Own Your Firm Episode 2: Who is AJ Zepeda?

AJ Zepeda and Logan Graf introduce the new Own Your Firm podcast and begin by sharing AJ’s background. AJ describes himself as a quirky, tattooed accountant, a father of three, churchgoer, HYROX athlete, and Rivian owner. He explains his firm today: a tech-forward, client-focused practice with seven employees, three partners (including a tax partner), about $500K in annual sales, and a mostly virtual setup with an office in Tyler, Texas. AJ recounts stumbling into accounting after leaving electrical engineering, becoming an accounting manager right after college, and learning management through early mistakes. He later worked at Kruze, Acuity (running a crypto practice), and served as COO at Tooth and Coin (dental niche) before launching his current firm with partners, merging books of business and teams. He discusses lessons on pricing, firing clients sooner, month-end close by the 15th, and plans to target construction clients in East Texas. 00:00 Podcast Kickoff 00:46 Meet The Hosts 01:30 AJ Personal Intro 02:32 Fitness And Rivian 04:18 Firm Snapshot Today 05:57 Becoming An Accountant 08:24 Early Career Leadership 11:55 Burnout And Startup Shift 14:59 Path To Firm Ownership 17:44 Launching With Partners 20:45 Lessons And Daily Rhythm 23:31 Owning The Firm 24:08 Next Six Months Goals 24:44 Wrap Up And Mustaches 00:00 Podcast Kickoff 00:46 Meet The Hosts 01:30 AJ Personal Intro 02:32 Fitness And Rivian 04:18 Firm Snapshot Today 05:57 Becoming An Accountant 08:24 Early Career Leadership 11:55 Burnout And Startup Shift 14:59 Path To Firm Ownership 17:44 Launching With Partners 20:45 Lessons And Daily Rhythm 23:31 Owning The Firm 24:08 Next Six Months Goals 24:44 Wrap Up And Mustaches