Dark Horse CPAs Announces Promotion of Joe Detrow to Principal

Detrow Completes Principal Accelerator Program, Expands Advisory Practice

CARDIFF BY THE SEA, Calif., Oct. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Dark Horse CPAs, a top accounting and tax firm serving small businesses and individuals across the nation, proudly announces the promotion of Joe Detrow, CPA, to Principal following his successful completion of the firm's Principal Accelerator Program.

Detrow's path to Principal required balancing the competing demands of client work, business development, and administrative responsibilities. "The most challenging part of the journey was learning to juggle those three elements without letting any of them slip," said Detrow. "But the best part was the support group that developed among the other Accelerators. We all came from different backgrounds and experiences, and we encouraged each other, shared advice, and made smarter decisions together."

While the Accelerator Program pushed him out of his comfort zone, Detrow credits the coaching and repetition for helping him find confidence in a new skill set. "For most of my career, business came through referrals. At Dark Horse, it was the first time I leaned into true sales and marketing. Initially, I wasn't sure what to expect, but with strong guidance and regular practice, I became much more comfortable with the process."

Looking ahead, Detrow is excited to continue serving clients in an advisory role and to contribute to building Dark Horse's culture. "I'm looking forward to helping create an environment where CPAs can do great work, live full lives, and have fun while doing it."

For CPAs considering the Accelerator Program, Detrow's advice is simple: "Understand that you are capable of doing this. Don't be afraid to be selective with the clients you take on. Have a clear vision for the practice you want to build, share it with leadership, and they'll help you get there."

"Joe is the type of professional we built the Accelerator Program to support," said Chase Birky, CEO and co-founder of Dark Horse CPAs. "He's got the drive, the expertise, and the heart to build something special for both his clients and his colleagues. We're thrilled to have him join the Principal ranks."

About the Dark Horse Accelerator Program

The Dark Horse Principal Accelerator Program was created for entrepreneurially minded CPAs that want to build a scalable book of business without the personal and financial sacrifices required of starting a firm from scratch. Dark Horse empowers their CPAs with the resources and support to grow intelligently and profitably. Their proprietary technology, flexible staffing, and industry-leading systems and processes enable CPAs to focus on being the trusted advisor to their clients, unlocking unprecedented value in these relationships, so that they will continue to be relevant long into the future while their counterparts become increasingly displaced by technology.

Accelerators are put through a training program that acclimates them to the firm's exclusive tech stack, followed by proprietary sales training and one-on-one coaching. Upon completion of training, they begin building their book of business by fielding inquiries from potential Dark Horse clients. To facilitate their growth, Accelerators have full-time and fractional professional personnel support at their disposal. A collaborative group of like-minded CPAs go the extra mile to help them out in areas where they lack expertise. This new CPA firm business model includes an active corporate team that ensures their work is of high quality and strategically focused. After successful completion of the program, they can become an equity principal of the firm.

The Dark Horse Principal Accelerator Program is currently accepting new Accelerators. Interested CPAs are invited to dive deeper into the program on Dark Horse's recruiting site, abetterway.cpa or by emailing [email protected].

About Dark Horse CPAs

Dark Horse CPAs provides integrated tax, accounting, and CFO services to small businesses and individuals across the U.S. The firm was founded to save small businesses (and their owners) from subpar accounting and tax services and subpar client experiences. These small businesses are Dark Horses among their larger and more well-known competition. Being a Dark Horse CPA means advocating for small businesses by bringing to them the tax strategies and accounting insights previously reserved for big business. To learn more, visit darkhorse.cpa.

SOURCE Dark Horse CPAs