In a recent Entrepreneur.com article entitled “Money, Happiness and the Secret to a Rich Life,” author J.D. Roth opens with the premise that rich people are far happier than poor people. However, in breaking down the elements that contribute to an individual’s happiness (including biology, personal choice and age, race and gender), finances have a marginal impact.  While he agrees that money can’t buy happiness, he does contend that “some financial habits bring greater satisfaction than others.”  Referencing an article published in the 2005 issue of the Review of General Psychology written by Lyubomirsky, Sheldon and Schkade, Roth shares 5 such habits, of which we note below:

1. Purchase more experiences, fewer things.  When referring to material positions, you may have said, at one time or another, ‘You can’t take it with you.”  And as Roth argues, all our material positions depreciate.  However, memories are indestructible and generally grow fonder with time.

2. Use your money for the greater good. When we donate money to charity or give it to a good cause, positive feelings are generated that don’t quickly fade.

3. Buy more small pleasures instead of fewer big ones.  To quote Lyubomirsky, Sheldon and Schkade, people find greater happiness in “frequent does of lovely things rather than infrequent doses of lovelier things.”

When determining how to spend one’s earnings, it’s important to realize that you don’t have to grace the cover of Forbes Magazine in order to practice these three habits. Take the time to examine your spending to see if there may be a way that you could enjoy greater happiness without a huge payout.

We encourage you to post spending habits that help you achieve greater satisfaction and happiness.

Secure More Clients with the Universal Practice Builder Program

If you’re looking for training to help you market your practice effectively and generate more income, the Universal Practice Builder (UPB) Program is the course for you.  Also called Marketing on Steroids, this course was designed by our own growth specialists who know not only how to market your specialized financial services, but how to market them effectively to qualified, prospective clients.

The UPB program provides the following:

Flexibility. You complete the course on your own time and at your own pace.  And the engaging DVDs enable you to review key concepts and instruction as necessary.

Complete education.  This comprehensive training program will give you everything you need to build a thriving practice.

A qualified professional to answer questions.  For six months you will have access to our professional coaches for personal, professional guidance via phone or email.

The Universal Practice Builder Program will equip you with all the tools you need to grow your business.  If you find yourself lacking the intuitive salesperson personality, call Universal at 1-877-833-7909 to register for this phenomenal program now!!

Resource

Roth, J.D. “Money, Happiness and the Secret to a Rich Life.”  July 2011 Entrepreneur.com

1. Consider Full-Time Self Employment

Don’t quit your day job just yet.  However, we would encourage you to consider whether or not you’re genuinely interested in launching your own full-time tax practice.  If so, it’s important for you and your family to know that this transition won’t put you out on the street.  And while it will require sacrifice, take the time necessary to ensure that you have work enough to sustain you when your business goes from being a part-time endeavor to a full-time one.

Consider how long it might take you to grow your business to the point where you’d feel comfortable quitting your job.  3 months?  6 months?  One year?  And don’t work blindly towards that deadline.  Determine “readiness indicators,” or symptoms that your business is healthy enough to go full-time.  Will you need at least 10 year-round clients? 15? 20?  Look at your current client base and calculate how much money each brings in.  How many more would you need in order to compensate for your current full-time income?  And don’t rush yourself.  Give yourself the necessary time to prepare for this most important career shift.

2. Add Tax Planning Services.

There is a notable difference between tax planning and tax preparation: THE DATE. Tax planning must occur before the year ends, and tax preparation begins after January 1st. Tax planning is an important step in reducing taxes.  Throughout the year, tax professionals can discuss with clients various tax strategies that could potentially save them thousands of dollars.  This also enables them to make any needed adjustments before the end of the year to effectively lower their tax liability.  Universal’s Professional Tax Preparer Program will help you accomplish this.

3. Offer more services.

Last week we discussed the importance of expanding your offerings.  This is sound advice because the more services you offer, the more valuable you become to current clients and potentials clients.  Consider adding accounting services to your menu in order to increase your value and become that one-stop financial shop. You’ll find that people may need an accountant more than they need a tax professional, and visa versa.  Only when you’re prepared to do both are you able to secure both types of clients.  And for the clients who need both accounting and tax services, you’re able to increase your billable hours, and thus increase your income.

4. Fine-Tune Your Marketing Approach.

It’s difficult to grow a business no one really knows about.  With just a handful of proven and effective marketing techniques, you could increase your clientele significantly.  Universal Practice Builder Program, otherwise known as Marketing on Steroids, will teach you how increase your billable hours and earn the monies you deserve by leveraging your time with techniques proven to get clients.  Your practice can become the premier service in your area for tax planning and preparation.  Your ability to market your business and network with key community players will promote your business to those who need and appreciate it most.

If you get started now, you may find 2012 better than you could have ever imagined!  But first, call Universal Accounting at 1-877-833-7909 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-877-833-7909 end_of_the_skype_highlighting to see which of our programs could help you best prepare for a more profitable future!

There are many who have dreamed of starting or expanding their own businesses.  Some are waiting for the perfect time.  Others may expect a guarantee of success or a low-risk opportunity.  And others still may simply be waiting to build up the nerve to move forward.  The majority of these tentative people are now cowering in the wake of the recession, certain that their entrepreneurial dreams must wait.

Many great business owners have built their empires amidst economic adversity.  In fact, nothing better demonstrates the entrepreneurial spirit than a business owner moving forward regardless of the obstacles ahead.

“We know what happens to people who stay in the middle of the road.  They get run over.”  — Aneurin Bevan

You will have to decide whether to build your business or return to status quo.  Indecision will do nothing for your dreams but promote apathy and insecurity.  Once you make that decision to move forward, however, you must do so with confidence and determination.  This will continue to build your confidence, motivation and belief in your own potential for success.  And like attracts like-the more positive and assured you are, the greater your likelihood to become victorious and profitable.

“You can’t do today’s job with yesterday’s methods and be in business tomorrow.” – Anonymous

Accounting is the perfect service to complement tax preparation.  And there are countless local businesses in need of small-business specialists.  The majority of accountants today are trained in corporate accounting which makes up less than 10% of accounting opportunities.  Small businesses, on the other hand, comprise more than 80% of those accounting opportunities, and their needs are different from those of big businesses.  These prospective clients are looking for small-business accountants who can help their businesses achieve greater profitability.

At Universal Accounting Center, we understand the needs of the small business like nobody else. We’ve helped people like you advance their careers in small business accounting for over 25 years. Our Professional Bookkeeper (PB) Program has a curriculum designed specifically to address the needs of small business; it offers the most complete small-business accounting training anywhere.  And depending on your schedule and situation, it will only take you 60 hours to complete.

The PB Program offers numerous benefits, and here are just a few:

• The Professional Bookkeeper designation to add to your credentials
• Special training in small business accounting (which makes up the majority of accounting opportunities)
• The ability to work at your own pace
• Low enrollment costs
• Follow-up support and,
• An iron-clad guarantee

“For every sale you miss because you’re too enthusiastic, you miss a hundred because you’re  not enthusiastic enough.” – Zig Ziglar

No business can succeed unless people know about it.  So unless you market your new business, it will dwindle and, eventually, collapse.  In order to succeed, you need to employ effective marketing techniques designed to target your prospective client base.

In all our years working with accountants, bookkeepers and tax preparers we’ve come to understand that most don’t know how to promote their services to this niche market of small business.  We do!  And not only do we know how to market those services, but we know which strategies and approaches will grow your business to the point where you will become so busy you may just have to start turning clients away – that or consider increasing your staff in order to increase your capacity (and your bottom line!).

To share this priceless information we developed the Universal Practice Builder Program, otherwise known as Marketing on Steroids.  Here’s just a sampling of what you will gain from enrolling in this phenomenal program:

• A guarantee of $30,000 in new annualized billings in only 12 months
• The skills to become a Profit Expert for each of your clients
• 12 marketing strategies that you can implement immediately
• A process which can produce 15 to 25 qualified leads per month
• 3 months of coaching via telephone and Internet
• Training on a computerized database tracking program
• A presentation DVD to show potential clients
• Training to use QuickBooks to attract more clients
• Access to a plan proven to help retain clients

“Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakens.”-Carl Jung

So what will you do?  Will you sit by and let the recession cloud your vision for success?  Or will you take advantage of the economic downturn to push your practice forward, enabling it to become the premier accounting and tax firm in your area by the time the recession is over and done?  Look inside yourself and take the initiative to move forward.  Enroll in the Professional Bookkeeper and Universal Practice Builder programs and ensure your likelihood for success.

1.    Not researching the market before entry

2.    Focusing on a narrow niche

3.    Launching too slowly

4.    Forgetting about branding, marketing, and sales

This week we’ll share the final 5:

5. Being short on passion

Before starting any business, you must ensure that it’s something you’re passionate about.  You’re going to be working many long hours to build and grow your fledgling practice; if you’re not passionate about what you’ll be doing, it’ll make your new venture more drudgery than dream-come-true.

6. Spending too much money

A financial practice is one of the more economical business ventures you can start.  You shouldn’t have to spend too much money to begin; a good computer, printer, scanner, fax machine and software package are about all you’ll need to sustain your business.  And as long as you have a good home office, you don’t even need to pay rent on a professional location.  However, regardless, some entrepreneurs still feel the need to spend more money than is absolutely necessary.  Don’t fall into that trap.  The more money you can save in building and growing your business, the more likely your business will survive long-term.

7. Bringing in unnecessary partners

Topping the list of big startup mistakes is arguing with business partners.  But before that comes bringing in unnecessary partners.  We thought we’d cover them both in number seven by encouraging you to thoughtfully consider the necessity of adding any partners to your practice.  Unless you don’t trust your own skill and expertise, you don’t need anyone else to help you launch your new business.

8. Lacking clarity in long-term business goals

It’s an old adage that has become cliché: when you fail to plan, you plan to fail.  But it’s cliché because it rings true.  Unless you take the time to articulate your vision and long-term goals, your business will lack focus and direction.  Business goals are more than mere projections of success.  As you plan how and what your business will become, your goals are the markers by which you measure success.  And the more specific your business goals, the better.

9. Refusing to receive further training

No matter how experienced you may be, refusing to enhance your skills will make you less competitive.  Also, when you add new services, like accounting, you can increase your income and your practice’s profitability.  While it may require some time, energy, and financing, without continued training your business may become obsolete.  Take the time to invest in yourself and your practice’s future.

While you can’t (and shouldn’t-how would you learn anything?) avoid all mistakes, there are a handful that can be avoided with some thoughtful planning.  And if you take the time to receive valuable training on building and growing your new business, you’ll be more likely to experience the type of success you dream of.Universal Accounting’s Power PackageBy adding small-business accounting services to your menu, your practice becomes a full-service provider that can operate year-round and not just during tax season.  Universal’s Professional Bookkeeper Program is designed to help you master small-business accounting on your own time and at your own pace.  You can earn a professional designation, demonstrating to prospective clients that you have the necessary expertise to manage their financial data.And to learn how to promote your services to the right clientele, you need a reliable toolbox full of proven marketing strategies.  The Universal Practice Builder Program will help you master 12 of these strategies, enabling you to secure 15 to 25 qualified leads per month!  This program alone can help you avoid a slew of startup mistakes, helping you grow your business so that it’s not only sustainable, but profitable too.Learn more about this Power Package by visiting Universal Accounting Center today!

On the reader board for a local beauty salon it reads, “We refuse to participate in a recession.”  Such an attitude inspires interest and confidence in such a business.

Too many small business owners had allowed the stable economy to lure them into complacency.  Were you one of them?  The recession, however, is delivering many a much-needed wakeup call.  If looked at positively, you can see the recession as an important lesson in attending to your business’s growth and strategic position in order to experience success.  This is the most effective way to disengage from the recession.

No Laurels Allowed

In order to be a successful entrepreneur, you cannot afford to rest on your laurels, in or out of a recession.  What does this mean?  You must always be on the lookout for ways to improve your practice by advancing your service offerings and enhancing customer service.  As a tax preparer, one key way to do this is in adding accounting and QuickBooks services to your menu.

Geometric Growth

Truly successful entrepreneurs are continually fostering geometric growth within their businesses.  And what’s geometric growth?  Linear growth requires you to do even more work for your current clients, and while that’s great, linear growth slows down over time. You can only get so far preparing taxes for the same clients. Geometric growth comes from many different angles: from existing clients, from new clients, from existing services and from new services.

By adding accounting and QuickBook services to your offerings, you attract new and existing clients to these new services, increasing your profitability and turning a seasonal business into a full-time venture.

The Professional Bookkeeper Course

Not only will this course train you in small business accounting, but it will enable you to use the accounting information you generate to act as a Profit Expert for your clients.  You will become confident watching key indicators that diagnose a business’s health.  You will understand how accounting, marketing, and production all work together in order to create a thriving business.  And you will become well versed in key marketing strategies designed to attract the clients who would most benefit from your valuable services.

There are countless reasons why this program exceeds all others, and we’ll simplify things by listing them here:

• A self-paced program you can complete in as little as 60 hours
• A modestly-priced course compared to other training programs, including those found on university campuses
• Practical, hands-on training that will prepare you for typical day-to-day small business accounting functions
• The ability to earn the Professional Bookkeeper (PB) designation
• 6 months of follow-up support with our trained professionals
• Training in proven marketing techniques that will enable you to find and retain clients
• 12 valuable instructional DVD’s and manuals designed to help you continually review and master concepts
• The confidence to become the premier full-service financial provider in your area
• An iron-clad guarantee that makes the PB Program a risk-free professional investment

The Professional Bookkeeper’s Guide to QuickBooks

But why stop with just small business accounting?  Why not add another valuable complementary service to your practice, putting you way ahead of the pack?  Our Professional Bookkeeper’s Guide to QuickBooks will help you master QuickBooks, by far the most popular accounting software used by small businesses.  Upon doing so you will not only be able to add QuickBooks services to your menu, but you will begin attracting a new demographic that will bring more business your way.

Our newly updated QuickBooks training includes the following:

• Training targeted for all user types
• The ability to work more efficiently
• 6 months of follow-up support
• The opportunity to earn a QuickBooks Specialist (QS) designation
• 16 CDs with 15 hours of training
• 4 books with over 800 pages of instruction
• Full color

Will you participate in the recession?  In adding accounting and QuickBooks services to your offerings you will grow your business geometrically by increasing your methods of generating income.  If you’re a freelance tax preparer this just might give you the opportunity to quit your day job and work as a professional accountant and tax preparer year-round.  Or this might mean that you increase the income you generate on the side.  For those of you who currently have your own tax practice, this helps you to expand your business and outlast, and maybe even enjoy, the recession.  Take steps now to grow your business.  Order these two profit-building programs today.

]]> http://www.hometaxbusiness.com/tax-articles/recession-wakeup-call-326.html/feed 0 http://www.hometaxbusiness.com/tax-articles/what-drives-you-315.html http://www.hometaxbusiness.com/tax-articles/what-drives-you-315.html#comments Wed, 04 Feb 2009 08:00:53 +0000 uacblogger http://www.hometaxbusiness.com/tax-articles/?p=315

Without a sense of urgency, desire loses its value. – Jim RohnPeople who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents. – Andrew CarnegieBe miserable.  Or motivate yourself.  Whatever has to be done, it’s always your choice. – Wayne Dyer.Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything. – Napoleon Hill

They say tough times bring out the best in people.  We’re guessing our current economic slump qualifies as a tough time, especially for small business owners like you.  Is it bringing out your best?

A recession will test your character, and your response will determine what you’re made of.  Will you advance or retreat?  Whatever your response, it will be determined from by your internal motivation.  Steven Covey once said, “Motivation is a fire from within.  If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly.”

The last thing you should do is allow the recession to dictate how successful your business is.  Rather than hunker down to wait out these tough times, you can take initiative and empower your business with a competitive edge, making it the premier financial provider in your area.  But that choice is yours.  Will you make it?

Increase Your Services

Increasing your service offerings makes your practice more appealing to prospective clients.  Nothing will complement your tax practice more than Professional Bookkeeping services. By increasing the number of products you offer, you’ll not only be able to provide your clients with a complete financial service package, but you will also be able to generate a better income for you and your family as well.

You already know that the income from a tax preparation business peaks during the first four months of the year. Many professional tax preparers bill at rates of $100 per hour or more, enabling them to work 4 to 6 months per year and semi-retire the rest of the year. But in these financially troubling times, that might not be enough to support you and your family.  By adding bookkeeping and accounting services to your menu, you’ll create a stable income stream for your business that will be consistent year-round.

When you enroll in the Professional Bookkeeper Program you have access to the following:

• A self-paced program you can complete in as little as 60 hours
• Practical, hands-on training that will prepare you for typical day-to-day small business accounting functions
• The ability to earn the Professional Bookkeeper (PB) designation
• 6 months of follow-up support with our trained professionals
• 12 valuable instructional DVD’s and manuals designed to help you continually review and master concepts
• The confidence to become the premier full-service financial provider in your area
• An iron-clad guarantee that makes the PB Program a risk-free professional investment

Implement Effective Marketing Strategies

When you employ proven marketing techniques in order to promote your practice, you gain a competitive edge that enables you to grow your business and your bottom line.  The Universal Practice Builder Program was designed to train you how to put your practice on top, attracting quality clients using cost- and time-effective techniques.

This program offers the following:

• $30,000 in new annualized billings in only 12 months
• Tactical goal planning and setting
• The ability to generate 15 to 25 qualified leads per month
• Phone marketing instruction and training
• Training in the benefits of newsletters and websites
• 12-proven marketing strategies
• Five business assessments
• A customized business website

Most of your competitors are just as shell-shocked by the recession as you are.  Most of them are also lying low and hoping their businesses can weather the economic storm.  You will gain an advantage by improving your business by becoming a full-service financial provider.  The Professional Bookkeeper and Universal Practice Builder Programs will enable you to do that.  By enhancing your services and implementing effective marketing strategies, your tax practice will quickly become the premier financial service provider in your area.

Don’t cower to the recession.  Take action and advance your business now.  Register today!

5 Tips in Boosting Your Practice during the Economic Slump

Has your business taken a turn for the worst?  Or perhaps you’re just noticing a decrease in your practice’s profits.  Regardless of the reason, the economic slump is causing many business owners to revisit their financial standing to see how they’re faring.  The following five cautionary steps can make or break your business.

1. Write/Update your marketing and business plans

If you haven’t written one yet, shame on you.  We’re just kidding.  But it’s never too late to benefit from solid business and marketing plans.  And if you have one, an annual revision is in order.  Your business and marketing plans will assess your current standing and consider how to improve things this year.  A clear vision and a plan to accompany it will enable you to keep on track.

2. Meet with employees

If you have employees, it’s good to present your business and marketing plans to them and ask for input.  You may be surprised at the quality feedback you receive.  Also, depending on your situation, you may need to reevaluate just how much each employee contributes to your business’s profitability.  At some point you may need to let employees go in order to see your practice through a successful turnaround.

3. Meet with clients

Your clients may be privy to rumors that your business is failing.  It does you no good to ignore the rumor mill.  Meet with clients and be honest with them about your business and any steps you’re taking to rectify problems.  In fact, this is a good time to ask clients for suggestions.  Taking this one measure may prevent them from leaving your practice to look for a more stable accountant.

4. Streamline your expenses

When business gets bad it’s time to look at your spending.  Can you cut back and leave more money in the business?

5. Invest in your business

This may be the best time for a change in course.  And investing in your business may be just the answer.  Consider earning adding complementary services and getting professional marketing help.  Both will inject your business with a profitable infusion that’s sure to help you ride out the recession in comfort.

The Professional Bookkeeper Program

As a tax preparer, we already know that numbers come naturally to you.  Now all you need to do is find your inner accountant.  If your client roster currently contains small business owners, becoming an accountant would prove more lucrative than you can imagine.  These individuals need help analyzing their financial data so they can make more profitable decisions and achieve true success.  They’ve already trusted you with their financial information so it wouldn’t take much to convince them that you could also work as their accountant.The four modules in this training program will enable you to target your services for the very valuable small-business market.  From creating books from scratch to growing your accounting practice, this program has it all.  Not to mention, you’ll receive 6 months of free follow-up support and a customized website for your business.  Upon completion you’ll also be able to test for certification as a Professional Bookkeeper (PB), a designation you can include in all your marketing materials as evidence of your expertise.

The Universal Practice Builder Program

Your business will never become profitable if you are unable to successfully market your services.  For over 25 years Universal Accounting Center has trained financial professionals like you in small business accounting.  In all our years working with accountants, bookkeepers and tax preparers we’ve come to understand that most don’t know how to promote their services to this niche market of small businesses.  Fortunately, we do.  Not only that, but we know which strategies and approaches will grow your business to the point where you will become so busy you may just have to start turning clients away.When you enroll in the Universal Practice Builder (UPB) Program, you’ll receive a guarantee of $30,000 in new annualized billings in only one year, 12 marketing strategies that you can implement immediately, and a process which can produce 15 to 25 qualified leads per month.  And that’s just the beginning.If your business is failing, don’t despair.  The best thing you can do to advance your practice is take action!   Invest in yourself and your business to increase your profitability now.  Enroll today!

The Gift of Profitability

It would be silly of us to ask if you would like your business to become more profitable.  Of course you would!  What business owners wouldn’t want to grow their practices using proven marketing techniques designed to help them secure high-quality clients?  Crazy ones!  You, on the other hand, are only crazy about your business, intent on seeing it become as successful as possible.  That’s why you need to give yourself the gift of profitability this year.UAC’s Universal Practice Builder program is targeted for those business owners who want to hone their marketing practices and see genuine profitability as a result.  You realize that you only have so much time, and any time you spend marketing must be effective.  The strategies and techniques you use must bring new clients through your door.  Otherwise you’re wasting valuable time you could instead use to bill clients for performing your valuable services.The Universal Practice Builder course will train you in 12 promotional techniques that will appeal to your target market!  Not only that, but this training will enable you to produce 15 to 25 qualified leads per month.  In no time at all, you’ll either need to hire employees to help with the work load, or you’ll have to turn potential clients away!  With such an incredible demand for your services, you can charge even more money and maintain a client roster full of high-end clients.You’ll also learn valuable presentation skills you can use in client-generating seminars that will demonstrate your expertise while creating even more interest in your practice.  Imagine becoming the premier tax preparer in your area!  It can be done if you purchase this one present for yourself today.Enroll now and you can learn from the masters who will provide individual direction in how you can cater this program to your personal situation and personality.

One Astounding Guarantee and Our Free Gift for Enrolling

We guarantee that when you correctly apply the principles learned through the Universal Practice Builder program, you will earn an additional $30,000 in annualized billings in just 12 months!  That’s 17 times the cost for this course.  Talk about a healthy ROI!  This isn’t just a present-it’s a serious increase in your salary.Also, when you enroll today, we’ll add QuickBooks Made Profitable, a program designed to show you how to use your QuickBooks expertise to bring in even more clients.  Not only will you learn how to better market your skills, but you’ll increase your service offerings in order to attract more clients that can keep you busy year-round and not just during tax season.

Testimonials of Others Who Treated Themselves to a More Profitable Practice

The following individuals are enjoying all the benefits this program offers.  But don’t just take our word for it; read what they have to say:

Excellent company. The people really care about their students. I really feel they want to see their students succeed. It is a pleasure to do business with UAC. This was an excellent workshop. There was a lot of quality material presented by some excellent and sometimes even funny instructors. I walked in with no plans and walked out with a special plan of action to help market and grow my practice to the next level. -  Pete M.I was very impressed and thankful I decided to attend. Lots of great information to take and implement in my practice. Watching the DVD’s was wonderful but attending the seminar was phenomenal. – Diane H.Universal Accounting is dedicated to my success and is evident by their dedication to teaching me the tools I must have to develop my business. The staff made sure when I left the seminar that I was prepared and comfortable with moving ahead with business development. – Gary R.F.UAC is the premier trainer of the accountants of the future. They truly understand how to differentiate their clients from the average accountants. To be honest, I don’t want anyone in my area to know about UAC. I think the information provided will truly separate my services from 95% of my competition. – Magnus E.

2009 is around the corner.  Don’t you want it to be your most profitable year yet?  When you enroll in the Universal Practice Builder program, you are taking all the steps necessary to grow your practice to become the premier tax firm in your area.  Get yourself the gift that will keep on giving you and your family a more profitable future.

Happy Holidays, from Universal!

Cheers to a New Year and another chance for us to get it right. – Oprah Winfrey

With the New Year just a couple weeks away, many are preparing to jump-start their businesses with new approaches and strategies.  Last week we introduced the following five tips to help you prepare for a more productive and profitable New Year:

1.    Revamp workplace

2.    Clean up computer files

3.    Revisit damaged relationships

4.    Create a financial forecast

5.    Implement new techniques and services

This week we’ll complete this series by covering the final five tips on preparing your tax practice for a New Year of business:

6. Consider final tax benefits

You’re a tax professional; this one should be a no-brainer.  In fact, you’ve probably already given your clients this tip.  Take advantage of holiday sales to purchase items your business will need next year. They’re deductible and you should easily be able to stock up on furniture, supplies, and other equipment you use in your business.

7. Contact clients

Some businesses send holiday cards or even give gifts.  Whatever you do, it’s important that you remind clients of your services before the New Year begins.  You may also want to take the opportunity to share with them your valuable, year-round tax planning services which can help them lower their tax liability and ultimately save them money.

8. Go green

More and more professionals are looking for ways to lessen the impact of their businesses on the environment.  Consider incorporating a few environmentally conscious techniques that will ultimately save you money in the long run: recycle, look at alternative energy sources, cut back on energy consumption and waste, and consider purchasing a hybrid vehicle.  Some of these practices are accompanied with valuable tax breaks.  That, and it will just make you feel good.

9. Eliminate clutter

No one likes to start the New Year with a messy office.  Give your office a good cleaning before 2009 so that you’re not dreading the paperwork stacked on your desk.  Along with revamping your office, creating a clean and functional workspace will make you more productive.  Not to mention, you may enjoy your work more.

10. Create your New Year business strategy

Every business should evaluate their standing and, based on scrutiny of past performance, create a strategy that will enable their practices to be more productive in the New Year.  As you assess your business’s performance, consider ways you might improve your marketing strategies, networking approaches, and work processes.  From there you can develop a list of resolutions that will make your business more profitable.

Choose the Programs that Will Best Suit Your New Year NeedsUniversal Accounting Center has a host of programs designed to help professionals like you enhance their service offerings and grow their practices.  Learn more about these programs by purchasing our special DVD set which includes the following:

Introduction to the Professional Bookkeeper Program

Learn how becoming a Professional Bookkeeper will enable you to enhance your service offerings and remain busy year-round and not just during tax season.

Yes Sample Marketing CD

Learn how to introduce your services to a potential client. Use this to role playing, watch with a prospective client or pass it out.

Start Today and Have Your Own Bookkeeping Service

Learn how to make over $80,000 per year working from home while getting more clients than you can handle. Know how to charge your client so you can afford to take that next vacation while they get such a great deal they will be telling all their friends about you.

The Art and Science of Getting Clients

Learn how to get more clients by using our proven methods.

After watching these videos you’ll have the information you need to select the programs that will benefit your practice and enable you to experience the profitability and growth you desire.  2009 is your year!  Realize your New Year resolutions this time around.  Order this special video library today!

We will open the book.  Its pages are blank.  We are going to put words on them ourselves.  The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day. – Edith Lovejoy Pierce

The New Year is a perfect time to enjoy a fresh start for your practice.  As 2008 winds down, you should take some time to reflect, and consider ways to improve your business practices in 2009.  In this two-part series we examine 10 ways to prepare for the New Year and enjoy more productivity and profitability as a result.  This week we cover the first five tips:

1. Revamp workplace

No, you don’t have to redecorate your office.  But we do suggest at least rearranging the furniture.  Giving a workplace a fresh new feel will often inspire better performance.  This is the perfect time to consider a new coat of paint, or if necessary, a new office chair or filing cabinet.  Reflect on items you need to best do your job, and then take advantage of holiday sales to purchase those items your office needs most.

2. Clean up computer files

While we often take the time to clean our workspace in order to present a professional image to clients and other visitors, how often do we clean up our computer files?  Although business associates may not be privy to how messy our virtual desktops may be, it does impact our ability to work efficiently and maintain valuable client records.  Schedule a couple hours during which you can reorder your computer files and back up pertinent information.

3. Revisit damaged relationships

No one performs better while holding a grudge.  Whether they be personal or professional, the holidays present a perfect time to repair damaged relationships.  Take the time to apologize for any real or perceived offenses for which you may be responsible.  You’ll find the holidays are much more enjoyable when you’ve taken the time to iron out misunderstandings with friends, family, and business associates.

4. Create a financial forecast

You’ll have a good idea of what to focus on when you create a financial forecast for the upcoming year.  Especially considering the current economic crisis, your business will do better when you can estimate your income and prepare for any contingencies.  Prepare a budget and consider and implement strategies that will increase your income.

5. Implement new techniques and services

In this day and age, industries change and advance quite rapidly.  Now is a good time to research industry trends and determine how you might alter your business practices in order to keep up with the competition, or better yet, gain that competitive advantage.

Return next week for our final installment in this series when we share the final five of 10 New Year preparation tips:

6.    Consider final tax benefits

7.    Contact clients

8.    Go green

9.    Eliminate clutter

10. Create a business strategy for the New Year

QuickBooks Made Profitable

Consider enhancing your service offerings by using your QuickBooks expertise to generate more clients.  In QuickBooks Made Profitable (QBMP), UAC trains you how to build a wider client base by offering QuickBooks setup, help and consultation services.  Not only that, but you can offer free QuickBooks seminars in order to attract clients who might also find your tax services beneficial.  The QBMP will teach you the following:

• Getting Started Basics
• Setting up a Company
• Working with Lists
• Setting up Inventory
• Selling your Product Invoicing for Services
• Processing Payments
• Working with Bank Accounts
• Entering/ Paying Bills
• Using Other QuickBooks Accounts
• Creating Reports, Creating Graphs
• Tracking and Paying Sales Tax
• Payroll interfaces with QuickBooks
• Estimating
• Time Tracking
• Job Costing

For a minimal initial investment, you can grow your business and bottom line in the New Year.  Be ready for 2009.  Order QuickBooks Made Profitable today!