Learn From This Tax Season
Take Notes On Lessons Learned to Make Next Year a Breeze
We recognize that this is an extremely busy time of year for you. Crazy as it may be, now is a good time to take notes of things that are and are not working so that you can make next tax season run more smoothly for you. Here are some things you might look for as you prepare taxes these next couple months.
High-maintenance Clients
Do you have one or two clients who are extremely high-maintenance, distracting you from fully serving your other clients? While it’s important to respond to a client’s needs, there comes a time when you’re expending more energy on a client than you’ll ever recoup. But now’s probably not the best time to fire a customer, so take note so you can create a plan of action once tax season ends.
Common Distractions
You may find that interruptions are preventing you from getting much work done. Take out your notebook and date and describe each interruption you have. While this may seem tedious at first, you’ll quickly recognize which interruptions can be prevented with a little extra time and attention.
A Shopping List for 2008
Much time is often wasted by purchasing supplies when you’re busiest. If you didn’t have everything you needed when you began working on your first return, the time has come to make a list of all those things you need. The things on this shopping list should all be purchased before tax season next year in order to save you time (and possibly a little anxiety).
Prepare You Family
Tax season can be, well, taxing on a tax preparer’s family. Much of this can be alleviated by telling your family what they can expect during tax season. When will you be available at night? What can and can’t you contribute each month? How can your family help you be more successful? And what does your family need from you in order to better manage this stressful time? By talking through the stresses of tax season before it happens, you can lessen its impact on your family.
Evaluate Your Technology—Do You Need an Upgrade?
Keep a close eye on the technology you use. Is your dial-up connection holding you back? Or perhaps your old computer is too slow for all the new software. Do you need new software? Look so far as to evaluate your phone service. Would a change make your work more efficient? Make a list and be sure to make necessary changes before next year.
Got QuickBooks?
If you haven’t yet gotten QuickBooks, you need to ask yourself why. Over 80% of small businesses use QuickBooks to manage their finances so chances are many of your current clients have much of the information you need in their QuickBooks files. The good news is that once you master this software yourself, you can make extra money offering QuickBooks set-up and help sessions. You’ll also be able to train your own clients to get you the information you need in the format you need it in.
UAC’s Guide to Quickbooks Pro is a self-paced program that enables you to complete the parts that interest you and skip over the parts that don’t. Even if you have used the program for years, the program teaches you shortcuts and methods you may not have known. You will be impressed by the simple flow and completeness of this program. The retail cost of UAC training coupled with the QuickBooks Pro software is $485, but for a limited time you can get that for just $385. And if you already have the software, or are just interested in a trail version, it’ll just cost you $285. And in addition to having a system that can help you better manage your own business, you’ll also have the training to offer Quickbooks help services to current and potential clients. This could be just one way to better manage client information during tax season while expanding your practice beyond April 15th. Don’t wait; order today!
