Build Your Business in Twelve Months
For Want of a Nail
King Edward III didn’t take chances. In 1363, in an effort to make sure his archers were always prepared for battle, he commanded the obligatory practice of archery on Sundays and holidays!
A conqueror throughout Britain and the European Continent, Edward’s military ambition and his claim to the French throne through his mother, Isabella, began the first stages of the 100 Years War.
Consistent with King Edward’s desire to be prepared, in 1390, John Gower wrote a rhyme that is familiar to most school children. “;For Want of a Nail.”;
For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.
In any small business, often the small measures reap the biggest results. Unfortunately, we often overlook the very practices that will lead to success because of the smallness of the task.
8 Simple Things and 12 Months-Make Your Business Grow
Enjoy more profits and grow your business over the next twelve months. Follow these eight steps and watch your tax preparation business grow. Troy Waugh, a leading sales and marketing strategist to the accounting industry suggests 8 things you can be doing right now that will grow your tax preparation and accounting practice over the next 12 months.
- Focus on the Clients’ Profits, Not Your Own. Your clients are looking for professionals who will enable them to improve profits. Become the profit expert for their businesses and your services will be in demand.
- Don’t Hibernate During Compliance Season. Clients are never more interested in help with their business than when confronted with last year’s financial results or with their tax liability. Plan now for cross-selling to each client you meet with during this filing season.
- Build Relationships with Your Clients’ Team Members. This year, plan to meet with your top 10 clients’ other professionals. These people are the movers and shakers in your community. By creating a team working for your client, you will also have created a referral team that works for you.
- Develop a Unique Selling Proposition, and Quit Talking About Fees. When meeting with prospects, focus on the value you can offer, and on what makes you different from your competitors. Fee terms should almost be an afterthought.
Click Here to Learn More About a Unique Selling Proposition - Learn to Ask Better Questions. Knowing how to ask good questions is the foundation of being an effective advisor. Through questioning, you learn what you need to know to help your clients.
- Help Clients Prepare for the Future. Clients are more interested in today and tomorrow than they are in yesterday. Help your clients use your services as a foundation for making better judgments and business decisions.
Click Here to Learn More About How You Can Help Your Clients Make Better Business Decisions - Prepare a Services Matrix. Prepare a matrix of your largest clients and services used. Probably 5% of your clients (including families and controlled groups) make up over 50% of your revenue. Use the matrix to determine your best opportunities.
- Always Give More than You Promise. Always exceed your client expectations by 1% and you will have a continuous flow of delighted clients. Sometimes, under pressure, you may promise delivery of a report before it can realistically be done. Learn to manage expectations by promising outside the date, not the earliest. Then deliver earlier.
Click Here to See How Managing Your Time and Efforts Produces Great Results
Turn On the Power In Your Business
I agree with Mr. Waugh, and when you purchase the Professional Tax Preparer Certification, you’ll not only learn everything you’ll need to know to file both personal and business tax returns, you’ll learn how to find and keep clients, build relationships and ask the right questions. All that and you’ll be able to charge $100 or more per hour for your services. Don’t wait another day to build your business. What better resolution to have this New Year? Order now!
