Straight Talk for CPA Firm Owners

The early phase of tax season isn’t really about volume. Not yet. It’s about tone. By mid-February, most CPA firms are not drowning in completed returns. But something else is happening quietly beneath the surface. Anxiety starts rising. Clients begin wondering: “Are we on track?” “Did they receive everything?” “Will this be smooth?” “Is something missing?” Team members begin feeling: The pressure building. The inbox growing. The calendar tightening. The subtle weight of what’s ahead. And firm owners feel both. That first 30-day stretch doesn’t determine how much work you’ll complete. It determines how the season will feel — and how heavy it becomes. Why I Sent a Progress Email to Clients A few days ago, I sent a monthly update email to our clients. Not because something was wrong. Not because we had dramatic news. But because silence creates uncertainty. And uncertainty creates anxiety. In the absence of communication, clients create their own narratives: “They must be overwhelmed.” “I haven’t heard from them.” “I hope we’re not falling behind.” A simple progress update does something powerful: It replaces assumption with visibility. Even when there isn’t major news, communication reassures. And reassured clients are calmer clients. Calmer clients ask better questions. They are more patient. They are more trusting. That emotional stability matters more than most firms realize. Why I Sent a Similar Email to the Team I also sent a message to our team. Not operational instructions. Not workflow updates. Just clarity about where we stand. During busy season, people don’t just need tasks. They need context. They need to know: Are we ahead? Are we behind? Are expectations realistic? Is leadership steady? When leadership communicates clearly, pressure decreases. When leadership stays silent, stress multiplies. Because uncertainty is heavier than workload. Why We Had a Team Meeting — and Played Games Last week we held our monthly team meeting. And yes, we played games. We laughed. We competed. We connected. Some might think: “Why would you spend time on that in busy season?” Because resilience isn’t built when you’re exhausted. It’s built before exhaustion peaks. Laughter isn’t a distraction. It’s release. Connection isn’t fluff. It’s reinforcement. Teams that feel connected handle pressure better. Teams that feel valued perform better. Teams that feel human sustain performance longer. The early part of tax season is when you strengthen culture — not suspend it. Most Firms Prepare Operationally — But Forget Emotionally The majority of firms prepare for tax season operationally: Workflow tools Task trackers Checklists Deadlines Review systems All important. But the firms that move through tax season smoothly don’t just manage workflow. They manage energy. They manage expectations. They manage communication rhythm. They manage morale. Because once emotional stability erodes, even strong systems feel strained. Leadership During Busy Season Is About Stability In early tax season, leadership isn’t about heroics. It’s about steadiness. Being the calmest person in the room. The clearest communicator. The one who prevents drift before it spreads. Because drift is what makes busy season chaotic. Drift in expectations. Drift in communication. Drift in morale. Drift in ownership dependency. The first 30 days are when you prevent that drift — or allow it. What This Has to Do With Transition and Readiness You might wonder what this has to do with transitions. Everything. Firms that are overly dependent on their owners feel pressure differently. Communication bottlenecks. Morale hinges on one person. Clients sense instability faster. Stress concentrates at the top. Firms with stronger structure move through busy seasons with rhythm instead of strain. And busy season exposes structure. It reveals: Where clarity exists. Where communication breaks down. Where dependency hides. Where leadership maturity shows. That’s why early tax season is often the most honest diagnostic period of the year. Not for performance. For resilience. For structure. A Reflection for This Season As we move through February, consider: Is your firm running on systems — or on you? Are clients calm because communication is steady — or because you’re personally carrying everything? Is your team aligned — or just surviving? Are you managing workflow — or the emotional climate that surrounds it? The firms that protect stability early protect the entire season. And the firms that understand their structure clearly preserve far more options later. This early phase of tax season is one of the most revealing windows of the year — not just of workload, but of readiness. If you’ve ever wondered where your firm relies on you most — or what would need to strengthen before you could step back with confidence — I created something specifically for that reflection. The CPA Firm Clarity Diagnostic is a simple, purposeful way to assess the areas that matter most — from communication rhythm and team alignment to leadership dependency and operational resilience. Gaining clarity doesn’t mean making a decision. It means leading with intention rather than reacting by default. Because tax season doesn’t just test workflow. It reveals structure. And what it reveals is worth paying attention to.

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A reflective year-end message for CPA firm owners to pause, assess what their firm gives and takes, and gain clarity for aligned, thoughtful future transitions.

December is a strange month for CPA firm owners. You’re exhausted from the year… You’re already anxious about the tax season ahead… But you also feel that tug — the desire to step back, breathe, and ask yourself whether you want another year just like the one you lived. For many firm owners (especially those beginning to think about the next chapter), December is the one time of year where your head finally gets quiet enough to see things clearly. That’s why I encourage every CPA firm owner to do one simple — but transformative — exercise before the year ends: The “December Reset” Exercise Find 20 minutes. Sit somewhere quiet. And answer three questions with complete honesty: 1. “What parts of my firm energized me this year?” Most owners can easily list what frustrated them. Few take time to notice the work that actually gives them energy. Look for clues. Your future should contain more of what strengthens you — and less of what drains you. 2. “What would have to change for next year to feel meaningfully better?” Not small tweaks. Not complicated plans. Just one or two meaningful changes — in team, capacity, your role, systems, or client mix — that would actually shift your day-to-day experience. This is where clarity begins. 3. “If someone offered to buy my firm tomorrow… would I feel ready?” Most owners whisper “no” — not because they don’t want options, but because: their systems aren’t clean, their team relies too much on them, their client relationships aren’t documented, or their financials don’t clearly tell the story. This question isn’t about selling today. It’s about reducing dependency — because the more a firm depends on you, the less valuable it becomes. Why This Exercise Matters (Especially Now) Because the beginning of tax season is the worst time to think strategically. Right now, in December, you’re standing at the only quiet crossroads you’ll have until April 16. Most firm owners blow past it. But the ones who pause — who use this time to reflect, recalibrate, and realign — enter the new year with more clarity, more confidence, and a much stronger foundation for the future (whether that future involves growth, slowing down, or preparing for a transition). A Straight Talk Insight In talking with hundreds of firm owners, I’ve noticed a consistent pattern: Those who eventually exit successfully didn’t start by “planning a sale.” They started by asking better questions. And they asked them long before they were ready to take action. The December Reset forces those questions to the surface — the ones you push aside during the rush of the year. Your Next Step If you do nothing else this year… Do this exercise. It will give you clarity. It will sharpen your priorities. And it will help you start the new year with intention instead of momentum dragging you forward. Your future firm — and your future self — will thank you.