Episodes

Get your FREE 7 Pricing Essentials for CPAs and EAs here: https://geraldinecarter.com/7 Ever wonder why finding “the right price” never seems to work? Because you’re probably looking in the wrong place. This episode explains why your computer can’t know your optimum price, why a little courage matters more than a calculator, and how testing real prices with real humans leads to better profit and saner hours. … Link to full shownotes: https://www.businessstrategyforcpas.com/373 … Want Prici...

Get your FREE 7 Pricing Essentials for CPAs and EAs here: https://geraldinecarter.com/7 Ever wonder what it really feels like to let go of a third of your clients? It’s not spreadsheets and strategy. In this episode, Jan Schaffner, EA, shares how hard it was to release clients she genuinely cared about—and the fear that no one would stay or pay more. But when she finally did it, the reaction surprised her: the clients who valued her most were the ones who stayed. This episode is an honest loo...

Get your FREE 7 Pricing Essentials for CPAs and EAs here: https://geraldinecarter.com/7 Ever get a referral email from a great client and think, “Ugh… now what?” You want to honor the relationship, but you’re dreading another 45-minute discovery call that goes nowhere. In this episode, I share a simple, transparent system that saves everyone’s time — yours, your client’s, and the prospect’s. You’ll learn how to filter early, protect every relationship in the chain, and stay in control of your c...

Get your FREE 7 Pricing Essentials for CPAs and EAs here: https://geraldinecarter.com/7 Ever wonder what really happens between “starting from scratch” and “running on autopilot”? Most success stories skip the messy middle. Over three years, Matt Chiappetta went from zero clients to a $250K solo firm working 25 hours a week. Hear the real story: the things that didn’t pan out, the fixes, the mindset shifts, and what actually matters at each stage. It’s the rare, unvarnished look at what a sus...

Get your FREE 7 Pricing Essentials for CPAs and EAs here: https://geraldinecarter.com/7 Think you’re stuck with the clients you’ve got? You’re not. This episode shows how your marketplace isn’t fixed—it’s something you can shape. Through three simple examples, you’ll see how pricing, network, and positioning all affect who shows up at your door, and how to move your firm toward clients you actually want to work with. … Link to full shownotes: https://www.businessstrategyforcpas.com/369 … Wa...

Get your FREE 7 Pricing Essentials for CPAs and EAs here: https://geraldinecarter.com/7 Do you keep telling yourself you’ll rest when the work is done? That time never comes. Rest isn’t what you do after the work — it’s what makes the work go well. This episode breaks down eight kinds of rest accountants need, how to get them, and why your firm runs better when you stop running on fumes. … Link to full shownotes: https://www.businessstrategyforcpas.com/368 … Want Pricing Essentials? If you...

Tired of hearing “value-based pricing” and still not sure how to price without working 80–hour weeks? In this episode, I cut through the hype and show you how to pick the right pricing tool for the problem you actually have. I walk through the October Pivot, share a simple one-price, two-payment option you can deploy fast, and how to batch-test prices to find your price ceiling. Fewer clients, saner workflow, same revenue – on purpose. … Link to full shownotes: https://www.businessstrategyf...

Last week, I hosted a webinar on creating the 2026 tax season you actually want. More than 100 CPAs tuned in live or on replay. In this podcast episode, I share the exact system: deciding your hours, doing the math, raising prices, scheduling clients, and communicating clearly. ICYMI, you can catch the full replay here: geraldinecarter.com/free. … Link to full shownotes: https://www.businessstrategyforcpas.com/366 … If you feel trapped by your own accounting firm, I can help you stop the ...

What if clients lined up for you instead of you chasing them? In this episode, I show you 12 ways selling out changes everything – your confidence, your focus, your pricing power, even how your clients behave. Most CPAs think being oversold and overwhelmed is “just how tax season works.” It’s not. I’ll show you why being sold out is the ninja move that lowers your stress and gives you back time, money, and control. … Link to full shownotes: https://www.businessstrategyforcpas.com/365 … If ...

What happens when you stop trying to serve everyone and commit to a few high-level clients? Radhika Sundar shares how choosing agencies and working with a small, premium roster sharpened her focus and increased confidence. She explains transparent tiered pricing, catching scope creep early, and giving upgrade/downgrade paths. If you want a calmer, profitable firm by serving fewer, better clients, this episode maps it. … Link to full shownotes: https://www.businessstrategyforcpas.com/364 … ...

Feeling scattered because you’re offering every service under the sun to every kind of client? In this episode, I talk about the real cost of being in too many lanes — the wasted time, the extra software, the messy systems, and the lost leverage. I’ll walk you through the four lanes you can choose from, how to decide on your primary lane, and when it actually makes sense to allow exceptions. If you’re tired of tax season chaos and running on fumes, this episode will help you simplify and get yo...

Feeling overwhelmed, scattered, and all over the map in your firm? In this episode, I run through The Knock It Off List—14 habits that are eating your time, energy, and sanity. From people-pleasing and inbox living to free calls, unbilled work, and hanging on to “that one” legacy client, I’ll show you what to quit and what to do instead. These aren’t small tweaks—they’re the everyday habits that quietly keep you stuck. Knock them off and you’ll have more space, more focus, and a firm that fina...

Learn more about PEAK FREEDOM Hey podcast listener, just a heads up — I’m in France for five weeks and not recording while I’m here. I hope you’re enjoying the episodes I lined up before I left — and if you're a new listener, the back catalog is full of gems worth digging into. Enjoy the rest of your summer, and I’ll meet you back here with a brand new episode on September 3rd. … Link to full shownotes: https://www.businessstrategyforcpas.com/361 … If you feel trapped by your own accountin...

Learn more about PEAK FREEDOM Does tax season have to feel chaotic? Before Pick Your Week, Holly never knew who was coming or when. Some weeks felt overwhelming, others eerily quiet. The mental whiplash was constant, good one day, uh-oh the next. In this episode, she shares how she smoothed out the workload and (!!) “ran two weeks ahead all tax season.” … Link to full shownotes: https://www.businessstrategyforcpas.com/360 … If you feel trapped by your own accounting firm, I can help you stop...

Learn more about PEAK FREEDOM Tired of chaotic tax seasons? Rebecca Warnick, CPA, shares how she transformed hers using “Pick Your Week.” With smoother workflows, happier clients, and less stress, she explains how this simple change brought massive benefits—without working more or earning less. A must-listen if you want more control and calm in busy season. https://www.thewarnickgroup.com/ … Link to full shownotes: https://www.businessstrategyforcpas.com/359 … If you feel trapped by your own ...

Learn more about PEAK FREEDOM Wondering if it’s really possible to make good money without grinding 60 hours a week? Sheila Hansen shares how she built a values-aligned accounting firm that brings in $250K+ while working ~15 hours a week. Learn how she escaped standard accounting, overcame pricing and money mindset blocks, built a product ladder, and created offerings rooted in strategy—not compliance. A must-listen for CPAs craving more ease. … Link to full shownotes: https://www.businessstra...

Feeling overwhelmed and wondering if there’s a way to finally get out from under the chaos? If your brain never shuts off and your to-do list is chaos, this episode is for you. Meagan Rutkowski, CPA shares how implementing Simple Systems, Free Time gave her mental clarity, reduced overwhelm, and uncovered hidden scope creep. Now, Meagan has calmer mornings, the space to think strategically about her business, and more time for what matters. … Link to full shownotes: https://www.businessstrate...

Spend all day in your Inbox? Mark Kuka cut his hours from 84 to 45 a week, replaced 20% of his revenue after firing high-maintenance clients, and still grew. Hear how “Simple Systems, Free Time” helped him get control, reduce stress, and make space to go fishing with his son. Mark's website https://jaxlegalcpa.com/ … Link to full shownotes: https://www.businessstrategyforcpas.com/356 … If you feel trapped by your own accounting firm, I can help you stop the chaos and end the long hours wit...

Learn more about PEAK FREEDOM Do you ever wonder why running your firm still feels so hard? Most CPAs are reacting all day—to emails, interruptions, and mental to-do lists. But with the right systems, that all gets easier. In this episode, learn how a few missing tools can bring calm, structure, and breathing room back into your day. … Link to full shownotes: https://www.businessstrategyforcpas.com/355 … If you feel trapped by your own accounting firm, I can help you stop the chaos and end ...

Learn more about PEAK FREEDOM Ever wondered if a new website is worth it? Catherine Ozment, CPA ditched her DIY site for a professionally built one… then let it sit. For 24 months, nothing happened. Then suddenly, it started bringing in monthly clients. In the last year, it’s brought in $194K+ of niche and niche-adjacent revenue—on autopilot. If you’re questioning the value of a niche, SEO, or a pro website, this episode has your answer. Catherine's Websites: https://www.farmandagcpa.com/ htt...

Is progress slower than you want it to be? It might be because you're stuck trying to learn everything first, waiting for the perfect answer, or avoiding the messy part—testing new ways of doing. In this episode, Pat Flynn shares why action beats over-prep, and how CPAs can move faster by running small, low-risk experiments with less overthinking and overplanning. … Link to full shownotes: https://www.businessstrategyforcpas.com/353 … If you feel trapped by your own accounting firm, I can ...

What would it even look like to build a package that required no labor to deliver? This episode is a thought exercise: what if you had to design packages that delivered results without any labor? Not from you, not from your team. It’s a creative way to rethink how you build and deliver value—one that opens doors to scalable, low-effort, high-impact possibilities for your firm. … Link to full shownotes: https://www.businessstrategyforcpas.com/352 … If you feel trapped by your own accounting ...

Learn more about PEAK FREEDOM Have you ever packaged and priced to get off hourly, only to get killed on scope? This episode walks you through a practical, spreadsheet-based process for building Bronze, Silver, and Gold service packages that protect your time and reflect your value. If you’re tired of pricing guesswork, scope creep, or endless custom proposals, this gives you the clarity and structure you’ve been missing. … Link to full shownotes: https://www.businessstrategyforcpas.com/35...

Learn more about PEAK FREEDOM Worried you’ll lose too many clients if you raise prices? Kathy Hayden shares the raw, emotional truth behind raising prices on 800+ legacy clients—what worked, what didn’t, and what it really feels like to lose hundreds of clients and still come out okay. If you’re afraid of making changes, this is the episode that tells the real story. … Link to full shownotes: https://www.businessstrategyforcpas.com/350 … If you feel trapped by your own accounting firm,...