Who's Really the BOSS?

In this episode, Marcus and Rachel discuss their recent team retreat to Florida, sharing insights on planning a successful getaway for a virtual firm. They dive into the logistics of organizing a destination retreat and the benefits of bringing team members and their spouses together in person. They also reveal how they used this opportunity to roll out new bonus structures and leadership opportun...

In this episode, Rachel and Marcus dive into the fundamental building blocks of marketing for accounting firms. They discuss how to identify your ideal client, create tailored service packages, and effectively communicate your value proposition. The conversation covers practical tips for managing inbound leads, leveraging your website as a virtual storefront, and utilizing automation tools to stre...

In this episode, Rachel and Marcus discuss their experience implementing price increases at DBA in 2024. They share their strategy of presenting clients with updated pricing based on new service packages, while offering loyalty discounts to ease the transition. Despite some client churn, DBA ultimately increased monthly recurring revenue by over $6,000 while serving 15 fewer clients, freeing up ca...

In this episode, Marcus and Rachel dive into the details of DBA Firm, a new venture aimed at providing operational support to accounting firms with revenues between $500k-$5M and 3-30 employees. They discuss the origins of DBA Firm, the key pillars of structure, strategy, and software, and how their own experiences transforming their accounting practice inspired them to help other firm owners. Lea...

In this episode of the Who's Really The Boss podcast, Marcus and Rachel offer an insightful debrief of their accounting firm's 2024 tax season. They discuss how strategic changes implemented before tax season, such as team restructuring, new hires, and the introduction of new technology, impacted their workflow and client experience. They also share their challenges, successes, and lessons learned...

In this episode, Rachel and Marcus delve into the common pitfalls that accounting firm owners often encounter, sharing hard-earned wisdom from their own experiences. They highlight five critical mistakes to avoid, from building a nightmarish firm instead of a dream one to lacking passion and vision. The discussion also emphasizes the importance of steering clear of the comparison trap, letting go...

Rachel and Marcus candidly discuss the challenges they faced in transitioning their accounting firm to a client advisory services (CAS) model over the past seven years. They share insights on converting existing clients, implementing new processes and technology, evolving team dynamics, and the need for firm-wide changes. This episode offers a realistic perspective for firms considering the CAS pa...

In this episode, Rachel and Marcus share their experiences and insights on navigating the challenging task of pricing client accounting and advisory services (CAS). They discuss their firm's evolution from opaque pricing to a transparent, subscription-based model, and the strategies they employed to ensure their pricing accurately reflects the value they provide. Rachel and Marcus also delve into...

In this episode, Marcus and Rachel discuss two critical questions every business owner should ask when evaluating new opportunities - whether it simplifies their life and increases the value of their business. They dive into practical examples of applying these questions to prospects, software, service lines, and more. Get insights on making decisions that align with your values, increase profitab...

When a team member resigns with no notice, it can feel like chaos. Rachel and Marcus share their experience handling a sudden departure and how their team structure allowed for a smooth transition, minimizing disruption to clients and maintaining high service levels. They outline the specific steps they took, from verifying the resignation to reassigning responsibilities, highlighting the importan...

Rachel and Marcus discuss the differences between being business owners in their thirties versus their forties. They reflect on the intense focus and long hours required to build the business in their thirties, compared to now enjoying the fruits of their labor and being able to prioritize life beyond just work. They also touch on the evolution of valuing relationships and mentoring others as they...

Marcus and Rachel discuss their differing backgrounds and risk tolerances that have shaped how they approach entrepreneurship and building their family business together. They offer some insights as to why Marcus is driven to constantly innovate and improve. They also share stories from Marcus' childhood experiences with his dad's trucking business that illustrate how those early experiences influ...

Interview with a Team of 3 with Marcus Dillon, CPA, Elena Munoz, EA, and Amada Santos Hi CPAs and Accountants! You found our podcast! We apologize in advance for the suboptimal audio quality of this episode.  This episode includes 1 of 8 Teams of 3 from Dillon Business Advisors. A Team of 3 is an operational structure for Client Advisory Services accounting firms that improves capacity, efficiency...

Hope is Not a Strategy Hey CPAs and Accountants! You found our podcast! Hoping and wishing alone rarely lead to significant change if any at all. At Dillon Business Advisors, we decided to ensure greater success in our accounting firm by hiring our first Director of Operations. In smaller organizations, everyone rolls up their sleeves and helps where needed, but initiatives and goals benefit from...

Who's Really the Boss Podcast Stop Lying to Yourself Hi CPAs and Accountants! You found our podcast. How are those New Year's resolutions and intentions going? This week on Who's Really the Boss podcast, we are probably stepping on some toes! Listen in to a conversation on the benefits of "knowing" versus "thinking" you are being consistent. We highlight the importance of tracking behaviors and in...

DBA 2023 Uncensored - Our Accounting Firm's Real Yearend Data Hi CPAs and Accountants! You found our podcast. How much does an accounting firm really make? This week on Who's Really the Boss podcast, Marcus Dillon, CPA and Rachel Dillon are sharing the intimate yearend details of Dillon Business Advisors. From revenue and achievements to failed experiments and abandoned initiatives, listen to the...

We Accidentally Raised an Entrepreneur with Kynley Dillon Hi there, CPAs and Accountants! You found our podcast. Join Marcus Dillon, CPA and Rachel Dillon of Dillon Business Advisors as they talk with Kynley Dillon, head baker and owner of Kynley's Confections.🎂 In this episode, you'll get a dose of motivation and wisdom as Kynley shares her inspiring journey of entrepreneurship, balancing academ...

What Successful People Do Next Hey, CPA Firm Owner! You found our podcast! This is the last episode of Season 2. Be sure to check out all of the great episodes in both seasons. What do you do when a key team member quits? What do you do when an assignment ends unexpectedly? What do you do when your business hits a plateau or starts to decline? There are commonalities in the way successful people h...

Riches in the Niches Hey! CPA Firm Owners, you found our podcast! Are the riches really in the niches for accounting firms? Plenty of small businesses have been successful serving the masses; however, those businesses are really clear on their vision and mission AND have well defined service or product offerings. There are so many benefits to defining your ideal clients and clearly defining your s...

Hi CPAs and Accountants! You found our podcast! When Change is Out of Your Control Some people claim they love change and others own the fact that they prefer consistency. BUT, for those that love change, do you love change even when it is not your idea?!?! As business owners and leaders, we have to remember that changes and new ideas coming from the top and impacting those we work with might not...

The Secret to A Successful Accounting Firm CPAs and Accounting Professionals, you found our podcast! This week, we had the privilege of learning from Bruce Berndt, CPA, CEO and Founder, of Berndt CPAs. This is a must listen episode! Bruce led large accounting firms before deciding to go out on his own in order to really serve and meaningfully impact business owners. Bruce has grown his firm to mul...

Lessons Learned through 12 M&A Deals CPAs and Accounting Professionals! You found our podcast. Really?!?! Has Dillon Business Advisors done 12 merger and acquisition deals? Yes, and if you are counting, that makes 12 deals in 12 years! 🤯 In this episode, Rachel Dillon fact checks Marcus Dillon, CPA on his M&A deal claim. Curious to learn more about how these acquisitions and divestures we...

Can Advisory Survive a Down Economy? Hi CPA Firm Owner! You found our podcast! Client Advisory Services are all the rage...until industries tank, the economy takes a down turn, and money gets tight. So, what happens to CPA firms that have transitioned away from a high volume of tax returns to high value advisory services? In this episode, Marcus Dillon, CPA and Rachel Dillon of Dillon Business Adv...

You Need to Calm Down Hi CPA Firm Owner! You found our podcast! Client advisory services bring uncertainty by nature because they encompass financial accounting, bookkeeping, tax, and business planning conversations. Gone are the days of a client dropping off year end tax documents and picking up a neatly prepared tax return. Small business owners are facing a multitude of challenges and looking t...

To Rent or To Own as a Business Owner Hi CPA Firm Owner! You found our podcast. Signing a multi-year lease often feels similar to signing a mortgage. So which is better, renting or owning your office space? In typical accountant fashion, the answer is, "It depends." In this episode, Marcus Dillon, CPA and Rachel Dillon of Dillon Business Advisors discuss the advantages and disadvantages of renting...