Accelerating Firm Growth Through Innovation and Expertise

Stay Focused on What Works

Joel didn't originally come from the accounting world, but his decision to stay focused on one vertical significantly impacted him. Instead of expanding into adjacent industries like legal or professional services, he committed Rightworks to deeply serving accounting and tax professionals.

"We have a thousand, let's get 2000, we have 2000, let's get 5,000. We have 5,000, let's get 10,000. Don't distract yourself; stay on track."

That focus has helped Rightworks build trust, improve products, and grow sustainably. For firm owners, it reminds them that depth often outperforms breadth—especially in a specialized, relationship-driven field like accounting.

Culture Begins with the Right People

Throughout the conversation, Joel clarified how much he values working with people who share his vision. Several members of his current team are people he worked with in previous companies — and that wasn't by accident.

"If you're painting a vision of the future, it's generally easier to get people who've already known you to buy into that... And those things are incredibly valuable to any person right as you move through your career."

He added: "People who want and need a shared vision and buy into yours if you're a leader are gonna help you the most."

For firm owners, this underscores the importance of hiring for alignment, not just skills. Culture isn't something you bolt on — it starts with your first few hires and compounds over time.

Change Requires Leadership and Clarity

One of the most practical takeaways from Joel's episode came from his observations on technology adoption and change management. He shared this when discussing failed implementations:

"We've seen people try to do something for a year and then decide to undo it."

Why does this happen? Often, it's because the internal champion isn't set up to succeed: "How do we make that champion who is suggesting the change inside the firm... incredibly successful? Because really if they're not, then we're not. And it won't last."

This applies to any transformation effort — whether you're rolling out a new workflow system or changing your service model. If your internal advocate doesn't have the clarity, support, and buy-in they need, the change won't stick.

Community and Innovation Go Hand in Hand

Joel also spoke about building not just products but a community — and how his team is working to drive innovation in a way that's accessible and safe for the accounting profession.

"We feel like part of our job is testing that and then trying to make practical things, tools that our customers can use... and certainly train them and make them comfortable. They will be able to use those and adopt those."

That approach has led to projects like SparkAI, a secure AI tool built specifically for accountants, and the launch of new community platforms designed to connect practitioners and share best practices.

"We're launching a new platform to really meet each other, meet a much broader set of thought leaders who are impacting the industry and have a lot of great stuff to share."

It's a good reminder that the future of accounting isn't just about tools — it's about connection, education, and shared progress.

Key Takeaways for Firm Owners

• Focus wins: Find your core audience and serve them deeply.
• Culture compounds: Your team is your greatest asset — invest in alignment.
• Support your champions: Change starts from within, and it only works when you enable your people.
• Lead through community: Growth is easier when you're part of a trusted ecosystem.

The Bottom Line

Joel Hughes' experience at Rightworks shows that scaling a firm isn't just about technology or talent — it's about building something sustainable with the right people and the proper focus. Want to hear the whole story? Listen to the full conversation on After the First Million.

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Learn how to optimize your financial operations and scale efficiently by connecting with Decimal at https://www.decimal.com/contact-us.