Early in David Safeer’s career as a business advisor, he received an assignment in rural West Virginia to meet with a man named Wally, who owned and operated a landscaping company.

Wally’s operation was small. He only had a few employees. One of his daughters kept his books each month.

When Safeer arrived to meet with Wally, he was greeted with a profit and loss statement. Wally reported that the business had made $250,000 in profit last year. And yet, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to make payroll a few weeks later.

This interaction ingrained in Safeer the devastating consequences of poor cash flow. It sent him on a journey to see what can be done with business owners in Wally’s position: their operation is profitable, but on the brink of closing because of cash flow.

Safeer shared Wally’s story and how he helped save his business during his presentation at GrowCon, the premier in-person event for owners of accounting, bookkeeping, tax preparation, and advisory businesses. This year’s version of the conference was held at the Southbank Hotel in Jacksonville, Florida, on May 6 and 7.

As we work on preparations for the GrowCon 2025 at the Utah Valley Convention Center in Provo May 5-7 next year, let’s take a moment to dive in to Safeer’s presentation on how business owners can sort the wheat from chaff when it comes to cash flow solutions. Check out the highlights from other speakers at GrowCon 2024 here.

The Illusion of Profitability

As the founder of Cash Is Clear Learning Systems, David Safeer is intimately familiar with most common strategies for fixing cash flow that you might encounter online.

Online blogs and influencers may recommend that cash strapped business that “You are in control.” They just need to “Focus on the short term”, or “Fix the problem with more sales.” The problem with many of these articles, Safeer noted in his presentation, is that the solutions they offer for cash flow woes are often counterintuitive.

There is no silver bullet or one size fits all solution to address the cash flow symptoms a business might be manifesting. “Focusing on the short term” may actually deepen cash flow issues in the long term, for example.

As Safeer mentioned in the example with Wally, many of the businesses with the most severe cash flow problems whom Safeer has worked with are actually profitable operations according to their profit and loss statements.

“Cash flow management will take mindset changes,” Safeer said. Good cash flow advisors see themselves as mentors, whether they’re working with the CEO or the accounting department.

Safeer has coined a four step process for teaching these principles at Cash is Clear: Model, Manage, Mentor, and Maximize.

Treating More than the Symptoms of Cash Flow Troubles

Among the most pervasive myths sold to accountants for addressing cash flow is the idea that “You are in control,” Safeer said. In almost every case, the accountant is not in control — the clients, the vendors, and the bank have the final say when it comes to most cash flow strategies.

Understanding the concentrated, company wide effort it takes to improve cash flow is crucial. That’s why Safeer emphasizes the change in mindset.

When companies turn to Safeer for help, their options are typically fairly limited. They’ve already taken out numerous loans and have maxed out their credit cards. The first priority in these situations is to build a reserve, Safeer said.

One potential piece of low hanging fruit in these situations is to move on from what Safeer called “loser clients.” Some clients demand so much attention and resources that maintaining the relationship can weigh on the cash available of the business.

The Perils of Rapid Growth

Even companies that are thriving can face cash crises, especially during periods of rapid growth, Safeer said. This paradoxical situation calls for a heightened emphasis on cash management in corporate decision-making. It’s not enough to be profitable; businesses must also ensure they have the cash flow to support their growth and operational needs.

This phenomena is due, in part, to the traditional emphasis on accrual accounting that is taught at most colleges and universities.

This theoretical approach may not fully equip small businesses to handle real-world cash flow challenges, Safeer noted.

The broader business culture also tends to neglect cash flow until it’s too late. Effective cash flow management should be integral to every business strategy, advocating for robust accounts receivable systems and maintaining healthy cash reserves.

Strategies for Improving Cash Flow (that actually work)

To navigate cash flow challenges, Safeer recommends employing several strategies:

• Early Payments: Despite the traditional advice some advisors may tell you about waiting as long as possible to pay bills, offering to pay bills early can often allow you to negotiate favorable terms with suppliers. This might be slightly uncomfortable for your clients, but it pays huge dividends in the long term.
• Eliminate Unprofitable Clients: This might seem counterintuitive, but shedding clients that drain resources can significantly improve cash flow.
• Utilize Third-Party Credit Options: These can facilitate quicker payments and better cash management. Oftentimes third party creditors are willing to step in and give your clients some breathing room when cash is extremely tight.
• Explore New Opportunities: Diversifying revenue streams can buffer against cash flow shortages.

Financing receivables is another viable option to facilitate immediate cash flow. While there are numerous documented tactics for enhancing cash flow, it’s important to recognize that not all will yield immediate results. But what’s important is the long term sustainability of the business, Safeer noted.

“Accounting looks backwards, and we need it, but when it comes to looking forward, it’s all about cash flow,” he said during his presentation.

A Call to Action for Small Businesses

The overarching message is clear: focusing on cash flow is not just a good practice—it’s essential for future business success. Especially for small businesses, understanding and managing cash flow can mean the difference between thriving and merely surviving. By adopting a proactive approach and utilizing a range of strategies, businesses can navigate cash flow challenges effectively and secure their financial future.

Remember, profitability might be the goal, but cash flow is the lifeblood of your business. Make it a priority, and watch your business flourish.

Before we wrap things up, let’s take a quick moment to review the key concepts from Safeer’s presentation:

• Many of the most popular cash flow “solutions” can actually lead to more severe issues for entrepreneurs. There are tons of articles online that offer misguided advice, Safeer said. They claim that “Cash is King,” and recommend focusing on the short term, paying bills and debts as late as possible, and relying on sales to fix the problem, among others.
• Instead of falling into these traps, Safeer recommended getting rid of “loser” clients who may be dragging the business down. He placed a high priority on paying debts early because many companies will offer a discount for doing so. Relying on sales to fix the problem can fall flat on its face because it often doesn’t impact the margins enough.
  “Accounting looks backwards, and we need it, but when it comes to looking forward, it’s all about cash flow,” Safeer said.
• Safeer noted that many of the companies who shutter due to poor cash flow are actually profitable at the time of closing. The culture of only prioritizing profits and quarterly results can pull the rug out from successful companies.

Access David’s Full Presentation (and the other 13 presentations) from GrowCon 2024

The tips shared in this article are truly the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the amount of game changing insights that presenters shared at GrowCon. Each speaker shared valuable insights for running an accounting business, from building wealth, optimizing the day-to-day processes of the business, and beyond.

Fortunately, you can access the full collection of presentations virtually for just $197. Purchase the complete list of presentations at both days of GrowCon at this link.

And remember that GrowCon 2025 will be held from May 5 to 7 at the Utah Valley Convention Center. Marriott Provo will be the host hotel for the event.

To learn more and register for this can’t miss event for owners of accounting businesses, follow this link.

The lineup of speakers will include experts in tax planning, business development, and client advisory services. Check out highlights from previous GrowCons for free here.

Looking Ahead to 2025

Thank you to all of the speakers who shared their incredible insights at GrowCon 2024 in Jacksonville, Florida. We are extremely excited for GrowCon 2025 in Provo, Utah.

To learn more about how you can start your own accounting business, improve your services, or train your employees, call Universal Accounting at 435-344-2060. Or schedule a time to discuss your future online using this calendar:

For owners of accounting, bookkeeping, tax preparation, and advisory businesses, the opportunity to work ON the business and collaborate with fellow entrepreneurs at an event like GrowCon is truly invaluable.

Scores of the over 100 business owners in attendance raved about the strategies they were taught for elevating their firm to new heights from presenters on Day 2 of GrowCon 2024. 

Five speakers presented actionable tips for improving operations at accounting firms in the ballroom of the Southbank Hotel in Jacksonville, Florida on May 7. Also on Day 2, Universal Accounting Center President Roger Knecht and Event Planner Christi Richards led a Q&A panel with the audience, revealed the location for GrowCon 2025, and awarded raffle prizes from the event’s sponsors. Check out the highlights from Day 1, including presentations from Main Street Tax Pro’s Mark Kohler and Sean Duncan of SMD Consulting & Accounting here.

Among the topics covered by presenters and panelists were how to help employees reach their potential, how to build wealth outside of the business by shredding debt, and software applications and other tools to make the business operate more efficiently.

Conference attendees also participated in workshops and exercises led by Universal Accounting Center Vice President of Enrollment Clay Neves.

The insights shared at GrowCon were specifically designed to help the owners of bookkeeping, tax preparation, CFO/advisory and accounting businesses achieve the vision they have for their firm. Here are highlights from the presentations on Day 2:

(These highlights barely scratch the surface of what these great presenters shared at GrowCon. You can access the full presentations from both days of GrowCon here.)

Terrell Turner – CEO of TLTurner Group

The talent cycle is a heavily discussed topic in the world of accounting, Terrell Turner said. They often say the talent pipeline is drying up, but Turner has seen the start of the pipeline isn’t the only employment obstacle firms are struggling with.

“For years we’ve been funneling people into the profession, but when they get through the pipeline, there’s nowhere else to go,” Turner said. “Employees will ask, ‘What is my trajectory? What is my growth potential? What can I do afterwards?’ When there aren’t good answers to those questions, people leave.”

Terrell Turner

Turner realized that there’s a difficult balance to achieve with employees: they need a growth path laid out for them that allows them to reach their potential. That means challenging them to do the best they can, because if they’re left to chug along and take care of their responsibilities with little oversight, they’ll likely jump ship when another opportunity arises elsewhere.

That’s why Turner developed the Golden AGE method for firm growth. Instead of giving employees the sink or swim approach, picking one person to train and develop, or evaluating performance purely by the numbers, Turner’s model zeros in on using clear criteria to evaluate employees with room for them to grow. Let’s explore Turner’s method further:

• AGE is an acronym for performance evaluation. At the end of each month, Turner’s company uses a rubric to measure employee performance on a scale from “Average,” “Good,” and “Excellent.” Turner used a bookkeeper as an example for how the evaluation model works: the Average capacity at his firm is to prepare the books for 15 clients a month, with the expectation to deliver reports on time, and with accuracy rating at 75%. Good performance would be slightly above average, so: preparing the books for 20 clients per month, one day before close (rather than right on time) and 80% accurate. Excellent is 25 per month, three days before close and 90+% accurate.
• This model ensures that everyone is “rowing in the same direction,” Turner said. It makes it easy for the employee to identify their key priorities, but also allows them space to excel. Turner said it’s important to acknowledge that no employee will perform at the same level each month. Life happens. As long as the employee is reaching the “Average” performance markers, the firm will reach its goals. Turner recounted an example of a senior accountant who was dealing with problems taking care of her child. He told her that he’d rather have her perform at an average level and not feel like she’s failing as a mother.
• It’s important to note that these evaluation criteria strictly measure a month (or quarter’s) worth of performance. The employee is not an “Average,” “Good,” or “Excellent” person. Turner makes it a priority for his employees to understand that “Average” performance is completely fine with him. People thrived when they had that clarity.

Adam Carroll – Chief Education Officer of The Shred Method

Renowned financial literacy expert and celebrated author Adam Carroll spoke on how to grow wealth OUTSIDE of the business. Most business owners focus on their business because it’s their main asset, but Carroll warned that “if you’re not selling the business, then you’re buying it.” Improving the value of your business comes with significant investments of time and income, so even if the asset is completely the property of the business owner, if the goal of the business isn’t to sell the business, it can weigh heavily on the entrepreneur.

Adam Carroll

Carroll said that most business owners who are struggling to build wealth don’t have an income problem, they have a liquidity problem. When most people have extra money in their checking account, they are happy and want to spend that money on hobbies (in Carroll’s case, kayaking). Instead, Carroll recommends putting your income into a “Shred Account.” Everything that is left over in that account after the mortgage, car, and other debts are paid, is used to blast debt down. Carroll emphasized the power of paying off debt quickly and broke down several strategies for reducing debt quickly. These insights are valuable for both accounting business owners, and the clients they work with:

• Like with most things, habits tend to dominate how people think about their finances. The bank deposits the paycheck into a checking account, and people can either 1. Pay for their expenses, 2. Eliminate debt, 3. Build wealth, or 4. “frolic” with it. People tend to only do options 1 and 4 because they’re habitual. But breaking that habit, and dedicating your money to outrunning your interest payments, is a much more beneficial financial strategy in the long term. Carroll noted that mortgages and interest rates are based on what the bank thinks the lender can afford to pay. But you can skip months of payments (on a mortgage for example) by paying in a lump sum. “We’re prepaying all that principal on the mortgage,” Carroll said.
• Everyone could be out of debt within 3 to 7 years, Carroll said. However, because most homeowners don’t start paying the principal portion of the mortgage until the last 10 years of the loan, they have no liquidity to build wealth and pay down that interest. Moving before the loan is completed, or refinancing, sets that clock back.
• Carroll recommends opening a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) on their home as their “shred account”. It’s a simple interest vehicle, meaning the interest is calculated daily. So if a person borrows from their line of credit on the HELOC (which should be about 150% of their monthly net income), allows them to pay more of their mortgage down, saving tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest.
• Carroll also highlighted the concept of “recasting” a mortgage, which allows a homeowner to maintain their interest rate, but pay down the mortgage enough to shrink the payments in a major way.

Laura Ferguson – Vice President of Sales & Business Development at The Value Builder System

Laura Ferguson spoke about what she calls “The Endgame Conversation,” and the problem that so many accounting business owners face when they’re ready to move on from their firm: “How do I sell this?”

Laura Ferguson

Ferguson experienced the frustration of being burnt out at her business and like she was ready to move on, but, though she loved her accountant, she didn’t trust him to broker the sale. Ferguson admonished the business owners in attendance to have the Endgame Conversation with their clients, and to also be thinking ahead about their intentions with their own firms.

She outlined the benefits of being able to have the Endgame Conversation as an accounting business owner. Here are the highlights from her presentation at GrowCon:

• 80% of businesses aren’t sold. Most people don’t control their exit. Most businesses simply close when the business owner passes away, gets divorced, or can no longer work.
• Ferguson found that the advisors at Value Builder who were having the Endgame Conversation with their clients were able to charge more for their services, on average, and worked with more clients. Business owners start to look for outside help when they feel like it’s time to sell. Ferguson said business owners spend 59% more on advisory services when they decide to exit. That creates a huge opportunity for qualified advisors.
• In the initial conversation that many advisors have with prospective clients, they often take a very casual approach. They ask general questions about the business, and what the business’ biggest challenges are. Ferguson warned against this approach because it’s been overdone and business owners are beginning to see that approach for what it is: spin selling. Instead, Ferguson recommends advisors avoid the questions everyone else is asking their prospective clients, and bring the Endgame Conversation up early.

Vanessa Vasquez – QuickBooks Trainer and Consultant

Technology moves so quickly. Vasquez noted that in society, technology transforms our worlds in small ways for a while, and eventually all at once. A few people had smart phones in the late 2000s, but by the middle of the 2010s, they were universally used. The firm owners who will have the most success, especially in the era of automation and generative AI models, will be those who embrace new technology, Vasquez said.

Vanessa Vasquez

Vasquez shared a number of solutions for optimizing productivity as forward thinking accounting professionals. Here are a few of the strategies and resources she recommended implementing:

• Automation is a wave of technology that has already revolutionized the industry. Enhancing efficiency and enabling innovation comes down to streamlining processes and repetitive tasks to boost productivity. Among the many benefits automation allows for are reducing human error, reducing time spent on frivolous tasks, and increased focus on strategic tasks.
• Vasquez recommended using Google Workspace to organize a schedule, Calendly to set appointments, Anchor to create invoices and process payments from clients, Keeper for completing simple bookkeeping tasks, and QuickBooks Online for more advanced bookkeeping tasks. She notes that Microsoft Excel is not a bookkeeping software. The actual software the firm owner chooses will come down to what is right for them, but the important thing is to have integrated systems across these applications, Vasquez said.
• Vasquez shared a number of actionable tips for increasing productivity at a firm, including identifying key tasks that could be automated in your workflow, taking professional training to effectively use the new tools (she says that most people underestimate how helpful customer services people can be when using a new software), regularly participating in webinars and conferences, and engaging with other industry peers through professional networks and online forums.
• “Technology is the campfire around which we tell our stories.” – Laurie Anderson

Heather Hurst – Vice President of Marketing at Canopy

Heather Hurst presented strategies for finding your differentiator in a world of “Same” when it comes to marketing a firm’s services. Because marketing is an infinite task in the sense that one can always do more, it’s important to develop strategies that show off what makes one different, and what additional value they can provide to their customers.

Heather Hurst

Given that you could always technically do more, one of the most important things about marketing is establishing a baseline of how you will market your services. But pacing yourself might be even more important.

“It’s better that you start and stay consistent than jump in and get burnt out,” Hurst said. Let’s review some key points from Hurst’s presentation at GrowCon:

• A great place to start developing a marketing plan, Hurst said, is to look at two-to-five competitors and tear apart their approach. What do you like and dislike about their marketing? What additional value do you provide to customers?
• Hurst is a big proponent of getting feedback from clients. Yes, one should always be asking for favorable Google Reviews from their clients, but Hurst encouraged the business owners in attendance to get an honest review of their marketing from their clients. This can be very helpful when searching for a niche, and for writing a brand statement.
• Don’t fear the blank page. The thing that separates you is your perspective, and you have to find a way to communicate that perspective to your clients. Whether it’s on LinkedIn, in short videos, or short blogs, you need to adhere to that baseline you set for yourself. One or two pieces of content per week is fine. Hurst warned against leaning on ChatGPT for marketing because it makes up information and misquotes sources regularly. (Bonus tip from Hurst at GrowCon: ChatGPT is great for finding Excel formulas).

Panel – Roger Knecht (UAC), Robyn Mons (UAC), James Donovan (Nine Two Media) and Dean Haupt (Matrix Tax Services)

Before the close of the conference, a panel of experts, including Roger Knecht, Robyn Mons, James Donovan, and Dean Haupt, discussed various strategies for building a successful accounting firm and fielded questions from the audience. They stressed the importance of surrounding oneself with successful individuals, overcoming mindset blocks in business, and monetizing LinkedIn profiles.

On stage from left: Christi Richards, Roger Knecht, Robyn Mons, James Donovan, and Dean Haupt.

Mons, who works as Universal Accounting Center’s Life Coach, emphasized starting work with a positive mindset, how to tackle imposter syndrome, and strategic decision-making in hiring.

Panelists offered advice on documenting processes, delegating tasks, and focusing on revenue-generating activities to enhance business growth. They also discussed factors affecting company valuation, such as customer lists, staff quality, and operational procedures, were highlighted, along with improving SOPs and employee retention.

The conversation covered starting an accounting business, gaining industry experience, and outsourcing’s impact on valuations. They addressed risks associated with outsourcing, leveraging LinkedIn for client acquisition, and productivity improvement tips. Emphasis was placed on fair comparisons, managing expectations, networking, and marketing oneself effectively. Starting small, setting proper expectations, consistency, and prioritizing marketing activities were recommended. The significance of confidence, competence, planning, sales, and taking action was underscored.

Advice was given on creating educational videos, starting a company while working full-time, transitioning from part-time to full-time work, and innovative marketing strategies like sending books for referrals. Commitment, focused content creation, and cumulative efforts over time were stressed as crucial for business success.

Access the Full Presentations

The tips shared in this article are truly the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the amount of game changing insights that presenters shared at GrowCon. Each speaker shared valuable insights for running an accounting business, from building wealth, optimizing processes, and beyond.

Fortunately, you can access the full collection of presentations virtually for just $197. Purchase the complete list of presentations at both days of GrowCon at this link.

GrowCon 2025

At the conclusion of GrowCon 2024 in Jacksonville, Knecht and Richards gave a recap of the Pre-Con VIP events, and announced the location for GrowCon 2025: Provo, Utah!

GrowCon 2025 will be held from May 5 to 7 at the Utah Valley Convention Center. Marriott Provo will be the host hotel for the event.

To learn more and register for this can’t miss event for owners of accounting businesses, follow this link.

The lineup of speakers will include experts in tax planning, business development, and client advisory services. Check out highlights from previous GrowCons for free here.

Looking Ahead to 2025

Thank you to all of the speakers who shared their incredible insights at GrowCon 2024 in Jacksonville, Florida. We are extremely excited for GrowCon 2025 in Provo, Utah.

To learn more about how you can start your own accounting business, improve your services, or train your employees, call Universal Accounting at 435-344-2060. Or schedule a time to discuss your future online using this calendar:

At Universal Accounting Center, we live by the mantra “Your success is our success.” Part of our ongoing mission to empower accounting professionals is GrowCon, an annual conference for owners of bookkeeping, tax preparation, and CFO/advisory businesses. The yearly conference is an unmatched opportunity to learn from leaders in the industry, network with fellow accounting business owners, and dedicate time to actually working ON the business.

This year’s version of the conference was held on May 5 and 6 at the Southbank Hotel in beautiful Jacksonville, Florida. Attendees were enriched by presentations from some of the brightest minds in accounting, including Mark J. Kohler, Terrell Turner, Heather Hurst, and Universal Accounting Center President Roger Knecht.

Over 200 professionals joined in the event, both in person and via a first-time ever virtual simulcast of the presentations. The accounting business owners in attendance raved about the experience, from the lessons shared by presenters, to the gala event, to the VIP events before the conference officially began.

“There were so many times where it seemed like the speaker was giving advice directly to me,” one attendee said. “I am so excited to get home and get to work.”

Pre-Con VIP Experience

Part of what makes GrowCon special is the organizers’ special emphasis on making the experience enjoyable beyond the typical conference offerings.

“I’ve travelled all over for business conferences,” Knecht told the audience of attendees. “But oftentimes, all I’d get to see while traveling for these event was the airport and the hotel where it was being held. That’s why we like to give you the opportunity to do a little sight seeing while you travel for work.”

Many accounting business owners don’t get many opportunities to relax and let their hair down. That’s the goal of the Pre-Con V.I.P. Experience.

Attendees who sign up for the V.I.P. package arrive the weekend before the conference, and gather with members of Universal Accounting’s team for a weekend full of fun.

In Jacksonville, V.I.P.s enjoyed an airboat wildlife tour through the swamps, filled up on downhome southern barbeque, and ended the night with a special dinner and a show event.

“Pre-Con is definitely the way to go,” said Andrea Walker. “There’s so many unique opportunities to get to know people and enjoy yourself before the conference.”

Presentations from the Industry’s Best

The meat and potatoes of GrowCon is obviously the presentations from accounting experts. Jacksonville native and CEO of Growth Amplifiers, Kenny Harper, was the first to address the audience, and he gave a powerful presentation on how to authentically attract and enroll more clients.

“Small hinges open big doors,” Harper admonished the audience.

Highly respected founding and senior partner of KKOS Lawyers, Mark J. Kohler, shared a number of specific insights firm owners can use to save their clients money come tax season next. Kohler named 5 strategies that every accounting professional needs to know in order to “wow” their clients: using a “trifecta” framework with clients, capitalizing on S-corporations, real estate losses, using boards of directors and advisors, and self-directing real estate for retirement savings.

The strategies he shared were all practical and applicable without scores of legwork, both for accounting business owners and their clients.

David Safeer, founder of Cash is Clear Learning Systems, highlighted some of the common misconceptions that businesses fall into when they’re facing cash flow problems. Many of the common strategies the internet presents for improving cash flow actually make the problem worse, Safeer said.

Terrell Turner, founder of TL Turner Group, shared a powerful model for measuring and improving the performance of employees at the firm called “The Golden AGE Model.” Essentially, you grade employees on a three point scale: “Average,” “Good,” and “Excellent.” When everyone achieves at an “average” level, the company will reach its goals. Employees have a lot going on in their life that can affect performance. Turner’s model encourages the employees to not overextend themselves when real life come calling, and rewards them for excelling when the moment is right.

The conference featured a number of great insights on how to make the most of your business as an asset. Renowned financial literacy expert Adam Carroll outlined a model for growing wealth outside of your business called the Shred Method. This is a process of shifting habits outside of the business in order to view it as an asset that the owner will eventually sell. It’s also crucial to attack debt in a comprehensive way, Carroll said, in order to increase your own cash flow and allow you as a business owner to build wealth.

Attendees were also delighted with the stylings of productivity and technology expert Vanessa Vasquez. Vasquez shared a number of practical software and other resources for making an accounting firm more efficient, and encouraged the audience to embrace technological change in their business, including when it comes to automation.

Resources Designed to Take Your Firm to New Heights

A key element of GrowCon outside of the presentations themselves were the sponsors, who each offered valuable resources for the owners of bookkeeping, tax preparation and accounting businesses in attendance during lunch time, breaks, and other free periods.

In these pauses, attendees browsed the booths of the different sponsors. The professionals in attendance received a passport at the start of the event that they took with them to each of the booths, where the sponsor would give them a sticker for learning more about their services. If attendees collected stamps from all 13 sponsors, they were entered into an end-of-event raffle, with a range of fantastic prizes given out from the sponsors, including a Smart TV, a drone, a $200 Amazon gift card, and Apple Airpod headphones. Let’s take a moment to highlight our sponsors and the valuable resources they offered to attendees.

Anchor is an autonomous billing and collections service that makes proposals, invoices, and payments easy to manage. They presented a tech demo of their services on Day 2, showing off their powerful dashboard for tracking finances with clients. Their system allows accounting business owners to easily create a library of their accounting services to quickly make proposals, makes signs documents from any device easy, and harnesses the power of automated invoicing. Learn more about how to use Anchor here.

Nine Two Media makes the process of finding ideal leads for accounting, CFO, and tax firms easier using the power of LinkedIn. This company finds prospective leads on LinkedIn, calls them to book an initial consultation, reminds them of the meeting, and then passes the control over to the firm owner to meet with the client and send a proposal. James Donovan, founder of Nine Two Media, joined a panel of analysts who answered a plethora of questions from attendees, and shared valuable insights on how to leverage social media to generate leads. Learn more about how to sign up for their services here.

The CFO Project is a turnkey, foolproof system for CPAs, accountants and bookkeepers looking to add outsourced CFO services to their arsenal. Essentially, The CFO Project provides accounting business owners with training, certifications, and resources to carry out the responsibilities of a CFO with their clients. Their system includes a powerful “scoreboard” to use in tracking the performance of key metrics, as well as a model for client acquisition that guarantees you’ll get the leads you need to meet your goals. The company’s founders, Adam Lean and Jeff Prager, spoke at GrowCon 2023. Here’s a link to more information about The CFO Project, as well as how to sign up.

Mark J. Kohler is the founder of KKOS Lawyers and developer of the Main Street Tax Pro certification course. In addition to speaking at the conference, Kohler shared a number of actionable insights with attendees. He champions alternative investing models and out of the box tax solutions designed to save the small business owners of America as much as they can each tax season. His experience, bravado, and ingenuity shined brightly throughout the conference.

Directed IRA is an investment company co-founded by Kohler that allows business owner to self-direct the earnings they receive from their retirement Roth IRA plans. Kohler noted at the conference that most investment groups put retirement funds into the same types of investments, like the S&P 500 for example. But the truth is that anyone can invest their retirement into just about anything they want. Directed IRA gives people agency over how their money is invested and allows them to capitalize on overlooked markets and opportunities.

Alpha Accounting Services provides a number of solutions in the accounting space, including full service bookkeeping, tax preparation and more. But Alpha goes beyond providing services directly to businesses, their goal is to be a trusted outsourcing partner for entrepreneurs in all industries, and especially for accounting firm owners. This includes opportunities to outsource certain tasks to overseas accounting professionals connected to Alpha Accounting Services.

Alyssa J. Dillon is an expert marketing coach and business analyst with lived experience building an accounting firm from the ground up. Dillon has developed a comprehensive model for marketing accounting services, including strategies for leveraging social media, email outreach, blogs and webinars to generate new leads. She shares life-strategies that help accountants and advisory firm owners create wealth for themselves and make a giant impact in their communities, and shared great advice to the accounting firm owners in attendance at her booth.

BooXkeeping offers outsourced bookkeeping services that can eliminate the burden of tracking expenses and keeping financial records organized. The company also provides a model for starting an accounting business through franchising, which can be an attractive model for many bookkeepers and tax preparers. Learn more about BooXkeeping and how to sign up here.

Ignite Funding offers real estate investments backed by collateral – you are the bank, earning monthly income for the use of your investment dollars. Ignite provides an alternative investment option that matches quality real estate borrowers with investors seeking capital preservation in collateralized turn-key real estate investments, while earning a 10% to 12% annualized return.

Bookkeep is a software that allows you to automatically book and reconcile selling and payment platforms. It imports that data right into your accounting software, allowing you to complete accurate daily sales and payment summaries, and more. Bookkeep integrates over 60 ecommerce and point of sale platforms, making niche platforms and multichannel selling seamless to integrate into your bookkeeping software. Vice President of Marketing & Communications Alison Ball presented at the conference on how to build resiliency in the face of change.

CLOUDIT Automation & Accounting Services delivers a seamless process that integrates the best of automation and remote staffing to revolutionize back-office operations for accounting firms. By combining the precision of automation with the expertise of remote staffing, CLOUDIT empowers your accounting firm to operate more efficiently, reduce costs, and focus on growth.

Thank you to all of the wonderful sponsors who helped make the event a boon for small business accounting firm owners. A special thanks as well for the items they donated for the raffle at the end of the event. What a collection of resources for accounting professionals!

Celebrating the Unsung Heroes of the Accounting Industry at the GrowCon Gala

One of the most difficult parts of being a small business owner, regardless of industry, is the lack of recognition that comes for the hard work of running the business. That certainly rings true for accountants. No matter how hard a firm owner may work, they’re rarely, if ever, celebrated for the progress they led.

A major focus of GrowCon is filling that void of celebration with an Academy Awards style gala for the hard working firm owners who give so much time and effort to their business.

At the end of the first day’s presentations at GrowCon 2024, attendees gathered in the Ballroom of the Southbank hotel and were treated to dinner, live entertainment, and award presentations. Universal Accounting Center President Roger Knecht and Event Director, Christi Richards, handed out 28 awards in total to attendees for their performance at their business in 2023.

The awards range from the fastest completion of Universal Accounting online courses, to best logo, to most improved business. Congratulations to the award winners. For a full list of the award winners, click here.

Getting Ready for GrowCon 2025

GrowCon 2025 will be held in Provo, Utah, from May 5 to 7 at the Utah Valley Convention Center. Marriott Provo will be the host hotel for the event.

To learn more and register for this can’t miss event for owners of accounting businesses, follow this link.

The lineup of speakers will include experts in tax planning, business development, and client advisory services. Check out highlights from previous GrowCons for free here.

For more information on how you can start your own accounting business and be recognized at GrowCon 2025, call 435-344-2060, or schedule an appointment online to discuss your future when it’s convenient for you using this calendar: