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Build the internal tool your firm needs with an AI app builder instead of paying for a big vendor platform
Mike DeKock, founder and CEO of MJD Advisors, a boutique CPA firm that specializes in SOC 2 examinations, in Accounting Today
After an IT audit software company demoed its product, he spent about six hours building a version himself that fit his firm's workflow; he concedes it's less polished. He turned down the $300,000-a-year platform and builds internal apps with Retool, his AI code generator, which costs under $30,000 a year. He keeps development slow, iterative and internal, keeps anything touching sensitive client data in enterprise tools with strong security, and asks both ChatGPT and Claude "What are the security risks?" Before building client-facing apps he hired a fractional CTO and outside developers and is documenting everything, because otherwise only he knows how the apps work.
Retool: under $30,000/yr at his firm (his figure; not price-checked by us) · ChatGPT Free $0; Go $8/mo; Plus $20/mo; Pro $100/mo · Claude $17/mo billed annually ($20 monthly)
Hard · or we set it up for $197
ChatGPT, Claude, Retool
The problem
A major audit-platform vendor quoted his firm $300,000 a year, and an IT audit software demo had more than the firm needed and didn't match its workflow.
What happened
He says building this way has saved his firm hundreds of thousands of dollars. The trade-off: he spends "a lot of time fixing bugs and doing maintenance," and if an app broke while he was in the hospital, "They would have to call me at the hospital," which he calls "a huge exposure." Self-reported, per Accounting Today.
Quoted in the source: Mike DeKock, founder and CEO, MJD Advisors. Source: Accounting Today: Should accountants vibe-code their own software? (2026-07-08) · Added 2026-10-28.
How to set it up yourself
- What MJD Advisors did: its founder built internal audit apps with Retool instead of buying a $300,000-a-year platform, and checks every build for security risks with ChatGPT and Claude.
- Pick one internal, repetitive workflow with no sensitive client data in it (a checklist, a tracker, an evidence log). Write down exactly what it must do; skip everything else.
- Build a first version with an AI app builder, then paste the design into ChatGPT or Claude with the prompt below and fix what it flags.
- Keep client data in your existing secure, enterprise systems until a developer has reviewed the app.
- Document how it works and who fixes it before your team relies on it, so it doesn't depend on one person. DeKock hired a fractional CTO for this.
Copy-paste prompt
I run {FIRM NAME}, a {TYPE OF FIRM}. I built an internal app with {APP BUILDER} that does this: {DESCRIBE WHAT IT DOES, WHAT DATA IT STORES, WHO LOGS IN}. What are the security risks? List them from most to least serious, say which ones matter if the app holds {TYPE OF DATA}, and give me one concrete fix for each. Then list what I should document so someone else could maintain this app if I'm unavailable.We set up one AI automation in your tools, live within 48 hours of getting access, for $197. No call needed. Founding price for our first 10 customers (regular $297).
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Tools used
ChatGPT
General AI assistant for writing, research, brainstorming and analysis.
From Free $0; Go $8/mo; Plus $20/mo; Pro $100/mo (checked 2026-11-03)
Visit site →
Claude
AI assistant for writing, long documents, analysis and coding help.
From $17/mo billed annually ($20 monthly) (checked 2026-10-30)
Visit site →Some tool links may be affiliate links. Disclosure
Checked prices: ChatGPT: from Free $0; Go $8/mo; Plus $20/mo; Pro $100/mo (verified 2026-11-03) · Claude: from $17/mo billed annually ($20 monthly) (verified 2026-10-30)
Rather not do it yourself?
The $197 Quick-Win: we set up one AI automation that saves you hours each week, in accounts you own, live within 48 hours of getting access. No call needed. Refund if it isn't live in 48 hours or isn't doing its job in the first 14 days. Founding price for our first 10 customers (regular $297). Terms.
See the $197 Quick-WinNeed more than one automation or ongoing care? Bigger setups: $149/mo with setup included (6-month minimum), or $497 pay-once. Satisfaction guarantee: we'll fix it until it works. Pay-once setups: or we refund your setup fee. $149/mo plan: cancel in the first 30 days and we refund your first month. We reply within 1 business day.
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Rather have one set up for you? The $197 Quick-Win.