Record Growth Facilitates Move to New Facility For Sanders, Myers & Blackwell CPAs

Sanders, Myers & Blackwell CPAs, LLP (SMB) is experiencing record growth – so much so that they need a larger facility. “We’re taking on new clients and new staff all the time,” said SMB Managing Partner Jacob Sanders.

Sanders said the firm’s growth is twofold: retention of talented young staff and great organic revenue growth coming from existing clients and referrals from those clients. “Everyone’s been struggling with staffing through COVID, but we managed to hang onto some really great young talent. One has just passed the CPA exam, one is awaiting their results and we have three more that are also heading down that road right now.”

The retention of quality staff and the fact that they’re adding CPAs has been the main reason SMB has been able to take on new and more business, where other firms may not have the bandwidth. Some firms have even had to downsize clients due to staffing issues but that hasn’t happened at SMB.

With that growth comes the need for more space and SMB’s new building will give the firm quadruple the office space.

When asked why he thought SMB has been so successful at retaining staff and clients, Sanders said it’s simple. “Of course, if you ask me, we’re the best place to work. We take a different approach. I like to think that we’re a little more laid back.” He added that there is a heavy focus on training and quality of life. “In our business, you work really hard the first three or four months of the year, so outside of that we want to make sure people get out of the office to go on vacations, spend quality time with their loved ones and just do what they need to do to recharge their batteries so we can continue to service our clients and prepare for another grueling tax season.”

“The environment of the office is the main thing,” said Partner Matthew Blackwell. “Over the years we’ve all been able to see how we wanted an office to run, and one of the main things we’ve tried to focus on is employee quality of life.” Staff members even got to choose their own offices, including paint colors and layout, for the new building. “I think that shows our win-win mentality,” said Partner Chris Myers. “We need them, and they need us, and we want everyone to feel like they’re a part of the future of this firm. We’re really investing in them, with the idea that we hope they also want to invest in us.”

When it comes to the client retention part of SMB’s growth, Sanders said it’s the quality of service that SMB provides that keeps clients coming back to the firm with additional projects and then referring their clients and friends to the firm as well. “For a relatively small firm, we have a lot of different areas of expertise and different types of services that we provide.” He said that part of the motivation to start the firm was to be able to provide this large range of services, particularly in the areas of real estate development, tax credits, audit work for nonprofits and for profits, and a high level of tax knowledge in general.

With all this growth and change, SMB is looking toward the future. “We’re really focused on how we can utilize our new space, both for our own benefit and for our clients’ benefit,” said Sanders. There will be space in the new building for clients to use including conference rooms, meeting rooms and general office space. “After three months of construction, we’re really excited to introduce everybody to our new space and show off what we have here,” said Sanders. “We’re going to have a beautiful office that we’re really proud of and that’s going to help us continue that growth moving forward.” The firm will host an open house in late fall or early winter to showcase the new space.