunden: "Business owners worry that focusing on one offer might hurt their brand but clarity often matters more than variety."Jeff Greenfield is the CEO of Provalytics, a privacy-first attribution platform helping marketers prove impact in a post-cookie world. With over two decades in the industry, Jeff built one of the first multi-touch attribution (MTA) platforms, driving 15–25% ROI growth for major global brands. As shifting privacy laws upended traditional tracking, he saw the need for AI-driven, compliant solutions and launched Provalytics in 2022. Today, his team empowers marketers to make smarter budget decisions with accurate, future-proof insights. Website: https://provalytics.com/   LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffgreenfield/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/provalytics/ The Creative Agency Success Show helps service-based business owners master the financial side of growth. Hosted by Jamie Nau, Director of Virtual CFO Services/ Virtual CFO, and Jody Grunden, Partner and Virtual CFO Practice Leader at Anders CPAs + Advisors, the podcast dives into essential financial strategies for scaling creative agencies.  Website:

A well-built service business creates momentum instead of pressure. With the right systems in place, you allow growth to happen without burning out.In this episode, Steven Ness, founder of Lighting the Way Leadership, explains how business owners can stop carrying the weight alone by building leadership systems, operational structure, and clear processes. The focus stays on delegation, accountability, financial clarity, team alignment, and systems that save time, energy, and money while supporting sustainable growth.Key takeaways:Systems create freedom. Documented processes and repeatable systems give you back control of your time.Leadership starts with you. You learn why personal accountability at the top sets the tone for results across the entire business.Right people in the right seats. Seat ownership helps teams perform better without constant oversight.Delegation without abdication. Clear expectations allow you to step back without losing quality or momentum.Build a business that works without you. Systems reduce owner dependency so the company can grow.Find more podcast episodes on our website: anderscpa.com/learn/podcasts/  Episode resources:●       Anders Virtual CFO by Anders website: anderscpa.com  ●       Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter:  https://anderscpa.com/learn/    ●       Check out the Virtual CFO Playbook Course:  https://anderscpa.com/virtual-cfo-services/vcfo-playbook/     Quotes-Steven Ness: "Systems save sanity, time, energy, and money. When you use them well, you stop making desperate decisions."-Jody Grunden: "Most leaders brush it off until they're asked to look at the impact they're carrying home."Steven Ness is the founder of Lighting the Way Leadership, where he helps leaders cut through business chaos with faith, structure, and a dose of tough love. With deep expertise in operations, training, B2B, retail, and sales, Steven equips teams to lead with clarity and purpose. His approach blends practical systems with people-first values reimagining business as People to People, not Business to Business. As a seasoned consultant, Steven is known for empowering leaders to grow personally and professionally. He's on a mission to help organizations thrive through authentic leadership and strategic alignment.Website: https://lightingthewayleadership.com/Email: Steven@lightingthewayleadership.com LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenness/IG: https://www.instagram.com/steven_ness_leadership/X: https://x.com/StevenNessCoach  FB: https://www.facebook.com/people/Lighting-the-Way-Leadership/61568990434856/The Creative Agency Success Show helps service-based business owners master the financial side of growth. Hosted by Jamie Nau, Director of Virtual CFO Services/ Virtual CFO, and Jody Grunden, Partner and Virtual CFO Practice Leader at Anders CPAs + Advisors, the podcast div

Running a business is more than putting out fires and checking boxes. Thinking like an owner changes how you make decisions and lead your team.Chad Davis, co-founder at LiveCA LLP & AutomationTown.io, joins the conversation to explore what it truly means to behave like a business owner. You'll hear real talk on financial ownership, setting priorities, letting go of control, and why emotional detachment can lead to better decisions. Chad breaks down how to step into a leadership mindset, even when the day-to-day feels overwhelming. Chad also explains why stepping back emotionally helps you decide with clarity. And above all, it's okay to slow down—because sustainable businesses are never built on burnout. Tune in to the full episode here: ▶️ Stability Over Scale: A Smarter Way to Build a Business That Lasts.Episode resources:● Website: https://anderscpa.com/ ● 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://anderscpa.com/virtual-cfo-services/vcfo-playbook/   QuotesChad Davis: "When you sell something to somebody, that time is budgeted to them. No one else should infringe on it. That's how you protect stability."Jody Grunden: "A well‑built team gives leaders confidence they can leave for weeks without the business falling apart, and often the team performs better without constant oversight."Adam Hale: "When planning an exit, owners must clarify their future involvement, whether they want to keep working as a CFO or simply reduce their role after taking some chips off the table."Chad Davis is the Co-founder of LiveCA LLP and AutomationTown.io, where he champions a smarter, more stable approach to business. At LiveCA, he helps Canadian businesses streamline controllership services with scalable tech and a focus on reliability over rapid growth. Chad also leads AutomationTown, a vibrant community for accounting pros exploring the practical side of AI and automation. His philosophy? Build intentionally, stay curious, and focus on what truly matters. In both ventures, Chad is setting the standard for how to grow a business that lasts.Website: https://www.liveca.ca/  FB: https://www.facebook.com/myliveca/ LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaddavis1/?originalSubdomain=ca  https://www.linkedin.com/company/liveca-chartered-accountant/?originalSubdomain=ca   The Modern CPA Success Show is the go-to podcast for accounting firm owners eager to enhance profitability and master Virtual CFO services. This podcast leverages combined expertise in delivering top-tier Virtual CFO services across North America.Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2458888  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndersCPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/anders-cpa/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anderscpa/&

Many service-based business owners win deals, deliver great work, and still struggle with margins.In this episode, Albert Banks breaks down how service-based businesses can protect margins before work even starts. You get a clear look at pricing strategy, value-based pricing, project profitability, cost awareness, negotiation tactics, and sales frameworks that help agencies and professional services firms grow revenue without burning out their teams. The focus stays on setting every project up for success from day one.Key takeaways:Use floor, table, and ceiling pricing. Learn how to set a pricing range that protects profit while giving flexibility in sales conversations.Move beyond hourly billing. Value-based and fixed-fee pricing create better alignment with clients.Anchor pricing with options. Offering multiple pricing options reframes the decision.Sell expertise, not tasks. Leading with discovery and strategy positions you as the expert.Know your true costs. Understanding fully loaded costs is non-negotiable if you want predictable margins.Tune into the full episode of ▶️How to Protect Your Margins Before the Sale Begins.Find more podcast episodes on our website: anderscpa.com/learn/podcasts/  Episode resources:●       Anders Virtual CFO by Anders website: anderscpa.com  ●       Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter:  https://anderscpa.com/learn/    ●       Check out the Virtual CFO Playbook Course:  https://anderscpa.com/virtual-cfo-services/vcfo-playbook/     Quotes-Albert Banks: "Strong margins start before the project begins. Preventative decisions in pricing and scoping protect profitability."-Jody Grunden: "When you know your data, time, cost, and team mix, you can price consistently and still hit your margin targets."Albert Banks is a seasoned agency founder turned consultant, helping businesses boost profitability through strategic pricing, operations, and sales frameworks. With over two decades of experience—including growing, merging, and selling his own agency—Albert now coaches leaders on setting value-based pricing and uncovering hidden risks before a deal even starts. He champions a diagnostic-first approach, ensuring clients position themselves as trusted experts rather than vendors. Albert's practical systems help agencies increase margins and close better-fit clients.LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/albertbanks/ The Creative Agency Success Show helps service-based business owners master the financial side of growth. Hosted by Jamie Nau, Director of Virtual CFO Services/ Virtual CFO, and Jody Grunden, Partner and Virtual CFO Practice Leader at Anders CPAs + Advisors, the podcast dives into essential financial strategies for scaling creative agencies.  Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2458889    FB: https://www.facebook.com/vcfobyanders    LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vcfobyanders/   IG: https://www.

Jody Grunden - Anders CPA On Working Together: "It's only going to help everybody if we can all learn how to get better and faster." Every business owner needs to watch their money.  You watch it come in, go out and hopefully end up with some leftover to make sure you are doing more than just moving money. But not every business is large enough to justify a full-time chief financial officer.  Which leads to a conundrum, how do you get the talented person to help you with the financial end of your business when you don't have enough financial paperwork for them to poke at full time? Jody Grunden saw this need years ago and has built a virtual CFO business that he then sold to Anders CPA.  Jody discusses what a virtual CFO can do and why it is important. Listen as Jody details how the use of a virtual CFO has helped grow many business.  Plus he details the value of standing out.  In his case, with a Hawaiian shirt. Enjoy! Visit Jody at: https://anderscpa.com/   Podcast Overview: 00:00 "Virtual Beginnings and Success" 03:57 "Next Year Finally Paid Off" 06:50 "Interactive Pricing Strategy Breakdown" 11:40 "Finding Success Beyond Accounting" 12:40 "Pivoting Amid Layoffs and Guilt" 18:45 "Educating for Success, Not Selling" 19:42 "Productizing Services with Subscriptions" 24:58 "Dynamic Forecasting Explained" 26:33 Truck Repair Business Insights 31:20 "Flexible Client Collaboration Process" 35:07 "Building Connections and Growth" 38:29 "Rethinking Strategy for Success" 42:01 "Thought Leadership Eased Hiring" 44:26 "Expanding Connections Beyond Remote Teams" 47:32 "Scaling Processes for Sustainability" Sponsors: Live Video chat with our customers here with LiveSwitch: https://join.liveswitch.com/gfj3m6hnmguz Some videos have been recorded with Riverside: https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=james-kademan Podcast Transcription: Jody Grundon [00:00:00]: I realized real quick that, you know, hey, I wasn't an accountant, I was an entrepreneur and I just didn't realize it. I didn't enjoy accounting and I still don't today. I don't enjoy accounting, but I love the entrepreneur part of it and growing a business and seeing how successful I can get that business and then even more so helping other people be successful running their business, which is, which is even a bigger joy. James Kademan [00:00:27]: You have found Authentic Business Adventures, the business program that brings you the struggle stories and triumphant successes of business owners across the land. Downloadable audio episodes can be found in the podcast link found@drawincustomers.com we are locally interwritten by the bank of Sun Prairie Calls On Call Extraordinary Answering Service as well as the Bold Business Book and Live Switch. Today we are welcoming slash preparing to learn from Jody Grundon of Anders cpa. Which I feel like this is right about the time to start talking taxes. Jody, is that safe to say? Jody Grundon [00:01:00]: I. I guess so. But man, you don't ask me to ask tax questions, that's for sure. James Kademan [00:01:04]: No, so let's just break it down. What is Andrew cpa? Jody Grundon [00:01:09]: Yeah, so Andrew cpa. They're, they're a, one of the largest CPA firms in the nation. They're pretty large. They do a lot of different things, audit, tax. But the, the special that I run is on in what we call the Client Advisory Service Group, which is virtual CFO services. So that's something that, that I founded way back when. It was about 20 some years ago. A lot of CPA firms now you use that type of a service. Jody Grundon [00:01:31]: I actually founded it back, you know, 20 plus years ago. So it's been a great ride. Before it was, before it was even a thing. Yeah, it was one of those, one of those things that there was something called outsourced CFO or outsourced CPA service, which was outsourcing it to a foreign country type of thing. And I'm like, well, that's not what I meant. So I'm trying to figure out how, what can I call it? And I, and so I did. I got the big, the thesaurus, if you remember one of those things. I got one of those things out. Jody Grundon [00:01:55]: I'm like, what could I, what could I name this thing? I thought virtual sounds kind of cool. And, and then my partner's like, well, no one will think you're real. And I'm like, ah, they will. It'll catch on. And back then we had the yellow pages and so we, we did the yellow page Thing didn't really get a whole lot of traction. And then we decided, hey, we're going to go this, do this on the Internet. And so when we did on the Internet, it was kind of cool because nobody else was doing it. So it was one of those things that we are right away number one in the rankings. Jody Grundon [00:02:21]: No, yeah, we. James Kademan [00:02:22]: Back 20 years ago, man, that's. Jody Grundon [00:02:24]: Yeah, yeah. And we have, we, we. We haven't gone far from that. So we're still number one in the rankings today, which is kind of cool. James Kademan [00:02:31]: Be interesting to go back and just visit if you had a time machine or something like that and just visit. What was the Internet like 20 years ago? Jody Grundon [00:02:38]: It was brutal. James Kademan [00:02:39]: No YouTube. I don't even know if Google was around back then. I mean, yeah, totally different world. Jody Grundon [00:02:45]: It was. And it's kind of funny because everybody thought, well, that was. That's a big waste of money. Don't put money in there. Because we, we got out of the yellow page. Yellow page is what accounting firms are always in. Accounting firms, law firms, you name it. You had these big ads, you spent tons of money, and then you just kind of hope people called you. Jody Grundon [00:03:00]: And I didn't have the money back then, so it's like I bootstrapped my own company. So it was one of those things that I just couldn't compete with the big boys. And so the only, only thing we could do is try something different. I thought, hey, this Internet thing sounds great. Let's try it. And yeah. And everybody thought, hey, you're wasting your money. No one's going to call. Jody Grundon [00:03:19]: And the funny part is, nobody called. It took a long time to actually get going and figure it out and get people to realize what virtual CFO even was. It took about, I'd say, probably five to 10 years, really, to. To get a lot of traction for it. James Kademan [00:03:38]: Stick with it for a while. Jody Grundon [00:03:39]: Oh, yeah. It wasn't one of those things. Overnight successes. It was, hey, we started it. And they, they always say, you know, building the plane as it's flying in the air type of thing. That's exactly what we did. It was like, okay, what can we do to make this better? Improve this? And we were not profitable at all for probably eight, eight, nine, ten years of that. It was, it was one of those things. Jody Grundon [00:03:57]: My wife kept asking me, hey, when are we going to do something? You need to get a job? I'm like, no, no, no. Next year's gonna be the perfect year. And then next year coming, there'd be all these obstacles that we we didn't overcome. And then it's like, oh, well, next year will be the best year. And then finally next year ended up being the right year, and it just, it just blew up from there and became super profitable, super high growth. And, you know, we grew it to Gez, probably 10 million bucks or so before we actually sold it to Anders and became part of the, the larger accounting firm. James Kademan [00:04:25]: Gotcha. The irony of the CFO not making money. Jody Grundon [00:04:28]: Right. Yeah, I know. I tell everybody that too. The other irony is I can't, I can't add in my head, oh, wow, you got a CFO that has to use a calculator. Yeah. Which is kind of funny. And, and, and the funny part about that was on my, the very first. So I, I, I speak at a lot of conferences, and the very first conference I was invited to, I was super unprepared. Jody Grundon [00:04:47]: You know, it was one of those things. I just didn't know what to talk about. Here I'm supposed to talk about. Talk to 30 at that time, agency owners and, and teach them how to be profitable and all that kind of stuff. And the guy's like, do not, whatever you do, do not bring a PowerPoint. I'm like, okay, okay, I won't bring a PowerPoint. And I'm thinking, okay, now what do I do? What do I do? And, you know, the funny part about it was my luggage got stuck, got routed to the wrong airport. So I came in. Jody Grundon [00:05:13]: No, no, no luggage. I didn't have anything really to wear other than I had a T shirt. I had shorts and, and, and, and gym. Gym shoes. And I was like, what do I do? And I went to the local mall, bought some stuff, and, and at the time, my credit cards kept getting denied. And I was like, what's going on here? Why are my credit cards getting denied? This is weird. And, and so eventually, I, I, I, I looked across the mall. There was a Tommy Bahama store there. Jody Grundon [00:05:37]: And I thought, oh, that's kind of cool. That's a little different. I'll, I'll, I'll, I'll get some Tommy Bahama stuff, because he, he said, do not be the traditional accountant. I'm like, okay, that's kind of cool. And, but by the time I got, I got done, I was like, the only thing I had left was my debit card, because nothing was working. And so I went to this dinner after the fact and that. And you can imagine, here the finance guy comes in. You know, at that time, I was wearing an Italian Bahama shirt and like, hey, find this guy wearing Italian Bahama shirt. Jody Grundon [00:06:03]: I'm like, hey, I'll get the hors d' oeuvres for 30 business owners here. I'm thinking, this is kind of cool. And I go to pay with my debit card, and guess what? It got denied. I'm like, what the heck?

Every big agency has a CFO but what does a CFO really do? When do you need one?We sit down with Jody Grunden, a virtual CFO for creative and marketing agencies to explain in detail.Jody has been a fractional CFO for business and agencies for over 20 years. We sit down and talk to him to learn why an agency might want a CFO and the difference between a fractional one versus an internal one.Jody talks about the "messy" range between $1.5m and $5m where operations and finances start breaking for most agencies and how to get through it.We also press him on tips and strategies agencies can start doing today to avoid the chaos of hitting that range and falling into plummeting profitability as most agencies begin to scale.-----Find Jody online:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodygrundenhttps://anderscpa.com/Email Jody at:jgrunden@anderscpa.com-----JOIN THE FREE DISCORDhttps://discord.gg/uvHRRRFVRDOur recommended agency tools:everbrospodcast.com/recommended-tools/----------------------------------⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐As always, if you enjoyed this episode or this podcast in general and want to leave us a review or rating, head over to Apple and let us know what you like! It helps us get found and motivates us to keep producing this free content.----------------------------------Want to connect with us? Reach out to us on the everbrospodcast.com website, subscribe to us on YouTube, or connect with us on socials:YouTube: @agencygrowthpodcastTwitter/X: @theagency_uLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/agencypodcastFacebook: facebook.com/theagencyuInstagram: @theagencyuReddit: r/agency & u/JakeHundleyTikTok: @agency.u

As a business owner, you may trust your team, but that trust can blind you to the quiet financial risks inside your business.  In this episode of The Creative Agency Success Show, we talk with Clay Kniepmann, manager in Forensic and Litigation at Anders, to share practical tips on balancing trust and control and how you can use simple steps to strengthen your internal processes.Key Takeaways:Watch for Red Flags: Delayed reports and lifestyle mismatches are warning signs.Balance Trust and Controls: Small businesses need clear internal controls.Simple Steps Matter: You don't need complex systems.  Technology Has Limits: Prevention still relies on human judgment.Owner Involvement is Key: Owners must stay engaged.Take practical steps to strengthen your business for lasting success. Tune into the episode of ▶️ Why Every Business Owner Should Think Like a Forensic Accountant with Clay Kniepmann.Find more podcast episodes on our website: anderscpa.com/learn/podcasts/    Episode resources:●       Anders Virtual CFO by Anders website: anderscpa.com  ●       Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter:  https://anderscpa.com/learn/  ●        Check out the Virtual CFO Playbook Course:  anderscpa.com/virtual-cfo-services/vcfo-playbook/  QuotesClay Kniepmann - "Forensic accounting is like piecing a puzzle together. Each case is unique and requires careful analysis and adaptability."Jamie Nau: "Understanding your operational processes helps identify potential fraud risks more effectively than generic controls."Clay Kniepmann is a manager in Forensic and Litigation at Anders, specializing in forensic accounting, fraud investigation, and litigation services. He's known for making intricate financial issues easy to understand, giving leaders the clarity they need to make smarter decisions.   Website: https://anderscpa.com/  FB: https://www.facebook.com/AndersCPA  LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claykniepmann/  https://www.linkedin.com/company/anders-cpa/IG: https://www.instagram.com/anderscpa/ The Creative Agency Success Show helps service-based business owners master the financial side of growth. Hosted by Jamie Nau, Director of Virtual CFO Services/ Virtual CFO, and Jody Grunden, Partner and Virtual CFO Practice Leader at Anders CPAs + Advisors, the podcast dives into essential financial strategies for scaling creative agencies.  Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2458889    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vcfobyanders   Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vcfobyanders/  Instagram:

Imagine turning media attention into real business growth. For service-based small business owners, publicity is about turning visibility into profit.In this episode, Mickie Kennedy, founder of eReleases, shares exactly how you can use PR to grow your credibility and revenue. He explains how press releases, when done right, can open doors to media coverage, attract your ideal clients, and create long-term financial success.  Key takeaways:Why do most press releases fail? 97% of press releases generate no earned media and what separates the 3% that succeed.Press releases that actually work. Write story-based press releases that highlight real customer experiences.The difference between PR and ads. Ads push products, but PR builds trust.  How to define success. Success is generating real opportunities, partnerships, and revenue for your business.Practical PR strategies you can use. Proven tactics that small business owners can implement to stand out in their industry.Tune into the episode of ▶️ Turn Publicity Into Profit: The PR Strategy That Works.Find more podcast episodes on our website: anderscpa.com/learn/podcasts/  Episode resources:●       Anders Virtual CFO by Anders website: anderscpa.com  ●       Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter:  https://anderscpa.com/learn/    ●       Check out the Virtual CFO Playbook Course:  https://anderscpa.com/virtual-cfo-services/vcfo-playbook/     Quotes-Mickie Kennedy: ""Product and service launches are common, but they often miss the story. Add use cases and real client experiences to make it newsworthy."-Jody Grunden: "PR isn't just ads in disguise. It's about telling stories that uncover opportunities to generate revenue for your company."Mickie Kennedy is the founder of eReleases, a leading press release distribution service dedicated to helping small businesses, startups, and authors gain credibility and authority through strategic publicity. He has mastered the art of turning press releases into real profit and positioning brands as industry leaders.  Mickie's proven system ensures businesses dominate the front page of Google and attract the recognition they deserve. Beyond PR, he is also a published poet, bringing creativity and perspective to every story he helps share.Website: https://www.ereleases.com/    FB: https://www.facebook.com/mickie.kennedy/https://www.facebook.com/ereleases.press.release.distribution   LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/publicity/   IG: https://www.instagram.com/ereleasespr/?hl=en  X: https://x.com/ereleases/   The Creative Agency Success Show helps service-based business owners master the financial side of growth. Hosted by Jamie Nau, Director of Virtual CFO Services/ Virtual CFO, and Jody Grunden, Partner and Virtual CFO Practice Leader at Anders CPAs + Advisors, the podcas

If you're invisible online, you're losing clients before they even know you exist. In today's competitive market, your digital presence is your storefront. In this episode, Agency Consultant & Executive Coach Karl Sakas of Sakas & Company explains why being invisible online is costing you clients and what you can do to fix it. He shares practical strategies on leadership, delegation, and long-term planning that help you attract more clients and strengthen your agency.Key takeaways:Delegation done right. Learn how letting go of low-value tasks helps you focus on client growth and financial results.Stop being the “answer person.” Growth stalls when every decision depends on you.   Visibility drives revenue. If you're not visible, you're handing over opportunities to competitors.Audit your meetings. Free up your time by identifying which meetings matter and can be delegated.Coaching and accountability matter. Having an outside advisor helps you avoid blind spots and stay accountable.Tune into the episode of ▶️ Improve as an Agency Leader and 'Calm the Chaos' with Karl Sakas.Find more podcast episodes on our website: anderscpa.com/learn/podcasts/ Episode resources:●       Anders Virtual CFO by Anders website: anderscpa.com ●       Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter:  https://anderscpa.com/learn/   ●        Check out the Virtual CFO Playbook Course:  anderscpa.com/virtual-cfo-services/vcfo-playbook/ QuotesKarl Sakas: "A meeting audit helps leaders reclaim time. Review your calendar, decide which meetings matter, and delegate or cut the rest."Jody Grunden: "Delegation is the cornerstone of growth. Protecting your team from failure keeps them from developing."Karl Sakas is an agency advisor and coach who helps agency owners work less, earn more, and build stronger teams. Known as the "agency therapist," Karl has supported 600+ agencies across 36 countries in navigating growth and scaling smartly. He specializes in guiding leaders toward building lifestyle agencies or positioning for multi-million dollar exits.  Website: https://sakasandcompany.com/ FB: https://web.facebook.com/SakasAndCompany?_rdc=1&_rdr#   LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlsakas/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/SakasandCompanyTeam/  X: https://x.com/KarlSakas YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOyb-o2ICYgIOzBzCBarrjQ The Creative Agency Success Show helps service-based business owners master the financial side of growth. Hosted by Jamie Nau, Director of Virtual CFO Services/ Virtual CFO, and Jody Grunden, Partner and Virtual CFO Practice Leader at Anders CPAs + Advisors, the podcast dives into essential financial strategies for scaling creative agencies.Website:

You don't need more hands—you need better tools. For service-based small business owners, AI can lift the burden of repetitive tasks, helping your team do more of what moves the needle  In this episode of The Creative Agency Success Show, we sit down with Ed Krystosik, Co-Founder of RAC Projects AI, to unpack the real-world strategies for integrating AI into small businesses. From streamlining workflows to navigating compliance risks, Ed shares how AI can support your people, sharpen your processes, and fuel sustainable growth. Key Takeaways:Support Over Substitution: AI should enhance, not replace, your team.  Start Small, Think ROI: Target low-friction tasks first.  Fix the Process First: Map your workflows, then automate what makes sense.Win Team Buy-In: Assign a tech-savvy team member to lead the change. Make AI adoption a shared mission, not a top-down command.Play It Safe with Data: Learn how to protect sensitive info and avoid hallucinated outputs with smart model settings.Make Your Method Memorable: Create repeatable models that AI and humans can remember and recommend.Learn how to use AI to power smarter decisions, sharper content, and stronger results. Watch the episode of ▶️ Amplifying Human Potential In Your Business with AI Support.Find more podcast episodes on our website: http://www.summitcpa.net/podcasts 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  ●        Check out the Virtual CFO Playbook Course:  https://anderscpa.com/anderscpa.com/virtual-cfo-services/vcfo-playbook/   Quotes"If you're using AI to amplify the people you already have—or possibly replace the need for new hires—that's where you get tremendous ROI." - Ed Krystosik"When AI takes over parts of everyone's tasks, it shifts job roles. The challenge becomes getting buy-in as responsibilities evolve." - Jamie NauEd Krystosik is the Co-Founder of RAC/AI, where he helps busy sales professionals amplify their impact through smart, AI-supported lead generation strategies. By automating follow-ups and systematizing referral pipelines, Ed empowers professionals to boost revenue without burning out. His approach focuses on maximizing quality leads, nurturing client relationships, and simplifying tech with practical workflows. With Ed's guidance, sales teams can focus less on chasing leads and more on closing deals. He's on a mission to help sales pros unlock human potential through strategic, AI-backed systems.Website: https://racprojects.ai/ Facebook: https://racprojects.ai/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-krystosik/ The Creative Agency Success Show helps service-based business owners master the financial side of growth. Hosted by Jamie Nau, Director of VCFO Services/ Virtual CFO, and Jody Grunden, Partner and Virtual CFO Practice Leader at Anders CPAs + Advisors, the podcast dives into essential

Jody Grunden, CPA, stands out for more than his brightly colored Hawaiian shirts at accounting conferences and events. Grunden was one of the first firm leaders to embrace remote work, and he remains a proponent of it. His firm also was one of the first to offer outsourced CFO services. In this JofA podcast episode, Grunden reflects on his firm's growth, explains how cultures can mesh during a merger, and predicts where the future lies for CPAs. Hint: It's not in delivering financial statements to clients. In an earlier JofA interview, Grunden discussed not feeling fear when trying something new and explained why Monday is his favorite day of the week. What you'll learn from this episode: ·         The evolution of outsourced CFO service offerings. ·         Why Grunden says remote work “is the way to go.” ·         How off-site retreats helped grow postmerger culture. ·         What “remaining independent” means to Grunden. ·         The future of client advisory services. ·         Why a client's “graduation” should be celebrated.

Jody Grunden, CPA, stands out for more than his brightly colored Hawaiian shirts at accounting conferences and events. Grunden was one of the first firm leaders to embrace remote work, and he remains a proponent of it. His firm also was one of the first to offer outsourced CFO services. In this JofA podcast episode, Grunden reflects on his firm's growth, explains how cultures can mesh during a merger, and predicts where the future lies for CPAs. Hint: It's not in delivering financial statements to clients. In an earlier JofA interview, Grunden discussed not feeling fear when trying something new and explained why Monday is his favorite day of the week. What you'll learn from this episode: · The evolution of outsourced CFO service offerings. · Why Grunden says remote work "is the way to go." · How off-site retreats helped grow postmerger culture. · What "remaining independent" means to Grunden. · The future of client advisory services. · Why a client's "graduation" should be celebrated.

Growth is exciting—but without strong financial strategy, it can lead to cash flow issues and missed opportunities. Jody Grunden, co-founder of Summit CPA, explains how Virtual CFOs help businesses scale without financial blind spots. Key insights: ✅ How forecasting helps businesses avoid financial pitfalls ✅ The most common cash flow mistakes—and how to fix them ✅ Why strategic CFO planning leads to long-term success If you want to scale with confidence and financial clarity, don't miss this episode. Need CFO services? Let 40 Accounting help!   Connect with Jody: Website:  https://www.summitcpa.net/   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodygrunden/  Get a Copy of Jody's Book ‘Digital Dollars and Cents':  https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Dollars-Cents-Companies-Financial/dp/1973267373    Connect with Carl: https://40strategy.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/carljcox/ https://www.instagram.com/carljcox40/ https://x.com/40Strategy  

Creative Agency Success Show (Episode 144): “A maturity model isn't a report card, it's about understanding where your decision-making capabilities are.” - Jamie NauIn this episode of The Creative Agency Success Show, Jamie Nau and Jody Grunden pull back the curtain on how small business owners can move from just getting by to truly thriving. They've spent the last eight months crafting a maturity model designed to help you assess where your business stands in five key areas: cash management, forecasting, profitability, sales outlook, and financial reporting. But here's the thing—it's not about being perfect. It's about having a clear path forward.Imagine being able to make decisions with confidence, knowing you're moving in the right direction. That's the power of understanding where your business currently stands and what small but impactful steps you can take next.So, what's your next move? Tune in now and start building a business that works for you—not the other way around.▶️ What's a Maturity Model Anyway?Find more podcast episodes on our website: http://www.summitcpa.net/podcasts 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-news. ●       Digital Dollars and Cents: A Virtual CFO's Playbook to help Digital Companies Create a Financial Roadmap to Success, is now an audiobook! Download it here: https://vcfo.summitcpa.net/ddc   _________________________________________________________________________________________The Creative Agency Success Show helps service-based business owners master the financial side of growth. Hosted by Jamie Nau, Virtual CFO, and Jody Grunden, Partner at Anders CPAs + Advisors, the podcast dives into essential financial strategies for scaling creative agencies. With insights from industry experts and real-world experiences, episodes explore topics like cash flow management, forecasting, and financial maturity models. Backed by Summit Virtual CFO Services by Anders, this bi-weekly show provides actionable guidance for business owners navigating financial complexity. Join the conversation to build a stronger, more financially successful agency.Website: https://the-virtual-cpa-success-show-for-creative-agencies.simplecast.com/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vcfobyanders   Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vcfobyanders/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vcfobyanders  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vcfobyanders   X: https://x.com/vcfobyanders ________________________________________________________________________________________Jamie Nau, Summit Virtual CFO, is a seasoned financial expert with a deep understanding of business growth sta

In this episode of The Path to Freedom Podcast, Wes is joined by Jody Grunden, the founder of Summit Virtual CFO by Anders. Jody pioneered the virtual CFO model over 20 years ago and has helped countless businesses optimize their financial strategies.   They discuss:   -The origins of Summit Virtual CFO and its evolution over two decades -How virtual CFO services help small businesses scale strategically -Key financial metrics that business owners need to track -The importance of cash reserves and dynamic forecasting -Subscription-based billing and remote work: game-changers for service businesses -Jody's entrepreneurial journey, from bootstrapping to a multimillion-dollar exit -Jody also shares insights from his book Digital Dollars and Cents and offers valuable advice for business owners who want to make smarter financial decisions.   Connect with Jody & Summit Virtual CFO:   Get Jody's book: Digital Dollars and Cents – Email Jody@SummitCPANet for a free link or find it on Amazon   Listen to Virtual CPA Success Show podcast: https://www.summitcpa.net/podcasts   Subscribe & Stay Connected: If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe to The Path to Freedom Podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Leave a review and share this episode with fellow entrepreneurs looking to build profitable and sustainable businesses!   7 Steps to Owning a Franchise: https://path2frdm-1.hubspotpagebuilder.com/path-to-freedom-about-franchising   If you would like to learn more about this particular franchise opportunity or discuss franchise ownership in general - feel free to use the link to my calendar below to schedule a free, no-obligation introductory meeting.   https://calendly.com/wes-barefoot/introcallwithwes   Connect with Wes:   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/path2frdm/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/path2frdm Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesleybarefoot/   #CFO #Business #Franchise

Episode 239 FACULTY: Scott Scarano, EA and Matt Kid, CPA CLASS: #Shoperations In this episode, our substitute teacher, Matt Kidd, continues his interview with Scott Scarano, EA where Scott shares the story of how he grew his accounting firm to $1.3 million with $400,000 in annual cash flow, and became completely removed from daily operations. Scott provides insights into the importance of a strong team, unique hiring methods, and embracing technology and innovation in the firm. He also touches on his passion for rapping, his struggle with growth versus letting off the reins, and his future aspirations for his firm.

Unlock the secrets to scaling your business successfully with insights from Jody Grunden, a trailblazer in the accounting industry. Discover how he pioneered the Virtual CFO Services concept and transformed his traditional accounting firm into a remote powerhouse, eventually leading to its acquisition by a larger firm. Listen as Jody candidly shares the lessons he learned about setting the right pricing strategies that align with value, which not only fueled considerable growth but also attracted top-tier talent. Jody takes us on a fascinating journey through the challenges and successes of transitioning to a fully remote operation. From initial skepticism among employees to gaining industry recognition, his story underscores the power of adaptability and resilience. We explore how embracing remote work opened doors to new growth opportunities, and how scalable processes and delegation played crucial roles in this transformation. Jody also highlights the importance of mentorship by involving junior team members in client interactions, empowering them to develop leadership skills and build strong client relationships.Finally, tap into the entrepreneurial mindset with guidance on profit-focused accounting metrics and the art of trusting your instincts. Learn about the key financial metrics that drive informed decision-making and ensure business stability. Jody shares a thought-provoking story about a missed opportunity, reminding us all of the importance of taking decisive action and trusting our gut in business ventures. Let this conversation inspire you to seize opportunities, embrace change, and confidently scale your business to new heights.

Episode 228 FACULTY: Adam Hale, CPA CLASS: #Shoperations TITLE: $10M Model Cloud Accounting Firm, Beyond the Summit In this episode of Accounting High, join the host and guest Adam Hale from Summit CPAs as they dive into the transformation from traditional accounting to advisory services. Adam discusses the journey of creating a successful model cloud accounting firm, emphasizing the shift from answering questions to asking them, the importance of building a niche, and the challenges of merging with a larger firm like Anders. He shares valuable insights on developing advisory services, maintaining culture in a distributed team, and growing a business by learning from failures. Whether you're starting out in the accounting field or looking to innovate within your firm, this episode offers practical advice and inspiration.

In this insightful episode of our podcast, we're excited to host Jody Grunden, a renowned accounting visionary and co-founder of the innovative Summit CPA Group, now known as Summit Virtual CFO by Anders. With over two decades of experience, Jody brings a wealth of knowledge in financial management, particularly for service-based companies.Join us as Jody delves into the critical aspects of financial management, including effective strategies for cash flow management, the importance of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and the art of forecasting in service-based businesses. This episode is a deep dive into how understanding and leveraging these financial tools can propel a business's growth and stability.Takeaways:Jody's Journey: From founding Summit CPA Group to merging with Anders CPAs + Advisors and becoming a leading provider of Virtual CFO Services.The Financial Four: Jody discusses the four most important financial metrics for growing your business.Industry-Specific Metrics: Learn how to use industry metrics to foster growth and become a thought leader in your field.Virtual CFO Services: Exploring the benefits and processes of managing finances remotely for service-based companies.KPIs and Cash Flow: Jody shares insights on tracking key metrics for maintaining a healthy financial pipeline.Building a Successful Remote Team: Jody talks about cultivating a strong culture within a distributed team and the impacts on business success.Future-Focused Forecasting: How forecasting can play a pivotal role in business strategy and decision-making.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/brews-business--5630487/support.

Episode 227 FACULTY: Mike Meilinger, CPA CLASS: #Shoperations In this episode, join us as we dive into an inspiring conversation with Mike Meilinger, a seasoned CPA and business coach who has transformed not only his accounting firm but also his health. Mike shares his incredible physical transformation and adopting extreme fitness regimes like 75 Hard. Gain valuable insights on balancing business success with personal health, the importance of emotional well-being, and why investing in discomfort can lead to growth in all aspects of life.

“I want to make sure that whatever we create, it's not only conducive for my lifestyle but for my entire team.” – Jody Grunden The finer details of this episode:Transformation of the accounting professionChanging perceptions within the accounting industryImportance of personal relationships and communication in professional successExperiences and challenges faced in public accounting and corporate rolesEntrepreneurial journey and founding of Summit CPA GroupEmphasis on work-life balance and flexible work environmentsAdoption of remote work and its impact on company cultureNeed for adaptability and innovation in accounting practicesRole of soft skills and interpersonal relationships in future accounting careersEncouragement for young professionals to embrace change and seek personal development opportunities 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.comWe're hiring! Check out our open positions: https://www.summitcpa.net/career-opportunitiesConnect with Jody here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodygrunden/Check out Summit Virtual CFO by Anders here: https://www.summitcpa.net/ Timestamps:Welcome to the Young CPA Success Show (00:00:00)Introduction to the podcast aimed at guiding young accounting professionals in their careers. Changing Perceptions in Accounting (00:00:23)Discussion about the importance of altering how the world perceives accounting. Jody's Journey in Accounting (00:01:23)Jody shares his background, from studying finance to discovering his passion for accounting. Experiences in Public Accounting (00:02:35)Jody recounts his challenging experiences in public accounting and the toll it took on him. Transition to Corporate World (00:04:09)Jody describes his shift from public accounting to corporate roles and initial enjoyment. Starting an Entrepreneurial Journey (00:05:38)Jody discusses leaving corporate life to run a small CPA firm and its challenges. Creating Summit CFO (00:07:14)Jody details the founding of Summit CFO, focusing on innovative practices and culture. Changing the Way Accounting Works (00:08:42)Jody emphasizes his goal to transform accounting practices for better work-life balance. Pioneering New Accounting Practices (00:10:14)Recognition of Jody as a pioneer in innovative accounting practices and culture. Overcoming Obstacles in Accounting (00:12:01)Discussion on turning challenges into opportunities and embracing change in the industry. Building Team Culture (00:14:00)The importance of intentional team culture and communication in remote work environments. Risk and Change in Accounting (00:15:02)Challenges accountants face with risk and change, and the need for adaptable team members. Here are the extracted timestamps and their corresponding titles from the podcast episode transcription segment: Going Remote: The Decision (00:15:42)Discussion on the decision to go fully remote and initial reactions from the team. Stand-Up Meetings and Culture (00:16:36)Overview of stand-up meetings, starting with jokes, and fostering a collaborative culture. Initial Resistance to Remote Work (00:17:14)Team members express concerns about remote work; only one person agrees to the idea. Office Renovation and Investment (00:18:32)Details about the office renovation and the unexpected shift towards remote work. Lessons from the Transition (00:19:17)Reflections on the financial implications of the office renovation amidst the remote transition. Adapting to Remote Work (00:20:03)Gradual acceptance of remote work by team members and the eventual leasing of the office. Listening vs. Acting (00:21:02)Speaker discusses the importance of listening to feedback without feeling obligated to act on it. The Entrepreneurial Spirit (00:22:16)Exploration of the entrepreneurial mindset within the company and its impact on employee roles. Compensation Structure and Flexibility (00:23:50)Explanation of the compensation model that supports both ambition and security for employees. Importance of Diverse Roles (00:27:06)The necessity of having both ambitious and content employees for company success. Evaluating Potential Hires (00:28:20)Criteria for assessing candidates, including sports and teamwork experience beyond academics. Remote Work Dynamics (00:29:46)Discussion on the effectiveness of remote work and maintaining engagement through video calls. Remote Work Presentation Tips (00:31:12)Importance of professional camera presence and background during virtual interviews. Creating Work-Life Boundaries (00:32:03)Discussion on the necessity of having a designated workspace to separate work from personal life. Flexibility in Remote Work (00:32:50)Benefits of remote work include flexibility for personal emergencies and family commitments. Task-Oriented vs. Hours-Driven Work (00:34:23)Emphasis on productivity based on task completion rather than hours worked. Balancing Career and Family (00:35:18)Personal experiences of balancing a career in accounting with family responsibilities. Company Culture and Flexibility (00:36:11)Summit CFO's supportive environment allows employees to prioritize family alongside work. Personal Health Journey (00:37:15)Speaker shares health improvements and lifestyle changes since joining Summit CFO. Work-Life Integration (00:38:49)Discussion on the shift from work-life balance to work-life integration for better fulfillment. Vision for Accounting's Future (00:40:12)Changing perceptions about accounting for clients and the industry, aiming for innovation. AI's Impact on Accounting (00:45:58)Predictions on how AI will transform traditional accounting roles and emphasize advisory services. Importance of Soft Skills (00:47:40)Highlighting the growing need for soft skills in accounting to build client relationships. The Importance of Client Relationships (00:48:24)Discusses a challenging client onboarding experience emphasizing the value of personal relationships in client retention. The Power of Communication (00:48:38)Highlights the necessity of communication skills for success in any profession, including accounting. Curiosity in the Workplace (00:49:47)Encourages questioning established practices to foster innovation and improve job performance. The Cake Story Analogy (00:50:26)Shares a humorous story illustrating the importance of understanding the reasons behind actions and practices. Innovating Through Inquiry (00:51:14)Explains how being curious and asking "why" can lead to better processes and innovation in the workplace. Wrapping Up the Podcast (00:51:29)Concludes the episode, expressing gratitude and excitement for future connections and opportunities. Connecting with Jody (00:52:10)Provides information on how listeners can connect with Jody and learn more about his work. Invitation for Young CPAs (00:52:57)Encourages young CPAs to explore career development opportunities with Summit CFO and Anders CPAs.

Like the show? Send us a text message on what you liked.As I think about our next guest, Jody Grunden, he reminds me of the successful business leader who Mixergy's Andrew Warner should feature. Jody co-founded Summit CPA Group in the early 2000s and decided to focus on financial leadership instead of offering the conventional services many small firms provided.This discussion addresses the accounting shortage, effective accountants, and why accounting professionals have nothing to fear about AI technologies.FranchiseU!FranchiseU! is for those in, or considering, careers within the world of franchising. Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Jody Grunden is an accounting visionary with over 20 years of experience. He has helped pioneer innovative changes within the industry, including the introduction of the first subscription-based billing method employed by an accounting firm. He is the author of two books, Digital Dollars and Cents and Building the Virtual CFO Firm in the Cloud.Together with his partner Adam Hale, Jody co-founded Summit CPA Group in 2002. It was the first fully distributed accounting firm in the country. In 2020, Summit merged with Anders CPAs + Advisors, and is now recognized as Summit Virtual CFO by Anders. Jody's specialties include Virtual CFO Services, Creative Agencies, and Remote Team Management.Listen to this informative Sharkpreneur episode with Jody Grunden about the evolution of virtual CFO services. Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week's show:- How being innovative, solving problems, and always looking to improve processes and services will lead you to success. - How a virtual CFO is perfect for companies who cannot afford a full-time CFO.- Why going completely virtual fueled the firm's growth. - How having a subscription-based billing model provides clients with predictable fees.- How it's vital to document processes and maintain a strong culture during mergers. Connect with Jody:Guest Contact InfoX@vcfobyandersInstagram@vcfobyandersFacebookfacebook.com/vcfobyandersLinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vcfobyandersLinks Mentioned:summitcpa.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jody Grunden is an accounting visionary with over 20 years of experience. He has helped pioneer innovative changes within the industry, including the introduction of the first subscription-based billing method employed by an accounting firm. He is the author of two books, Digital Dollars and Cents and Building the Virtual CFO Firm in the Cloud. Together with his partner Adam Hale, Jody co-founded Summit CPA Group in 2002. It was the first fully distributed accounting firm in the country. In 2020, Summit merged with Anders CPAs + Advisors, and is now recognized as Summit Virtual CFO by Anders. Jody's specialties include Virtual CFO Services, Creative Agencies, and Remote Team Management. Listen to this informative Sharkpreneur episode with Jody Grunden about the evolution of virtual CFO services. Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week's show: - How being innovative, solving problems, and always looking to improve processes and services will lead you to success. - How a virtual CFO is perfect for companies who cannot afford a full-time CFO. - Why going completely virtual fueled the firm's growth. - How having a subscription-based billing model provides clients with predictable fees. - How it's vital to document processes and maintain a strong culture during mergers. Connect with Jody: Guest Contact Info X @vcfobyanders Instagram @vcfobyanders Facebook facebook.com/vcfobyanders LinkedIn linkedin.com/company/vcfobyanders Links Mentioned: summitcpa.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Season 5 Episode 24 FACULTY: Paul Seaton, CPA a.k.a. Rev. Swaggy P CLASS: #SocialStudies In this engaging podcast episode, Scott dives into a conversation with Rev. Swaggy P, also known as Paul Seaton, CPA, and the Founder of Agency CFO. The episode unfolds the intriguing journey of Rev. Swaggy P, from his role as an almost Catholic Priest to becoming a Cloud CPA and CFO. Shout Outs: Marcel Petitpas, Parakeeto, Ron Baker, Jody Grunden, Summit CPA Group, Brian Soloentrop, @SoleyBusiness, Jason Staats, Roman Villard Chapters: 00:09:01 Introducing Rev. Swaggy P 00:11:12 From REV to CPA 00:15:05 Becoming a Cloud CPA 00:18:45 Working at Summit CPA Group 00:22:13 The Summit CPA Group Client Meeting Structure 00:28:13 Leaving Summit to Build a Firm 00:31:27 Paul Going Viral on Tax Twitter 00:40:36 Early Years of the Firm 00:42:41 Marketing and Hiring Intentionally 00:51:43 Lessons Learned from Too Many Meetings 00:56:12 Swaggy P 00:59:02 Bridging the Gap Between CFO and Tax Accountants Tags: marketing, social media, Twitter, LinkedIn, branding, niche, vertical, pricing, value, positioning, hiring, team building, leadership, delegation, systems, processes, consulting, advisory, profitability, growth --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/accountinghigh/message

"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 JohnsonThe finer details of this episode:Distinguishing between coaching, consulting, and agency rolesMaintaining control and alignment as a CEO or ownerUnderstanding 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.comThis Quiz Will Tell You What Financial Help Your Business Needs: https://rxkebp5191f.typeform.com/summitquiz?typeform-source=statics.teams.cdn.office.nethttp://BizChoreo.comhttps://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 

How to Scale Your Business with Strategic Financial Leadership Discover the secrets to improving cash flow and making informed financial decisions in your business with Jody Grunden.  Jo is an accounting visionary with over 20 years of experience. He has helped pioneer innovative changes within the industry, including the introduction of the first subscription-based billing method employed by an accounting firm. He is the author of two books, Digital Dollars and Cents and Building the Virtual CFO Firm in the Cloud. Together with his partner Adam Hale, Jody co-founded Summit CPA Group in 2002. It was the first fully distributed accounting firm in the country. In 2020, Summit merged with Anders CPAs + Advisors, and is now recognized as Summit Virtual CFO by Anders. Jody's specialties include Virtual CFO Services, Creative Agencies, and Remote Team Management. Through his virtual CFO services, Jody has revolutionized the way businesses approach their finances, providing customized strategies and forecasts to drive success. In this episode, you will learn the following: Streamline your business finances with virtual CFO services for improved cash flow and financial metrics. Optimize your business operations with efficient systems and processes to boost profitability. Gain access to different tiers of support and services tailored to your business needs. Uncover the secrets to maximizing profitability and cash flow for long-term business success. Learn how to manage cash flow effectively and make informed financial decisions that drive growth. Links: https://www.summitcpa.net/   Hi, I'm the Profit Answer Man Rocky Lalvani! I help small business owners simplify their financial reports to make more informed business decisions with fewer hassles. We utilize the Profit First system created by Mike Michalowicz Sign up to be notified when the next cohort of the Profit First Experience Course is available! Schedule your free, no-obligation intro call: https://bookme.name/rockyl/lite/intro-appointment-15-minutes Check out our website: http://profitcomesfirst.com/ Questions: questions@profitanswerman.com Email: rocky@profitcomesfirst.com Relay Bank (affiliate link) - https://relayfi.com/?referralcode=profitcomesfirst  Profit Answer Man Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/profitanswerman/ My podcast about living a richer more meaningful life: http://richersoul.com/ Profit First Toolkit: click here to sign up This episode is part of the SMB Podcast Network. Find other great interviews from around the internet just like this one at https://www.SMBPodcastNetwork.com Music provided by Junan from Junan Podcast Any financial advice is for educational purposes only and you should consult with an expert for your specific needs. #profitfirst

Special guest Jody Grunden takes us through his unorthodox approach to revolutionizing accounting. From managing an unexpected influx of resumes during a client meeting to boldly embracing remote work in the financial sector, Jody shares real stories of grit and innovation. Explore the practical side of his game-changing subscription-based billing model, eliminating billing surprises and reshaping client interactions. Uncover the raw realities, challenges, and unexpected opportunities that defined his path, leading to a successful merger. If you're eager to challenge industry norms and gain actionable insights into reshaping financial practices, don't miss this episode.   Jody is the co-founder of Summit CPA Group, a trailblazing firm that pioneered fully distributed operations and became the top provider of Virtual CFO Services in North America. In 2022, Summit joined forces with Anders CPAs + Advisors, rebranding as Summit Virtual CFO by Anders. This merger brings numerous advantages to Anders, aligning with Jody's vision of changing the way people think about accounting.    These include enhancing the "hybrid" work environment, establishing thought leadership in Virtual CFO Services, and adopting a progressive weekly subscription billing model.   Want to find more from Jody? Check out… https://www.summitcpa.net/ ------------------------------------------------------------------ Want more Business Choreography?  Check out… Business Choreography Website  Join The Business Choreography Group  Text Us "CHOREO NOW" To Get Started: 385-442-7188   Need the tech to build your Business Choreography? Check out.... ChoreoSuite  

Jody Grunden, the founder of Summit CPA Group, was a trailblazer in establishing one of the first CPA firms specializing in virtual CFO services. They recently achieved an impressive $10 million in revenue. What propelled Jody's success? The key lies in his commitment to regular client meetings. In this enlightening discussion, Jody unveils his strategy of revolutionizing client relationships by transitioning from traditional monthly engagements to weekly touchpoints. Tune in now to unlock the potential of this simple yet transformative shift, enabling you to enhance your advisory services and propel your firm's growth to new heights.SponsorShareFile - https://earmarkcpe.promo/sharefileChapters (00:00) - Welcome To The Earmark Podcast (01:27) - What inspired Jody to start his firm, and how did he start doing CFO work and not just compliance? (06:13) - Jody wanted to find what his firm could change from the traditional model (13:12) - Automatically charging clients for your services (20:18) - What do you do for a typical client? (32:20) - The importance of having a dynamic forecast (35:32) - Where did you learn to do this driver based modeling? (37:22) - How do you staff these engagements? (43:15) - Only do tax returns for clients you do the books for (44:29) - How did you get into doing remote work? (51:30) - Jody has always invested in marketing and now content (55:20) - What made you choose Anders over other firm merger possibilities? (58:30) - Jody's 5 requirements for selling or merging his firm (01:06:27) - Wrap up and where people can learn about Summit and find Jody online Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comDownload the Earmark CPE App Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.appConnect with Our Guest,  Jody GrundonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodygrunden Website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Season 5 Episode 1 FACULTY: Jody Grunden CLASS: #GuidePosts TITLE: Growing a Profitable Remote CFO Accounting Firm (feat. Jody Grunden, CPA) In this podcast episode, Scott interviews Jody Grunden, CPA, co-founder of Summit CPA Group and author of two books, to discuss various topics related to running an accounting practice and building virtual CFO services, dressing "professionally", and niching down. Introduction and an update on recent developments since the last interview. The origin story of Jody's Hawaiian shirts Scott shares his similar wardrobe story Discussing the evolution of “professional attire” in the accounting profession Exploring the benefits and challenges of running a remote accounting firm The importance of finding a niche and specializing in the industry Creating CFOs from accountants within the firm and the training and development process Utilizing retreats and building a strong company community Addressing the resistance to change in the accounting industry and the need for adaptation Insights into the day-to-day operations and growth goals at Summit CPA Group Scott and Jody discuss the acquisition of cloud firms, venture capital, and private equity Shout Outs: Tommy Bahama, Accounting Salon, Kenji Kuramoto, AICPA, Karbon, Dave Barrett, Matthew May, Acuity --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/accountinghigh/message

This week on the Digital Velocity Podcast, Jody Grunden of Summit CPA Group joins Erik and Tim to discuss why effective employee management, proper technology implementation, and solid company culture are all key components of a successful remote team. https://www.digitalvelocitypodcast.com/episodes/46-remote-team-management-jody-grunden

Jody Grunden is an accounting visionary with over 20 years of experience. He has helped pioneer innovative changes within the industry, including the introduction of the first subscription-based billing method employed by an accounting firm. He is the author of two books, Digital Dollars and Cents and Building the Virtual CFO Firm in the Cloud.  Together with his partner Adam Hale, Jody co-founded Summit CPA Group (Summit) in 2002, which merged with Anders CPAs + Advisors (Anders) in 2022. Summit, now a division of Anders, was the first fully distributed firm and the leading provider of Virtual CFO Services in North America.  Jody's specialties include Virtual CFO Services, Creative Agencies, and Remote Team Management.   During the show we discuss: What a CFO Does in a Typical Business What a Virtual CFO Does and How They Can Help You What Forecasts Are and How They Can Help You Grow Faster How to Differentiate Between a Bookkeeper, Controller, and CFO When to Know When You Need a Bookkeeper, Controller, and CFO What a Fractional CFO Does and How to Have One for a Very Low Cost The Type of Services That a Virtual CFO Can Assist With How Much Cash You Should Have in the Bank Account at Any Time Why Business Wwners Struggle to Get to Profitability and How to Fix It Why a CFO Can Function as Your Business GPS How a Proper Financial Forecast Can be Created and Help You Make More Profits  The Biggest Financial Mistakes Business Owners Make and How to Avoid Them How Often Should You Meet with Your Fraction CFO Why the Demand for Fractional CFOs is Exploding    Resources: https://www.summitcpa.net/  

Jody Grunden is an accounting visionary with over 20 years of experience. He has helped pioneer innovative changes within the industry, including the introduction of the first subscription-based billing method employed by an accounting firm. He is the author of two books, Digital Dollars and Cents and Building the Virtual CFO Firm in the Cloud.  Together with his partner Adam Hale, Jody co-founded Summit CPA Group (Summit) in 2002, which merged with Anders CPAs + Advisors (Anders) in 2022. Summit, now a division of Anders, was the first fully distributed firm and the leading provider of Virtual CFO Services in North America.  Jody's specialties include Virtual CFO Services, Creative Agencies, and Remote Team Management.   During the show we discuss: What a CFO Does in a Typical Business What a Virtual CFO Does and How They Can Help You What Forecasts Are and How They Can Help You Grow Faster How to Differentiate Between a Bookkeeper, Controller, and CFO When to Know When You Need a Bookkeeper, Controller, and CFO What a Fractional CFO Does and How to Have One for a Very Low Cost The Type of Services That a Virtual CFO Can Assist With How Much Cash You Should Have in the Bank Account at Any Time Why Business Owners Struggle to Get to Profitability and How to Fix It Why a CFO Can Function as Your Business GPS How a Proper Financial Forecast Can be Created and Help You Make More Profits  The Biggest Financial Mistakes Business Owners Make and How to Avoid Them How Often Should You Meet with Your Fraction CFO Why the Demand for Fractional CFOs is Exploding    Resources: https://www.summitcpa.net/  

In this episode Jody Grunden, Co-founder of Summit CPA Group and Partner at Anders CPAs + Advisors, joins our host Diane Helbig to discuss the role of dynamic forecasting in ensuring business growth. With more than 20 years of experience in public and private accounting, Jody has discovered that many small business owners don't know why they need a forecast; and if they do know that they need one, oftentimes, they aren't sure how to create one. Jody Grunden is an accounting visionary with over 20 years of experience. He co-founded Summit CPA Group in 2002. As the leading provider of Virtual CFO Services in North America, Summit provides professional Virtual CFO Services for over 100 companies across the US, helping business owners dive deep into the financial side of business to maximize profits, minimize taxes, and increase cash flow. Jody is also an industry speaker and a published author. If you are a small business owner or salesperson who struggles with getting the sales results you are looking for, get your copy of Succeed Without Selling today. Learn the importance of Always Be Curious. Each episode of this podcast provides insights and education around topics that are important to you as a business owner or leader. The content comes from people who are experts in their fields and who are interested in helping you be more successful. Whether it's sales challenges, leadership issues, hiring and talent struggles, marketing, seo, branding, time management, customer service, communication, podcasting, social media, cashflow, or publishing, the best and the brightest join the host, Diane Helbig, for a casual conversation. Discover programs, webinars, services, books, and other podcasts you can tap into for fresh ideas. Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode and visit Helbig Enterprises to explore the many ways Diane can help you improve your business outcomes and results. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What key metrics are you tracking for your agency? Do you know which KPIs are crucial for making proactive decisions to benefit your agency? There are 4 key metrics that enable you to see into your agency's future and make smarter growth decisions. Today's guest runs a CPA advisory firm that provides agencies with the tools they need to come up with original solutions for their unique challenges. He shares the four key metrics every agency should be tracking to predict their future moves. Jody Grunden is the founder of Anders CPAs + Advisors, a virtual CFO group focused on the creative agency space. His team serves as a catalyst for those striving to achieve their highest potential and carry this mentality on to their clients and community. In this episode, we'll discuss: Crucial metrics to track for your agency. The target average utilization rate for agencies. Assessing profitability and gross margin to make adjustments to your prices or staff. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio | Stitcher | Radio FM Sponsors and Resources Dot & Co: Today's episode of the Smart Agency Masterclass is sponsored by Dot & Co, client management specialists that will help digital marketing agencies keep their clients happy. With the help of their knowledgeable account managers, agency owners can step away from the day-to-day and focus on driving results. Check out dotandcompany.co/smartagency and get 20% off your first month working with them.   The 4 Crucial Financial Metrics You Should Be Tracking for Your Agency Jody and his team help their clients focus on their goals and achieve their highest potential. They help improve their client's business by teaching them to focus on four main metrics: Cash metrics Production metrics Financial metrics Pipeline metrics Keeping track of these metrics makes a huge impact on your agency allowing you to predict your cash position every month and make key decisions ahead of time rather than being reactionary. 1. Cash Metrics This is annualized revenue; something all agency owners should have knowledge and control over. Keeping track of how much cash you have in the bank determines your next steps in the business. The goal is to have at least 10% of your annualized revenue in the bank at all times. So if you have a $3 million agency, you should have $300,000 in the bank. Why ten percent? This amount covers 2 months' worth of expenses for a service-based business. Of course, this is the minimum. It's better to strive for 30% or six months' worth of expenses. There's no right or wrong answer. Some agencies are fine with 4 months' worth of expenses in the bank, some need less. How do you decide on the percentage your agency requires? Just look at your different risk factors. Are you focusing most of your resources on just one client? Do you have older, retiring partners? In those cases, there is high risk and you need a higher percentage. Do you have high recurring revenue? If so then 10% is fine. Anything over 6 months might be overkill and money you could be using to reinvest in the agency. Why You'll Need at Least Three Different Bank Accounts Jody usually advises clients to have three different bank accounts; a tax account (for 40% of net income); an operating account (money to pay bills), and a cash reserve account (a money market account or a high-interest savings account). Just keep in mind that if that money is sitting in your operating account, you'll be losing opportunities. The name of the game is making money on your money. Jason and Jody agree that you should also get a line of credit when you don't need it. Treat it as a safety guard and preferably have it renewed every two years instead of annually. It's not designed to be used on a daily basis. That's what your cash reserve is for. 2. Production Metrics This is the metric agencies use to build a solid forecast. This forecast should be dialed into your non-financial metrics and may change every month. There are two very important metrics to getting that forecast right: Utilization Rate -  what your team is working on and the percentage of their total hours spent on billable work. Average Build Rate - which is not what you're charging clients but rather the work being done. If you charge by the hour and you're not accurately tracking the time spent working that reduces your average build rate. These two metrics will help build a dynamic forecast because it's all based on people. You'll be able to build a month-by-month forecast and break down exactly what your agency should do on a monthly basis to achieve your revenue goals. Average Utilization Rate for Agencies How many hours does an agency typically work? This varies from agency to agency but on average they expect to work 30-32 (billable) hours per week. This is a benchmark of the number of hours you expect your workers to put in each week. Basically, the number of billable hours (work hours minus culture hours) divided into the number of available hours will give you your utilization rate. The average utilization rate for agencies is around 60%. However, your agency should strive to achieve your forecast projections. 3. Financial Metrics Assessing profitability and gross margin. Compare your agency to the competition and to your forecast. Comparing to everyone else will give you an idea of whether you're in the ballpark but more importantly, how well you're forecasting. To assess your overall profitability, first look at your net revenue. This is basically revenue minus hard costs. Once you have that, subtract all costs associated with production (anyone who works in the business), including fully-burdened costs like 401K and health insurance. Your goal as an agency should be about 50% net revenue. Additionally, your overhead costs like marketing expenses, business development, and facility costs should be no more than 35%. So, net revenue (50%) minus overhead (35%) = a gross margin bottom line (15%). Ideally, you'll want to get gross margin up from 15% closer to 25%. Try to focus not only on things you can cut back but also if it's time to increase prices. Planning to increase staff by 5%? Then you should probably also raise your prices or your margin percentage will shrink. 4. Pipeline Metrics The cash, production, and financial metrics will help you build a great model to predict exactly how much you'll hit each month. However, it can all crumble pretty quickly without the pipeline metric. This metric helps keep an eye on what you have under contract for the next three months and when you'll need to make adjustments according to the amount of work. For instance, if you have 65% under contract for the next three months that's fine and it's the typical number for your agency. However, if you're at 80% or 20% capacity then you'll need to make some adjustments.   Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? If you want to be around amazing agency owners that can see what you may not be able to see and help you grow your agency, go to Agency Mastery 360.  Our agency growth program helps you take a 360-degree view of your agency and gain mastery of the 3 pillar systems (attract, convert, scale) so you can create predictability, wealth, and freedom.