Dark Horse CPAs promotes Mike Grimasauskas to principal

Dark Horse CPAs has promoted Mike Grimasauskas, CPA, to Principal after he completed the firm’s Principal Accelerator Program and built a growing accounting and tax practice. The move underscores the firm’s push to develop entrepreneurially minded CPAs into equity leaders while expanding service capacity for small-business clients.

Why it matters: - Dark Horse CPAs is using its Principal Accelerator Program to turn high-performing CPAs into equity Principals. - The promotion signals continued growth for Mike Grimasauskas’s practice and adds another leader to a firm focused on small-business tax and accounting services. - The program is designed to help CPAs build scalable books of business without starting a firm from scratch.

What happened: - Dark Horse CPAs promoted Mike Grimasauskas, CPA, to Principal on July 24, 2026. - Grimasauskas earned the promotion after completing the firm’s Principal Accelerator Program. - Dark Horse CPAs said Grimasauskas also built a growing accounting and tax practice within the firm. - Max Fritz, COO and co-founder of Dark Horse CPAs, said the firm recruited Grimasauskas because of his technical foundation and character. - Fritz said Grimasauskas delivered a strong 2026, signed significant engagements and finished tax season with exceptional work and billings.

The details: - Grimasauskas said one of the biggest challenges was building his book of business while serving clients and organizing his processes. - Grimasauskas said creating systems that could support growth made a significant difference. - Grimasauskas said client relationships were the most meaningful part of the process because each new engagement reflected earned trust. - Grimasauskas began the program alongside Chris Papp. - Accelerators and Principals provided guidance, tools and answers during the program. - Grimasauskas said collaboration with other Accelerators was more valuable than expected. - As Principal, Grimasauskas plans to keep expanding his practice. - Grimasauskas also plans to develop his first Dark Horse team member through the firm’s training program. - Grimasauskas said adding his first staff member is an important next step. - Grimasauskas wants to strengthen the systems behind his practice as it grows.

Between the lines: - Dark Horse’s model rewards self-directed CPAs who can combine client service with business development. - The promotion also shows the firm values operators who can build processes, not just deliver technical work. - Fritz’s comments suggest Dark Horse is trying to scale through people who can own a practice and apply lessons from earlier firm experience. - The Accelerator Program appears to function as both a talent pipeline and a growth engine for the firm.

What's next: - Grimasauskas will continue building his practice as a Principal. - Grimasauskas will begin developing a Dark Horse team member through the firm’s training program. - Dark Horse CPAs is still accepting new Accelerators. - Interested CPAs can learn more at A Better Way or by emailing info@darkhorse.cpa. - More information is available at Dark Horse CPAs. - The firm also maintains a LinkedIn page at Dark Horse CPAs on LinkedIn.

The bottom line: - Dark Horse CPAs is betting that structured training and internal promotion can produce the next generation of firm leaders.