September 2020
Today, we are sitting down with Michael Frost from Heritage to talk about integrating a family practice into your VCFO firm, and how those two things can work together. Heritage Family Offices is a law firm, wealth management firm, CPA firm, and insurance company all under one roof. In this episode, we are discussing how family offices work behind the scenes and how you can integrate CFO services into this business model.
September 2020
In this episode, Jamie Nau sits down with Kim Moore, the Summit CPA audit director, to talk about auto-enrollment. Auto-enrollment is when you require your employees to enter the 401k plan once they meet certain requirements. They don’t have to do anything in order to be enrolled. It happens automatically unless they take steps to decline enrollment. Listen to learn about how and why you would implement this into your company’s 401k plan.
September 2020
Today, we are sitting down with Tom Barrett from Navigate the Journey to talk about the EOS system, and how you can use it to achieve the vision for your business. EOS is a complete set of simple concepts and practical tools that have helped thousands of entrepreneurs get what they want from their businesses. In this episode, we are discussing what EOS can do for your organization and how you can implement it into your business.
August 2020
Today, we are sitting down with Tom Barrett from Navigate the Journey to talk about the EOS system and how you can use it to achieve the vision for your business. EOS is a complete set of simple concepts and practical tools that have helped thousands of entrepreneurs get what they want from their businesses. In this episode, we are discussing what EOS can do for your organization and how you can implement it into your business.
August 2020
There is a lot that goes into running a business, and small businesses can benefit greatly from delegating their extra admin tasks. But it can be difficult to let go of some of the work, so today we are sitting down with Emily Morgan of Delegate Solutions. We have been working with this company for a couple of years, and it has made a huge difference to have someone take care of our admin tasks. Delegate Solutions focuses on helping entrepreneurs create more time and leverage in their day, so that is what we are talking about on the show today.
August 2020
In this recorded webinar, CPAs will learn how to deliver profit focused accounting (cash, production metrics, financial metrics, and pipeline metrics), and what to cover in weekly and/or monthly client meetings.
August 2020
There is a lot that goes into running a business, and small businesses can benefit greatly from delegating their extra admin tasks. But it can be difficult to let go of some of the work, so today we are sitting down with Emily Morgan of Delegate Solutions. We have been working with this company for a couple of years, and it has made a huge difference to have someone take care of our admin tasks. Delegate Solutions focuses on helping entrepreneurs create more time and leverage in their day, so that is what we are talking about on the show today.
August 2020
As we’ve grown over the years, working through unsuccessful sales tactics has led us to bigger and better ideas. We’ve learned several ways in which to sell our services successfully. CEO Jody Grunden, offers a few sales tips that Summit CPA Group believes can bolster your sales, whether you’re operating a brick and mortar or a remote CPA firm.
August 2020
Your team can successfully foster a work environment that lends itself to creative thought, innovation, and, ultimately, larger profit margins, when they achieve the right balance. At Summit CPA, we know this to be true. We’ve been operating as a completely virtual firm for several years while maintaining a high performance team that works together to deliver services that aid client growth.
August 2020
We are starting a new trend on the podcast, where we sit down with some of our clients to talk about their experiences with CFOs and their business knowledge. Today, we are sitting down with Matt Westgate, CEO, and co-founder of Lullabot. Matt was one of our first CFO clients, so we are going to talk about his experience. We also speak about his experience working with a distributed team in his business.
August 2020
Visionary leader Greg Brenneman believes that true business success and personal fulfillment are two sides of the same coin. The techniques that will grow your business will also help you achieve a rich, purposeful, and integrated life. Here, Brenneman takes what he’s learned from turning around or tuning up many businesses—including Continental Airlines and Burger King—and distills it into a simple, clear, five-step roadmap that anyone can follow.
August 2020
While working to standardize your firm's operations, focusing on standardizing your meetings can be particularly beneficial. At our firm, we’ve found that standardizing our meetings has been an effective way of bolstering client engagement and improving staff efficiency when it comes to client work. Summit CPA Group's CEO Jody Grunden, shares a few tips to take into consideration as you craft procedures that will guide your planning and execution of productive client meetings.
August 2020
We are starting a new trend on the podcast, where we sit down with some of our clients to talk about their experiences with CFOs and their business knowledge. Today, we are sitting down with Matt Westgate, CEO, and co-founder of Lullabot. Matt was one of our first CFO clients, so we are going to talk about his experience. We also speak about his experience working with a distributed team in his business
August 2020
Does working from home—or anywhere else but the office—make sense? In Remote, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, the founders of Basecamp, bring new insight to the hotly debated argument. While providing a complete overview of remote work’s challenges, Jason and David persuasively argue that, often, the advantages of working “off-site” far outweigh the drawbacks.
July 2020
In this episode, Jamie Nau sits down with Kim Moore, the Summit CPA audit director, to talk about the Form 5500. The Form 5500 is going to be due soon. It’s a tax form that provides information to the IRS and the Department of Labor about your 401k plan. Listen to learn everything you need to know about the procedures and requirements of filing it.
July 2020
In this episode, we are joined by Kristen Reinking to talk about the meetings you should be having to keep up with your finances. There are three main meetings that every organization should be having regardless of their size. Listen to learn about each of these meetings and how they can be used to keep your agency’s finances on track.
July 2020
Radical Candor has been embraced around the world by leaders of every stripe at companies of all sizes. Now a cultural touchstone, the concept has come to be applied to a wide range of human relationships.
July 2020
Hear from our leaders at Summit CPA Group and the Finagraph CashFlowTool team on how to go from couch to cash flow expert in no time. You'll learn the tried and proven way to start your cash flow service now. And... now more than ever, it's time to start a cash flow service because your clients desperately need you!
July 2020
Today, we are sitting down with Jamie Nau, Adam Hale, and Justin Hatch from Reach Reporting to talk about dashboarding and financial statements. Reach Reporting is a company that creates visually appealing financial statements. Signing up for Reach Reporting one of the most valuable changes we have made at Summit CPA, so we are talking about our new processes use this tool.
July 2020
In myriad ways, entitlement has been cultivated for decades. As a result, too many employees today believe that they are entitled to a paycheck simply because they show up. Brad Hams has proven that we are not doomed to a path of entitlement and dependence. After more than 15 years working with hundreds of companies, he knows that the vast majority of employees addicted to entitlement actually want to engage, want to contribute, and feel much better about themselves when they are in an environment that requires them to do so.
July 2020
In this episode, we are joined by Jamie Nau, and Jody Grunden to talk about some of the biggest issues we see as CFOs. Listen to hear about the main things we help our clients with and the main things you need to be considering as you run your agency.
July 2020
In this recorded webinar session, CPAs will learn how to enhance their product delivery by using data visualization tools, how to analyze and prepare data, and how to find the right tool to fit their needs.
July 2020
Mr. Shmooze is the parable of a man who reveals the secret shared by all superstar salespeople. Selling, in its most exquisite form, is not about “taking,” nor is it about “persuading.” Selling, believe it or not, is about “giving.”
Mr. Shmooze gives for a living. He starts by listening and he quickly comes to understand what people really need. His customers love him because he gives more than he takes. They trust him because he is passionate about their interests. And, at the end of the day, they reward him handsomely for bringing joy, humor and wisdom into their lives. Woven into the story are several powerful lessons for salespeople in all industries who attempt to build relationships as the emotional bridge to their clients.
July 2020
Before switching to Finagraph, we were using a spreadsheet to track cash flow. Finagraph is a tool that helps businesses manage cash flow and collect accounting data. Today, we are sitting down with Justin Pulgrano from Fingraph to talk about how to measure cash flow and why you should use a tool such as Finagraph rather than keeping your data in excel.
July 2020
Chris McChesney is the Global Practice Leader of Execution for FranklinCovey and one of the primary developers of The 4 Disciplines of Execution. For more than a decade, he has led FranklinCovey’s ongoing design and development of these principles, as well as the consulting organization that has achieved extraordinary growth in many countries around the globe and impacted hundreds of organizations.
June 2020
During a turbulent time, managing a team of people can test even the most adept leaders. The situation can become even more challenging as you transition from working in a traditional office setting to having your entire team work from home. Summit CPA Group's People, Team and Organizational Strategist, Zach Montroy, shares a few recommendations to help manage your team through this crisis.
June 2020
In this episode, we are joined by Jamie Nau, Nicole Carlton, and Jody Grunden to go into detail on gross profit. The gross profit is the revenue you produce minus the cost of goods sold. It’s important to split out the different types of revenue line items so you can focus your conversation and get important information about the health of your business. Listen to find out how to use your gross profit metric to make strategic decisions about your agency.
June 2020
The first weeks after hiring a new employee are extremely busy and important to their success in the future with the company, which is why we are sitting down with Zack Montroy, Jody Grunden, and Adam Hale, COO at Summit CPA to talk about the process of onboarding a new employee. Listen to learn about what the first 90 days look like after a new hire.
June 2020
In this episode, Jamie Nau sits down with Kim Moore, the Summit CPA audit director, to talk about how COVID-19 is affecting 401(k) audits. You wouldn’t think that the pandemic would have much of an effect on your audit. However, many CPA firms are overwhelmed right now just trying to support the basic business of their clients who are facing a variety of challenging situations. As a result, 401(k) audits are falling low on the priority list.
June 2020
In this episode, we are joined by Jamie Nau and Jody Grunden to talk about how to measure and improve your average bill rate. The average bill rate is your total revenue divided by your number of billable hours. This is important because it’s important to be aware of how much money you are actually collecting for the hours you are working. This information gives you the insight you need to make big decisions about your company.
June 2020
Hiring the wrong person can be expensive. This is especially true when you are a service-based business. Hiring is something that Summit CPA struggled with in the past because we didn’t have the proper tools and methods to determine which potential employees would actually fit into the company. We want to help you learn from our mistakes, and we want to share the lessons we have picked up as we build our team. In this episode, we are joined by Zach Montroy, our People, Team & Organizational Strategist, and Adam Hale to talk about hiring assessments we use at Summit CPA.
June 2020
If you've ever used ZipCar, Amazon Prime, Spotify, NetFlix, Groupon, Weight Watchers, SurveyMonkey, United Mileage Plus, Pinterest, or Twitter, you are part of The Membership Economy, an increasingly popular model that author Robbie Kellman Baxter sees as the inevitable result of technological advancements, social trends, and a generation in transition.
June 2020
Learn why now is the best time to build a cash flow service for your customers. Hear how Summit built a world-class cash flow service offering and why their customers find it indispensable. Learn how Summit wins more customers and achieves higher customer engagement with their tried and true model. Learn the best practices for using CashFlowTool to launch and optimize your service offering.
June 2020
In this episode, Jody Grunden, the CEO and Co-Founder of Summit CPA shares his tips on successfully working remotely as a pioneer in the virtual CFO space, and also what well-run companies do differently from a financial perspective within a crisis.
June 2020
Brené Brown has taught us what it means to dare greatly, rise strong, and brave the wilderness. Now, based on new research conducted with leaders, change makers, and culture shifters, she’s showing us how to put those ideas into practice so we can step up and lead.
June 2020
In this episode, we are joined by Jamie Nau and Jody Grunden to talk about some of the changes in the loan forgiveness laws. We recorded this episode on May 27th, and it’s possible that things could change rather quickly. But we still wanted to record this episode, because you should be keeping up with these changes as they come out. We will likely have more episodes coming out on this topic, helping you keep up on all of this information in real-time.
May 2020
Over the past couple of weeks, a lot of businesses have gotten money from the PPP loans, so we want to make sure that you are as informed as possible about how the loan forgiveness works. In this episode, we are joined by Jody Grunden and Adam Hale to talk about PPP loan forgiveness and how to get the most forgiven. Listen to learn about how you can use this loan to help your business get through the COVID-19 crisis.
May 2020
Many CPAs want to head in this direction of advisory and break away from hourly-based billing, but find it difficult. Jody Grunden of Summit CPA Group shares his business experience having implemented advisory at his firm and then scaling it.
May 2020
Hiring the wrong person is expensive. This is especially true when you are a service-based business. Hiring is something that Summit CPA struggled with in the past, because we didn’t have the proper tools and methods to determine which potential employees would actually fit into the company. We want to help you learn from our mistakes, and we want to share the lessons we have picked up as we build our team. In this episode, we are joined by Zach from our HR department and Adam Hale to talk about hiring assessments we use at Summit CPA.
May 2020
Last month we talked about the most common findings in 401k audits. In this episode, Jamie Nau sits down with Kim Moore, the Summit CPA audit director, to continue the conversation. Even if you don’t need an audit, this episode will help you to be aware of anything you need to know if you provide a 401k plan for your employees.
May 2020
We all have our own knowledge and experience, but it’s important to also learn from other people’s ideas, which is why we are sitting down with Jody Grunden and Adam Hale, COO at Summit CPA to talk about the best books you can read to become a better CFO. Listen to learn about our favorite books and how they have inspired us as professionals.
May 2020
In this instant New York Times bestseller, Angela Duckworth shows anyone striving to succeed that the secret to outstanding achievement is not talent, but a special blend of passion and persistence she calls “grit.”
May 2020
What Are The Best Digital Tools For Remote Accounting and Operations Teams? Procurify asked forward-thinking CFOs and CPAs to share the remote working tools they’re using to keep their teams connected, productive, and engaged.
May 2020
Over the past couple of weeks, a lot of businesses have gotten money from the PPP loans, so we want to make sure that you are as informed as possible about how the loan forgiveness works. In this episode, we are joined by Jody Grunden and Adam Hale to talk about PPP loan forgiveness and how to get the most forgiven. Listen to learn about how you can use this loan to help your business get through the COVID-19 crisis.
May 2020
An instant classic, this revised and updated edition of the phenomenal bestseller dispels the myths about starting your own business. Small business consultant and author Michael E. Gerber, with sharp insight gained from years of experience, points out how common assumptions, expectations, and even technical expertise can get in the way of running a successful business.
April 2020
In this episode, we are sitting down with a special guest, David Cristello, founder and CEO of JetPack Workflow and Adam Hale, the COO at Summit CPA to talk about JetPack Workflow, a project management tool designed for recurring client management. At Summit CPA, we have found JetPack Workflow to be an extremely valuable tool to create workflows that maintain consistency and quality as we grow our business. Listen to learn about how JetPack Workflow can benefit your CPA firm and the best approach to getting started.
April 2020
We are recording this in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, but the discussion we have today will help your business whether you are struggling from the COVID-19 crisis or just going through a difficult time in general. In this episode, we are joined by Jody Grunden to talk about using a forecast to get your business through a rough patch. Listen to learn about the main areas to focus on in a forecast, and how to get to the 15% net income model.
April 2020
In our last episode, we talked about how to navigate your clients through difficult times due to the COVID-19 crisis. This week we want to go more in-depth with tools and resources available to you to help your clients through this pandemic. Today, we are sitting down with Adam Hale, COO at Summit CPA to talk about the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) versus the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and what we are doing for our clients right now. Listen to learn about how you can support yourself and your clients during this crisis.
April 2020
On today's episode, we are joined by Jody Grunden of Summit CPA, a virtual CFO service, to talk about how you should prepare your business for a recession and operating your business during a market downturn.
April 2020
This is part one of a two part series on the types of errors that happen during 401k audits. In this episode, Jamie Nau sits down with Kim Moore, the Summit CPA audit director, to talk about compensation and contribution errors. Even if you don’t need an audit, this episode will help you to be aware of anything you need to know if you provide a 401k plan for your employees.
April 2020
The Great Game of Business started a business revolution by introducing the world to open-book management, a new way of running a business that created unprecedented profit and employee engagement.
April 2020
We have touched on the topic of forecasting before in this show, so this week we want to talk specifically about how a forecast can be used to help your firm grow. In this episode, we are joined by Jody Grunden and Tom Waddleton to talk about using a forecast to hit your firm’s growth goals. Listen to learn about the “Four Levers of Growth” that you will need to cover in your firm’s growth plan.
April 2020
Knowing what emotional intelligence is and knowing how to use it to improve your life are two very different things. Emotional Intelligence 2.0 is a step-by-step program for increasing your emotional intelligence using the four core EQ skills—self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management—to exceed your goals and achieve your fullest potential.
March 2020
As a completely virtual firm, Summit CPA Group operates within a distributed model, which means that our entire team regularly works from home. After working remotely for several years, we have come to understand the ins and outs of working from home. These insights include being knowledgeable of employee “must-haves” and logistics that aid in our productivity and success as a firm. Summit CPA Groups's Zach Montroy, highlights a few of the best practices we’ve come up with to help enhance your experience working from home, and making this transition as smooth as possible.
March 2020
At the time of recording this episode, we are in the middle of COVID-19, so we thought it would be a great time to talk about tools you can use to help your clients through difficult times with Adam Hale, the COO at Summit CPA. Even if you are listening to this at a later date, there are still some great tools you can use to help clients who are going through rough patches in their business. Listen to learn about how to support your clients and keep their businesses afloat through financial strain.
March 2020
We are in the middle of tax season, and we are sure many of you have a lot of questions about how to lower your tax bills, what laws you need to be aware of, and how your specific business model should prepare your taxes. In this episode, we are joined by Jody Grunden and Dave Danic to talk about how to prepare taxes for your creative firm! Listen to learn the main things you will need to keep in mind during the upcoming tax season.
March 2020
We created this special episode because the coronavirus has forced a lot of companies to move towards a virtual team. At Summit CPA, we have been virtual since 2013. We have a lot of experience building and scaling a company with an entire staff working from home, so we want to share what we have learned along the way. In this episode, we are joined by Jody Grunden and Adam Hale to talk about best practices for running a distributed company and working remotely. Hopefully, your company will find this helpful if you are being forced into a distributed model due to the current pandemic.
March 2020
We created this special episode because the coronavirus has forced a lot of companies to move towards a virtual team. At Summit CPA, we have been virtual since 2013. We have a lot of experience building and scaling a company with an entire staff working from home, so we want to share what we have learned along the way. In this episode, we are joined by Jody Grunden and Adam Hale to talk about best practices for running a distributed company and working remotely. Hopefully, your company will find this helpful if you are being forced into a distributed model due to the current pandemic.
March 2020
How do you safeguard the financial stability of your company in uncertain times? In this guest post, Jody Grunden, Co-Founder and CEO of Summit CPA Group, shares strategies on sound decision-making, communication and financial planning.
March 2020
Clients will come to you for a specific reason, and they are looking to get a specific result from working with you. That’s why the onboarding process is so important. It sets the tone for the relationship and clarifies the expectations of both parties. Today we are sitting down with Adam Hale, the COO at Summit CPA to talk first impressions and onboarding new clients. At Summit CPA, this is something we revisit about every 6 months, so this podcast is full of information about things we have tried, things that have gone well, and what we have learned.
March 2020
As Americans are closing themselves off more during this time of uncertainty and we dive deeper into the digital age, we suggest that you give the possibility of leading an all-virtual team some serious thought.
March 2020
In this episode, Jamie Nau sits down with Kim Moore, the Summit CPA audit director to discuss a new audit standard that will be approved for the upcoming year. SAS (Statement on Audit Standards) number 136 makes some changes to the audit opinion letter that gets issued to you by the auditor. Most auditors are already complying with these new regulations, but if you don’t do a lot of audits, there may be some changes that you need to make. So in this episode, we will go through everything you need to know as a plan sponsor once this new standard is implemented.
March 2020
The new question: Ten years after the worldwide best seller Good to Great, Jim Collins returns to ask: Why do some companies thrive in uncertainty, even chaos, and others do not? In Great by Choice, Collins and his colleague, Morten T. Hansen, enumerate the principles for building a truly great enterprise in unpredictable, tumultuous, and fast-moving times.
March 2020
Setting up and running meetings with your clients can be one of the more intimidating parts of your Virtual CFO services. It can be hard to know how to set yourself up for success or even to know what to talk about when you have meetings with your clients. Today we are sitting down with Adam Hale, the COO at Summit CPA to talk about how to set up structures and systems for high-value meetings. These in-person experiences you create with your clients are a huge part of offering high-quality services and maintaining client relationships. Tune in to learn how to master this part of your business.
March 2020
In keeping with the parable style, Patrick Lencioni begins by telling the fable of a woman who, as CEO of a struggling Silicon Valley firm, took control of a dysfunctional executive committee and helped its members succeed as a team. Story time over, Lencioni offers explicit instructions for overcoming the human behavioral tendencies that he says corrupt teams (absence of trust, fear of conflict, lack of commitment, avoidance of accountability and inattention to results). Succinct yet sympathetic, this guide will be a boon for those struggling with the inherent difficulties of leading a group.
February 2020
We are continuing our conversation about cash flow. We want to teach small businesses to do the same thing that large organizations do when managing money. It’s important to forecast your cash flow, so you can set expectations for what is possible in your business in the short-term future. In this episode, we are joined by Jody Grunden to talk about best practices for making sure you always have enough money in the bank to cover your expenses and have a financially healthy business. Listen to learn about how to predict and adapt to your business finances.
March 2020
As Americans are closing themselves off more during this time of uncertainty and we dive deeper into the digital age, we suggest that you give the possibility of leading an all-virtual team some serious thought.
February 2020
CPA firms are often location-based, so Summit has to approach marketing on a bigger scale than what is normal in our industry, because we are a virtual firm, and we work with clients all over the country. Today we are sitting down with Kelly Schuknecht, Director of Marketing at Summit CPA and Adam Hale to talk about how Summit CPA markets itself to a national market. Marketing isn’t a priority for a lot of CPA firms, but if you want your business to grow and reach an audience beyond your local area, you can learn from the practices that Summit CPA uses.
February 2020
At the end of December, the SECURE Act was passed and went into law. There are some parts of it that are not in effect yet, but this is definitely something you need to know about if you are an employer that offers a 401k plan (or if you are considering it). In this episode, Jamie Nau sits down with Kim Moore, the Summit CPA audit director to discuss what you need to know about the SECURE Act as a 401k plan sponsor.
February 2020
At Summit CPA, we bill our clients through a weekly, subscription-based payment plan. After our early days of chasing unpaid invoices and dealing with clients who didn’t want to call us because they were afraid of the bill, we decided to move to a method of payment that is unique compared to other accounting firms. In this episode, we are joined by Jody Grunden to discuss the possible recurring revenue streams for digital agencies, and why it’s so valuable. Listen to learn about a stress-free way to set up and collect payments from your clients for your digital agency.
February 2020
Summit CPA Group's Jody Grunden and Audrey Giannini spoke at the Bureau of Digital's 2020 Owner Summit on how to prepare your business for a recession. Learn how to strengthen your company’s financial health, weather the storm, and position yourself for prosperity and growth in any economic climate.
February 2020
Built to Last, the defining management study of the '90s, showed how great companies triumph over time and how long-term sustained performance can be engineered into the DNA of an enterprise from the very beginning.
February 2020
Being a Virtual CFO is about being creative and flexible, but if you want to scale anything or delegate your work to staff, creating a process is absolutely essential, so we are sitting down with Adam Hale to talk about how to build a process for your Virtual CFO services. When we are working with our clients, we usually allow things to flow to fit the client’s needs, but everything we do behind the scenes is backed by processes and systems. In this episode, we talk about how Summit CPA balances the need for creativity and flexibility with clients; and the need to standardize for the purpose of scaling.
February 2020
If you are a boss who wants to do great work, what can you do about it? Good Boss, Bad Boss is devoted to answering that question. Stanford Professor Robert Sutton weaves together the best psychological and management research with compelling stories and cases to reveal the mindset and moves of the best (and worst) bosses.
January 2020
We have heard the word recession in 2019 more than we have over previous years. A recession is a retraction in the economy, and it is a normal part of the economic cycle. It’s common to worry about recessions because the most recent one was the longest in history lasting 18 months. Recessions typically don’t last as long. In this episode, we are joined by Jody Grunden to discuss the ins and outs of preparing your business for a recession. Listen to learn everything you need to know about getting your business through a recession.
January 2020
Taxes are a natural fit with any kind of CPA services you provide, so we are sitting down with David Danic, the Director of Tax at Summit CPA, and Adam Hale to talk about how to integrate tax services in with Virtual CFO services. Many firms believe that taxes are the way that you get CFO clients, but we do it differently at Summit CPA. In this episode, we talk about how Summit CPA builds tax services into our Virtual CFO services in a way that supports the services that we already provide for our clients instead of leading with them.
January 2020
A lot of companies out there do budgeting, but not many companies do forecasting. But budgets can often be too static, and they don’t take into account unexpected factors that could impact your ability to stay on track. In this episode, Jody Grunden, Jamie Nau, and Adam Hale discuss the importance of forecasting and how to implement it into your business. Listen to learn about how forecasting can be used to map out and reach your long-term business goals.
January 2020
Beloved by millions, this timeless classic holds the key to all you desire and everything you wish to accomplish. This is the book that reveals the secret to personal wealth.
Countless readers have been helped by the famous "Babylonian parables," hailed as the greatest of all inspirational works on the subject of thrift, financial planning, and personal wealth. In language as simple as that found in the Bible, these fascinating and informative stories set you on a sure path to prosperity and its accompanying joys. Acclaimed as a modern-day classic, this celebrated bestseller offers an understanding of - and a solution to - your personal financial problems that will guide you through a lifetime. This is the book that holds the secrets to keeping your money - and making more.
January 2020
One of the first questions you probably have about a 401k audit is “how much is this going to cost?” In this episode, Jamie Nau sits down with Kim Moore, the Summit CPA audit director to talk about the pricing you can expect in a 401k audit and what you can expect from the pricing process.
January 2020
Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies is a book written by Jim Collins and Jerry I. Porras. It outlines the results of a six-year research project exploring what leads to enduringly great companies.
January 2020
You can’t do great work if you don’t have great clients, so we are sitting down with Adam Hale, one of the owners of Summit CPA to talk about the essential parts of the sales process. The sales process is about laying the foundation for long-term relationships that you can build on for years to come. In this episode, we talk about how Summit CPA structures its sales process to determine and meet the needs of our clients, so we can bring them value for the long haul.
January 2020
So, how do you handle your agency clients who consistently pay late? Enforcing a payment policy can be tough as an agency owner. You don’t want to lose the client or the revenue, but you can’t work for free either. Chronically late-paying clients know this on some level, even if they’re being obstinate. Here are five simple steps for training clients to pay on time, leading to increased profitability in your agency:
January 2020
When it comes to setting sales goals, it’s important that every department of your business is on the same page. So how do you know if the work coming down the pipeline is going to be enough? Or too much? In this episode, Summit CPA CEO Jody Grunden joins Jamie Nau to discuss measuring pipeline analytics to set sales goals, and to make sure that your sales team is on the same page as those who are fulfilling the services. Listen to learn about the most important pipeline metrics and how to calculate them.
January 2020
How is your pipeline? Do you have enough business in your pipeline to sustain both your current and future cash position? Even if your business is doing great, you could be headed for trouble if you don’t have a big enough pipeline. Understanding and improving your pipeline metric is crucial to the future success of your business.
January 2020
In Good Leaders Ask Great Questions, John C. Maxwell delves into the process of becoming a successful leader by examining how questions can be used to advantage. What are the questions leaders should ask themselves? What questions should they ask members of their team? He then responds to the toughest problems leaders have presented to him. Using social media, Maxwell offered the floor to followers with unanswered questions about what it takes to achieve their professional best, and selected 70 questions on the most popular topics.
December 2019
How much money should you be making if you work at a digital agency? No matter how big or small your business, the percentage of revenue you are earning should be about the same. In this episode, Summit CPA CEO Jody Grunden joins Jamie Nau to break down a basic income statement and explain the importance of each section. Listen to learn about where your revenue should be going to run a healthy business and how you can increase your profit margins.
December 2019
In this episode, host Hugh Duffy talks with Jody Grunden, CEO of Summit CPA, all about how he built his virtual CFO firm from the ground up – and all the decisions involved in that endeavor. From flat fee billing, to setting up staff members to work virtually to how marketing plays an important role, tune in to hear Jody’s compelling story of growth and profitability.
December 2019
Jake Grimm, Summit CPA Director of Technology, and COO Adam Hale join Jamie Nau after having attended the Live 360 IT conference in Orlando to talk about what they learned and what they're going to be bringing back to the firm. It’s important to attend conferences that are relevant to your industry or relevant to different aspects of running your business. This conference was not specific to CPA firms specifically, but it was relevant in the technology necessary for managing our team. Making conferences like this a priority for your business will be an important way to stay up to date on the latest tech or other industry standards.
December 2019
A 401k plan is a benefit you are offering to your employees, so it probably isn’t obvious how to prepare for an audit and what to expect from the process. In this episode, Jamie Nau sits down with Kyle Tanaka to talk about the process you can expect the auditing firm to follow and how you can best work with your auditors through every stage.
December 2019
Hiring the wrong person can be detrimental to an organization. Therefore, business owners must have a tight process for bringing in the right people. In this episode, Hiring HR Guru Zach Montroy and Summit CPA COO Adam Hale join Jamie Nau for a chat about hiring the right way and critical questions you must ask during the process.
December 2019
According to HubSpot, the average close rate in the finance industry is 19%. Our close rate over the last three years has been 30% or higher. How do we do it? By removing barriers. We want to make it as easy as possible for a prospect to choose us over any other option. We want them to know that they can trust us and be comfortable with us. Here are a few of the barriers that potential leads may have and the approach we take with each of them:
December 2019
Knowing your effective rate is critical for understanding profitability. If you get it right, your chances of success improve dramatically. If you get it wrong, it could mean you’re closing the doors. In this episode, Summit CPA CEO Jody Grunden joins Jamie Nau to break down production metrics. Listen and learn precisely how service businesses and creative agencies can determine if they’re running a profitable operation.
November 2019
Despite what many people believe about distributed teams, they can be both efficient and scalable. There are nuances that one must take into account, such as technology and having a dedicated workspace, but the benefits far outweigh the costs. In this episode, Jamie Nau sits down with CEO Jody Grunden and COO, Adam Hale, for a chat about how Summit CPA developed into a distributed team, the technology they use, and why the model continues to work.
November 2019
We’ve all heard the age-old adage “cash is king.” But exactly how much cash does your business need to survive? In this episode, Audrey Giannini, a Virtual CFO with Summit CPA, and Jody Grunden, Summit CPA CEO, join Jamie Nau to break down key metrics and how much cash you should have in the bank.
November 2019
Your budget may be static, but your forecast should be dynamic. If your business is growing (or you want it to be), you don’t want to create a budget at the beginning of the year and then stick to that all year despite the changes that are happening with your sales and revenue throughout the year. That’s why you need a forecast which should be reviewed and updated on a regular basis.
November 2019
Despite what many people believe about distributed teams, they can be both efficient and scalable. There are nuances that one must take into account, such as technology and having a dedicated workspace, but the benefits far outweigh the costs. In this episode, Jamie Nau sits down with CEO Jody Grunden and COO, Adam Hale, for a chat about how Summit CPA developed into a distributed team, the technology they use, and why the model continues to work.
November 2019
Many business owners are seeking help and clarity when it comes to the audit process. While they may not know where to start, they know it’s time to get started in seeking out auditing professionals who can help. In this episode, Jamie Nau sits down with Kim Moore, director of auditing at Summit CPA, to shed some much-needed light on how the auditing process works and what you need to know to stay compliant.
October 2019
In this episode, Michelle Lesifko joins Jamie Nau and Summit CPA CEO Jody Grunden to share what a virtual CPA firm does and how it differs from traditional accounting firms. You’ll also get insights into how Summit CPA uses forecasting and cash flow to help businesses meet their goals and when founders should consider getting help.
October 2019
At Summit CPA, we’ve found Jetpack Workflow to be a tremendous workflow software resource when it comes to documenting the process for the accounting teams within our Virtual CFO Firm. Jetpack Workflow is an accounting practice workflow management software built for accountants, CPA Firms, & Bookkeepers. We use it to document everything we do.
October 2019
For over 17 years, Summit CPA Group has worked with companies all over the U.S. to help them improve their businesses. Here is where it all began and how they are assisting other firms to do the same. In this episode, Jamie Nau sits down with CEO Jody Grunden and COO, Adam Hale, for a chat about the humble beginnings of Summit CPA and how it became one of the first distributed virtual CFO firms in North America.
October 2019
It’s no surprise that remote work is becoming more and more popular. As an employer, the question that inevitably comes up is “Will remote workers save me money?” Short answer, it depends. As Dave Danic of Summit CPA Group says, “They can, but you end up investing differently (and sometimes more) to build a stronger culture and to foster team productivity and happiness.” In terms of talent and flexibility, there are several advantages to a distributed or remote team.
October 2019
As a CFO, you’re probably very familiar with the popular accounting software programs that are out there and the metrics they provide. Typically, those metrics can offer helpful ratios, but in order to deliver a higher level of value to your company, you want to focus on the metrics you have the ability to influence, particularly when it comes to the financial health of the company. If you want to become a better CFO, use the following metrics to help tell a story. Where is the company now and where is it going? What is our current cash position, future cash position, and pipeline?
October 2019
Personal development is one of THE most important things that you need to make time for as a CEO. When you are growing your company and spending time developing the leaders within your company, you need to be a solid foundation. And that foundation comes from personal development.
October 2019
In this episode, Jamie Nau sits down with CEO, Jody Grunden, and COO, Adam Hale to share why they’re passionate about working with creative agencies. You’ll also hear the way Summit CPA works with agencies to help founders and critical stakeholders gain a clearer understanding of where they’d like to be.
September 2019
Would it not be great, if your business does not only grow at a rapid level, but its structure and system even support and enhance such a rapid growth rate? Every healthy business needs to grow – we know that. And it is in the interest of every business owner not only to grow his business at a very rapid rate, but to keep the costs at a fairly low level to excel revenues.
September 2019
For over 17 years, Summit CPA Group has worked with creative agencies all over the U.S. to help them improve their businesses, and this is the story of how and where it all started. In this episode, Jamie Nau sits down with CEO, Jody Grunden, and COO, Adam Hale for a deep into the backstory of Summit CPA and how it became one of the first distributed virtual CFO firms in North America.
October 2019
As more and more firms explore life without a brick-and-mortar office and move into client accounting services, Jody Grunden of Summit CPAs describes how his firm found success as a pioneer of outsourced CFO services with an entirely virtual model.
September 2019
The 401(k) audit deadline is quickly approaching. If you’re a company with 100 or more employees, it’s time to kick your auditing into high gear to ensure you’ll make the deadline. In this episode, Jamie Nau chats with Kim Moore, director of auditing, and CEO Jody Grunden to discuss the audit process at Summit CPA and what companies can do to prepare for the upcoming audit deadline.
September 2019
In this Entrepreneur webinar, learn what data do you need and what metrics you need to track for long-term and short-term success with Summit CPA's Jody Grunden, Sandy Heit, owner of Heit CPA & Associates, and Brittney Castro of Financially Wise Women.
September 2019
How many accounting firms do you know that do value-based pricing, or embrace being a distributed company? Adam Hale, partner and COO of Summit CPA, the premier CPA for digital agencies enlightens host Ivan Stegic on how his progressive firm is changing the way people think about accounting.
September 2019
Meetings are a great way for people to connect with one another, and they can be extremely productive…when led effectively. Our leadership team meets weekly and also annually, and we have an annual all-team retreat.
September 2019
In this Entrepreneur webinar, learn key ways and tools to help maximize the flow of money into your business with Summit CPA's Jody Grunden and Brittney Castro of Financially Wise Women.
August 2019
In a recent podcast interview, Marcel Petitpas of Parakeeto asked Summit CPA CEO and Co-Founder Jody Grunden, gave just a handful of metrics that company owners should be tracking, what would those be.
July 2019
As a distributed company, we at Summit CPA fully understand the accounting, bookkeeping, cash flow management, and business tax nuances that come with being distributed. We love using forecasting and metrics to help our clients overcome these challenges through our own experience and expertise.
July 2019
A brief clip of Jody Grunden at the 2019 Accounting & Finance Show in New York explaining how Summit CPA is now picking up two to four clients a month. "They want forecasting and the ability to make informed decisions."
June 2019
If you want to grow your accounting firm, it’s important to evaluate the effectiveness of your process on a regular basis. You want to be aware of what’s working well and what’s not. You also want to continually be improving upon your services over time. Here’s how we do it at Summit CPA Group. Maybe these ideas will work for you too.
May 2019
Ultimately, transparency builds trust and prevents people from telling themselves a story that isn’t true. When you have a transparent organization, it’s easy for people to ask questions and gain the clarity they need. Being transparent has helped us build a team that can trust one another, and when employees feel trusted, they are happier, more confident, and perform at a higher level. It’s a win-win for everyone!
May 2019
When it comes to making BIG decisions, many business owners fall short by relying on a gut feeling or hunch. In this episode, Jody Grunden, the Co-Founder of Summit CPA group, reveals four key metrics service-based businesses should be using to make more informed decisions.
May 2019
Imagine a world where you know who’s working on what, how much is coming in and how much you need to close. Where your nights and weekends are your own, and you don’t keep losing money because you’re awful at pricing or can’t seem to hone in on problems to fix them.
Rob Harr, Vice President of Sparkbox, lives in that world, alongside Jody Grunden, Managing Member of Summit CPA Group and Summit CPA’s clients. Over the years, Rob and Jody have tamed the dark arts of forecasting, putting their unique spin on things and also combining forces to help digital shops, large and small.
March 2019
As remote work becomes more commonplace, the right tools are needed to ensure that company culture is preserved among employees, wherever they are seated. Forbes Councils members Dr. Timothy J. Giardino and Jody Grunden share their thoughts on maintaining culture as companies become distributed.
March 2019
We take hiring seriously! We believe that hiring the right people is one of the biggest keys to success for any business. Changing the way we advertise open positions and our application system has resulted in us receiving a tremendously higher number of resumes than we did before. Last year we received over 2,000 resumes, a large percentage of which were from highly qualified candidates. Because we are no longer restricted to our physical location when it comes to hiring, we have the benefit of being able to pick the best of the best, regardless of their location.
January 2019
Some business owners may think they can save the company all of that money by going remote, but I personally believe that’s a terrible idea. While it’s true that a distributed company doesn’t have the same costs that come with having a physical space, the very nature of a remote work environment results in a completely different and unique set of needs that should be considered in the company’s annual budget.
January 2019
Before Summit CPA became a distributed company, we were a traditional brick-and-mortar firm. We made the decision to transition to a distributed company because we didn’t want to be limited to our physical location. We wanted to be able to serve clients and hire staff regardless of their location. We learned a lot during that transition, and we believe that effectively managing a remote team comes down to three key areas: People, Technology and Process.
January 2019
Jody Grunden, CEO and Co-founder of Summit CPA Group, sees five common mistakes digital shops and agencies make when it comes to cash flow. Whether you’re a one-person shop or have dozens or even hundreds of employees, the same rules apply. Let’s take a look at each mistake, with Jody as our guide, and walk through some tools and strategies to help you overcome them. The goal is to stretch every dollar, so you have access to your money when you need it.
November 2018
In this episode, we chat with Jody Grunden about the most important metrics every agency should track to maximize their profitability. Tune in to find out what to focus on and what benchmarks to aim for to make sure you never run out of cash or miss payroll.
August 2018
The tax code is written to reward R&D efforts by U.S. businesses paying U.S.-based employees (or contractors). The hardest part of claiming the credit is determining whether or not you have an activity that qualifies under the Code Section 41. Summit CPA Group recommends evaluating your efforts against four criteria.
May 2018
Did you miss our live evolution to advisory show, don't worry, check out what you missed. In part II we look at the solutions you need to leverage to the gig economy and unlock unlimited growth potential. In this episode learn from Adam Hale of Summit CPA group how to leverage their resources to provide the best virtual CFO services to your clients. If Summit has already mastered the process of VCFO services, why start from scratch, go gig and leverage their knowledge.
November 2017
A Virtual CFO’s Playbook to help Digital Companies Create a Financial Roadmap to Success, Jody Grunden helps startup founders and company owners dive deep into the financial side of the business. His personable style makes it easy for readers to understand and apply the concepts to their own company, regardless of their current comfort level with the finances.
September 2017
A CPA firm isn't the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to innovative, distributed team, but that's exactly the case with Jody Grunden from Summit CPA. They took a simple idea of helping businesses with their finances to growing into a virtual CFO company that services all types of companies around the country. Did I mention that one of their core values is humor? If you have a remote team or are interested in things like core values and people, you don't want to miss this episode.
May 2016
As a distributed company, we at Summit CPA fully understand the accounting, bookkeeping, cash flow management, and business tax nuances that come with being distributed. We love using forecasting and metrics to help our clients overcome these challenges through our own experience and expertise.
May 2016
Summit CPA founder Jody Grunden joins Jeff Robbins to talk about the financial and tax implications of remote work, transforming his brick-and-mortar employees to a distributed workforce, and a big huge fish tank.
October 2016
Jody Grunden is the managing member of Summit CPA Group. Jody focuses his attentions primarily on Virtual CFO Services. Jody meets with business owners on a weekly basis to assist them with Cash Flow Management, Forecasting, Budgeting, Debt Restructuring, Cost Accounting, and Cutting Edge Tax Planning. Jody takes great pride in helping business owner strive in all economic conditions. He strongly believes that a well run company will excel in both a good and bad economy. Jody began developing his extensive background in accounting and tax by bringing together his experiences in both corporate and public accounting.
May 2011
InTraction, you’ll learn the secrets of strengthening the six key components of your business. You’ll discover simple yet powerful ways to run your company that will give you and your leadership team more focus, more growth, and more enjoyment. Successful companies are applying Traction every day to run profitable, frustration-free businesses - and you can too.
May 2011
In 2009, Simon Sinek started a movement to help people become more inspired at work, and in turn inspire their colleagues and customers. Since then, millions have been touched by the power of his ideas, including more than 28 million who’ve watched his TED Talk based on START WITH WHY -- the third most popular TED video of all time. Sinek starts with a fundamental question: Why are some people and organizations more innovative, more influential, and more profitable than others? Why do some command greater loyalty from customers and employees alike? Even among the successful, why are so few able to repeat their success over and over?
September 2019
In this Entrepreneur webinar, learn what data do you need and what metrics you need to track for long-term and short-term success with Summit CPA's Jody Grunden, Sandy Heit, owner of Heit CPA & Associates, and Brittney Castro of Financially Wise Women.
Featured in: 
%20Teams.png)
