Dark Horse CPAs hires Krystal Ridge as Associate Principal

Dark Horse CPAs has named Krystal Ridge, CPA, as an Associate Principal in its Principal Accelerator Program as the firm looks to expand a tax planning and advisory practice for business owners nationwide. Ridge brings more than eight years of tax department leadership and plans to focus on year-round client relationships, multi-state work and proactive tax planning.

Why it matters: - Dark Horse CPAs is adding another adviser aimed at growing a planning-first tax practice for business owners, entrepreneurs and high-net-worth clients. - The hire reinforces the firm’s bet that virtual delivery, fixed fees and year-round advisory work can replace the traditional annual-tax-prep model.

What happened: - Dark Horse CPAs hired Krystal Ridge, CPA, as an Associate Principal in the firm’s Principal Accelerator Program. - Ridge is based in San Angelo, Texas. - Ridge has more than eight years of experience leading a tax department. - Dark Horse CPAs serves small businesses and individuals across the U.S.

The details: - Ridge said she joined the firm because she wanted a practice centered on quality over volume. - Ridge said the Accelerator Program lets her choose the clients she serves and spend more time on planning and advisory work. - Ridge said Dark Horse’s virtual model gives her the technology and resources to serve clients well. - Ridge’s approach starts with listening to business owners describe their situation in their own words. - Ridge follows up with detailed questions until she understands the client’s needs. - Ridge focuses on accurate, current financials that owners can trust. - Ridge also looks at tax impact before any major decision is made. - Ridge said she wants to be a client’s first call, not their last. - Ridge said she uses plain language and takes tax issues one step at a time. - Ridge said she uses fixed fees where possible. - Ridge keeps clients on a regular meeting schedule so they know what to expect throughout the year. - Ridge plans to grow her practice with established business owners, early-stage entrepreneurs, high-net-worth individuals and families. - Ridge sees opportunity in multi-state work as more businesses sell across state lines and employ remote teams in several locations. - Ridge said working virtually allows her to serve clients wherever they are without losing a personal touch. - Ridge said video meetings keep the relationship face to face. - Ridge plans to support fellow Principals and Accelerators with technical research and process improvement. - Ridge wants to earn client trust and make taxes feel less stressful. - Ridge said she hopes clients recommend her to friends and family. - Dark Horse says the Principal Accelerator Program is for entrepreneurially minded CPAs who want to build a scalable book of business without the personal and financial sacrifices of starting a firm from scratch. - Dark Horse says the program provides proprietary technology, flexible staffing and established systems. - Accelerators complete training on the firm’s technology, sales process and practice-building model before building their own books of business. - Accelerators receive one-on-one coaching and access to full-time and fractional professional personnel as they grow. - After meeting ownership requirements, Accelerators may become equity Principals. - The program is currently accepting new Accelerators. - Interested CPAs can learn more at more information or by emailing info@darkhorse.cpa. - Dark Horse CPAs also offers integrated tax, accounting and CFO services nationwide. - The firm says it was founded to give small businesses access to tax strategies, accounting insight and client experience often reserved for larger companies.

Between the lines: - Ridge’s focus on planning before decisions suggests Dark Horse is trying to move clients away from reactive tax prep and toward ongoing advisory relationships. - The firm’s Accelerator Program appears designed to recruit experienced CPAs who want ownership potential without building an independent practice alone. - The emphasis on virtual meetings and multi-state work reflects how more client businesses now operate across multiple jurisdictions.

What’s next: - Ridge plans to build a practice serving business owners, entrepreneurs, families and clients with multi-state needs. - Dark Horse will continue recruiting new Accelerators into the program. - Successful participants can move toward equity Principal status after completing training and meeting ownership requirements.

The bottom line: - Dark Horse CPAs is using its Accelerator Program to pair experienced tax talent with a scalable advisory model built for virtual, year-round client work.