It may seem that we just closed down the Tax Season and it’s not even time for considering next season. Sorry to be the bearer of such news, however, the third quarter is fast-approaching and before you know it January will be upon us. As Tax Preparers, we continually strive to be able to provide to those clients we service the best experience they possibly can get paying taxes or receiving a refund. Now if that seems like an oxymoron, it really doesn’t have to be and if you as a Professional Tax Preparer give those businesses and individuals you work with each year a pleasant and easy experience, your retention numbers from the last year to the next will remain high and your attrition rate low. And you might just gain more customers to boot.

With the next tax season slowly creeping upon us there are several things we can start doing now to be able to make that experience we wish to have with our customers and potential customers that much better. In addition, there are things that if we can get taken care of now, we will have a better experience providing this valuable service.

A. Logistics

The logistics of doing business can be confusing, especially to those of us doing this for the first time this year and there are many types of logistics that you need to consider to help everything go smoothly for the season.

• Business Identity - even for those who have been preparing taxes for years, the key to being able to be remembered by the public is being consistent with your business message. This involves your company logo, letterhead (for customer correspondence), your signs (at the office or on your car), company web site (if needed), and the business branding (Yellow pages, billboards etc.)

When you are consistent with your Business Identity it makes it that much easier for those business owners and individuals alike to remember what you do and how you do it. You don’t have to spend a lot on these things to keep your message momentum going, (the most expensive could be the web site and the yellow pages ads) there are ways to be able to do these on a shoestring budget. Be creative.

• Focus of Work - you may think that you would gain more customers if you focused on the individuals side of tax preparation, or you might think that you will get a better “bang for your buck” if you concentrated on businesses. By all means, you can do both. I have found that when you center on your greatest business strength (individuals or businesses) more often times than not, the other type of customer comes into line.

For those just starting out, perhaps having your efforts concentrated on one group type may help you get a foothold in your area, and give you the ability to branch out more each year.

• Legal Considerations - make sure you are all legal. Even for those of us who are doing business out of their home office, there are the legalities of filing your business with the state (with your form of business i.e. Sole Proprietor, LLC, S-Corp) your own tax reporting information ( your Employer Identification Number from the IRS) and depending on your local laws, county or city business licenses.

If you’ve been in business for a while, it makes sense to double check with those government entities that govern business in your area that you are all up to date with the latest they require. Nothing more devastating could happen to your business if you don’t do this and you get shut down mid season.

Its better to think about the logistics now so you don’t have to put any brain power to it once the season starts. You want to be focused solely on your business and making the money you can, maximizing your profitability. You don’t want to have anything come up to take you away from that if you can help it..

B. Marketing

This is only one marketing strategy out of several you can do to be able to get the business or individual traffic flowing into your tax preparation company. If you are smart about how you get your message out, it can seem near effortless in drawing in the new customers. Your logistics, mention previously play a part in this, but the additional marketing and advertising materials you would need to consider. The general rule is, “Be Creative!”

• To New Customers - what is that saying in marketing? “It takes at least 6 times of having your business in front of someone before they recognize what you do” Even in smaller towns and cities you need to be out there in front of those you want to be doing business with. Does this mean you have to remortgage the house and start chartering airplanes and air banners? No, not at all. Again all doable on a shoestring budget.

If you have an office space, make sure that office space is in a high traffic, densely populated area. Remember the more you have your name and services in front of the potential customers’ eyes the better. If you don’t have office space, then you make it a point to go out to those you wish to target. A fantastic impression can be made with you walking in their door, a short and to the point brochure in hand, asking questions about the person, or the company. Odds are that they haven’t had a rememberable experience with their last tax prep company and with you taking the time to come in and getting to know them could tip the scale in your favor.

• To Existing Customers - the customers you just got done doing business with are your hottest “leads”. You need to retain them to be able to grow the business the way you want to. A simple “thank you” card and a reminder post card personally addressed does wonders for customer loyalty. Wouldn’t you be impressed if the person you do business with sent you a heart-felt thank you and a reminder card to help you out?

Perhaps on that reminder card you can provide a discount or a special service for those “repeat customers” that come back to you. Again, be creative.

• To Previous Customers - to those who have been in business a little while, chances are that you have done business with companies or individuals that did not come back the next year. The records of them that you have can be another source for leads. Maybe the reason they didn’t come back was they moved out of the area. With technology the way it is, you can service them as easily as emails and overnight packages. Whatever the reason they did not come back, it would be worth your while to revisit them at least in a mailing that welcomes them back with a special offer. Once again, be creative.

This is just one marketing strategy you can take to be able to boost the numbers of people or companies that walk through your door. There are many others that by planning and doing now you can maximize your earning potential. Taking into consideration that most print and electronic marketing materials take 4 to 6 weeks to complete you hardly have any time to waste if you want to do it right.

C. Credentials

Presentation and credentials are vital to your greater success as a Tax Preparer. How you present yourself is key to those you come in contact with on a working level and to those you hope to do business with. As equally important are the credentials you can point to, rely on, and fall back on when you are doing your tax prep business. Universal Accounting Center has been in business for over 25 years, training professionals like yourself and has helped thousands of people start their own accounting and tax practices. We recognize that 85% of the accounting opportunities are with small business so our curriculum is designed to help you learn small business tax preparation. When you train to become a Professional Tax Preparer through the prestigious Universal Accounting Programs, you can rest on the knowledge that the “what and how’s” you are learning is the most comprehensive found in the industry. You can rely on the reputation that Universal Accounting Center has created in the industry for 25+ years and the high respect that comes with earning UAC’s Professional Tax Preparation designation.

Getting It All Taken Care Of

When you plan ahead, gaining for your company the right tools to do the jobs you need them to, you can rest assured that all you need to concentrate on is making the money by providing the best tax prep service possible. By doing so, you can clearly see how you would be able to accomplish the income, goals, and dreams that you desire and are well on your way in the next 30-90 days. Are you ready to get started in a program like that right away?

If you haven’t taken advantage of the offer for the Professional Tax Preparation Certification do so now. Hesitation and procrastination will not do you any good. The time is now to get started click here.