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How Gary Shamis Built a $100M CPA Firm: Lessons in Growth, Strategy, and Sustainability

by: Picture of Gary Shamis Gary Shamis on Jan 23, 2025

Leadership Accounting Firm Growth Growth Strategy Case Studies Growth Private Equity

The Author: Gary Shamis

Gary is the visionary behind Winding River Consulting, bringing decades of transformative leadership to the accounting profession. Widely recognized as one of the industry's most influential leaders, Gary has shaped the future of firms through strategic planning, national leadership, and the authorship of several books. He is an E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year, an Accounting Today’s (inaugural list of) Top Ten Managing Partner Elite honoree, and a consistent presence on the profession’s Most Influential lists. Gary remains a sought-after consultant and advisor to the profession’s most forward-thinking firm leaders. As the architect of WRC’s mission, he continues to mentor firm leaders with a values-first approach and deep belief in aligned leadership.

Table of Contents

Gary Shamis' journey from a small $225K CPA firm to a powerhouse worth $100M is nothing short of remarkable. His story offers invaluable lessons for anyone in the accounting profession or any business owner eager to scale their operations. In a recent episode of Building the Premier Accounting Firm, Gary shares the strategies that fueled his firm's incredible growth and explains how you can apply those same principles to your own business.

From introducing advisory services to mastering niche markets and leveraging private equity, Gary’s insights are crucial for anyone looking to build a sustainable, scalable firm. Whether you’re a CPA, an accountant, or an entrepreneur aiming to grow your practice, this episode is packed with actionable advice that you can implement right away.

Key Takeaways:

Building a Firm from the Ground Up: Learn the steps Gary took to grow his CPA firm from a modest beginning into a $100M powerhouse.
Advisory Services as a Game-Changer: Discover why adding advisory services is essential for expanding your offerings and growing your client base.
Mastering Niche Markets: Gary dives into how focusing on specific markets, like restaurants, can create lasting success and lead to dominating your industry.
The Power of Private Equity and Acquisitions: Get a deep dive into how private equity and acquiring other firms can accelerate growth and increase firm value.
Scalable Business Strategies: Understand the key strategies for building a business model that can scale efficiently and sustainably.

Don’t miss out on the chance to hear from Gary Shamis himself—check out the full episode of Building the Premier Accounting Firm.

Interested in learning more about how to grow your firm to new heights? Join us at MPB | Leadership Accelerated!