Still trying to grow your firm by working more hours? That approach has a ceiling.

Ryan Lazanis, CPA and founder of Future Firm, shares what he learned building and selling an online accounting firm from scratch, and why most firm owners stay stuck running a practice instead of a business. You will hear why clarity on what you actually want comes first, why your service packages need to sell a transformation instead of a task list, and how to price based on value without relying on timesheets.

Learn why the human experience is what clients value most in an era of automation, and how defining your purpose early changes every decision you make after that.

This episode gives you a practical framework for building a firm that gives you freedom and growth. Tune in to People You Should Know: Ryan Lazanis and start designing the business you actually want.

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/

Quotes

- Ryan Lazanis: "I've never had a client come to me and say they're leaving their accountant because they're not doing monthly depreciation on their fixed assets. We're listing a checklist in a package that has zero value to the client."

- Adam Hale: "Lack of intentionality is one of the biggest missteps of most small business owners. They just think if they work really hard, they'll achieve these things. That's just not possible without a concrete vision."

- Tom Wadelton: "If I'm doing all those things, when I take time off, those things stop or get broken. And now I'm working on vacation."

- Ryan Lazanis: "The firms that are going to be more human are the ones that are going to win in the end. People still want to deal with people."

Ryan Lazanis is a CPA and the founder of Future Firm, a coaching company that helps accounting firm owners unlock freedom and growth in their businesses. He previously founded Zen Accounting, one of North America's earliest online accounting firms, which he scaled from scratch to acquisition in five years. Ryan's weekly newsletter reaches over 10,000 firm leaders with strategies for building modern, scalable, and systematized firms.

Newsletter: futurefirm.co/newsletter

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 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 o

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/

Quotes

• Ron 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:

If you want cash flow freedom, you cannot separate money from leadership. Your revenue, team performance, pricing power, and long-term stability all reflect how you lead. Scotty Scarano, Rapping Custodian at Accounting High, shares how he is reshaping how people view accounting, financial literacy, and career development.

Listen to how to Build Cash Flow Freedom Through Leadership.

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/

Quotes

• Scotty Scarano: "If you want predictable cash flow, you have to lead your team in a way that aligns performance with financial outcomes."
• Tom Wadelton: "Cash flow problems are often leadership problems in disguise—structure and communication usually fix what spreadsheets alone cannot."
• Adam Hale: "When leaders focus on discipline in pricing, collections, and accountability, cash flow becomes more predictable and less stressful."

Scotty Scarano is the Rapping Custodian of Accounting High. After scaling his firm from six figures to over half a million in revenue, he turned his focus to leadership, growth, and helping firm owners build cash flow freedom.

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottscarano/

X: https://x.com/scottscarano

Connect with Accounting High:

Website: https://www.accountinghigh.com/

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/accounting-high/

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.

Website: https://anderscpa.com/about/your-anders-team/#thomas-d-wadelton

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomwadelton/

Adam Hale, CPA, is a Partner and Virtual CFO Practice Leader at Anders, dedicated to transforming traditional accounting practices through innovative Virtual CFO services. With over 20 years in public accounting, Adam has been instrumental in the ideation and development of CPA training courses.

Website: https://anderscpa.com/about/your-anders-team/#adam-hale

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamhalecpa/