Dark Horse CPAs, an accounting and tax firm serving small businesses across the United States, has promoted Chris Ries, CPA, from Associate Principal to Principal after he completed the firm's Principal Accelerator Program. Ries joins a growing group of Principals who have built independent practices within the Dark Horse platform, which provides administrative infrastructure, sales training, lead generation, and operational support while leaving practice ownership responsibilities to the Principals.
Ries described his transition as a shift from pure client service to deliberate practice ownership. "There's a lot more that goes into running a practice than just serving clients' tax and accounting needs," he said. "The first few months required a lot of soul-searching and getting clear on what kind of work I actually wanted to do, instead of just taking on everything that came my way. That process was challenging, but it's also what made it rewarding." He emphasized the importance of the Dark Horse leadership team and peer community, noting that the collaborative environment distinguishes the firm from traditional partnership structures where competition can hinder growth.
One unexpected finding for Ries was that lead generation proved less of a hurdle than anticipated. "I worried there wouldn't be enough opportunities coming in," he said. "Instead, the real work was figuring out who I wanted to serve and how I wanted to serve them. Learning to say no to opportunities that didn't fit was something I didn't expect, but it's what allowed me to build a practice aligned with my goals." This focus on intentional client selection allowed Ries to avoid arbitrary growth targets and build a practice that fits his life and priorities.
Dark Horse CEO and co-founder Chase Birky recounted his initial skepticism about Ries's candidacy due to his years in public accounting, but he was won over by Ries's emotional intelligence and mature presentation. "It was immediately apparent that he knew his craft and had great mentors that invested in him along the way," Birky said. "The rest is history as he's been exactly the caliber of CPA we came to learn about in those interviews and has continued to grow his skillset in ways that benefit his clients."
The Principal Accelerator Program is designed for entrepreneurially minded CPAs who want to build a scalable book of business without starting from scratch. Participants receive training on the firm's proprietary tech stack, sales coaching, and access to professional staff. Upon completion, they can become equity Principals. For Ries, the program's support and flexibility have been key. "Having the freedom to make those decisions, with Dark Horse's support, is what makes this work," he said.