Who's Really the BOSS?

Marcus Dillon, Rachel Dillon
  • 4.6 (11)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

"Who's Really the BOSS?" highlights the joys and challenges of running a CPA firm with your spouse or family. From hiring and terminating to improving capacity, cash flow, and culture, our conversations cover leadership, operations, and current accounting industry challenges. Our mission is to strengthen families and accounting firms by helping listeners avoid the mistakes we have made, so they can lead and live happily ever after.

  1. 2D AGO

    Running a Remote Accounting Firm From a Mexican Beach

    Sandra Koch founded Aurora Consulting Group in 2011 and spent years chasing the dream of a beautiful brick-and-mortar office — then sold the building, went fully remote, and eventually moved to a small coastal town in Baja California with dirt roads and 25 species of whales. She joins Marcus and Rachel to talk about the anxiety of going remote, the grief of letting go of a physical space, and why she now believes her clients get a better version of her than they ever did when she was managing an office. SponsorsDiscover.AI -  discover.ai  Introducing Collective by DBAhttps://collective.cpahttps://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba Learn More About Dillon Business Advisorshttps://www.dillonadvisors.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.com Download the Earmark CPE AppApple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app (00:00) - Welcome to Who's Really the Boss (01:19) - Life in Mexico (02:00) - Firm Origins and Growth (04:05) - Going Fully Remote (12:05) - Client Visits and Meals (13:57) - Client Mixer Playbook (20:23) - Letting Go of Office (25:45) - Remote Hiring and Culture (30:37) - Incentives That Stick (34:48) - Why Retreats Matter (36:16) - Missing The Office Myth (39:50) - Better Owner Better Service (42:50) - 2026 Focus Words (46:05) - Trust Clean Help (47:41) - Science Experiment Mindset (50:59) - Collective Community Impact (55:52) - Closing And Next Steps

    57 min

  2. MAR 2

    Building a Referral Pipeline That Actually Works

    Rachel and Marcus pull back the curtain on how Dillon Business Advisors went from zero website leads after a botched domain migration to a packed January calendar full of prospective client meetings. They trace the full lead journey — from SEO recovery and HubSpot automation to referral partner relationships and the pre-call nurturing that warms prospects before Rachel even says hello. SponsorsDiscover.AI -  discover.ai  Introducing Collective by DBAhttps://collective.cpahttps://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba Learn More About Dillon Business Advisorshttps://www.dillonadvisors.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.com Download the Earmark CPE AppApple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app (00:00) - BOSS S5E5 (00:28) - January Survival Recap (02:18) - Sales Calls Surge (04:18) - Rebrand Website Fallout (08:40) - Traffic Drops to Zero (10:38) - Audits and Vendor Lessons (13:12) - Calendar Automation Flow (21:03) - Nurturing Before Calls (23:21) - Where Leads Come From (25:31) - Tax Season Referral Tips (26:29) - Reviews and Testimonials (27:50) - Make Reviews Easy (28:31) - Celebrate Team Wins (29:43) - Track Client Case Studies (31:40) - Lead With Results (33:25) - Discovery Call Agenda (36:11) - Where Leads Come From (37:34) - Referral Partner Outreach (40:26) - Webinars and Playbook (42:58) - Events and Capacity (46:31) - In Person Lead Gen (50:33) - Final Action Steps

    53 min

  3. FEB 16

    Tax Season Doesn't Have to Control Your Firm

    Tax season doesn't have to mean overtime, blackout dates, and pizza-party morale boosts. Marcus and Rachel walk through the operational decisions and team structures that keep DBA running at 36 hours a week year-round. From Flex Fridays and unlimited PTO to ditching 1099 prep for annual-only clients, rethinking which client relationships to keep, and using video commentary and text messaging to meet clients where they are. SponsorsDiscover.AI -  discover.ai  Introducing Collective by DBAhttps://collective.cpahttps://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba Learn More About Dillon Business Advisorshttps://www.dillonadvisors.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.com Download the Earmark CPE AppApple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app (00:00) - Welcome to Who's Really the Boss (02:23) - Life Update: Moving to Fort Worth (12:20) - Tax Season Norms and Firm Practices (27:31) - Flexible Work Hours and PTO Policies (29:16) - Transition to Unlimited PTO (32:20) - Team Collaboration and PTO Planning (36:08) - Client Services and Team Structure (46:43) - Refinement and Client Evaluation (49:47) - Tax Advisory Plan (TAP) (56:20) - Concluding Thoughts and Future Plans

    58 min

  4. FEB 2

    Behind the Scenes of Two Accounting Firm Acquisitions in One Year

    Marcus and Rachel sit down with Amy McCarty to unpack the reality of DBA's two 2025 acquisitions—from pre-close team meetings and tech stack migrations to payment processor transitions and the decision to space deals 90 days apart. They share specific timelines, technology consolidation wins and challenges. This is the acquisition conversation focused on what happens after everyone stops congratulating you. SponsorsDiscover.AI -  discover.ai  Introducing Collective by DBAhttps://collective.cpahttps://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba Learn More About Dillon Business Advisorshttps://www.dillonadvisors.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.com Download the Earmark CPE AppApple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app (00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome (00:47) - Amy Background and Role (02:36) - Discussing Recent Acquisitions (04:20) - Growth and Team Expansion (07:15) - Pre-Acquisition Planning (13:56) - Onboarding and Integration (30:01) - Introduction to the 2025 Tech Stack (30:36) - Building the Azure Environment (31:28) - First Acquisition: Technology Integration (34:24) - Second Acquisition: Technology Integration (38:37) - Managing Legacy Systems (47:40) - Payment Systems and Client Invoicing (51:48) - Engagement Letters and Standardization (54:14) - Conclusion and Future Plans

    55 min

  5. JAN 19

    Beyond the Bottom Line: Creating Measurable Impact

    Rachel and Marcus unveil the DBA Impact Fund, a donor-advised fund through National Christian Foundation that channels 1% of every revenue dollar toward charitable causes. They share how they chose Living Water International as their primary charity partner, including plans to purchase and install water wells with the team in 2027, and explain their unique approach to employee giving through $1,000 birthday gifts to charities of each team member's choice.SponsorsDiscover.AI -  discover.ai  Introducing Collective by DBAhttps://collective.cpahttps://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba Learn More About Dillon Business Advisorshttps://www.dillonadvisors.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.com Download the Earmark CPE AppApple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app (00:00) - Introduction and New Year Greetings (01:00) - Defining Positive Impact (02:09) - Reflecting on 2025 and Setting 2026 Goals (06:35) - Creating the DBA Impact Fund (08:59) - Implementing the DBA Impact Fund (16:01) - Choosing Living Water International (19:19) - Mission Trip Experiences (25:23) - Reflecting on Past Experiences (25:55) - Living Water Mission Trips (26:58) - Roles and Responsibilities on Trips (27:42) - Engaging with Local Communities (28:21) - Fun and Games with Children (29:29) - DBA Impact Fund Introduction (31:47) - Celebrating Birthdays and Anniversaries (35:36) - Measuring Impact and Sharing Stories (37:05) - Supporting Team Members (39:28) - Creating a Culture of Gratitude (42:00) - Setting Up Impact Channels (44:24) - Conclusion and Future Goals

    47 min

  6. JAN 5

    Five KPIs Every Accounting Firm Should Be Tracking

    Marcus and Rachel break down the five essential KPIs that drive firm value, using real data from over 200 accounting firms. They reveal how the average firm in their network decreased owner production hours by 12% while growing revenue by 10%, and share the exact backwards mapping framework they use to identify which levers to pull for improvement. Marcus also walks through DBA's 2024 price increase strategy that netted a 4% revenue gain despite losing $12,000 in monthly recurring clients.SponsorsDiscover.AI -  discover.ai  Introducing Collective by DBAhttps://collective.cpahttps://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba Learn More About Dillon Business Advisorshttps://www.dillonadvisors.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.com Download the Earmark CPE AppApple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app (00:00) - Introduction and Life Updates (06:28) - Transition to Business Discussion (07:32) - Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Overview (12:36) - Gross Revenue Insights (17:15) - Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) (23:11) - Revenue per Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) (27:17) - Earnings Before Owner Compensation (EBOC) (28:28) - Understanding EBOC and Valuation (29:47) - Profitability Trends and Analysis (30:48) - EBOC and Market Attractiveness (33:03) - Owner Production Hours and Efficiency (37:25) - Leveraging KPIs for Business Improvement (38:27) - Real-Life Examples of Business Levers (39:45) - Price Increases: Strategy and Impact (49:56) - Backward Mapping for KPI Improvement (53:34) - Final Thoughts and Encouragement

    58 min

  7. 12/22/2025

    Planning Team Retreats That Actually Drive Results

    Rachel and Marcus break down their year-end team retreat planning process, from the leadership framework they used to set 2026 goals to the logistics of bringing 25+ remote team members together. They share what they celebrate with their team, why financial transparency has built trust, and how they structure two days to focus on relationships rather than technical content. After doubling revenue through two acquisitions and organic growth, they explain why their 2026 focus shifts from "growth, not comfort" to "lead change, create impact."SponsorsDiscover.AI -  discover.ai  Introducing Collective by DBAhttps://collective.cpahttps://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba Learn More About Dillon Business Advisorshttps://www.dillonadvisors.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.com Download the Earmark CPE AppApple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app (00:00) - Welcome to Who's Really the Boss (00:58) - Team Retreat Overview (04:15) - Leadership Planning Framework (13:08) - Retreat Logistics and Preparation (22:45) - Additional Retreat Activitiesy (32:09) - Spouses and Team Bonding (34:40) - Cost-Effective Team Events (35:31) - Leadership Team Goals and Transparency (38:39) - Retreats and Team Structure (39:54) - Team Changes and Vision Alignment (41:52) - Future Direction and Goals (53:44) - Wrapping Up and Looking Ahead

    59 min

  8. 12/08/2025

    Niching Down and Scaling Up

    Nick Liguori shares how he transformed his New Hampshire accounting firm into a med spa specialist, growing to seven employees and approaching $1 million in revenue within five years. He discusses the strategic decision to niche down despite losing legacy clients, implementing Team of Three for better delegation and scalability, and cutting client onboarding time from 60 days to 30 days. Nick also reveals his pricing evolution from $200/month packages to $2,000+ premium services, plus how industry specific conferences can generate better ROI than traditional marketing.SponsorsDiscover.AI -  discover.ai  Introducing Collective by DBAhttps://collective.cpahttps://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba Learn More About Dillon Business Advisorshttps://www.dillonadvisors.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.com Download the Earmark CPE AppApple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app (00:00) - Welcome to Who's Really the Boss (01:03) - Nick's Background and Firm Overview (01:49) - Best Advice Ever Received (04:06) - Finding a Niche in the Med Spa Industry (09:42) - Marketing Strategies for Med Spa Clients (15:47) - Service Tiers and Team Structure (24:25) - The Role of Keeper in Streamlining Processes (28:19) - Future Goals and Revenue Targets (30:07) - Reducing Client Onboarding Time (35:21) - Reflections on Starting a Firm (36:40) - Pricing Evolution and Onboarding Fees (39:58) - Benefits of Working with Collective by DBA

    44 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.6
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

"Who's Really the BOSS?" highlights the joys and challenges of running a CPA firm with your spouse or family. From hiring and terminating to improving capacity, cash flow, and culture, our conversations cover leadership, operations, and current accounting industry challenges. Our mission is to strengthen families and accounting firms by helping listeners avoid the mistakes we have made, so they can lead and live happily ever after.

Information

  • Creator
    Marcus Dillon, Rachel Dillon
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    155
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Marcus Dillon
  • Show Website
    Who's Really the BOSS?

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