Starting off on the Right Foot

Many of your clients you may come across have not worked with a tax preparer before and are unsure what to expect. The remainder have worked with other tax preparers before and may be running on old expectations. It’s important to have a preliminary meeting where you define the relationship and your expectations, taking special note of what your clients expect from you and what you’ll expect from your clients. You may need to negotiate some of these expectations so that both you and your client are satisfied. Here are some things to consider when defining those expectations.

Determine the information pipeline: How will information be exchanged? Do you prefer email? Does your client prefer fax? This is something that should be determined before your first official correspondence.

Methods and acceptable times for interaction: When you have your own business, it’s important that you not place yourself on-call 24/7. In order to preserve your own personal time, you should set up acceptable times for correspondence. If the client calls after 7pm and you’ve told them you’re off-duty after 6:30pm , he/she won’t be offended at being asked to leave a voicemail or call back during your business hours.

You should also make it clear what information you need from your client, what format it should be in, and when you need it. You don’t want to compromise your own work by reducing the time you have to do it in or by accepting confusing or faulty data.

Set boundaries and keep them: If you tell a client not to call after 6:30pm and you still take the call, you’re sending mixed messages. Set your boundaries and keep them. Also respect any boundaries your client sets.

Determine the services they require: Ensure that both you and your client understand the services they need. Do they just want you to file their taxes, or are they interested in having you file their taxes and give them advice on what they can do in the future to increase their deductions? Obviously, the more work you do the more you get paid; but you don’t want to assume your client expects year-round tax service only to find out later they just wanted you to file their taxes in April.

Be realistic: Don’t promise the moon. Be realistic when estimating the time it will take you to accomplish their requested services. Significant underestimation of time and cost will result in client dissatisfaction once the invoice arrives. Also be realistic in estimated deliverables. Don’t promise your clients twice their current tax return unless you have evidence that’s what you can give them.

Building healthy relationships with your clients depends on clarity: they should know what to expect from you, and you should know what to expect from them. Once those expectations are set you can work on fulfilling them. And fulfilled expectations make for happy clients. And happy clients make for happy tax preparers. And who wouldn’t want to be a happy tax preparer?

Click here to find out more about the Tax Preparation Courses at Universal.

Streamline Your Business:

Cutting Costs in Your Home Office

When you run a home business, you may think it impossible to cut costs. You’re already saving in rental payments by working from home, what more is there to cut? But there are more ways you can save money for your bottom line. Here are four ways to cut home office costs:

1. Shop around for the best (and cheapest) telephone and internet service.

If you’re already using a business package for your telephone service, you may want to see if a residential line might be cheaper. Because you’re working from home you can take advantage of more inexpensive phone plans. You might be able to save even more money in bundling your phone, cell, and internet services.

Also be sure to monitor your long distance calls and bill clients when appropriate. You could save a significant amount of money by calling long distance during off-peak times. And remember that rates change frequently; regularly shop around for the best plans.

2. Buy used office furniture.

Wholesale office suppliers often sell good furniture at a reduced price, so don’t go out and buy the first desk that you see. And businesses often upgrade their furniture, selling their used furniture through the classifieds or business sales. Shop around. Check out thrift stores or look for liquidations, auctions, or closeouts.

3. Purchase office supplies in bulk.

You can save a lot of money in buying your office supplies in bulk. You may not realize just how much you use, but the truth is you have your own business and whether or not you use those staples, post-its, or files this month, you’re going to use them eventually. Why not stock up and save? Run the numbers and you’ll generally find that buying in bulk will save you in the end. And many office supply stores offer memberships that can also save you money. Don’t be afraid to spread the word and tell people what you do; you may be surprised at the discounts you’ll get.

4. Cut mailing costs.

If you spend a lot of money on mailings, there are various ways you can cuts those costs. Consider purchasing a meter which enables you to print exact postage rather than using too much postage trying to be safe. When sending priority mail be sure to use the free boxes and envelopes the post office offers. Also consider purchasing a bulk permit which will save you money on bulk mailings. When possible use standard-size envelopes. And finally, check your mailing lists to eliminate duplicate or bad addresses.

The more aware you are of business costs, the better you can manage them. Take inventory of your expenses and brainstorm ways to cut back. You may be surprised at how a more creative approach to your costs may save you a lot of money.

Improve Word-of-Mouth Marketing with Conversation Capital

If you do build a great experience, customers tell each other about that. Word of mouth is very powerful. – Jeff Bezos

Word-of-mouth marketing gets results. Why? Because potential clients will almost always trust the recommendation of a friend or associate over a catchy slogan or an advertisement in the phone book. So how do you improve your word-of-mouth marketing? First you need to take initiative and be more proactive in your social interactions; each time you interact with someone you either take advantage of the opportunity to promote your business or you generate small talk which does nothing to benefit your business.

So how do you stop the small talk and get down to business? Here are four things to remember as you engage in conversation.

Practice Assertive Networking

We realize that promoting your business is not something with which you feel completely comfortable. And when we tell you to be assertive, we’re not asking you to be pushy or annoying. We’re simply suggesting that you view each interaction as an opportunity to share something about your services in order to get the word out.

This requires that you recognize the value of each interaction. Be it a party, a convention, city council meeting, or a surprise run-in at the grocery store, your every interaction provides you with the opportunity to promote your business. Successful business owners recognize that time is money, and all the time you spend conversing with people can translate into a larger clientele.

To be assertive you must exhibit confidence (not arrogance) in your expertise. You must be willing to hand out business cards and plug your services whenever possible. Again, we’re not suggesting you be pushy. However, we are suggesting you recognize that you provide services you can be excited about; when you’re passionate and excited, this can help your contact become excited as well.

Incorporate Storytelling

People love to hear stories, especially when well-told. They solidify an experience and bring it to life for the listener. Imagine how much more powerful your marketing approach could be if you infused it with effective storytelling. Conversation Capital is sharing your professional experiences as stories that amplify your brand and connect listeners with your business in a significant and memorable way. Consider ways you can use Conversation Capital as you network.

Be Authentic

People can recognize and appreciate authenticity. Forget about being nervous; be yourself. This requires you to be interested in your listener, and to listen in return. Be willing to share your good and bad experiences, always focusing on what you’ve learned and how that has enhanced your business. People will appreciate your honesty and trust you as a result. And as you interact with people remember to treat them well, always putting your relationship with them above any transaction that may result.

Blog It!

The great thing about word-of-mouth marketing is that it can transcend the realm of real-time interactions to electronic interactions. Sharing your stories on a blog can help you practice the art of Conversation Capital, giving you the time to compose your experience thoughtfully before sharing it with readers. And blogs continue to gain popularity. Many professionals are creating blogs that demonstrate their ability in a very concrete way; authors share insight and experiences that enable them to gain credibility and start a word-of-mouth marketing campaign that proves to be more profitable than many would imagine.

Allen Bostrom, President and CEO of Universal Accounting Center has a blog that does just that. Allen’s Blog offers practical advice to other accountants and tax professionals in story-form. You can learn from his experiences and feel a kinship with another financial professional who has been both where you do and don’t want to go. See what you can learn from Allen’s Blog.

Word-of-mouth marketing is a valuable tool. If you’re not attending to your daily interactions, you’re not taking advantage of this tool. Put some time and effort into your Conversation Capital. The more you practice the better you’ll get. And in the end, you’ll be surprised at how much your business improves as a result.

References
Conversation Capital
Lee, Sid. “Building Strong Brands by Leveraging Conversation Capital.”
Sabra, Ponn. “Stop the Small Talk.” 18 October 2007. WomenEntrepreneur.com

Your next client might be sitting in the cubicle next to you.

…if I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look any further than my own back yard. -Dorothy (The Wizard of Oz )

I once had a friend who was the controller for a small university nearby. He wasn’t a CPA, but he did the books and tax planning for many of our friends. Most of his clients were either his co-workers or people he met while at the university. If you are looking to find more clients and expand your Accounting and Tax Preparation business, Dorothy may have been right. Sometimes you don’t have to look beyond your own back yard.

Look around at your co-workers… what do you see? At first glance, all you might see are fellow workers, at the grind, plugging away at their job, just like you. Now, take another look, squint your eyes… just a little, and you may be looking at your future clients. Of course, your knowledge of accounting and tax practices could also lead to further promotion as your fellow workers advance in their careers too.

You’ll also be glad to know, that if they look at you, they could be looking at the answers to their accounting and tax problems. You might be surprised to know that many of them, just like you, are either thinking about starting their own business, already have a business they operate on the side, or are helping somebody else in the process of becoming a business owner. Who knows, maybe even the next Bill Gates. (Didn’t he start in a garage?)

OK… my biggest client could be in the next cubicle… how do I make a connection?

It’s really pretty simple, and it really doesn’t take that much courage. Just say to yourself, “I can do this.”

Let your co-workers know of your expertise, (if you are not in the accounting department at work), that you are helping small businesses get, and stay, on top of their finances. Speak with confidence and you might be surprised at just how effective this can be.

Will my co-workers believe that I can help…I’m only doing this part-time?

Yes. But there is a cost to their trust and confidence. It all starts with three simple steps. In fact, I’ll bet you’re doing these already.

• Always keep your promises. If you say you’ll do it, do it.
• Make sure that you provide the help, information and resources that you promise, when you promise them. Never leave your co-workers in a lurch.
• Look for opportunities to offer a helping hand. If you see a co-worker having a hard time, if you can, offer to pitch in and help. (Even if there’s nothing you can do, they will appreciate the offer.)

Believe it or not, it can be that easy. As your co-workers ask for help, make sure they go to the top of the list for client services. Make sure that their experience with you is the best it can be; then, you will quickly become a hero both in the office and in your Accounting and Tax Preparation business.

You will be the person they go to when they have an accounting or tax problem. You will be the person that they know they can trust and depend on. It’s no secret that most people find accounting and tax issues difficult to understand.

Client Retention

Increasing Customer Loyalty

If we don’t take care of our customers, someone else will. – Anonymous

Our greatest asset is the customer! Treat each customer as if they are the only one! – Laurice Leitao

Customers are an investment. Maximize your return. -PeopleSoft Ad

You’ve probably heard this a thousand times, but it’s worth repeating: It would cost you more money in marketing to attain new clients than it would to retain the clients you currently have. Each and every client on your rooster represents an income stream that you wouldn’t want to loose. In fact, increasing customer loyalty could help increase that income stream as your clients come to you for more and more of your valuable services. But that won’t happen if you don’t practice a few simple rules of client engagement. Here are five tips in increasing customer loyalty in order to retain your current client base:

1. Improve their performance.
Peter Drucker once said, “Quality in a service or product is not what you put into it. It is what the client or customer gets out of it.” If you’re able to improve a client’s performance, you become a valuable asset within their business plan. This is one way to ensure client retention because when you improve their performance, especially if the client is a small business owner, you increase their profitability.

2. Reduce their costs.
This is a great benefit in being a tax preparer; if you encourage clients to have you perform tax planning services, you can save them a considerable amount of money in taxes. However, you must tell them that in order to save them the most money you need to work with them throughout the year and not just a few months before the filing deadline; you can’t save them much money after the tax year has ended. But you can help them maximize their tax benefits as you consult with them year-round. Once a client recognizes how much money you’ve saved them, you’ve increased your value, and thus, increased customer loyalty.

3. Provide good customer service.
This is the good ole standby. You won’t inspire much loyalty if you don’t treat each and every client with the utmost respect: return correspondence in a timely manner, respond to questions and concerns quickly, be courteous, and attend to their needs.

4. Maintain regular contact.
Clients will think better of you if you maintain regular contact. When you don’t contact your clients often they may see that as a lack of interest or concern on your part. Regular contact can be accomplished a number of ways; regular emails, phone calls, e-newsletters or regular mailers, or even a frequently updated blog. Regardless of the method you choose, your attempts to contact clients on a regular basis will help them feel valued which is a great way to increase client loyalty.

5. Encourage feedback.
Often your best ideas will come from your clients. Remember that you’re trying to service their needs; they’re the best ones to tell you how to accomplish that. It’s best if you can devise a means for them to make suggestions whenever they feel so inclined. One way to accomplish this is by establishing an open and non-threatening relationship; when this is in place your clients will always feel comfortable giving you the feedback you need. You can also have them complete a survey or answer a short questionnaire.

Your clients are your most valuable resource. To retain them, you must constantly be nurturing that all important relationship. When you don’t, you’ll quickly find that they’ll look to another tax preparer to fulfill their needs. And loosing clients is costly.

References
“Improving Customer Loyalty.” Bnet.com

The Christmas Spirit Is More Than Just Good Business, It’s Just Plain Good

He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. - Roy L. Smith

With Christmas less than one week away, it’s a good time to celebrate the spirit that makes this season magical. Not only that, but studies show that performing good deeds is good business. In an article published in BusinessWeek.com Cisco’s CEO says good citizenship is more than charity, “it’s also a critical element of a company’s brand and reputation.” In addition it boosts morale and generates a positive energy that’s contagious and heart-warming.

It’s important for small businesses to help out when they can, even when they’re not asked. The following story illustrates how giving of oneself always carries its own reward:

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king’s wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand!

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

It’s important to think the best of everyone, regardless of their circumstances. You want to avoid being taken advantage of, but you also want to enjoy the spirit of giving when possible. Consider this story of a young boy who, at a young age, already knew the importance of this principle:

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.

‘How much is an ice cream sundae?’ he asked.

‘Fifty cents,’ replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.

‘Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?’ he inquired.

By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient.

‘Thirty-five cents,’ she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins.

‘I’ll have the plain ice cream,’ he said.

The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies.

You see, he couldn’t have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.

This is the time of year when you could make a difference in someone’s life. Not for a profit or the opportunity to promote your business, but just because it will influence someone’s life for the better and make you feel good. What can happen in just six days? You could fill your heart with more Christmas that could ever fit under a tree.

Merry Christmas!

References
“Cisco: Giving Back is ‘Good Business’.” BusinessWeek.com 11 August 2005

Charitable Tax Deduction for Property You Don’t Give Away

Make a Donation and Still Keep the Property

If you want to help out your favorite charity, but you simply can’t afford to make a gift, consider this: You can make a gift of what the tax lawyers call a “fractional interest” in your property. Under this setup, you can support a good cause, get a big charitable deduction–and still hold onto your property.

A Practical Example

Example: Pretend you have an art collection worth $100,000. You want to use your collection to help out your pet charity, but you’re reluctant to hand over your prized possessions. You can donate what amounts to a “time share” of your collection. That way, you can continue to enjoy your artworks and get a big tax break to boot.

How The Deduction Works

How does this work? Let’s say you donate a 25% interest in the collection. Result: You get a current tax deduction equal to $25,000–25% of the $100,000 value of the collection. To get the deduction, you have to give the charity the right of possession for 25% of the time (three months per year). But the charity doesn’t have to enforce its right of possession during your lifetime. In fact, the charity may opt for this if you’re going to donate the remaining 75% interest in your will. If that’s the case, you continue to get full enjoyment of your collection, but you still get the charitable tax deduction. Why don’t you lose the deduction if the charity doesn’t take actual possession as it’s entitled to? Because the courts say so [Winokur, 90 T.C. No. 733].

More deductions: Let’s say your collection is appreciating in value each year. You can use this same fractional-interest donation idea to get a series of annual deductions equal to the yearly increase in value.

Let’s say your remaining 75% interest in your collection goes up in value next year from $75,000 to $80,000. You can donate an interest in the collection equal to the $5,000 increase in value, still leaving you with $75,000 worth of artworks. As the collection continues to increase in value, you can donate the increase each year. True, your ownership percentage drops, but you help yourself to a continuing stream of charitable tax deductions. And in the end, charity benefits.

More Tax Tips

Our Tax Site will give you many tips that you can use to lower the tax burden of you or your clients.

Learn More Tax Tips

They say cash is a company’s lifeblood. A heart can’t function if there’s no blood running through the veins, just like a business can’t function without cash flow. The truth is, regardless of all the money you may have coming in from your clients, it doesn’t mean much until it’s in your hands.

In an article written by Jenny McCune, she quotes Gene Fairbrother, president of MBA Consulting Inc., as saying, “Not managing cash flow is the No. 1 reason that small businesses fail.” As a tax preparer, this is probably a fact of which you are already acutely aware. But are you ensuring a healthy cash flow within your own business? Financial analysis is something you’re already familiar with. So if you haven’t yet, it’s time that you apply that expertise to your own tax practice. Here are 10 things to remember when minding your cash flow:

1. Manage your spending.
Keep a handle on your spending. Don’t justify extravagant purchases simply because they’re tax deductible or you consider them necessary for your business. Reckless spending now can cripple your business later.

2. Monitor your finances.
This doesn’t just require you to have a budget. You must regularly monitor your business accounts so you know how much cash you have access to.

3. Collect payments quickly.
Develop a fairly aggressive method for collecting on delinquent accounts. Also, clarify your payment policy with all clients so they will be prepared to submit payments in a timely manner.

4. Disburse money slowly.
On the other hand, you should hold onto your money as long as possible, making payments no sooner than necessary (unless you get a discount for early payment).

5. Considering leasing, rather than buying, office property.
If you’ve thought about purchasing property for your office, think again. While leasing costs may be more in the long run, initially you’ll pay less which can offset unpredictable cash flow.

6. Forecast sales and expenses.
It’s important that you try to forecast future sales and expenses. While your estimations won’t be perfect, they will help you plan.

7. Have a cash reserve.
Regardless of your vigilant efforts to forecast your fiscal health, sometimes you will fall short. In such cases it’s good to have a cash reserve to fall back on.

8. Establish a backup system.
Again, you may find yourself in a pinch at some point and will need to rely on credit or alternative methods of financing. Have those in place before you encounter a cash flow emergency.

9. Determine cause of shortfalls
Once you encounter shortfalls, determine their cause so you can avoid them in the future.

10. Coordinate your strategy with financial analysis
As you analyze your financial status you’ll need to re-evaluate your business strategy and, when necessary, make adjustments.

Maintaining a healthy cash flow should be one of your top priorities. Without it your business could fail. The good news is, with your expertise it should be a piece of cake, enabling you to share similar tips with your clients who just might need this information more than you do.

References
McCune, Jenny. “10 Tricks to Keeping Your Cash Flow Healthy.” 10 March 2000. BankRate.com

IRS Tax Tips – Car Donations

The IRS reminds taxpayers that the rules for taking a tax deduction for donating cars to charities have changed for 2005. The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 has altered the rules for the contribution of used motor vehicles, boats and planes after Dec. 31, 2004. Starting then, if the claimed value of the donated motor vehicle, boat or plane exceeds $500 and the item is sold by the charitable organization, the taxpayer is limited to the gross proceeds from the sale.

In 2004, however, the new rules did not apply. Under the rules in effect for 2004, taxpayers are able to deduct the fair market value of the contributed property.

People who want to take a deduction for the donation of their vehicle on their 2004 tax return should take the following steps:

Check that the Organization is Qualified. Taxpayers must make certain that they contribute their car to an eligible organization; otherwise, their donation will not be tax deductible. Taxpayers can search Publication 78 online to check that an organization is qualified. Publication 78 is an annual, cumulative list of most organizations that are qualified to receive deductible contributions. Publication 78 is also available in many public libraries. In addition, taxpayers can call IRS Tax Exempt/Government Entities Customer Service at 1-877-829-5500. Be sure to have the organization’s correct name and its headquarters location, if possible. Churches, synagogues, temples, mosques and governments are not required to apply for this exemption in order to be qualified. They frequently are not listed in Publication 78. Donations to these institutions are tax deductible.

Itemize in Order to Benefit. Many taxpayers can’t take a deduction for car donations because they don’t itemize deductions on their personal tax return. For taxpayers, the decision to itemize is determined by whether their total itemized deductions are greater than the standard deduction (for 2004, the standard deduction is $4,850 for single filers and $9,700 for married filing jointly). Just under one-third of the nearly 129 million individual taxpayers itemized in 2000, the last year for which complete data is available.

Calculate the Fair Market Value. The donor must take many factors into consideration to establish the value of the car. Many used-car buying guides contain step-by-step instructions so that readers can make adjustments to the value of a car for accessories, mileage and other indicators of its general condition. Publication 526, Charitable Deductions, and Publication 561, Determining the Value of Donated Property, provide detailed instructions.

Deduct Only the Car’s Fair Market Value. Some car donation program operators have mistakenly claimed that donors can take the full value of their car as listed in a used-car buyer’s guide for a deduction. The IRS, however, only allows a deduction for the fair market value of the car. Fair market value takes into account many factors, including the vehicle’s condition. The fair market value of the taxpayer’s car may be substantially different than the full used-car buyer’s guide.

Document the Charitable Contribution Deduction. For vehicle donations, taxpayers must document the car donation and its fair market value. Recordkeeping requirements are comprehensive and vary depending on the amount of the contribution and the total amount of the charitable deduction. Publication 526 details requirements for the types of receipts taxpayers must obtain and the forms they must file.

Contact State Charity and IRS Officials When in Doubt. Donors with questions about whether a contribution is deductible should call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 or for TTY/TDD help, call 1-800-829-4059. Donors concerned that contributions are being solicited for fraudulent purposes should contact the appropriate state charity official, who is often located in the state attorney general’s office. A list of state charity official offices can be found online at the National Association of State Charity Officials, and a list of state attorneys general can be found at the National Association of Attorneys General.

Links:

• Search for Exempt Organizations
• Publication 526, Charitable Deduction (PDF 177K)
• Publication 561, Determining The Value of Donated Property (PDF 101K)
• National Association of State Charity Officials
• National Association of Attorneys General

Mapping Your Way to Business Success

(Part II of a IV part series on Writing Your Business and Marketing Plan)

Last week we discussed the importance of having a business plan. We told you about the first key elements of your plan: Executive Summary, Company Description. Description of Product and/or Services, Market Analysis, and Marketing Plan. If you missed that article, please click here to slim through it before reading on. Although we’re close, there are still 5 more parts to a good business plan.

6. Operating Plan
So how do you plan to get going? Where will you be located, what supplies will you need, and will you be hiring any support staff? Be specific. Unaswered questions will make for many unexpected obstacles and no plan to deal with them.

7. Management Summary
This is exactly what it sounds like: a summary of your management team, including members’ background, credential and achievements. If you alone will be managing the company, this is where you articulate your ability to manage all the elements of a successful business.

8. A 3 to 5-year Financial Plan
If you’ve been in business for awhile, here you would provide informationn on your sales, cash flow, and profits. If you haven’t yet started, this is where you anticipate startup costs, sales, cash flow, and profits. You would also estimate how long it would take for your business to become self-sufficient.

9. An Exit Strategy
No one wants to anticipate the failure of their business but without an exit strategy, business owners could experience more financial loss than necessary. Expect the best and plan for the worst. Ask yourself when you’ll know it’s time to throw in the towel. If you create some guidelines you won’t have to waste months and maybe years of your life running the business on empty.

10. Appendices and Exhibits
it’s useful for you, and anyone else reading your business plan, to visualize some of the information. If you encounter data that you believe would be best displayed in a graph or chart, you can reference them in the text of your business plan and attach the actual graphic in an appendix. Likewise, if you want too include letters of recommendation or other exhibits illustrating the probability of success, attach them here.

Writing Hints
Writing a business plan can be a daunting task, but don’t let it overwhelm you. We suggest taking it one section at a time. It should run somewhere between 20-40 pages and be no longer than 50. Make sure that what you write is concise, to the point and efficacious to what you are trying to accomplish with your writing of it. Take the time to plan thoroughly your business. By having a road map on which you can rely, then when you are in the middle of the mix and pushing forward to the milestones and goals you have set forth you will not only find the clarity of purpose helping you out in your decisions but also it may be used as a guide along your path.

Next week we will be talkin about the Marketing Plan that you will create that you will be using as your action plan to bringing your business into the reality you are dreaming about.

One of the steps you need to seriously consider is the training you have to do what you are doing. It has been proven time and time again that you do not have to go to Yale or Harvard to be highly successful in business, and that is true as well with your own tax preparation practice. All you need to is to get the instruction, training and hands-on practice from those who have been through the ropes and gained the sage-like knowledge that will help you out in the creation, process, and doing business as a Professional Tax Preparation. Have the confidence you know you can with the right training. Click Here to find out more.

Get yourself ready now so when your opportunity knocks, you can open that door with confidence. Learn how to be better prepared for your tax preparation business.