Building a Firm to the Right Size with Keila Hill-Trawick, CPA

Keila Hill-Trawick joins Blake and David to discuss her philosophy on intentionally building a firm to the "right" size, rather than pursuing endless revenue growth. She also explains how her firm narrowed its service offerings to focus on core recurring services like tax planning and fractional CFO work. Blake and David examine research on how much money Americans think they need annually to be happy, with millennials citing much higher targets. They also talk about an accounting reference in the new Trolls movie and the need for more diverse and positive CPA portrayals in media.


Chapters
  • (00:31) - Keila Hill-Trawick joins the show
  • (07:38) - How did you decide to cut back on services your firm offered?
  • (09:50) - What core services do you offer?
  • (12:10) - Do you help clients set up the services you don't offer?
  • (13:30) - What does your current team look like and how did you build it?
  • (17:10) - What are you charging clients?
  • (20:39) - How many clients does each employee handle and will that change with technology?
  • (23:25) - What's the ultimate goal?
  • (28:32) - Berkshire Hathaway lawsuit
  • (38:58) - SmileDirectClub declares bankruptcy
  • (45:44) - Thoughts on accountants doing IT audits
  • (51:10) - How much money do Americans need to be happy?
  • (01:04:31) - Accounting reference in the newest Trolls movie
  • (01:07:38) - Wrap up and how to reach Keila
 

Show Notes

What’s Behind Warren Buffett’s Fight With a Truck-Stop Mogul – WSJ
Trolls movie CPA
Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway sued by Haslam family over Pilot truckstop chain takeover
Bankrupt SmileDirectClub shuts down, says its ‘Lifetime Smile Guarantee’ is canceled - but Smile Pay users are expected to keep paying https://fortune.com/2023/12/11/bankrupt-smiledirectclub-shutting-down/

Meet our Guest, Keila Hill-Trawick

Website: http://www.littlefishaccounting.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keilahilltrawick
Twitter: https://twitter.com/littlefishcpa
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlefishaccounting/

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Transcripts
The full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

Creators and Guests

David Leary
Host
David Leary
President and Founder, Sombrero Apps Company
Keila Hill-Trawick, CPA, MBA
Guest
Keila Hill-Trawick, CPA, MBA
Keila is the go-to expert for business owners looking to keep their financials in check. She is a fierce accountant who takes her work very seriously and is keenly aware of the fears associated with finances. She has created a safe space for business owners to face their fears head on, helping countless clients save money on taxes, avoid financial pitfalls, and achieve their financial goals. With over two decades of experience in taxes and accounting, Keila’s portfolio of clients includes coaches, consultants, makers and service providers across all industries.
Building a Firm to the Right Size with Keila Hill-Trawick, CPA
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