Running an accounting firm rarely looks the way we imagine it will. Most firm owners do not set out with a twenty-year roadmap, a perfect niche, or a polished brand vision. More often, it starts with a need, a willingness to help, and a quiet confidence that you will figure things out along the way.
That is exactly how Tony Proctor’s story begins.
Tony is the founder and principal of Proctor & Associates, a full-service firm headquartered in Charlotte with a fully distributed team. The firm serves professional service businesses with revenues ranging from roughly $500,000 to $5 million, offering tax, accounting, and payroll services. Today, Proctor & Associates is approaching its twentieth year in business, an accomplishment that only becomes more impressive when you hear how organically it all began.
Tony recently joined us on Off the Clock, Anchor’s series focused on the human side of firm ownership and genuine conversation with our clients. What followed was an honest, thoughtful conversation about entrepreneurship, leadership, and the quiet lessons that only time can teach.
You can watch the full conversation here.
An Entrepreneur Before The Title Ever Existed
Tony describes himself as an entrepreneur long before he ever thought about accounting as a career. As a kid, he was already finding ways to sell, build, and create. That instinct never really left.
In the early 2000s, he began helping people with tax returns. It was never meant to become a full-scale firm. It started as side work, a way to help people navigate something that felt intimidating and confusing. Over time, those tax returns turned into accounting needs. Those accounting needs turned into long-term relationships. And slowly, without a grand plan, a firm took shape.
What stands out is not speed or ambition, but responsiveness. Tony saw what people needed and chose to meet them there. For many firm owners, that recognition feels familiar. Growth often comes not from chasing trends, but from paying attention to what clients are already asking for.
Accounting Was Never The Plan
Accounting was not on Tony’s original bingo card. His first career dream was medicine. That path ended quickly after a difficult introduction to organic chemistry. From there, he pivoted into mass communications and business, imagining a future in broadcasting.
That background still shows up today. Tony is comfortable on camera, comfortable telling stories, and comfortable speaking candidly. It also explains why launching a podcast eventually felt like a natural fit, even if it took years to act on the idea.
What his story reminds us is this: few firm owners arrive here in a straight line. Skills carry over in unexpected ways. Communication, curiosity, and empathy often matter just as much as technical expertise.
The Podcast That Took Five Years To Launch
Tony’s podcast, The Unscripted Hustle, exists for one simple reason: to talk honestly about life and work without filters.
He waited years to launch it. Not because he lacked ideas, but because of a familiar internal question many firm owners face. Will anyone listen? Will it matter?
Eventually, his team made the decision for him. The podcast went live, imperfect and unfinished, exactly as it was meant to be.
That moment reflects one of Tony’s core beliefs: progress matters more than perfection. Waiting until something feels flawless often means waiting forever. Starting, learning, and adjusting is what creates momentum.
For firm owners who have been sitting on ideas, whether it is a content initiative, a process change, or a difficult decision, this lesson resonates deeply.
The Clients Who Cost The Most Are Not Always The Ones Who Pay The Most
When asked about early surprises in firm ownership, Tony did not hesitate.
People are complicated. And in his experience, the clients who pay the least often create the most stress.
This truth rarely appears in textbooks or certification programs, but most firm owners learn it the hard way. Misaligned pricing leads to misaligned expectations. Over time, boundaries become essential not just for profitability, but for sanity.
Tony’s perspective is not cynical. It is realistic. Healthy firms are built on clarity, fairness, and mutual respect. Protecting your time and your team is part of leadership, not a failure of service.
Twenty Years In Business Changes How You Measure Success
Professionally, Tony considers the longevity of his firm his greatest accomplishment. What began as a side project now supports a team of people who rely on the business for their livelihoods.
That realization did not fully land until recently. Sometimes, it takes distance to see the weight of what you have built.
Personally, Tony takes pride in being visible. As a successful Black business owner, husband, and father, he understands the importance of representation. For him, leadership includes showing others what is possible, even when you did not have many examples yourself.
Success, in this context, is not about scale or recognition. It is about responsibility and impact.
Trusting The Process And Choosing Progress
At the close of every Off the Clock episode, we ask guests to leave a piece of advice for the next person.
Tony’s advice was simple and grounded in experience.
Trust the process. Even when it feels uncomfortable or unclear, there is something on the other side.
And choose progress over perfection. Small steps matter. Movement matters. Waiting until everything is ideal only delays growth.
For accounting firm owners operating in an industry that values precision, this can be a difficult mindset shift. But as Tony reminds us, forward motion does not require flawlessness. It requires commitment.
A Final Thought For Firm Owners
Tony’s story is not about overnight success or dramatic turning points. It is about consistency, self-awareness, and the willingness to grow alongside your firm.
If you are building something slowly, questioning your next step, or wondering whether the work you are doing today will matter years from now, this conversation is worth your time. Watch Tony's episode.
And if you want to learn more about how Anchor supports firm owners in simplifying billing and payments, check us out here.
