first: are your fees high enough?
by ed mendlowitz, cpa
author of “implementing fee increases” and “the tax season opportunity guide.”
how to be at your best through april 15th.
tax season can be a marathon. everyone has their own tips and tricks, habits and techniques for staying sane and healthy. here are 10 from 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 contributor ed mendlowitz:
good habits for thriving through the tough times.
by sandi smith, cpa
accountant’s accelerator
is keeping a high energy level a challenge for you? here are a few tips to revitalize your personal energy. some of these are very simple, so simple you may think they won’t do anything for you.
more for soloists and small firms: take a cue from venture capitalists: your firm needs a brain trust trinity • accountants, do you know your opportunity number? • five ideas to overcome client price-sensitivity • 5 mistakes to avoid when seeking new clients • 3 steps to start running on millionaire time • the missing ingredient in your marketing that will make all the difference • on the road to a stress-free life: identify your character strengths •
as you read, check to see which ones have slipped from your current daily routine. in that way, you’ll discover how to change your routine to gain more energy. read more →
not when, but how?
question: i want to improve my firm’s review and quality control. do you have any suggestions?
ed mendlowitz responds: this is a recurring issue for most firms. every cpa practice needs quality control. the issue is whether a dedicated quality control (“qc”) person is needed and, if not, how the qc can be done without one.
a practice is a business and every business must be run efficiently and profitably. qc is an area that i have found many firms getting tied up in and either spending nothing or much more than they should.
more ed mendlowitz: free instant download: sample fee schedule for 1040s | tax season opportunity guide 2013 | 12 reasons to love tax season | implementing fee increases for 2013
a firm needs a dedicated qc person when the work load volume warrants it, especially where there are bottlenecks and backlogs because the supervisor or partner who would review the work is not readily or easily available; the scheduling becomes exceedingly difficult; and the expertise and training becomes more specialized and wider in scope. read more →
it’s a hollow view. by bruce w. marcus professional services marketing 3.0 some years ago, in a remarkably successful marketing move, a graphic designer specializing in logos, letterheads and the like came up with the concept of the corporate image. … continued
what do cpas have in common with french fry cooks? maybe more than you think.
by frank stitely, cpa
stitely and karstetter
a french fry professional, who was employed by a national franchise with a creepy clown for a mascot, wondered how he could make more than his current $7.25 per hour. so he attended a value billing seminar. when he returned, he opened an excel spreadsheet and calculated his worth to his employer.
more about pricing and billing: the problem with timesheets? not enough timesheets! | the problem with frank stitely? we need more frank stitelys! | who’s missing in action from your workflow processing system? | how to make an extra $72,000 by working smarter | seven ways to increase fees in 2013 | the big issue for 2013: fee pressure | five ideas to reduce client price-sensitivity |
he determined that he was personally responsible for the frying of 1,126,438 french fries in a year. while he earned only $15,000 in a year, his employer sold his output for $30,000. using what he learned in the seminar, he scheduled a meeting with his boss to ask for a raise, because he wasn’t making what he was worth. read more →
mergers, tech and the economy create a volatile mix in forecasting filing season.
by rick telberg
join the survey; get the updates.
washington gridlock, last-minute tax changes and continuing economic uncertainty are undermining tax professionals’ outlook for the 2013 filing season, according to new 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 survey results.
the new survey results shed light on:
despite political gridlock and economic uncertainty, practitioners are trending increasingly confident about how well their firms will perform this season. most are looking at advances in total revenue, net profit, number of clients, number on extension, revenue per client, and profit per client.
for example: read more →
what many firms get backwards.
by marc rosenberg, cpa
author of “cpa firm management and governance.”
i have used the flowchart you see here for nearly 20 years and it has not lost one iota of relevance in demonstrating how to effectively manage a cpa firm. its message is simple yet powerful.
most firms make the mistake of managing from the bottom of the chart, and try to work their way up. the firm is primarily managed by:
there are many flaws to this management approach, a couple of which are: read more →
this busy season will test new processes – and a firm’s leadership. [how are accountants feeling about about busy season? join the survey; get the answers.]
by dustin hostetler
flowtivity
as many firms get ready to implement and leverage new and improved processes as busy season ramps up, i thought it’d be worth considering a few pointers for the partner leadership group to keep in mind over the next several months.
related: the coming storm in staff turnover (video) | three strategies to improve buy-in for change
and i should probably add a disclaimer to take the accounting hats off for a minute and realize this isn’t an exhaustive list nor is it literal in every example. there are always going to be exceptions, but the more you can abide by the following ideas the better off your firms will be and you’ll be providing better client service as well. read more →
the complete guide to mergers and their effects
tax season opportunity guide 2013: with checklists, illustrative examples, sample forms, and step-by-step instructions.
yes, no kidding. love it!
how do accountants handle busy season? join the survey; get the answers.
by ed mendlowitz
author of the new “tax season opportunity guide 2013,” and “how to increase your billing rates.”
tax season presents exciting opportunities for accounting firms and their staffs. every moment should be enjoyed and appreciated. read more →
get the full report in an instant download. [free to pro members.]
driven by improving economic circumstances, the big four are geared for revenue growth of 5% to 8% in 2013, with particularly good performances expected in advisory, asia and even north america. read more →