Adam Up Accounting: A Practice That Doesn’t Demand 60-Hour Weeks

When Adam Beesley left his former partnership to start his own accounting firm in 2017, he knew one thing. 

He wanted to build a business that supported his life and not the other way around.

That’s why Canopy was one of the first decisions he made.

Today, Adam and his 4 person team in Payson, Utah, support a growing client base with a streamlined, full-service model. They specialize in monthly accounting, payroll, and tax planning. 

Despite a full roster of clients, Adam has successfully created a strong work-life balance for himself and his team. With Canopy, Adam has built a firm that thrives without regular 60-hour weeks.

 Keeping Work on Track with Smart, Structured Workflows

For Adam, creating defined processes isn’t about micromanaging his team, but about building a firm that runs smoothly without chaining him to his desk (or his inbox). 

Canopy’s workflows make that possible. 

“I use all the workflows. It’s like clockwork to me now. I know exactly what to do for every task I have.” - Adam Beesley, Founder 

Every client project has a clear set of steps in Canopy. The team uses task templates and automated assignments so expectations are clear and deadlines are met. 

This structured approach helps Adam and the rest of his team to spend less time following up or mapping out client work and more time doing meaningful client work or hitting a hiking trail (as long as it’s not tax season, Adam is still an accountant after all).

It’s in the Portal: How Canopy Reduces Back and Forth

Another reason Adam is able to spend more of his time outside the office? The Canopy client portal. 

“I don’t have to respond to people saying, ‘Hey, I need a copy of X, Y, or Z for a loan,’ because they all know that it’s in their portal… our customers use the portal because it’s so user-friendly.” - Adam Beesley, Founder

The portal has cut down on the back-and-forth communication, while still allowing for human interaction when it matters most. 

“Human interaction is great,” he said. “But most of the time, people over-explain, and they take up your time. With Canopy’s document sharing, that allows a lot more of that [communication] to just be quick and efficient.” 

Today, 95% of Adam’s clients use the portal. It’s a central hub that gives clients visibility and ownership, saves Adam time, and keeps the entire firm running smoothly.

Efficient Enough to Clock Out Early

Outside of tax season, most of Adam’s team works just 3 and half days a week. 

Thanks to Adam’s intentional approach to client selection, well-defined workflows, and a user-friendly client portal, the team doesn’t waste time chasing documents or toggling between tools. With Canopy as their all-in-one platform, they log in, get their work done, and log out. 

From onboarding new clients to document requests, everything runs through Canopy. Everyone knows where each client stands with no guesswork or constant check-ins.  

“Outside of [tax season], we're usually about 15 to 25 hours a week… It keeps us plenty busy. It’s awesome.” - Adam Beesley, Founder

Adam and his team stay efficient while still serving clients at a high level. And they don’t sacrifice their evenings and weekends to do it.

A Long-Term Partnership That Keeps Paying Off

Adam’s been with Canopy for years, so as his business has grown, so has Canopy.

“It’s been really cool to see the product continually improve. The way I’ve set up my own workflow and just different things. Canopy is just super smooth now.” - Adam Beesley, Founder

Over the years, Adam has built a lean, efficient firm that thrives on streamlined communication, repeatable workflows, and a user-friendly client experience that frees Adam and his team to pursue life outside of the office. 

“I'm literally on my way to Little Cottonwood Canyon to go hiking right now. Because all of our work is all done.” - Adam Beesley, Founder

And that’s the best part. With Canopy managing the back-office chaos, Adam and his team can focus on building a firm that supports their lifestyle, not one that takes over their lives.