client service

What’s Lousy, the Client or Your Approach?

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Ed Mendlowitz CPA The Practice Doctor Q and AInvestigate why problems exist.

By Ed Mendlowitz
The CPA Trendlines Practice Doctor

QUESTION: I have a client that is a not-for-profit and they are having a dinner and expect me to attend as well as take an ad.

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However, they are a lousy client. They do not give us the requested information until the last minute and then complain we are always late with our report. They pay us months after the bill is sent and then only after quite a few phone calls, and then they complain about the fee being too high when it is half of our time charges – they are on a fixed fee and don’t let us raise it each year. And now they expect a “contribution.” What should I do?
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Marketing vs. Selling: Both Must Serve the Client First

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Woman explaining financial brochure to manIt comes down to what will best serve your clients.

By Ed Mendlowitz
How to Build a Stronger Tax Practice

There are differences between marketing and selling.

Selling is a process whose goal is an actual order. Marketing involves the totality of presenting the company to the prospective customer so they want to do business with you.

MORE ON MARKETING: Adopt a Marketing Mindset

Salespeople need immediate gratification. Marketers take a long-term view.

Both are necessary for successful growth.
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How to Implement Strategy, Step by Step

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Businessman's shoes toeing words "What's your next step?"Be specific and find ways to “catch” the partner in action.

By Bill Reeb and Dominic Cingoranelli

An Example of the Process

It’s one thing to say “the managing partner implements strategy,” another to put it into action.

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Following is an example of this process, providing more detail to show how it might look in actual practice. Let’s assume that one of the goals of a partner is to increase the Most Trusted Business Advisor Activity for his or her top clients. In the initial goal sheet, for this one goal from the managing partner, that might look like this:
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3 Rules for Asking Great Tax-Return Questions

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Preserve your sanity, amaze your clients.Question marks

By Frank Stitely

Asking clients great questions is central to Ruthlessly Efficient Workflow Management (R.E.W.).

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Great client questions can save hundreds of hours of time during tax season and prevent projects from falling behind schedule. Here’s an example of questions done badly.

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