Episode Summary:

Welcome to The Next Cell Over, the podcast where sharp operators and fractional leaders share how to turn messy back ends into profit-driving machines.

In this episode, host Jenna Moser sits down with Marissa Furstenberg, CPA and co-founder of Rissa's Accounting, to unpack how the right accounting partner can transform your business from simply “staying compliant” to strategically growing. From streamlining tech stacks to making KPIs meaningful, Marissa and her team work as trusted advisors, not just report generators.

In This Episode:

✅ Why Xero outperforms QuickBooks for affordability, customization, and accountant-focused features

✅ How to combine Xero, Bill.com, and Avalara for a lean, scalable finance tech stack

✅ Avoiding expensive software traps, like CRMs that eat budget without delivering results

✅ Expanding from bookkeeping into taxes to become a one-stop financial solution

✅ Navigating complex state-specific rules, like Colorado’s “home rule” sales tax system, without triggering audits

✅ Using gross margin and cash flow as the KPIs that drive decision-making

You’ll also hear how Rissa's Accounting’s networking strategy and client education efforts led to their biggest growth month ever—proving that process, relationships, and clarity matter as much as the numbers.

Expect an honest look at why so many businesses operate in a state of “financial fog” and how the right partner can clear the path for confident decision-making. If you’re getting reports you don’t understand, this episode will change how you think about your books.

Golden Nugget:

"Numbers without context are just noise. When you understand your KPIs—like gross margin and cash flow—you can finally steer your business instead of reacting to it." — Marissa Furstenberg, CPA

Connect with Marissa:

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marissa-firstenberg-c-p-a-a8281825

• Linkedin:linkedin.com/in/jworksvirtual
• Website: jworksvirtualsolutions.com

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Created by J Works Virtual Solutions

We help growing financial businesses clean up their backend, track what matters, and scale with clarity, so you can stop reacting and start leading.