What Scaling Your Practice Really Means

Alright, let's talk about scaling your practice. I know, you've probably heard the phrase a million times, and you're like, "Great, another article telling me to hire more people and work 60-hour weeks so I can make more money." 🙄 But hold up because this isn't one of those articles.   

Scaling your practice doesn't have to mean sacrificing every waking hour to the grind. It can look a lot different—and a lot more fun—than you think. So, buckle up. We're going to break it down and think differently.   

What does scaling your practice look like for you? 

First off, what does scaling even look like for you? And no, there's no one-size-fits-all answer here. Some folks want to take on more clients and hire a dream team. Others want to make more money while working less (spoiler alert: that's possible). Maybe you're dreaming of more time with family, pursuing that long-neglected hobby, or finally binge-watching all 27 seasons of that show you've been avoiding spoilers.  

Scaling your practice is all about your goals. Want to work smarter, not harder? Awesome. Want to grow your client base without sacrificing your sanity? Great. And, if you’re comfortable where you are, you don’t HAVE to grow just for growth’s sake. Not everyone has the same goals or desires, and that is ALSO okay.  

Remember this: scaling is about building a business that works for you, not the other way around. Because who wants to be chained to a desk when you could be out living your best life?  

It takes a village (and a community) 🏘️ 

They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well, guess what? It also takes a community to build and maintain a successful business. Let's be honest: you can't do this alone and don't have to – you are not the only one, as we say at Roundtable Labs! 

Your community is there for support, answering those "wait, how do I do this?" questions and giving you a swift kick when you need encouragement (or when you're procrastinating—let's be real). The beauty of being part of a community is that you get to leverage the collective knowledge and experience of others. Need a referral? Boom. Got a tricky client situation? Your community's got your back. Running a business is hard enough; why try to do it solo?  

Enter: accessible development 

One of the great things about the accounting community is the various development opportunities happening all around us, all the time. There are virtual conferences, in-person events, webinars, and top-notch educators offering courses, podcasts, and more ALL THE TIME. There is no excuse. You need to invest in yourself and your growth. Virtual or in-person conferences are opportunities to keep your accounting or soft skills sharp, learn new tech, and stay ahead of the ever-changing game.  

There are multiple virtual and in-person conferences happening this month you may want to consider attending (or in the future if you haven't already): 

• October 16- 19: ReFrame Conference "Influential Conversations for Accountants" 

• October 22 & 23 Financial Cents WorkflowCon "Freedom to Scale"  

• October 23- 26 Women Who Count 

• October 28- 30 Intuit Connect 

Plus, free webinars on Insightful Accountant and multiple forms of educational content on all media types (no, really). 

Professional development: why it's non-negotiable 

"But Richard, I don't have time for conferences or professional development." Oh really? If you have time to scroll Amazon and Facebook you have time to invest in your own business.   

Professional development isn't just "something extra"—it's non-negotiable. You're in an industry that's constantly changing. Laws change, tax codes evolve, and technology does a 180 just when you get the hang of the last update. Your workflows are continually evolving, and you want to use those tools and software to their full potential (and yours!). It's about working smarter, not harder. None of that spending hours on manual data entry or creating messy workarounds when you could have something way better in place for you and your team. Professional development helps you streamline processes, increase efficiency, and ensure you're not bogged down by outdated systems that waste time and energy. 

Staying at the helm of new developments is crucial to scale successfully. And guess what? There are options that fit any schedule. Virtual conferences like WorkflowCon are perfect if you're a homebody. But if you like the in-person energy, check out events like Intuit Connect in the fall or Scaling New Heights in the early summer. The point is you have options. You just need to make the time for them.  

Time and money: invest in YOU 

Here's the deal: you are your business. And if you're not taking care of yourself—professionally and personally—your business isn't going to grow the way you want it to. Scaling isn't just about making more money or hiring more people. It's about being smart with your time, energy, and resources.  

Don't be the person who says, "Oh, community isn't worth it," or "Professional development is a waste of money." You've got goals, and you'll need people and tools to help you reach them. Nobody climbs the ladder of success alone, and no one ever looks back and thinks, "Gee, I wish I'd spent less time learning new ways to grow my business." 🙃  

So, invest in the things that help you get to where you want to be. I promise it'll pay off in the long run.  

A final word: take time for your (work)self 

This might sound cheesy, but scaling your practice is more than just adding more clients and beefing up your bank account. It's about improving every part of your business and life. The sooner you invest in your personal and professional growth, the sooner you'll see your business flourish.   

So, go on—take some time for your (work)self. Build that community, sign up for that conference, and stop pretending you can do it all on your own. You've got this, and scaling doesn't have to be scary. Don't forget to make friends and have fun along the way.