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Practice and growth

How firms price, staff, sell and run the work: the commercial side of public practice. The newest piece leads; the guides we keep current sit underneath.

Updated 27 September 2026

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Tax

What the negative gearing changes mean for the client considering a knock-down rebuild

The recent changes to negative gearing rules, effective from 1 July 2027, significantly impact clients considering knock-down rebuilds.

The Firm 6 min read 25 Sept 2026
AI in Accounting

Your client connected Xero to AI. Now what?

More clients are connecting their Xero files to Claude, ChatGPT and home-built AI tools, and practitioners are split between "their data, their risk" and cleaning up the journals. The three kinds of connection and where…

Trent McLaren 9 min read 23 Sept 2026
Pricing

Get paid before you send the draft: the four rungs of collection

An Australian firm prepares a tax return, holds the lodgement until paid, and the client lodges it themselves with the firm's figures. Why holding lodgement is not leverage, the four rungs of collection, what to change…

Trent McLaren 9 min read 17 Sept 2026
Tax

The 30% trust tax draft: what firms need to decide next

Treasury's exposure draft for the 30% minimum tax on discretionary trusts, which applies from 1 July 2028, was open for consultation until 18 September 2026. This piece sets out what the draft confirms, the election and…

The Firm 5 min read 11 Sept 2026
Operations

Tax and CAS in one platform: what it saves, what it locks in

Accrual's purchase of Puzzle's firm business rests on the argument that tax and client accounting services live in separate systems and firms rebuild context every time an engagement crosses between them. The crossing…

Jordan Vickery 8 min read 4 Sept 2026
Pricing

An AI drafted a tax return from a W-2. Now price your work

OpenAI's GPT-6 Astra launch on 3 September 2026 included the model completing a federal tax return in a browser from a W-2. The task it automated is the cheapest part of a compliance engagement, and the useful response…

Jordan Vickery 9 min read 4 Sept 2026
M&A

Your software vendor just got acquired. Five questions to ask

Accrual announced on 2 September 2026 that it is acquiring Puzzle's accounting-firm technology and business, splitting the company along a customer boundary and leaving firms on the firm-facing product with a migration.…

Trent McLaren 8 min read 4 Sept 2026
M&A

How to integrate an accounting firm after an acquisition

Most buyers pour their effort into diligence and treat integration as something that begins on closing day, which is where acquisitions of accounting firms quietly lose the revenue they just paid for. This is a working…

Trent McLaren 9 min read 3 Sept 2026
Marketing

Marketing an accounting firm in 2026: what actually brings clients in

An honest ranking of the five channels accounting firms use to win clients, backed by 2025 survey data showing referrals still dominate at 58%. It also explains the AI-search shift (AEO) in plain terms and gives small…

Trent McLaren 9 min read 22 July 2026
Pricing

How much does an accountant cost? The honest guide for businesses (and what it says about firm pricing)

Typical accountant costs in 2026 across the US, Australia and the UK, from a few hundred dollars for a simple tax return to five figures a year for full-service business support. Plus the part most fee guides skip: how…

Trent McLaren 9 min read 22 July 2026
Pricing

Xero price increase 2026: what changed on 1 July and what it costs your firm

From 1 July 2026 Xero raised prices on every Australian business plan: Ignite from $35 to $37, Grow from $75 to $78, Comprehensive from $100 to $107 and Ultimate 100 from $272 to $300, all including GST. It also removed…

The Firm 5 min read 5 May 2026
Opinion

You can’t fix a broken system with a cupcake

The article highlights the persistent inequities in the accounting profession and the broader business landscape, particularly regarding women.

Shaye Thyer 6 min read 6 Mar 2026
Compliance

The hidden cost of agent representation: why compliance work is becoming unsustainable for firms

Agent representation has quietly become a high-risk, unpaid burden for accounting firms. As regulatory demands grow, firms are absorbing more work, risk, and stress without pricing it properly, making current compliance…

The Firm 6 min read 30 Jan 2026
Tax

Should I become a BAS agent or a tax agent? Navigating entry pathways into the accounting profession

This article breaks down the BAS agent and tax agent pathways for overseas-qualified accountants, explaining the differences in scope, risk, and timing, and why many firms recommend BAS registration first to build…

The Firm 6 min read 30 Jan 2026
Compliance

PayDay Super: The Compliance Change that’s Quietly Breaking Payrolls

The introduction of PayDay Super aims to enhance superannuation compliance by mandating that contributions be made on payday. However, many payroll systems expose critical vulnerabilities by relying on a single…

The Firm 6 min read 30 Jan 2026
Technology

Build your own tech stack with AI - an educational guide for accountants

Unlock the potential of AI in your accounting practice with this hands-on guide that shows you how to create internal tools efficiently and without coding. Learn from industry experts as they build a pricing calculator…

The Firm 6 min read 1 Dec 2025
Operations

How much should you charge clients to use your office for ASIC correspondence?

The Firm 7 min read 29 Nov 2025
Leadership

What solo and micro firms really need to thrive

The Firm 3 min read 29 Nov 2025
Leadership

Building a firm you can sell (or step away from)

The Firm 6 min read 29 Nov 2025
Leadership

Is private equity the only path for accountancy firms to survive?

Scott Heath 6 min read 29 Nov 2025
Industry News

Celebrating the finalists and winners of the Xero Global App Awards 2025

The Firm 4 min read 29 Nov 2025
AI in Accounting

Turning ChatGPT Into the MVP of Your Accounting Firm

Unlock the full potential of ChatGPT in your accounting firm with Twyla Verhelst's practical insights. Discover the H.I.R.E. Framework and the MVP Ladder to transform AI from a simple tool into an essential team member,…

The Firm 5 min read 29 Nov 2025
Operations

The real reason your practice management feel slow (and the 1 percent fixes that change everything)

Discover how small, incremental improvements can transform your accounting practice. Learn from expert Paul Murray about the power of marginal gains, leveraging existing tools, and fostering a culture of continuous…

The Firm 4 min read 29 Nov 2025
Technology

Accountants can reconcile Xero faster with a simple Chrome extension - Here’s how to do it

Discover how a simple Chrome extension can improve Xero bank reconciliation for accountants by leveraging AI technology. This innovative tool offers quicker matches and clearer insights, streamlining the process while…

The Firm 4 min read 29 Nov 2025
AI in Accounting

MS Co-Pilot in action: How accounting firms are using it right now

Inbal Rodnay's insightful session on Microsoft Co-Pilot reveals how accounting firms are effectively integrating AI into their workflows. By leveraging Co-Pilot's contextual capabilities within Microsoft 365, firms can…

The Firm 7 min read 29 Nov 2025
AI in Accounting

From transcripts to actions: how AI turns conversations into real work

The Firm 2 min read 29 Nov 2025
Operations

Hidden costs, high rewards: a straight-talking guide to 1% efficiency for accountants

The Firm 2 min read 29 Nov 2025
Leadership

From solo start-up to a 38-strong remote firm: lessons from Onside Accounting’s rapid rise

Onside Accounting's journey from a solo start-up to a thriving remote team of 38 offers invaluable insights for aspiring firms. Founders Martin Brennan and Jordan Vickery share strategies on financial preparedness,…

The Firm 5 min read 29 Nov 2025
Hiring

$40K to hire a client manager? Are accountants being ripped off?

The Firm 5 min read 29 Nov 2025
Marketing

Personal branding feels gross, but here's why I do it anyway

Chad Barnier 5 min read 29 Nov 2025
Leadership

How forward-thinking accountants will win the next wave of success

The Firm 2 min read 29 Nov 2025
Tax

“This tax is a sht show”: Why accountants continue to unload on policy makers

The Firm 5 min read 29 Nov 2025
AI in Accounting

Why ChatGPT doesn't mention your accounting firm, and the fix

AI answer engines mostly search the web first and then summarise what they find, so a firm they never name is usually a firm their search step never surfaced or could not corroborate. This guide explains how ChatGPT,…

The Firm 9 min read 29 Nov 2025
Hiring

Stop Hiring, Start Thinking: How “Practice-Intelligence” Lets Small Firms Work Like Big Ones — Without Adding a Single Seat

The Firm 3 min read 29 Nov 2025
AI in Accounting

Mastering AI in practice: Michael Wood's straight-talking guide

At The Firm's Growth Club Summit in mid-2025, Michael Wood explained why AI's shift from deterministic to probabilistic software outpaces earlier tech waves. He set out four labels for AI products, how to build the…

The Firm 3 min read 29 Nov 2025
Advisory

Struggling with advisory? you’re not alone (and here’s how to fix it)

The Firm 6 min read 29 Nov 2025
AI in Accounting

AI is here—how accountants can turn hype into hands-on gains

Discover how small-practice accountants can harness the power of AI to streamline operations and enhance client relationships. Learn practical strategies, including an eight-step prompt framework and real-world demos,…

The Firm 3 min read 29 Nov 2025
Leadership

9 unmissable sessions and side events at DCPA25

The Firm 7 min read 29 Nov 2025
Hiring

Hiring your first employee: the revenue benchmarks, red flags, and growth tips for year 1

Navigating the first year of running an accounting firm can be daunting, especially when considering hiring your first employee. This article outlines essential revenue benchmarks and red flags to watch for, ensuring…

The Firm 6 min read 29 Nov 2025
Operations

Stop Drowning, Start Scaling: How Smart Firms Make Outsourcing & Podsourcing Pay Off

In a rapidly evolving accounting landscape, firms must embrace outsourcing and innovative delivery models to alleviate capacity strains and meet rising client expectations. By leveraging technology and understanding…

The Firm 6 min read 29 Nov 2025
Operations

Turn your spreadsheets into month-end machines

The Firm 3 min read 29 Nov 2025
Opinion

Would you buy your own accounting firm? Why most sellers overestimate their firm’s value

The Firm 5 min read 29 Nov 2025
AI in Accounting

Beyond the hype: Practical ways to put AI to work in your firm

Billie McLoughlin outlines practical strategies for accountants to harness generative AI, transforming admin tasks and enhancing client interactions. By integrating AI tools like Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT, firms can…

The Firm 3 min read 29 Nov 2025
Compliance

AML-proof your practice: getting ahead of Tranche 2

The Firm 5 min read 29 Nov 2025
Opinion

Clients don’t pay for 24/7 access, so why are you on call?

In the accounting profession, the expectation of 24/7 availability is becoming a troubling norm, often leading to stress and burnout among practitioners. This article explores how this "availability creep" can be…

The Firm 6 min read 29 Nov 2025
Tax

Why charging a % of a tax refund is unethical - and could breach the TPB code

Charging a percentage of a tax refund may seem appealing, but it can undermine trust and conflict with ethical guidelines set by industry bodies. This article explores the risks of this pricing model, including…

The Firm 6 min read 29 Nov 2025
Advisory

App advisory that pays: Turn tech advice into a profitable service

Transform your tech advice into a lucrative revenue stream by formalising app advisory services, as highlighted by Rob Stone at the Growth Club Summit. Discover how tools like AppVentory can enhance visibility into…

The Firm 3 min read 29 Nov 2025
Advisory

Adding advisory, keeping compliance: A roadmap to expand your firm’s value

Mark Holton’s insightful roadmap reveals how accounting firms can enhance their value by integrating advisory services without sacrificing compliance revenue. By addressing bottlenecks, redefining client engagement, and…

The Firm 5 min read 29 Nov 2025
Operations

Web3 Accounting 101: A Beginner’s Guide for Brave Accountants

Discover how Web3 is revolutionising accounting by enabling decentralised transactions and digital asset management. This beginner's guide offers essential insights for accountants eager to embrace the future of finance…

Electra Frost 3 min read 29 Nov 2025
Industry News

Bookkeepers vs Accountants: Why this battle is hurting clients more than anyone

The ongoing conflict between bookkeepers and accountants is not just an internal issue but one that directly impacts clients who suffer from confusion and delays. As both sides continue to argue over roles and…

The Firm 7 min read 29 Nov 2025
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