Richard Ross, Enrolled Agent and founder of Ross Professional Accounting & Tax, shares why relationships matter more than return on investment when it comes to business networking and referrals. From 41 years as a DJ to becoming a trusted tax professional in Northern Colorado, Richard explains how personality, accountability, and proactive tax strategy help entrepreneurs avoid costly mistakes and grow with confidence.

Here is what we talk about:
🔹 CPA vs Enrolled Agent vs Bookkeeper — what’s the difference and why it matters.
🔹 Why waiting until Q1 to think about taxes puts you behind.
🔹 The easiest tax wins for small business owners (mileage tracking + bookkeeping).
🔹 Extension to file does NOT mean extension to pay.
🔹 “It’s easier to keep up than catch up” — staying ahead all year.
🔹 Networking advice: walk in like you already know everyone.
🔹 Why friendships create stronger referral pipelines than chasing ROI.

Why You Should Listen
🔹 Learn practical tax advice that saves time, money, and stress.
🔹 Understand how accountability and proactive planning protect your business.
🔹 Discover how real business networking builds long-term referral relationships.
🔹 Get insight into building a personality-driven brand in a compliance-heavy industry.

Businesses Richard Ross Recommends:
🔹 Ninoska (Residential Cleaning Professional) — Strong advocate, referral partner, and trusted collaborator who consistently connects Richard with quality clients
🔹 Local Property Managers & Trades Professionals — Richard highlights how mechanics, cleaners, and service providers often become unexpected but powerful referral partners

How to Contact Richard Ross:
🔹 Phone: 970-852-0990
🔹 Website: www.rossprofessionaltax.com
🔹 Instagram: @RossProTaxGuy
🔹 Facebook: Ross Professional Accounting & Tax

Timestamps:
0:15 – From DJ to tax professional: the transition story
2:02 – CPA vs Enrolled Agent explained
4:07 – Why tax planning can’t wait until Q1
6:41 – Extensions, penalties, and common tax misunderstandings
8:09 – Quick wins for entrepreneurs (bookkeepers + mileage tracking)
10:14 – Networking mindset: overcome shyness immediately
12:49 – Why relationship-driven tax service beats big-box firms
15:58 – Building referral relationships (Nanaska story)
18:34 – Ideal clients: solopreneurs and growing businesses
20:21 – “Your taxes don’t have to be taxing”

Thomas Kern has been painting for decades and networking in Northern Colorado for 10–15 years. In this episode, we dig into why painting is really a people-and-prep business, how Thomas earns trust inside customers’ homes, and the relationship habits that keep referrals flowing from electricians, realtors, and property managers.

Episode Highlights:
🔹 Thomas has been networking 10–15 years and has watched the trades networking scene evolve fast
🔹 Why painting is a people business + prep business (and why customers underestimate prep)
🔹 How he sets expectations on paint grades, sheen, durability, and what “scrubbable” actually means
🔹 What repeat clients value most: communication, consistency, and integrity
🔹 His networking “secret”: remember one personal detail and bring it up next time
🔹 Referral partners that drive real work: roofers, electricians, realtors, and property managers
🔹 A real story of how a paint job helped someone emotionally “move on” after loss

Why You Should Listen
🔹 Learn how top trades pros win referrals through trust, follow-through, and clean execution
🔹 Get practical insight on paint quality, prep, and pricing conversations without sounding salesy
🔹 Steal Thomas’s relationship-building habits for networking events and 1:1s

Businesses Thomas Kern Recommends
🔹 Dunham Electrical (Bob Dunham) — Professional crews, strong communication, clean work, reliable follow-through
🔹 Richard Ross (CPA) — Approachable, generous with answers, high trust and deep tax/payroll knowledge

How to contact Thomas Kern
🔹 Call or text: 970-444-5003
🔹 Thomas prefers phone/text and is known for calling people back quickly.

Timestamps
0:00 Connecting with customers
0:13 Intro + Thomas’s networking history
1:00 How he started painting at 14 (and why oil paint taught speed + cleanup)
2:20 How paint chemistry and techniques changed over decades
3:20 Painting = people + prep + education
6:27 How referral partners confidently recommend him
9:20 When homeowners usually paint (and why most wait too long)
11:03 Pricing, paint grades, and matching expectations
13:36 The emotional impact of a “fresh start” paint job
16:45 Bad paint stories + fixing rushed work
17:10 Networking groups he likes (NIA, Tabletop, Sure Networking, Level Up)
19:20 Speed networking approach + remembering details
21:05 Best referral sources + who he’s open to
24:16 Deep dive: Bob Dunham + how Thomas tests partners
26:46 Shoutout to Richard Ross (CPA)
27:10 Who he’s looking to meet: custom builders + property managers
28:02 How to connect with Thomas

Jeremy Howe from Voda Cleaning & Restoration is only six months into launching in Northern Colorado, but he’s already building serious momentum through intentional networking, strong referral partnerships, and a “serve first” mindset—especially when clients are having one of the worst days of homeownership.
🔹 Why Jeremy treats his role like being “the mayor of the town”.
🔹 Building quality referral relationships (not just collecting business cards).
🔹 Real examples of collaboration with Red Rock Roofing + CleanSpot.
🔹 How Voda creates consistent business beyond emergency restoration calls.
🔹 Customer care in high-stress situations: trust, empathy, and process clarity.
🔹 Using newsletters + value-driven education to stay top-of-mind.

Why You Should Listen
If you’re building a service business (or referral network) in Northern Colorado, this episode is a practical look at how to create real referral partners, co-market with aligned businesses, and grow faster by focusing on relationship depth, not just networking volume.

Businesses Jeremy Howe Recommends
🔹 Red Rock Roofing — values alignment (integrity, honesty), strong collaboration, and co-marketing that helps customers win
🔹 CleanSpot — complementary commercial cleaning partner; they handle janitorial/maid service while Voda supports deep cleaning + sanitization

How to contact Jeremy Howe
🔹 Phone: 970-822-5300
🔹 Email: jeremy.howe@myvoda.com
🔹 Instagram: @vodafortcollinscheyenne