Bios That Build Bonds (Not Boredom)

Be honest: does your bio sound like a résumé?

Degrees. Credentials. Affiliations.

Useful? Sure. Memorable? Not even a little.

Here’s the truth: clients aren’t hiring your résumé. They’re hiring you. In addition to making your firm's story stand out, you as an individual also need to establish a strong first impression and a sense of trust for your clients.

Why Bios Matter More Than You Think

Your bio is often the first place a prospect clicks. It’s where referrals land after Googling you. It’s where AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity pull context when someone asks, “Who’s the best CPA or EA near me?”

If your bio is generic, you’re invisible.

If your bio shows personality, you’re unforgettable.

See the Difference: Résumé vs. Relationship

Here’s what most bios look like:

The Boring Bio (Résumé-Style):

John Smith, CPA, EA, MBA, MST, CGMA, PFS, CFE, has over 25 years of experience providing accounting and tax services to individuals and small businesses. He is a member of the AICPA, NAEA, and NATP.

It’s factual. It’s credential-packed. But it sounds like 10,000 other bios.

Now here’s what a bond-building bio looks like:

The Bond-Building Bio (Narrative-Style):

John Smith, CPA and EA, has spent 25 years helping small business owners stop overpaying the IRS and start planning for growth. Raised in a family of entrepreneurs, John knows the stress of juggling books, payroll, and taxes while trying to run a business. When he’s not working with clients, you’ll find him cycling the trails around {{city}} or coaching his daughter’s soccer team.

See the difference? One reads like a résumé. The other reads like a person you’d actually trust.

More Ways to Write Bond-Building Bios

Still worried you’ll sound “too casual”? Here are three narrative-style bios to show how different tones can fit different firms:

1. The Conservative CPA Firm

Susan Lee, CPA, has advised high-net-worth families and established businesses for more than 20 years. Known for her meticulous approach and steady guidance, she helps clients make tax-smart decisions that protect wealth and reduce risk. Outside the office, Susan is active in her church and enjoys reading biographies of world leaders.

2. The Creative-Focused EA

Marcus Rivera, EA, works with freelance designers, musicians, and content creators who want to keep more of what they earn and stress less about taxes. A lifelong guitarist himself, Marcus gets the unique ups and downs of creative income. When he’s not working with clients, you’ll probably find him recording in his home studio or playing at a local open mic.

3. The Solopreneur Tax Pro

Lisa Nguyen started her solo tax practice to help local entrepreneurs in {{city}} feel confident about their numbers. As a small business owner herself, she knows what it’s like to wear 10 hats at once. Clients appreciate Lisa’s straight talk, quick response times, and the fact that she never makes them feel silly for asking a question.

Your Moat Is Human

Big firms and AI-powered competitors can copy services. They can’t copy your story.

When your bio reads like a person — not a résumé — you create a bond. That bond is your moat. It’s the reason a client will pick you over a faceless competitor.

Because at the end of the day, numbers don’t build relationships. People do.

👉 Next step: CountingWorks PRO helps CPAs, EAs, and tax pros write bios that build bonds, not boredom. See how we do it.

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