The Cannabis Accounting Podcast

Our guests today are Rachel Gillette and Jennifer Benda. They are partners at Holland & Hart LLP and work in the group’s Cannabis Division. Holland & Hart LLP is a national law firm who serve a wide range of industries. Our guests today are both partners in the Holland & Hart’s Cannabis Division. The emerging cannabis legal sector faces novel legal challenges and complexities. They hel...

New entrepreneurs have a lot to look forward to that they often don’t realize until they are knee deep in their new venture and find that there are certain skills and competencies that may be lacking that can hurt their progress. Everything about how you approach your work has to shift, yet some people carry their employee mindset and practices into self-employment which can create all sorts of pr...

On today's episode, we are excited to welcome Lauren Baptiste, the founder and CEO of Acheloa Wellness. Lauren Baptiste is a corporate burnout turned coach and CEO. She serves ambitious women professionals as their go-to Burnout Expert.  Before launching Acheloa Wellness, Lauren spent 13 years as a top performer at a Big Four Accounting Firm. She was always at the top of her earning bracket an...

In this episode of the DOPE CFO Cannabis Accounting Podcast, Andrew Hunzicker, CPA dives deep into the debate of value pricing versus hourly billing for Cannabis accounting services. Andrew argues that in today's competitive landscape, accountants must move beyond basic bookkeeping, payroll, and tax prep services to provide real value to clients. As AI and offshore labor continue to commoditiz...

Massive changes are coming that could rock the Cannabis industry to its core. With Cannabis potentially being rescheduled in 2024, huge shifts are on the horizon that will transform the landscape: ● Company valuations poised to rise 5-10 times ● Increased access to banking, commercial lending, and bankruptcy protection ● Potential overhaul of interstate commerce, research, and new Cannabis medicin...

As 2023 drew to a close, monumental shifts across the Cannabis landscape set the stage for an epic 2024. Tune in as we provide an exclusive year in review for 2023, analyzing the developments in policy, business, and finance that will shape the future of the industry in 2024 and beyond. We’ll discuss insights on: New states that legalized and their market potential The latest federal reform effort...

On today's episode, we are excited to welcome Dr. David Cunic, the CEO of UCS Advisors. David is a physical therapist turned Investor Relations and Networking Expert, particularly specializing in the Cannabis Industry and Healthcare Sector. With over 18 years in the medical field and an impressive entrepreneurial track record of starting over 10 companies, leading seven Cannabis businesses in...

With cannabis sales in a historic slump, companies are struggling with dwindling cash flows and tough decisions. In this episode, founder and CEO of DOPE CFO Andrew Hunzicker, CPA outlines smart strategic moves for staying afloat. He'll cover: How to determine your cash runway and optimal sources of capital in a restricted funding environment. What costs must be cut vs. defensive investments t...

In our latest episode of the DOPE CFO podcast, Andrew Hunzicker, CPA, Founder and CEO of DOPE CFO, talks with Erica Sloan, They spotlight her transformative journey as she’s successfully leveraged the DOPE CFO Certified Advisor Program and its VIP method to become a leading figure in Cannabis accounting and quickly built a 6-figure practice.. They discuss how the VIP method of the DOPE CFO Certifi...

Cannabis and hemp/CBD are both nearing $1 billion markets in several states. In a few short years, both Cannabis and hemp/CBD could overtake the $250 billion alcohol market, skyrocketing to possibly $1 trillion by 2027 (estimate from Merida Capital). Interested investors are watching these markets. Preparing startups now to raise capital could help your clients stake a substantial claim in this bo...

There’s hidden profit in Cannabis cultivation, and you can find it if you’re a trained accounting professional that understands the science.  In our latest podcast episode, Andrew Hunzicker, CPA and special guest Wally Daniel unpack the intricate world of commercial Cannabis cultivation. With decades of combined horticulture, lean manufacturing, and accounting experience, Wally has been an integra...

Are you navigating the complexities of Cannabis inventory accounting? Properly handling your clients' inventory is critical in this rapidly growing industry — one error can mean the difference between adding value or harming a business’ bottom line. Tune into our next episode where we'll cover all the critical processes and best practices accountants need to utilize.. We’ll dive deep into...

Got questions on valuation in the Cannabis industry? Get answers in our latest podcast! We cover everything from explaining what valuation is to delving into different valuation methods and the factors that affect valuation. We even discuss how to ask your clients the right questions to ensure you take a suitable approach to helping them meet their business goals and objectives.   When you underst...

The Cannabis industry is ablaze with myths that could leave business owners burned, especially when it comes to the tricky world of accounting and bookkeeping. As an accounting pro, are you ready to fan the flames of truth and help your clients soar without getting singed? Debunking common misconceptions allows you to better serve your clients, keeping their businesses both compliant and profitabl...

Until the SAFE Banking Act passes, the number of banks across the country that will service the Cannabis industry remains desperately low. Cannabis is currently classified as a Schedule 1 drug, and most banks won’t do business with Cannabis companies because of this. Not being able to open payroll or checking accounts (or borrow money to scale their business) leads most Cannabis businesses to cons...

Cannabis businesses who try to get creative to circumvent 280E often find themselves in precarious positions with the IRS. Since companies in the Cannabis industry are not able to legally take tax deductions due to its classification as a Schedule 1 drug, many try to get around 280E by setting up multiple entity structures to attempt to create partitions within their corporations, or use IRC 471 i...

Participating in the Cannabis industry by going to conferences and expos is a great way to meet the people who make the businesses in this space tick, as well as get information on where the industry might be headed in the future.  Attempting to break the mold set by other Cannabis conventions, MJ Unpacked is a distinctive event for nationwide license holders and accredited investors to connect, c...

If you are frustrated in your current career position, are sick of working long hours for little pay, or  have been considering launching your own remote accounting firm and are wondering what niche to serve, now is the time to dive in! Cannabis has been predicted to produce over $30 Billion in revenue in 2023, and is the fastest growing industry in the US. DOPE CFO has all of the training and too...

Want legal and compliant tax reductions? Listen to podcast episode 124 as the nation’s leader in Cannabis accounting, Andrew Hunzicker, CPA, founder of DOPE CFO, explains exactly what must be in place to properly reduce tax liability.  Takeaways from landmark cases Harborside and Champs are discussed, as well as the following:  ✔️ Entity structures - What nearly everyone gets wrong! ✔️ IRC 280E -...

If you’re done with jumping through seemingly endless regulatory hoops and compliance standards and want policies that make sense for Cannabis businesses, participating in groups that shape policy is how you become part of the solution.   Be part of the change by helping to create policies that work for today’s Cannabis industry businesses! In our latest podcast episode, we’re speaking with—co-fou...

We’re talking with veteran founder/entrepreneur Chad Price of Life Grows Green on transforming the negative stigmas associated with Cannabis and serving the wellness space, what the licensed Cannabis industry can learn from the sports industry, how accountants can better serve Cannabis/CBD founders, and more!

Ever hear the saying, “You don’t know what you don’t know”? When performing bookkeeping for Cannabis clients, what you don’t know can have dire consequences. Even performing seemingly mundane tasks the same way you would for non-Cannabis clients can be a move in the wrong direction. Cannabis bookkeeping is unique. Properly doing it requires knowledge, not guesswork. Get informed so that you can do...

In this episode of The Cannabis Accounting Podcast we’re talking with Alyssa Smailes, Executive Director of The Utah Cannabis Association. We’ll discuss how UCA is building consensus with medical practitioners and serving as the voice of the Utah Cannabis industry, learn more about on-the-ground regulation and legalization, discuss medical vs. recreational accounting differences, the Utah market,...

Accountants who are in over their heads when it comes to Cannabis dispensary accounting can cost the business dearly simply because they don’t know how to do the work properly.  Dispensary CEOs and operators who rely on inexperienced accountants or accounting teams are unknowingly putting themselves at risk of hefty fines or even being shut down for not following IRC 280E. In Cannabis, the right a...

Lindsey Renner, owner of Native Humboldt Farms, is the first enrolled tribal member to gain licensure in California in 2018. In this podcast episode we discuss Lindsey’s journey into Cannabis (including the devastating loss that preempted changes in the direction of the company), talk compliance complexities, craft Cannabis, the work she’s doing in issues of tribal sovereignty and cultivation, and...