We started by requiring all owners to provide both accounting and tax solutions.

Those who excelled at accounting, but lacked the tax experience invested in professional growth, learned how to deliver tax services, and even became a Certified Tax Coach. This investment didn't generate a love for tax. Instead, it had the opposite effect. We noticed a common theme - turnover on tax teams run by professionals stronger in accounting especially during tax season.

Those who excelled at tax, but lacked the accounting experience usually hired bookkeepers, moving away from the CPA level technical expertise that was our standard.

We ultimately removed the requirement to offer both accounting and tax solutions and allowed CPAs to focus on their strengths and encouraged collaborations with other complimentary franchise owners.

In the beginning, we focused on top line growth and franchise owners were allowed to hire team within the first year. The training combined 2 stages of growth: Employee to Solo and Solo to Firm Owner. It was too much too soon. They were growing, but they weren't happy.

Realizing that we had misprioritized, we corrected course in 2023 and split the training system into 2 Tiers:

• Tier 1 (Employee to six figure Solo practice)

• Tier 2 (Solo to seven figure Firm)

  This split allowed Tier 1 owners to enjoy a flexible, work-from-anywhere solo practices (working 20-40 hours per week). Those who wanted to grow into firm ownership could do so without external pressures.

  The Tier 1 training shifted focus from top line growth and began a system of tracking work life harmony scores in 4 areas (finance, family, firm, and fitness). This resulted in a massive improvement in satisfaction and work life harmony scores increased to an avg 8/10 for each owner in 2024.

Though most of the tech stack was defined and under management at franchise launch in 2020, we gave owners the choice on which tax software and client workflow management tool they wanted to use. That freedom of choice took away family time and forced owners to research, train, and implement new systems.

Realizing more choices isn't always better, we selected the tax software and workflow management tool and took complete control of the tech stack in 2023.