management

fine-tuning the subscription fee model

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how cpa jamie lopiccolo’s subscription pricing models manage client expectations and the firm’s cash flow.
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with steven sacks
the new fundamentals: thriving in disruption

james (jamie) n. lopiccolo, cpa, cgma
lopiccolo

jamie lopiccolo, the managing member of a small midwest firm, has been employing a subscription-based model for more than four years to invoice clients for services rendered. in addition to positioning the cpa as the client’s partner for success, it also encourages those who employ the system to provide maximum value in each client interaction, rather than focusing on getting as much money or billable hours as possible. catch another conversation with lopiccolo here: sell service, not hours.

more: blake oliver: why tax work yearns to be free| private equity explodes in u.k. | brannon poe: the status quo must go  |  accounting nerds, unlock your super powers  | private equity vs. the cpa firm partnership the fintech flood: accounting will never be the same  |  think small to think big with matt wilkinson | your sales tax headaches are only just beginning | when financial statements go extinct with corey schmidt  |  can geraldine carter save accountants from themselves? |  re-inventing accounting with tyler anderson |  turning client service into new revenue

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the approach is to both manage expectations by the client and ensure a normalized cash flow for the firm. additional benefits include a more strategic approach to dealing with new clients because they are getting the full picture of their business’s needs.

more takeaways:

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listen to learn

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four people meeting for business luncheffective networking is an art.

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. asking others, “how may i help you?” is the positive, proactive way to establish relationships.

more: build the framework to a solution with five answers | try for success, not a win
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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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your tax season success plan starts here, now

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hayden

now that everyone has (hopefully) had time to recover, there are four important steps to take to help next tax season go as smooth as possible

by christopher hayden
managing partner, hayden nelson & yoder

christopher hayden, cpa, cma, cgma is the managing partner of hayden nelson & yoder, a cpa firm based in pennsylvania, at hnycpas.com.

to avoid sugar-coating it, tax season is stressful. long work hours, back-and-forth with clients and mountains of documents can keep accounting professionals in the office for 20 or more additional hours each week. and this tax season felt extra-stressful with all the tax law changes, not to mention explaining to clients who had huge capital gains why they owed taxes.

but once the busy tax season is over, it’s time to review processes and take action to help the remainder of the year go smoothly.

more: civility goes a long way | don’t overlook office relationships | how to deliver authentic value | why deadlines get missed | five reasons you’re not swot-ready | are you productive or just busy? | accounting is a profession, not an industry
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

before that, allow a few weeks to:

  • rest
  • relax
  • recover

make sure to give team members a pat on the back, especially if it’s their first time going through the madness of tax season or they went above and beyond this year.

however, once everyone has recovered enough, it’s time to go through the following steps: read more →

build the framework to a solution with five answers

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woman and man shaking hands across a deskavoid last-minute decision-making.

by steven e. sacks
the new fundamentals

cpa firms often believe the most crucial part of negotiations to close a deal happens at the final stage of talks. but in order to have a satisfactory conclusion, you must set the tone at the beginning stage with an honest and forthcoming discussion based on mutual benefit – with an underpinning of respect and trust.

more: try for success, not a win
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for young professionals, it is never too early to evaluate your negotiation aptitude. think about this as a process with key milestones. this gives you the chance to make modifications along the way and to avoid the last-minute pressures of bargaining that can remove the advantages you have created. adhering to a game plan will reduce the chances of objections from the other party, or even worse, the backing out of an arrangement that you considered to be a “lock.” this can be applied to discussions involving a promotion or a pay increase.
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five tips for virtual team member happiness

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businesswoman with piggy bankfind ways to challenge them.

by sandi leyva
the complete guide to marketing for tax & accounting firms

it’s not uncommon for even the smallest of businesses to have employees and contractors all over the world. at one point i had an employee in ukraine, two employees in san jose, a virtual admin in orange county, a warehouse team in indiana, a transcriptionist in las vegas, partners in new york, chicago, missouri and atlanta, and a coach in sydney, australia.

more: three thoughts for a quiet morning | take a moment for appreciation | five skills that spell success | the seven-step plan for marketing by spreadsheet | five things clients have taught me
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i moved from san jose, calif., to plano, texas, while my team stayed put. and it didn’t hurt my business one tiny bit. here are five tips to help your virtual team play at their best.
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try for success, not a win

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three people speaking by videoconferencekeep your eyes on the real goal.

by steven e. sacks
the new fundamentals

we enter into negotiations every day without realizing it, whether it is on a professional or personal basis. irrespective of whether it is a contractual transaction between a company and vendor or if a husband and wife are deciding on which couch to buy, each side is seeking to gain something. neither side may get everything it wants because an all-or-nothing-at-all approach will be a barrier to making any progress.

more: civility goes a long way | don’t overlook office relationships | how to deliver authentic value | why deadlines get missed | five reasons you’re not swot-ready | are you productive or just busy? | accounting is a profession, not an industry
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

negotiating involves getting and keeping agreements that work for all parties. you can reach an agreement, but the issue is whether you can maintain the agreement and the relationship built around it. both sides need to have a sense of victory or, at the very least, feel they have not lost, because if this should occur then further conflict will result.
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is remote the new normal?

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young woman eating an apple and working on a laptop at homewhat clients want may differ from your employees’ wishes.

by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research

no doubt about it: the accounting business was quick to shift to remote work when covid-19 hit.

now the question is: will accounting offices remain remote and will more go remote?

more surveys & research: accounting pros face challenges in turbulent times  |  accountants find new worlds of opportunity |  2022世界杯赛程安排 |  six quick solutions for irs backlogs |  the big battles ahead for corporate finance  |  what gig workers want  |  accountants agree: the top five ways to fix the irs  |  survey: big worries for u.s. and small business  |  the big issues in audit: frustration, inconsistency, and technology

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according to the 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 business barometer, accountants are getting used to working out of their spare bedrooms and living room nooks, and managers are getting used to managing from afar.
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ask these 10 questions before adding financial services

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remember it’s a new business.

by ed mendlowitz
101 questions and answers: managing an accounting practice, the complete 2-volume set

q: i am thinking of adding financial services to my practice. what are your thoughts?

more: selling your practice is not a retirement strategy | thirteen things to know before selling your practice | 10 reasons clients don’t pay
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a: for starters, “financial services” means selling investment products or managing money. this is different from adding financial planning, which i see as an extension of and a next step to sound tax planning for clients.
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selling your practice is not a retirement strategy

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consider your other possible sources.

by ed mendlowitz
101 questions and answers: managing an accounting practice

q: i’ve heard you say that you shouldn’t count on anything from your practice when you decide to retire. are you serious?

more: thirteen things to know before selling your practice | 10 reasons clients don’t pay
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a: i probably said that, but it was in the context of planning for guaranteed cash flow in retirement. a practice’s value is never guaranteed until the checks clear.
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thirteen things to know before selling your practice

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older businessman sitting at desk smiling as wall clock indicates 5 minutes to retirementtiming is critical.

by ed mendlowitz
101 questions and answers: managing an accounting practice, the complete 2-volume set

q: i am getting older and want to continue working at least five more years. should i merge now to anticipate and facilitate a buyout?

a: selling means retiring. is that something you want to do?

more: 10 reasons clients don’t pay
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i’ve written many times about being clear about your goals and what you really want. that being said, here is a general discussion about the reality of the value of your practice.
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10 reasons clients don’t pay

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person writing check with pen and checkbookand what to do about it.

by ed mendlowitz
101 questions and answers: managing an accounting practice, the complete 2-volume set

q: i always have large amounts owed to me from clients. is there anything i can do about this?

goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

a: absolutely! my feelings are that large a/r balances are your fault. accounting fees are almost never material to a business’ cost structure, but letting fees pile up can make them somewhat material.
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civility goes a long way

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business people laughing at lunch in a cafe outdoorsbad reputations spread more quickly now.

by steven e. sacks
the new fundamentals

technology has overtaken the traditional forms of communication that include face-to-face interaction, telephone conversations and of course, the handwritten or typed note slipped into an envelope, affixed with a stamp and dropped in the mailbox.

more: don’t overlook office relationships | how to deliver authentic value | making the jump from small to mid-sized firm | what sets your firm apart … if anything? | why deadlines get missed | too busy? you may need to reprioritize | is it time to outsource? | five reasons you’re not swot-ready | who needs another meeting? | 4 questions for cpa firm boards
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

but wait. how can professionals succeed if the situation calls for in-person interaction if they have not been given the necessary training in the art of a conversation? whether you are involved in a job interview or entertaining a potential client over a meal, how you exercise the appropriate behavior will determine whether a relationship is forged or tossed on the pile of failed results.
read more →