Here’s what you’re looking for: Frank Stitely

Software helps, so here are three tips for choosing it.

By Frank Stitely
The Relentless CPA

Let’s talk about assigning staff to projects. Understand that this discussion will mean nothing the first two weeks of April, when you may be assigning the family dog to some returns.

And that makes perfect sense in those circumstances. I’ve done worse. Who knew that goldfish can’t type?

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There are two factors to consider in assigning a project to a staff member.

First, does your staff member have the technical capability to complete the project? Some people are good at personal tax returns. Others are good at business returns. A few rare, wonderful individuals are good at both.
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True tales about the busy season.

By Frank Stitely
The Relentless CPA

Your first role as CEO is chief strategist. That means putting the right people in the right roles with the right resources.

Your second role is trainer and coach. This role is closely related to your role as chief strategist. You can’t put the right people in the right positions without the right people. This second role is about creating and keeping the right people.

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Unfortunately, few of the people you hire will be the right people immediately. You have to grow them. They aren’t necessarily slackers or stupid. They have never worked in a forward-looking, well organized firm like yours. If you have made it this far through our discussions, you are well on your way to creating an extraordinary firm.
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Bonus: It’s cheaper than adding capacity.

By Frank Stitely
The Relentless CPA

Want to increase profitability and client retention? Manage projects effectively.

If you don’t have these measures, get them, or turn in your CEO title. If, as a value pricer, you’ve sworn off practice metrics based on productivity, you’ll learn nothing from this article. You just don’t have the numbers. Mark Cuban is on hold waiting to yell at you.

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There are only three ways to increase client happiness and thus increase retention:

1. Lower your prices
2. Decrease the turnaround time for client work
3. Increase quality

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Four best practices.

By Frank Stitely
The Relentless CPA

Managing advanced-level preparers sounds easier than it is. These preparers will all have blind spots that appear at inconvenient times. Some won’t be able to adapt to your internal procedures, because they worked at firms without well-defined procedures.

We had one person who insisted on printing out the prior year tax returns and workpapers before beginning a return. She said she just needed the paper in her hands. That didn’t work for us.

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She asked to be paid on a salaried basis. When we agreed, she then demanded to be paid on an hourly basis. We agreed to that as well. Then she wanted to go back to a salary. She believed that whatever we agreed to would be bad for her.
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