How WISE Turned a 44-Year-Old CPA Firm Into an 11,233% ROI Growth Engine

DeBlanc, Murphy & Murphy had spent more than four decades building its business almost entirely through referrals and relationships. That approach created a strong reputation, but it also left the firm without the digital infrastructure needed to support its next stage of growth.

When new ownership took over, the firm was generating approximately $2.5 million in revenue and had an ambitious goal: modernize the business and double revenue to $5 million within 18 months.

Its existing brand and website no longer reflected the premium, tech-forward advisory firm it wanted to become. The firm had little meaningful online visibility, no established SEO-driven acquisition channel, and previous paid advertising efforts had generated poorly targeted leads.

To reach a new audience of high-net-worth individuals, families, growth-focused businesses, and government contractors in the Washington, D.C. market, DeBlanc, Murphy & Murphy needed more than a new website. It needed a scalable digital client acquisition system.

WISE developed a comprehensive growth system designed around three priorities: position the firm for its ideal clients, attract qualified prospects, and convert that demand into measurable revenue.

First, WISE repositioned the brand from Murphy & Murphy to DeBlanc, Murphy & Murphy, developing an identity and messaging strategy that reflected the firm's new leadership, premium advisory services, and ideal client profile.

Next, WISE designed and developed a new website on the WISE NEST™ platform. The site combined modern design and SEO-friendly architecture with custom pricing calculators that allowed prospects to self-qualify and better understand the firm's value before making contact.

WISE then built the firm's digital acquisition engine through SEO, PPC, content marketing, listings management, and YouTube optimization. Search campaigns targeted high-intent prospects throughout the Washington, D.C. metro area, while ongoing optimization strengthened organic visibility and reduced reliance on paid traffic over time.

Finally, WISE implemented lead tracking, structured intake, and performance measurement so marketing decisions could be optimized around qualified leads and revenue rather than traffic alone.

The results demonstrated the compounding impact of building a complete digital growth system rather than relying on isolated marketing tactics.

In Year 1, DeBlanc, Murphy & Murphy achieved a 594% marketing ROI, with every $1 invested returning $5.94. SEO generated 239 leads, while PPC produced another 110. Website visibility increased 55%, and website traffic grew 35%.

By Year 2, the system had gained momentum. SEO authority continued to compound, organic traffic reduced dependence on paid clicks, and recurring revenue from previously acquired clients helped marketing ROI reach 1,720%.

By Year 3, marketing ROI reached 11,233% — representing $112.33 returned for every $1 invested. The firm's pipeline had become strong enough that it could prioritize higher-value engagements and turn away lower-margin work.

The transformation ultimately helped create a business positioned for acquisition. In December 2024, DeBlanc, Murphy & Murphy was acquired by Cherry Bekaert, one of the largest accounting firms in the United States.

For 44 years, DeBlanc, Murphy & Murphy grew through reputation and referrals. WISE didn't replace that reputation — we built the digital infrastructure needed to amplify it.

The strategy was intentionally designed to compound. Paid media created immediate demand while SEO built long-term visibility. A conversion-focused website turned that traffic into opportunities, while stronger positioning helped attract higher-value clients.

As organic authority increased and previously acquired clients generated recurring revenue, the economics became increasingly powerful. Marketing ROI grew from 594% in Year 1 to 1,720% in Year 2 and ultimately 11,233% in Year 3.

What began as a digital transformation became a scalable growth engine that helped position the firm for acquisition.