340. Your Agency By the Numbers This Year, with Jody Grunden

Mar 18, 2026

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This episode of The Innovative Agency Podcast welcomes Jody Grunden, Partner at Anders Virtual CFO and one of the most trusted financial advisors in the agency world.

As technology reshapes how agencies deliver value and AI accelerates the pace of change, many agency leaders are asking the same questions:

Are our pricing models still sustainable? Are we truly profitable? And are we planning well enough for what's coming next?

In this conversation, Jody brings decades of experience guiding agencies how to rethink the fundamentals of their financial strategy, from moving beyond hourly billing to adopting scalable, value-based pricing models, to building stronger cash reserves and creating dynamic forecasts that prepare your business for uncertainty.

Leaders who understand their numbers will be far better positioned to turn disruption into opportunity. If you're ready to stop reacting to financial surprises and start leading your agency with greater clarity, confidence, and profitability, this episode is packed with insights you can put to work right away.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why agencies need to revisit traditional hourly billing models and consider value-based, subscription, or flat-fee pricing
How to build profitable pricing using historical data and a "choose your own adventure" approach for clients
What key financial metrics and margins agencies should track for sustainable growth
The vital importance of proactive cash management
How dynamic forecasting can guide more intentional business decisions
Methods for demystifying pricing conversations with clients and boosting agency confidence

Bio

Jody Grunden is a trailblazer in the accounting industry who has transformed how agencies manage their finances. As the co-founder of Summit CPA Group, now Anders Virtual CFO, Jody pioneered subscription-based billing for accounting firms and built the first fully distributed Virtual CFO practice in North America. Since 2002 he has specialized in guiding digital and creative agencies toward sustainable profitability and scalability using a proprietary profit-focused maturity model.

Author of Digital Dollars and Cents and Building the Virtual CFO Firm in the Cloud, Jody has been recognized by CPA.com as one of the most innovative practitioners in the country. His work goes beyond the numbers by empowering agency founders to align their financial operations with their vision so they can lead with confidence, invest in growth, and enjoy greater freedom in their business and life.

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