Accounting Firm Coach: Office Hours

644 Recapping The Summer’s Biggest Tech Announcements for Accounting Firms [And how to lock in your 2027 tech decisions now]

Accounting Firm Coach: Office Hours

Show Notes

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/ 📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firm and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter

☎️ Leave me a voicemail at (1)516-980-4968! 📧 Email me! [email protected]

In this episode, I compress a full year of accounting tech updates into one deep dive to help firms lock in their software decisions before year-end. I break down what changed across accounting ledgers, practice management, month-end close, tax workflow, tax software, proposal tools, meeting assistants, and generalist AI, including which tools moved into my leader categories and which AI features are actually worth paying attention to. I also explain why MCPs, AI agents, and computer use are becoming the biggest trends in accounting tech, while making the case that firms should still build next year’s stack around proven software instead of unreleased promises.

💰 Today's Sponsors Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes Soraban: https://hubs.ly/Q04cNLF80 Financial Cents: sign up at https://hubs.li/Q03mLr_x0 and use code Jason10 to receive 10% off the Team or Scale annual plan for firms with 2+ users. Karbon: https://karbonhq.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=jason-staats

// Chapters: 00:00 - The 2026 Tech Update 01:20 - Cutting Through AI Hype 02:05 - The App Categories 03:10 - Accounting Ledgers 04:00 - New Ledger Leaders 04:55 - QuickBooks Online Updates 06:05 - Intuit Accountant Suite 07:20 - Books Close 08:10 - Digits Updates 09:35 - Kik and MCP 11:45 - Practice Management 12:15 - The Four PM Leaders 13:00 - Canopy Updates 16:45 - Canopy Tax Workflow 17:15 - TaxDome Updates 19:20 - Financial Cents Updates 20:30 - Karbon Updates 23:50 - Month-End Close Automation 24:10 - Double Updates 26:20 - Ramp Stack 28:50 - Tax Workflow 29:00 - New Tax Workflow Leaders 29:10 - TallyFor 32:20 - Filed 33:20 - Filed Pro Work 35:05 - Stanford Tax 35:35 - Soraban 36:30 - Truss 37:45 - Tax Software 38:45 - ProConnect Updates 39:15 - Drake Smart Extract 40:15 - UltraTax Updates 41:55 - Proposal Tools 42:35 - Anchor Updates 43:40 - Ignition Updates 44:20 - Meeting Assistants 44:50 - Ping 45:45 - Abacore and Vinyl 46:15 - Better Client Meetings 49:40 - Generalist AI Assistants 50:45 - Claude Updates 52:00 - ChatGPT’s Comeback 52:35 - Computer Use AI 54:30 - AI Using Your Apps 55:05 - Grokbot 57:00 - What Actually Changed 57:35 - Lock In Your Tech Stack 58:50 - Closing Thoughts

🗣️ Continue the discussion on social! X https://twitter.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa

More from Accounting Firm Coach: Office Hours

Oct 23, 2026

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/ 📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firms and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter 📌 Check out the cool stuff our sponsors are doing here: https://accountingfirmcoach.com/sponsors/ Welcome to Accounting Firm Coach Office Hours presented by Canopy. I’m Jason Staats. Ready to get 1% better at running an accounting firm? In this episode, I talk about whether independently owned convenience stores make a profitable accounting niche, share how one firm built a specialized practice serving disaster restoration companies, and tackle the growing frustration of clients using AI to challenge their accountants and attorneys. Plus, in 🤖 You Need This Tech, I share a battery management solution every parent needs, highlight accounting professionals looking for their next opportunity, and answer 📬 Mailbag questions about marketing bookkeeping services, finding and retaining talent, and whether free QuickBooks alternatives are worth considering. // Chapters: 02:15 - Convenience Store Niche? 15:39 - This Firm Built A Disaster Restoration Niche 19:49 - Normies Vent About AI Being Better Than Professionals 32:18 - You Need This Battery Tech! 37:43 - Folks You Should Hire 39:33 - How to Market Bookkeeping Without Calling It Bookkeeping 43:28 - Finding and Retaining Talent? 48:37 - Free QuickBooks Alternative? 54:27 - We Love Them 📞 Leave me a voicemail at +1 (516) 980-4968! 📧 Email me! [email protected] 📌 A link to Nikole Mackenzie’s niche story https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/messy-middle-what-one-tells-you-niching-nikole-mackenzie-qvcoe/ 🔋 Here’s that battery charger you need https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DSL7VZBP?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback 💰 Today's Sponsors Canopy: https://www.getcanopy.com/jason Kick: https://www.kick.co/ Stanford Tax: https://stanfordtax.com/ MakersHub: https://makershub.com/ Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes TaxBandits: https://www.taxbandits.com/ 🗣️ Continue the discussion on social! X https://x.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa

Oct 20, 2026

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/ 📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firms and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter 📌 Check out the cool stuff our sponsors are doing here: https://accountingfirmcoach.com/sponsors/ Welcome to Accounting Firm Coach Office Hours presented by Canopy. I’m Jason Staats. Ready to get 1% better at running an accounting firm? In this episode, I break down the three biggest priorities accounting firm owners need to tackle before year-end, including tech transitions, hiring, client renewals, and getting ahead of January production. Then, in 🏹 Firm Hunters, we look at a $1.4 million accounting firm with an unbelievable 87% of revenue going to the owner. I also introduce a new segment called 👿 Mean Bag to tackle whether AI is about to get dramatically more expensive, rethink the all-in-one versus best-of-breed software debate in 🤓 Nerd Corner, and answer 📬 Mailbag questions about accounting ledgers, getting clients to sign proposals, AI agents, and keeping client data secure. // Chapters: 01:32 - Do This By November 1 11:06 - Do This By December 1 20:44 - Do This By January 1 22:49 - This $1.4M/yr Firm Is Running An 87% Margin!? 28:38 - Is AI About To Get Expensive? 34:03 - Is All-in-One A Mirage? 42:38 - Double vs New AI Ledgers 45:38 - Simplify That Proposal! 47:28 - Create An AI Agent User? 49:12 - Claude MAX Plan Made Secure? 52:07 - Lester Returns 📞 Leave me a voicemail at +1 (516) 980-4968! 📧 Email me! [email protected] 📌 Here’s that $1.4M/yr firm https://privatepracticetransitions.com/business-listing/1265-established-cas-practice-with-strong-growth/ 💰 Today's Sponsors Canopy: https://www.getcanopy.com/jason Gusto: https://gusto.com/ Kick: https://www.kick.co/ Stanford Tax: https://stanfordtax.com/ Realize: https://www.rlz.io/ Cloud Accountant Staffing: https://www.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/ 🗣️ Continue the discussion on social! X https://x.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa

Oct 16, 2026

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/ 📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firms and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter 📌 Check out the cool stuff our sponsors are doing here: https://accountingfirmcoach.com/sponsors/ Welcome to Accounting Firm Coach Office Hours presented by Canopy. I’m Jason Staats. Ready to get 1% better at running an accounting firm? In this episode, I explore how to build a niche accounting firm by tapping into industry-specific communities and partnerships. In 🤓 Nerd Corner, I cover eight major tech updates from Canopy, Financial Cents, Digits, Karbon, Gusto, Double, Kik, and RightTool. Then, in the 📬 Mailbag, I tackle delegating more work to admins, construction accounting software, Microsoft Copilot, tax workflow tools, lead tracking, and building a remote accounting firm. // Chapters: 00:00 - These Industries Need YOU 15:14 - 8 Tech Updates 29:19 - Push This Work to Admins 33:44 - Construction Accounting Software? 36:09 - Microsoft AI Use-Cases 37:59 - Don’t Buy This Tax Workflow Software 42:54 - Lead Tracking App 44:53 - Transitioning A Firm To Remote Work 51:31 - We Love Them 📞 Leave me a voicemail at +1 (516) 980-4968! 📧 Email me! [email protected] 💰 Today's Sponsors Canopy: https://www.getcanopy.com/jason TaxBandits: https://www.taxbandits.com/ Stanford Tax: https://stanfordtax.com/ MakersHub: https://makershub.com/ Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes Realize: https://www.rlz.io/ 🗣️ Continue the discussion on social! X https://x.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa

Oct 13, 2026

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/ 📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firms and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter 📌 Check out the cool stuff our sponsors are doing here: https://accountingfirmcoach.com/sponsors/ Welcome to Accounting Firm Coach Office Hours presented by Canopy. I’m Jason Staats. Ready to get 1% better at running an accounting firm? In this episode, I break down two surprisingly profitable accounting firms for sale, including one generating over $1.6 million with just two people, and explain why outsourcing and offshoring can create very different business models. In 💾 You Need This Tech, I share a $400 artificial skylight designed to bring natural-looking light into your office. Then, in 🤓 Nerd Corner, I challenge some of the guidance around AI and taxpayer data presented at an IRS National Tax Forum session. Finally, I answer 📬 Mailbag questions about Double as a practice management tool, seller financing when buying a firm, AI for nonprofit accounting, software security, Grok, and why heavily funded tax AI startups aren’t on my app recommendations list. 📌 The skylight https://www.amazon.com/PHILIPS-Skylight-Ceiling-NatureConnect-inches/dp/B0HDTPRNSD?sr=8-1 💲 The tax firm that’s for sale https://privatepracticetransitions.com/business-listing/1262-established-virtual-tax-practice/ 🧾 And the CAS firm that sold https://poegroupadvisors.com/practice/cp2024/ // Chapters: 00:00 - A 2-Person $1.6M Firm 11:32 - A 60% Margin CAS Firm 21:52 - You Need This Tech 26:05 - Bad AI Advice From The IRS 36:56 - Double As A PM? 40:04 - Up-Front Cash? 44:16 - AI For Fund Accounting 47:35 - How To Know if an App Is Secure? 49:21 - Firms Using Grok!? 52:53 - BlackOre Basis and Accrual 📞 Leave me a voicemail at +1 (516) 980-4968! 📧 Email me! [email protected] 💰 Today's Sponsors Canopy: https://www.getcanopy.com/jason Gusto: https://gusto.com/ Kick: https://www.kick.co/ Stanford Tax: https://stanfordtax.com/ MakersHub: https://makershub.com/ Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes 🗣️ Continue the discussion on social! X https://x.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa

Oct 9, 2026

🚀 Get smarter faster by learning with other firm owners: https://www.rlz.io/ 📩 Want a simple way to keep up with accounting firms and AI? I break it down every week in my newsletter: https://www.jasononfirms.com/newsletter 📌 Check out the cool stuff our sponsors are doing here: https://accountingfirmcoach.com/sponsors/ Welcome to Accounting Firm Coach Office Hours presented by Canopy. I’m Jason Staats. Ready to get 1% better at running an accounting firm? In this episode, I break down a new AI accounting study suggesting that leading models can outperform human accountants, and explain what that actually means for our firms. I share why public booking links are a bad idea, explore Claude’s faster AI models and new ChatGPT features, and explain why AI won’t fix bad business decisions. Then I highlight accountants available for hire and answer questions about selling a firm to private equity, why I dropped Xero from my recommendations, and whether standalone receipt management software still makes sense. 📌 Here’s that AI vs accountants study https://www.mercor.com/blog/human-baselines-for-benchmarks-ai-now-outperforms-junior-accountants/ // Chapters: 00:00 - The End Is Near 13:45 - Bad Booking Links 17:35 - This AI Model is FAST 24:20 - Hormozi Pops The Balloon 26:20 - ChatGPT Updates 31:45 - Accountants For Hire 34:25 - Sell His Firm to PE? 42:45 - I Dropped Xero 47:55 - New Receipt Tech? 📞 Leave me a voicemail at +1 (516) 980-4968! 📧 Email me! [email protected] 💰 Today's Sponsors Canopy: https://www.getcanopy.com/jason Gusto: https://gusto.com/ Kick: https://www.kick.co/ Stanford Tax: https://stanfordtax.com/ MakersHub: https://makershub.com/ Verito: https://verito.com/jason?utm_campaign=42071442-Jason&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=show-notes 🗣️ Continue the discussion on social! X https://x.com/jasononfirms LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jasoncpa

See all episodes →