by bruce w. marcus professional services marketing 3.0 to understand its effectiveness, it’s equally important to know what advertising, including web sites and social media, can’t do. five quick examples: unlike product advertising, professional service advertising, in most cases, can’t … continued
survey data show the right answer is counter-intuitive.
by marc rosenberg
rosenberg map survey
the genesis of this question comes from one of the most hotly debated issues in cpa firm practice management: is it better for partners to have high or low billable hours?
here are billable hour facts for partners in multi-partner firms, based on the rosenberg map survey: read more →
15-item checklist on effective staff management.
ed mendlowitz, cpa, abv, pfs
author of “implementing fee increases”
question: my staff doesn’t listen to me. to be able to manage and control my business i need them to prepare a monthly schedule of what they plan on doing that month. i further need to know each morning if they did what they were supposed to do the previous day, and whether there was anything not done, or anything extra that wasn’t planned on. my problem is that they don’t give me the schedule and then don’t call or email me to tell me what they did. i really need to know this stuff and can’t figure out how to get them to do it. what can you suggest? read more →
the top apps accountants need to know
by sandi smith leyva
mobile accounting has definitely arrived. a great first question to ask clients who are asking for mobile accounting is to just double-check to see if they have already downloaded their bank apps. if not, that may be something you can help them get set up.
but don’t just think about the core accounting system. get them hooked up with their bank, credit card accounts, paypal, payroll, and any other peripheral support that has an app, like timesheets, field services, and project management. when you do, they will be ecstatic at your resourcefulness and you will be their latest mobile genius.
there are some great new apps that extend core accounting systems’ functionality into our mobile devices. let’s take a look at a few of them for accountants, from quickbooks to adp and a host of new applications: read more →
from personal assistant to true coo: how firms are delineating the job. sophisticated cpa firms are adding the position of firm administrator at an increasing rate. but there is still little consistency in what that entails. some firm administrators have … continued
taxpayers surge into e-filing.
growth in do-it-yourself electronic filing of tax returns is advancing by more than 4% this year. but among tax professionals, it’s flat this year, after a 3% decline last year.
seven hot topics that “pushed a button.”
tax guru bob jennings (cpa, ea, cfp, and rtrp) has been polling past attendees of his cpe seminars about tax season 2013.
clearly, tax professionals are still seething. “we sent our survey out and it must have pushed a button because the responses overwhelmed our servers,” says jennings, taxspeaker.com.
the results may not surprise you. but they are sobering nevertheless.
he offers new data on
here are the highlights so far: read more →
in a 43-item checklist based on surveys of the best-run firms in the nation, marc rosenberg, author of “cpa firm management and governance: the managing partner’s guide to running a cpa firm like a business,” details the allocation of duties and responsibilities that distinguish the separate roles of the managing partner as ceo and firm administrator as coo.
it’s easy to see why the managing partner should be the executive most responsible for holding partners accountable. but other questions are not so clear: who manages the banking relationships? who works with partners to set goals? who’s responsible for profitability?
the answers may surprise you. if they don’t, then you’re already doing everything right.
here’s the checklist:
the end of tax season makes a wonderful time to gain the genius of hindsight before the memories fade. to create your very own business season-in-review, ask yourself these five questions and prepare your answers thoughtfully. what were your major … continued
and 12 retreat topic no-no’s.
by august aquila
author of “leadership at its strongest”
the purpose of the retreat should be clearly thought out early in the year. articulate one or two goals for the retreat. you need to be very specific as to what you want to accomplish. for example, the purpose of the retreat is to develop a succession plan for the firm. you many not know exactly what it will look like, but you know what the end product of the retreat will be.
if you cannot do this, don’t hold the meeting. ask yourself this one question: “what would happen if we did not hold this retreat?” if the answer is “nothing,” you’ll know what to do.
retreat topic no-no’s
let’s look at common retreat topics that should not be discussed at a retreat. you may or not agree with the list, but i urge you to strike the following items from your retreat agendas. read more →
the end of every busy season means a new beginning for practitioners, which is why we thought this q-and-a was particularly timely. by ed mendlowitz question: do you have any suggestions for the new year? answer: checklist of things to … continued
and why it will cost you.
by sandi smith leyva, cpa
accountant’s accelerator
there are five simple steps to getting more clients. but, guess what, most accountants make a big mistake along the way.
first, here are the five steps to get more clients: read more →
and why it sometimes doesn’t. with: five generic reasons to advertise the 15 basics of accounting advertising the 18 benefits advertising can provide an accounting firm by bruce w. marcus professional services marketing 3.0 advertising in cpa firms services has … continued