Entrepreneur building accounting’s next chapter. Founder of Debits.

Get in touch © 2026 James Northard
Founder & builder in accounting tech

I build the software, brands, and firms moving accounting forward.

I’m the founder of Debits. Across a software company, a CPA firm, and a marketing studio, I work to make modern accounting practices faster, calmer, and more profitable.

Currently building
DebitsThe Accountants for CreativesLedger Marketing
James Northard
James NorthardFounder, Debits
3
Companies founded
7
Workflows Debits replaces
Purdue
Computer graphics → accounting tech
Who I am

I started in computer graphics and fell for one of the least glamorous, most important corners of business: the books.

Accounting firms run the financial lives of millions of small businesses on software that feels a decade behind. So I build the alternative — taking painful, manual, behind-the-scenes work and turning it into something modern firms and their clients actually enjoy using.

Read my story

The ventures

Three companies, one mission: move accounting forward.

How I work

Principles behind everything I build.

01

Start with the workflow, not the feature.

Firms don’t want more software — they want fewer steps. I design around the real, end-to-end job, then remove everything that isn’t the job.

02

Respect the client experience.

The accountant’s client is the quiet judge of every tool. If it’s confusing for them, it fails — no matter how powerful it is for the firm.

03

Earn trust like an accountant would.

Precision, compliance, and clarity aren’t features in this industry — they’re table stakes. I build like the numbers have to be right, because they do.

Writing

Notes on building in accounting tech.

All writing
Let’s talk

Building in accounting? I’d love to hear about it.

Whether you’re a firm owner, a founder, or a potential partner — my inbox is open.