How to Tell a Client How the Fee Was Set

Ed Mendlowitz CPA The Practice Doctor Q and ABy Ed Mendlowitz
The CPA Trendlines Practice Doctor

QUESTION: I performed some additional services for a client and gave her a bill that she questioned and wanted to know how much time I had spent. I billed more than the time charges, but this client never gets time bills – everything I do is on a fixed fee so I never account for my time with her. What should I say now?

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RESPONSE: If a client is on a strict time basis, they are entitled to a breakdown of the hours and person performing the services.

Otherwise, when clients ask me how I arrived at a bill I tell them something similar to this: