client service opportunities

one hour a year since 1972

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digital visualization of a blue alarm clock“i love it when clients’ children call me.”

by ed mendlowitz
call me before you do anything: the art of accounting

one day i met with a client for one hour to get his tax information. this is a client i have had since 1972.

more: finding new business in sustainability | the six types of “impossible” clients | you’re not just taxes | granting unconventional request pays off | 20 best practices for staff training and retention
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at this point his tax return is much less complicated and he could easily mail in his info, but then we would forgo the meeting. we met when his lawyer introduced me to help negotiate his divorce. i got it done and in a way that he and his soon to be ex-wife did not fight and remained friends (to this day!). because of this i will never lose this client. we are truly in a great profession!
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james lopiccolo: sell service, not hours

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small firm attacks the big issues with novel strategies.

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with steven sacks
the new fundamentals: thriving in disruption

the accounting profession is “stuck in a rut,” says james n. lopiccolo, founder and managing member of capocore professional advisors, in lake orion, mich.

he says cpas can’t see “the challenges that are coming by from other non-cpa firms.”

more: effective networking is an art | business development activities shouldn’t be a chore | cpa’s best role: leveraging knowledge, not just process | avoid last-minute deal making | five common negotiating mistakes | the myths of performance management | business is about relationships | reaching for authenticity in client service |

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lopiccolo’s answer is offering service agreements, instead of billing by the hour. risky? sometimes. but clients love it.

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in more than 31 years of public accounting, lopiccolo has worked in business advisory, tax, and accounting for a multitude of industries including contracting, manufacturing, medical, professional service companies, and real estate. he serves on the michigan cpa association executive committee and the finance committee, and he is a two-time chair of the aicpa small firm practitioners task force.

11 key takeaways:

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effective networking is an art

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four people meeting for business lunchlisten to learn … about the speaker and yourself.

by steven e. sacks
the new fundamentals: thriving in disruption

there is no one right way to effectively network. you can join boards, attend conferences and sign onto various electronic forums, among other ways. no matter how you decide to get yourself “out there,” the critical factor is the approach you take. “how may i help you?” is the positive, proactive way to establish a relationship.

more: avoid last-minute deal making | five common negotiating mistakes | reaching for authenticity in client service | deadlines? ha! don’t make me laugh | organizational change starts and ends with people | busyness isn’t the same as productivity
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

you as the networker are seeking to build a relationship. if the other person or group benefits from your effort, think of it as an investment for the future. if you are looking for an immediate quid pro quo, it will become transparent to the other party. when you offer assistance, be authentic and sincere in your words and actions. follow through on your promises.
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what to do with a lousy client?

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young businessman staring at laptop computer in officeexamine how you’re managing the relationship.

by ed mendlowitz
the 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 practice doctor

question: i have a client that is a not-for-profit and they are having a dinner and expect me to attend as well as take an ad.

more: stop drowning in client documents | employee demands a raise she doesn’t deserve | how are you spending the next five years? | how to get the most from cpe | does your staff know all the services you provide? | price your practice by gross | advising estate executors: the newbie guide to getting started | how’s your overhead?
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

however, they are a lousy client. they do not give us the requested information until the last minute and then complain we are always late with our report. they pay us months after the bill is sent and then only after quite a few phone calls, and then they complain about the fee being too high when it is half of our time charges – they are on a fixed fee and don’t let us raise it each year. and now they expect a “contribution.” what should i do?
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finding new business in sustainability

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green "opportunity" highway sign with sunrise backgroundwhy now is the time to invest in corporate sustainability and social responsibility reporting.

by ed mendlowitz
call me before you do anything: the art of accounting

my columns are autobiographical and some tell about things that happened decades ago – although they’re still relevant – and hopefully, there are takeaways you can benefit from.

more: the six types of “impossible” clients | 50 ways to make more money in busy season | 20 good ways to boost tax season production | why annual staff evaluations fall short | why create an accounting firm business model? | the clients that keep you awake at night | creating a cross-selling culture | cross-selling beyond your comfort zone
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

this one is about something just starting to happen and presents an opportunity for you to get in on the ground floor of what could become a hot area for additional revenues. the overall topic has various names, two of which are sustainability and corporate social responsibility.
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