The Business Growth Podcast

Continuous Refinement: Staying Ahead of the Competition

Leonard De Beer and Brandon Kordower talk about the need to continuously refine what works and stay ahead of the competition to maintain a competitive edge.

Building a Strong Niche in Accounting for 7-Figure Agencies

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How DPB Grew From 6 To 60 People In 12 Years

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950 Clients In 2 Years With A 36-Hour Work Week

In this episode, Pat Odom explains why fewer hours can lead to better work and faster accounting firm growth. Pat is a Partner at Apple & Odom, a full-service CPA firm in Charleston, South Carolina. He breaks down how they built a 36-hour work week (even in tax season), grew to around 950 clients in about two years, and stayed focused on a high-service client experience. Key Takeaways: • Why a 36-hour week can improve quality and retention in public accounting • How planning work two weeks ahead keeps busy seasons under control • What drove their growth (mostly referrals) without paid advertising • The real challenge of fast growth: onboarding and communication systems • How they’re using AI (Microsoft Copilot) to save time on meeting notes The big lesson: don’t build the firm you want “right now.” Build the firm you want five years from now — with clear expectations and the right clients. Guest: Patrick Odom, Partner, Apple & Odom LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-odom-cpa-abv-cfe-53072516/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-odom-cpa-abv-cfe-53072516/] Website: www.appleodom.com [http://www.appleodom.com] Connect with me, Leonard De Beer: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonard-de-beer/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonard-de-beer/] Subscribe to the Business Growth Podcast and learn how top finance leaders are scaling smarter, serving better, and building firms that last.

Why do so many people end up becoming accountants?

In this clip Leonard and David talk about chasing high paying careers when they were younger, ruling out doctors and lawyers, and landing on accounting because of a love for numbers. They also touch on a reality most people miss. Accountants often do very well financially but rarely talk about it.