‘Quick Questions’ and Other Client Sins

How to quietly convince them to pay for tax planning.

A well-known practice management expert, whom I greatly respect, advises CPAs to never tell clients that you don’t have time for them. I disagree with the never part. You know how it starts. On March 25^th, the call comes in.

“I know you’re busy but …”

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A request follows that could most certainly wait until after tax season. You are hip deep reviewing all the personal tax returns that got stuck in process while you climbed out of the March 15^th corporate tax ditch.

Posted on January 5, 2021

Frank Stitely

About the Author

Frank Stitely, CPA, CVA, is the managing member of Stitely & Karstetter CPAs in Chantilly, Va., and leader of Clarity Practice Management – Sign up for the next free demo here.

He is the author of The Relentless CPA,
available exclusively from CPA Trendlines here.

He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Clarion University and received the Elijah Watt Sells certificate in recognition of his performance on the CPA exam. His professional affiliations include The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants, President of the Association of Professional Accounting Software Consultants, Member of the Sage Software Small Business Certified Consultants' Steering Committee, Member of the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts, Chair of the Audit Committee on the Board of Directors for Christian Relief Services, Maryland Society of Accountants, and the National Society of Tax Professionals.

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