the dysfunctional partner team and three ways to get them back on track.
you’ve tried management by committee. and by now, you know it doesn’t work. in a new analysis of cpa firm management practices, marc rosenberg finds, “management by committee rarely works.”
there must be a better way. and, yes, there are a few. here is a five-point spectrum of approaches that firms use to make decisions. one of them may work for your firm.
the end of tax season makes a wonderful time to gain the genius of hindsight before the memories fade. to create your very own business season-in-review, ask yourself these five questions and prepare your answers thoughtfully. what were your major … continued
and 12 retreat topic no-no’s.
by august aquila
author of “leadership at its strongest”
the purpose of the retreat should be clearly thought out early in the year. articulate one or two goals for the retreat. you need to be very specific as to what you want to accomplish. for example, the purpose of the retreat is to develop a succession plan for the firm. you many not know exactly what it will look like, but you know what the end product of the retreat will be.
if you cannot do this, don’t hold the meeting. ask yourself this one question: “what would happen if we did not hold this retreat?” if the answer is “nothing,” you’ll know what to do.
retreat topic no-no’s
let’s look at common retreat topics that should not be discussed at a retreat. you may or not agree with the list, but i urge you to strike the following items from your retreat agendas. read more →
when david meets goliath. by bruce w. marcus professional services marketing 3.0 great turbulence in the accounting profession, as well as in the business world itself, make these difficult and unusual times. public outcry against the misdeeds of a few … continued
by bruce w. marcus professional services marketing 3.0 while some firms have explored the idea of client service groups, and leading thinkers like patrick mckenna have been training firms in the concept for several years, few firms have developed the … continued
the main categories of information for internal communications and management. by bruce w. marcus professional services marketing 3.0 while the substance of information varies from firm to firm, there are 10 categories that cannot go unconsidered:
what happens when today’s practice management principles become obsolete?
by rick telberg
from “the sevenkeys to successful cpa firm management“
in today’s competitive and rapidly changing business environment, change management may be the single most important skill for every cpa. read more →
lessons from the best-managed firms.
by marc rosenberg
author of “cpa firm management and governance: the managing partner’s guide to running a cpa firm like a business.”
baby boomer partners are rapidly approaching retirement age, resulting in a dramatic increase in new managing partners at firms.
in fact, 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 estimates that up to 25% of multi-owner firms are operating under managing partners who are relatively new to the job, with tenures under three years. and over the next five years, one-third of multi-owner firms will undergo a change in ownership and/or control. read more →
options to grow your profits besides raising revenue and lowering costs.
by sandi smith, cpa
accountant’s accelerator
many accountants these days are anxious to hit the golden $100,000 mark this year. others are interested in growing their revenues steadily and incrementally. still others are focused on lowering costs, raising profits from that side of the equation.
more for soloists and small firms: seven checklist secrets for turning tax season into opportunity season • how to stay energized, upbeat, and thinking bigger through busy season • seven ways to wow your prospect • rev up your revenue with these two daily rituals • 10 tips for creating more energy this tax season • take a cue from venture capitalists: your firm needs a brain trust trinity • five ideas to reduce client price-sensitivity • rise to the top with a fresh elevator speech
all of these approaches are well and good to help you keep more of what you make, but there are far more options to grow your take-home dollars besides raising revenue and lowering costs.
here are six more ways to get more profit out of your practice: read more →
including a sample engagement letter.
question: some of my clients are getting older and are becoming unable to handle their own financial affairs and i have been asked if i could assist them. what is involved and how do i charge for it?
ed mendlowitz, vpa, pfs, abv, responds: many large firms provide “family office” services. this is a complete one stop financial service that helps clients manage their money, pay their bills, collect their dividends and interest, and make sure insurance isn’t cancelled, mortgage, car lease or condo fee payments aren’t skipped, and tax payments paid on time.
more from ed: seven ways to increase fees in 2013 | 10 best practices for tax season | nine healthy things to do during tax season | 12 reasons to love tax season | free instant download: sample fee schedule for 1040s | ask the geek: a couple great gadgets for saving money on all your other gadgets | three and a half ways to get your own cpa practice | also: “implementing fee increases” and “the tax season opportunity guide.”
following is a sample engagement letter that i use with clients needing such services. also, this letter provides a detailed description of what the service involves. read more →
‘tis the season for new promises and plans.
we’ve been asking finance and accounting accounting professionals about what 2013 may hold, and you’ve been answering. to get all the details, click here to join the survey and get the results.
meanwhile, here are a few sample new year’s resolutions from colleagues and peers. some may sound all too familiar from resolutions made in 2012. personally, i’m still working on the lose-15-pounds resolution from 2012, and, er, 2011, 2010, 2009… oh well.
— rick telberg
president / ceo
new year’s resolutions from finance and accounting professionals:
decision making in risk management by bruce w. marcus author of professional services marketing 3.0 too often, we simply take risk for granted and go headlong into danger and chaos. it needn’t be so. even in view of the elements … continued
how to do it right.
here at 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间, ed mendlowitz answers some of the toughest questions practitioners can throw at him. he’s the right one to ask. after more than 40 years in the business – building his own practice, running the firm, and eventually selling it to a major regional firm, withumsmith+brown, where he remains a senior partner and consultant to professional services clients – he has the answers.
browse more from ed here: audit reports without doing the work? | should i really spend the time making checklists? | what’s a tax practice worth today? | preparing to sell your practice in a few years? 13 things you need to know today | 10 questions to ask yourself before you decide to add financial services to your practice | why selling your practice is not a retirement strategy | congratulations! you bought a tax practice. now what? | how accountants can keep the business when a client wants to sell theirs | 10 reasons clients don’t pay, and what to do about it | 13 reasons timesheets will never die
question: is there any value to a retreat? read more →