You Can’t Separate the Business from the Client

Don’t fight it, work within it.

By Gary Bolinger

So, you have a client who owns a small business (use whatever definition you want for small business). There may be two or three owners of this business. The client(s) spend a lot of time working in or on the business. Most small business owners spend more time working in the business rather than on the business.

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With a structured approach to advisory services, you can get the client(s) to spend a little more time working on the business to enhance the possibilities for growth, improved profitability and long -term success. So, your firm needs to develop that structured, repeatable approach for advisory services.

Posted on July 28, 2021

Gary Bolinger

About the Author

Gary Bolinger, CAE, a longtime advocate for accountants as advisors, is vice president of client relations at Oodles LLC, a software company for CPA firms seeking to expand advisory services. He served as the CEO of the Indiana CPA Society from 1990 to 2018.

Bolinger began his career with the Indiana CPA Society in 1984 as the field activities director. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Indiana State University. From 1993-95, he served on the CPA Society Executives Association Board of Directors including positions as treasurer, secretary, and president. He has served on several AICPA committees and task forces including Information Technology, Strategic Planning, Peer Review Board, Uniform Accountancy Act Committee, and the Pre-certification Education Executive Committee.

Bolinger has been named one of the “Top 100 Most Influential” people in the accounting profession and Outstanding CPA Association Employee of the year.

He was named Association Executive of the Year by the Indiana Society of Association Executives and received the Indiana CPA Society Chairman's Award on two occasions. Since January 2018, Gary consults with associations on strategy and governance and has served as an AICPA G400 firm representative.

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