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CLIENT SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

Be Open to Unexpected Opportunities

gift box wrapped in dollar bills and red ribbon

Good things can happen in surprising ways.

By Ed Mendlowitz
Call Me Before You Do Anything: The Art of Accounting

My friend Al is a sole practitioner with seven staff members and a thriving audit practice, besides the typical tax and small business tax clients.

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He is getting older, and while he has no plans to retire and is actively trying to grow his practice, he periodically meets with larger firms to see if there is an interest in acquiring his practice when that day comes. By doing this he stumbled on a fantastic business development formula.
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CLIENT SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

Four Ways to Deal with Clients Who Say ‘No’

Young businesswoman putting hand out in "stop" gesture while sipping coffee

Plus two possible exceptions.

By Ed Mendlowitz
Call Me Before You Do Anything: The Art of Accounting

I found out many years ago that I cannot spend my clients’ money.

I used to feel that if they did not want to “buy” a service I felt they must have, it meant I did not clearly convey the value to them. I do not feel this way anymore because the value is relative and draws on many issues the client might have and that I am not privy to.

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In my earlier days I used to do the work anyway, feeling a responsibility to the client. It took me quite a while to realize that the responsibility is the clients’ and if they did not want to spend their money for it, I should not spend part of my life doing it on a pro bono basis. There were also times I felt the work was so essential to the client that I did it expecting their recognition of the importance and willingness to pay me afterward. Stupid! My bad!
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BUSY SEASON MANAGEMENT

Eleven Ways to Help Tax Clients Help You

Businessman points to words "KEEP IT SIMPLE"

Clear instructions make your tax season easier.

By Ed Mendlowitz
Tax Season Opportunity Guide

Providing instructions of what a client needs to do must be clear enough so that the client doesn’t call you to find out what to do.

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Sometimes taking an extra minute to lay out what the client should do can eliminate that call or indecisive moment a client might feel.
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PRO Member Exclusive

Four Times to Spend Time on Tax Question Research

businessman entering number on desk phone

Sometimes “quick and easy” isn’t, but it’s still worthwhile.

By Ed Mendlowitz
Tax Season Opportunity Guide

I keep a few of the one-volume tax guides in my office so I could look up a quick answer when I need to. Recently a golf buddy emailed me a question that I thought I could answer quickly. He wanted to know that if he was in the “zero” percent capital gains tax bracket, did that apply to an unlimited amount of capital gains? Sounds like a simple question.

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Well I looked it up online and then in three one-volume tax guides. Only one source had thorough coverage of the issue. I ended up spending an hour on this “simple” question including my emailed response. Nothing is simple anymore. 
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