Running a Client-Centered Full-Service Practice
3 Questions That Will Help You Get On-Track
In order for your services to appeal to clients, they must focus on fulfilling their needs. This requires you to be dedicated to running a client-centered practice.
You’re familiar with the importance of good customer service because you yourself patron other businesses. You know what you like, and often the offer of a one-size-fits-all solution for your unique needs isn’t appealing. The same applies to your own clients. They want to feel as if your services are customized to suit their specific needs.
How do you do that? You must regularly step away from your practice and look at it from a client’s perspective. When you do so ask yourself the following three questions:
1. How will these services enhance my business?
Your clients aren’t interested in what you do as much as they’re interested in how it will benefit their business. While you may submit a mean tax return, they would find your ability to save them money in taxes much more appealing. So as you consider your demographic, ask yourself what they really want from you. Once you are able to answer that question, you’ll be better prepared to cater your services to meet their specific needs.
2. How much will it cost me?
While we’d like to think that clients are first interested in your services and second interested in your fees, that’s not always the case. Especially when you’re working with small business owners, they want to save as much money as possible, even when it comes to their taxes. When faced with this issue it’s often most effective to present them a per-project estimate rather than an hourly fee. They imagine those hourly fees adding up much more quickly than they actually do. When they can see how much the entire project might cost them (for example, tax planning by the month or tax preparation by the form), they’re generally more subdued and can see just how valuable your services are.
3. Do you offer any complementary services?
When you’re low on time or too tired to drive around, you can probably appreciate the convenience of a super store that has everything from groceries to pharmaceuticals to clothes to hardware. Your clients are just as interested in convenience as you are, and if you asked them they would probably admit they would prefer to have all their financials managed by the same individual.
Accounting services are the perfect complement to tax services. Not only would your current clients find your new services appealing, but you would be more likely to attract more prospective clients with the convenience of a one-stop financial shop.
The Professional Bookkeeper (PB) Program
When you enroll in the Professional Bookkeeper Program you can master small-business accounting skills in less than 60 hours. With a DVD program designed to help you review key concepts until they become second-nature, this self-paced approach enables you to complete the course on your own time. Not only that, but in addition to learning small business accounting you will also be trained in marketing those skills. After 25 years training professionals in small business accounting we know which marketing strategies are most successful in actually attracting and retaining clients.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned accountant, this course will teach you everything you need to know to service your small business clients. Here is what some of our graduates are saying:
I can’t believe the accounting knowledge covered in four short weeks. I spent years in school and did not get the same education I did this past month… - L.C. Westergard
I knew nothing of accounting before I took this class and now I feel I have a good working knowledge of bookkeeping and starting a business.- S. David
My current clients have recognized the changes and appreciate them greatly. - S. Christensen
You gave a stay-at-home-mom the knowledge and understanding of accounting needed to go out and get work that can be done from home.- I. Snow
In order to best serve your clients you must consider all their financial needs. Once you master small business accounting you can manage their books as well as their taxes. This is incredibly appealing to clients who are looking for a one-stop financial shop. Expand your business before tax season hits again. Enroll in the Professional Bookkeeper Program today.
