today's features

how and why client service teams work

six people around work table

in a sound strategic plan it’s the clientele, not the firm, that’s primary.

by bruce marcus
professional services marketing 3.0

editor’s note: 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 was privileged to have a long relationship with bruce w. marcus, who was ahead of his time in his thinking and practice in marketing for accounting. we are publishing some of the late expert’s evergreen work, which retains wisdom for the present. 

it has long been the accepted tradition, in accounting and law firms, that what’s yours is yours and what’s mine is mine. in other words, “i love you charlie. you’re a great guy and a great partner. but keep your hands off my clients.” and thus was the lie put to the myth of cross-selling.

more: when clients think they know marketing | internal communications are underrated | four things better than a company song | let’s lose the word ‘image’ | the risk in not understanding risk | what your marketing program can and can’t do | nine reasons that prospects say yes | how marketing evolved to 3.0 | accountants don’t sell soap.
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but things change. for example, frank competition, once anathema to the professions, is now well woven into the fabric of professional practice. the nature of the clientele has changed, somewhat drastically. today’s client rarely uses just one law or accounting firm, rarely accepts advice unquestioningly, rarely accepts non-detailed bills (and so will go, eventually, the billable hour). the day of the naïve client is now in its twilight.
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despite staffing crunch, firms freeze pay raises

line chart
average hourly earnings of all employees in the accounting profession. hint: don’t show this chart to recruits.

 

millennials say compensation isn’t the most important thing. employers say, “heard.”

by beth bellor

suppose you’re a leader in a field that has fretted for months over staff shortages. would you put on your thinking cap, plug it in for a while and come up with… frozen pay?

more: tax & accounting firms grow for 9th straight month | tax & accounting profession grows, but wages don’t | tax and accounting pay advancing at 5.9% pace | accounting jobs up 4% for year
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strangely enough, that’s what the latest tax and accounting profession earnings data show. compared to previous months, the trend is stagnant or even down. the only bright spot was in payroll services staff, which also added bodies – but cut hours.

(how’s that song go? if it weren’t for bad luck?)
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forvis and mazars combine to form new top ten global firm

but it’s not your typical merger.

by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research
beta: this article was created using generative a.i

in a significant development for the global accounting and audit industry, forvis and mazars have announced their intention to form a new top 10 global network. this move represents a major shift in the audit market landscape, aiming to challenge the dominance of the big four.

the merger is a strategic decision that leverages the strengths of both firms — forvis, known for its deep expertise and presence in the united states, and mazars, which boasts a strong international footprint. with this union, the new network sets its sights on expanding its global reach and enhancing its capabilities to provide a wider array of professional services to clients worldwide.

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survey: which niche’s the best niche?

bar chart

find your fit.

by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research

which niches offer the best opportunities for new business next year?

more: women-owned businesses upbeat but need help | survey: 42% of accountants turn away work over staff shortages | ethics on sustainability puzzle some accountants | accountants to the rescue as startups struggle | talent gap widening: be very scared | accountants hopeful, concerned and confused about ai | looking for recent grads? good luck | cpa biz is booming, but for how long?
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

according to early results from the 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 outlook 2024 emerging issues, opportunities and trends survey, america’s accountants see more business in the niches they know best – the sectors where they already have experience and proven competency.
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are your revenue projections realistic?

outstretched hand reaching through funnel of money

three ways to evaluate your new client funnel.

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

you may have heard about the marketing funnel before. there are lots of variations, and i want to cover it in a way that helps us examine our mix of products, services and prices.

more: make your prospect kit stand out | five ways to wow your clients | how to fight feeling overwhelmed | you’re missing 60% of your revenue | make the most of cpe conferences | beyond compliance: six tips for adding value | track six figures to test your marketing | when you don’t know what you don’t know
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

the funnel can be pictured like a big “v.”  at the top, wide-open part, there are a lot of prospects interested in your services and products. at the bottom, narrow part, there are a few select customers who buy the most from you.
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tell potentials what partnership takes

senior businessman mentoring two younger workers

bonus: 27 suggestions.

by marc rosenberg
the rosenberg practice management library

cpa firm partners keep lots of things secret at their firms that should be open. one of them is a written document stating the firm’s criteria for making partner.

more: fifteen big questions for your next strategy session | five steps to transition to partnership | disturb the present to improve the future
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the main explanation we hear for not having such a document is that they are afraid creation of this document will backfire. they are afraid that an underperforming staff will wave this document in front of the managing partner’s face, informing him/her that they have fulfilled all the criteria for making partner and demanding a date for coronation.
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bissett bullet: give them a reason

today’s bissett bullet: “businesses like what we have to say, they just dont want to change their accountant.really? then why were they talking to you?”

by martin bissett

so often we make excuses for why we did not win work and why we did not have the guts to go through with actually asking for the business. i get told so often that a prospect does not want to change their accountant.

there are only two possibilities here:

1. either they were wasting your time, unlikely, or

2. they did not have a strong enough case for changing, likely.

if that is the case, revisit exactly what is involved in your conversation with the prospective client because you were not there for the sake of their health. you were there to discuss them coming to work with you. if they do not want to change, ask yourself why not?

today’s to-do:

if you were to be honest with yourself, how many prospective clients really do not want to change their accountant, and how many just did not see the reason to? now, on that basis with that reality confronted, be stronger in your next meeting with a prospective client.

see more bissett bullets here

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outlook: a 40-hour workweek is feasible

business development can be done remotely, but it can’t be skipped.

by carl george
the rosenberg map survey

editor’s note: every year, the rosenberg map survey asks the industry’s top consultants to share their observations from cpa firms across the country. how do you think the next 12 months will unfold? also, how would you assess the last 12 months?

firms will continue to upgrade their client profiles and disengage from clients that no longer fit. disengagement is one of the major initiatives that must occur to meet the challenge of the “40-hour guarantee.”

more: five ways staff shortages are changing firms forever | outlook: soft skills are front and center | outlook: it’s time for a new business model | rosenberg map: partner incomes surge 11.4%
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as it was explained so eloquently by a ceo of a large firm, “we do not have a staffing shortage, we have a ‘d’ client overage!” well said. traditionally difficult for us to do, but we do not have the option of not executing this critical strategy.
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fifteen services a salesperson can sell

businessman talking on phone in the office

hate working leads? engage a pro.

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

if you want leads to get business from large companies for tax services, consider hiring a salesperson.

more on marketing: twelve ways to establish your brand | why other accountants are great referral sources | bundle tax services with financial planning | how to begin a business valuation | how to offer conflict resolution | get your clients talking about retirement
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the salesperson should be a “professional” salesperson and does not need to be an accountant.
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five ways staff shortages are changing firms forever

stock image of businessman pushing a giant stack of documents isolated on white background

top professionals provide their insights.

by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research

two crucial questions:

  1. what is causing the shortage of accounting professionals?
  2. what is the shortage of accounting professionals causing?

more: outlook: soft skills are front and center | outlook: it’s time for a new business model | rosenberg map: partner incomes surge 11.4%
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

each question has a few answers.
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federated search: what it is, why it matters

.
computer screen littered with icons
take a look at your team’s desktops.

 

imagine a world without subfolders.

by penny breslin
it’s not just the numbers

much has been done to help people deal with information overload. desktop search tools have made it easier to find a piece of data hidden among all the other data stored on your system. but what about all the data available on portals, stored in shared drives, and trapped in business applications, let alone the valuable information stored in various employees’ heads?

more: creating a back office support playbook | tech tips for back office support | decoding accounting tech (and all those acronyms) | digital marketing strategies level the playing field | eight tasks to delegate today | advisory services done your way | ai is not your enemy
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

this information is vital to your firm. employees need this data to do their jobs, and they need it quickly.
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three questions about conversion

man writing in notebook

bonus: rate yourself in five areas.

by martin bissett
passport to partnership

ask yourself and answer these questions when considering the current and future conversion tactics that you’ll employ.

more: clients can’t grow without you | six keys to getting a proposal accepted | tell the world your worth | four surprising keys to communication | culture can’t be ignored | three questions about your competence | 10 can’t-skip steps for business development
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

  1. if i were to start today, could i name four businesses that i’d like to reach out to?

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thirteen things to consider before you sell your practice

man sitting at desk, staring off thinking

are you being realistic?

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

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

more: how much is your tax practice worth? | ready to retire? selling your practice is no strategy | uncooperative partner might not be the problem | merge in lower-priced work without losing out | 20 things you need for a business valuation
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

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