卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间

today's features

after an economic pause, the accounting industry restarts expansion engines

**the 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 busy season barometer**
click to join the survey; see the results

but many cpa firms appear to be missing out on the recovery.

by rick telberg
卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research

the nation’s tax and accounting industry appears to have re-started expansion with new hiring in january, after a two-month pause at the end of 2012 in november and december, according to 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research. but the gains appear to be concentrated in non-cpa-owned offices.

analysts are attributing the 2012 year-end economic stall to two major storms which slowed economic activity: one, hurricane sandy, and, the other, congress, which has been gridlocked under a bubble of hot air.

卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 pro members:
get the instant download
full report (pdf, 20 pages), here.

read more →

leadership

when is it time to shift your firm from partnership-style to corporate-style governance?

which is best for your firm?

by marc rosenberg
author of “cpa firm management and governance.”

cpa firm management styles generally fall into two categories: partnership and corporate. for the sake of argument, let’s use the terms “partnership” and “corporate” to describe management styles, rather than legal entities such as partnership, corporation, llc, etc.

more on cpa firm management and leadership for pro members [go pro here]: not every firm needs a general patton • overcoming the three biggest obstacles in succession planning at cpa firms • cpa firm merger “non-negotiables” • the “aha moment” in cpa firm leadership • leadership is overrated: it’s good management that makes successful firms • 40 great ways to improve firm profitability • four management metrics that fool even the best-run firms • 19 ways to improve accounting firm profitability • de-bunking the myth about niche marketing for tax and accounting firms •

in this article, we’ll:

define each style
compare the two styles’ pro’s and con’s
explain the concept of “rights”
explain the key duties of a partner in a corporate-style firm
when a firm needs to think about shifting from partnership to corporate

growth strategies

rev up your revenue with these two daily rituals

leverage the power of habit. by sandi smith, cpa accountant’s accelerator there’s something special about the word ritual. it sounds sacred, like you wouldn’t dare break it. it sounds a little mysterious, as if there’s a component you can’t quite control. and it sounds colorful, like something full of character that you would never get bored of.

more for soloists and small firms: 10 tips for creating more energy this tax season • 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 •

we don’t think about rituals much when it comes to business, but i think we should. what rituals could you create in your business that will rev up your revenues? here are two ideas to get your engines started. read more →

busy season management

are you asking clients the right tax prep questions?

the top ten tax questions that too often go unasked. ed mendlowitz, 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 contributor and tax practice veteran, says he sees many professionals fail to systematically ask clients some basic and important questions. here’s his top ten list of key questions to ask this year. what would you add?

1. foreign bank accounts: make you ask every client if they have a foreign account and if they do report the income and file the proper forms. the penalties are too great if it is wrong. read more →

leadership

not every firm needs a general patton

but leadership remains crucial to making things happen. by marc rosenberg, cpa the author of “cpa firm management and governance.” every firm asks the question, at one time or another: do we want the firm managed by a leader, which for a cpa firm is the managing partner, or managed by one or more committees of partners?

more on cpa firm management and leadership for pro members [go pro here]: overcoming the three biggest obstacles in succession planning at cpa firms • cpa firm merger “non-negotiables” • the “aha moment” in cpa firm leadership • leadership is overrated: it’s good management that makes successful firms • 40 great ways to improve firm profitability • four management metrics that fool even the best-run firms • 19 ways to improve accounting firm profitability • de-bunking the myth about niche marketing for tax and accounting firms •

i’ll make a case for having a strong leader. read more →

management

19 easy ways to cut costs, find more cash in time for tax season

start the new year with the resources you need. by sandi smith, cpa accountant’s accelerator could you use a bit of extra cash each month? i think most people would say yes.here are several tips to start your new year with a little more green in your pocket.

more for soloists and small firms from at 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间: more for soloists and small firms: • 10 tips for creating more energy this tax season • 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

if you bill your time by the hour and sometimes forget to write your time down (i know i’m guilty), put in some extra procedures to capture that time. that’s a big cash drain in your business that needs plugging in 2013. read more →

outlook & analysis

what we’ve learned since accounting marketing was legalized by the u.s. supreme court in 1977

for good, bad or indifferent.

editor’s note: this article originally appeared in the september 1980 issue of the virginia accountant. it is one of the first articles – if not the very first article – on the advent of legalized marketing for accountants after bates v. state bar of arizona. it is as viable today as it was then.

by bruce w. marcus
professional services marketing 3.0

when, a few years ago, the codes of ethics were changed to allow straightforward marketing by professionals, there came into play a new configuration of circumstances and activities that will reverberate throughout the accounting profession for years to come.

more for 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 pro members: do accounting firms really want an ‘image’? • what accounting firms need to learn from personal financial planning specialists •the delicate art of positioning your firm in the mind of the prospect

for generations, concepts of probity have pervaded public accounting. accountants were to be not merely independent, but well beyond the fray of public quarrel of exposure. the sword of the cpa has always been independence and, it was long felt, independence is compromised by public debate. and now comes marketing, the crux of which is visibility. read more →

outlook & analysis

marketing directors take over succession planning

or, isn’t this really the partners’ job?

screen shot 2013-01-25 at 2.07.01 pm — lisa tierney

accounting firm marketers – already tasked with landing new clients and adding new revenue, in addition to recruiting new staffers – are getting a new job: succession planning.

a new survey of 100 marketers shows 35% cite “the identification and development of potential successors for retiring managing partners as their top priority over the next 12 months.”

the new data suggests turnover among managing partners in the next 12 months will be far greater than anyone now imagines and it speaks to the critical inadequacy of incumbent partner teams to deal with the crisis on their own.

the survey was conducted among members of the bkr international network of firms by tierney coaching & consulting. here, lisa tierney reports on the results and the implications.

her report includes data and commentary on:

leadership as a top concern for firms
five challenges to be considered over the next 10 years
how a firm’s success is integral to the effective leadership of its professionals
the definition of effective leadership as it applies to the successful firm
six key leadership characteristics defined
the distinct roles
- for partners,
- for seniors and managers, and
- for supervisors and associates
leadership and team building strategies

– rick telberg read more →

busy season management

tracking tax season 2013: 47 trends, issues and opportunities

the most-read articles on tax season this year at 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间.

meanwhile, find out how other tax professionals are surviving and even thriving tax season: join the survey; get the answers.

busy season management

accountants chop prices for schedule c’s

but most other rates are increasing.

in another sign that the profession is pushing through at least some price increases in a highly fee-pressured environment, a new survey reports that professional tax preparers this year will be charging an average of $246, up 6%, for a typical 1040 with a schedule a and a state return. still, the survey finds price pressure for schedule c’s.

the survey shows pricing for the bread-and-butter forms delivered by local independent tax professionals, including:

form 1040 schedule c (business)
form 1065 (partnership)
form 1120 (corporation)
form 1120s (s corporation)
form 1041 (fiduciary)
form 990 (tax exempt)
form 940 (federal unemployment)
schedule d (gains and losses)
schedule e (rental), and
schedule f (farm)

the survey also breaks down pricing patterns by region, and adds data on client payment options.

outlook & analysis

a cpa’s big wait for blackberry 10 ends badly

[jwplayer mediaid=”26216″]

more like failure to launch day. after 19 days of camping out for the new game-changing blackberry 10, here’s greg kyte’s final video blog.

the big blackberry 10 launch was on january 30. cpa (and comic) kyte waited in line for days (with tongue firmly in cheek) while posting a video journal.

management

practice doctor q&a: how to get started in family office services

including a sample engagement letter.

question: some of my clients are getting older and are becoming unable to handle their own financial affairs and i have been asked if i could assist them. what is involved and how do i charge for it?

ed mendlowitz, vpa, pfs, abv, responds: many large firms provide “family office” services. this is a complete one stop financial service that helps clients manage their money, pay their bills, collect their dividends and interest, and make sure insurance isn’t cancelled, mortgage, car lease or condo fee payments aren’t skipped, and tax payments paid on time.

following is a sample engagement letter that i use with clients needing such services. also, this letter provides a detailed description of what the service involves. read more →

busy season management

10 best practices for tax season

first: are your fees high enough?

by ed mendlowitz, cpa
author of “implementing fee increases” and “the tax season opportunity guide.”

increase your fees 3-5% at a minimum – to offset your increased costs.
deliver your bill with the return.
call clients before return is sent to explain and give a heads up for unexpected results. read more →