strategy

do you create content? you’ll need to learn.

by jody padar
the radical cpa

new customers want cpas to use the latest technology and the next generation of business owners demands it. but what about the legacy customers who you think don’t care? the original owners may not care, true. but your legacy customers are going to have the same succession issues as your firm. those customers are going to have to create a succession plan and if that plan is going to the next generation, that generation doesn’t have any experience with you as a cpa firm. and you better believe tech­nology is important to them; it’s in their dna.

more on radicalism: the market is moving toward the radicals | 5 radical transparencies; are you ready? | 4 questions radical firms must face | being radical is all about your customer | being radical starts with being the change | why start being radical now? | going radical: the 4 tenets of a ‘new firm’ | why should cpas be radical? | the roots of ‘radical’ cpas | the first 3 questions i should have asked before starting my own practice

for example, if the dad passes the torch to the kid, and the kid says “well i don’t know john cpa all that well. they don’t use cloud tech­nology and i’m going find a firm that does use the cloud.” they choose technology because they have no current relationship with the firm. we receive many leads from business owners in this situation.

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5 ways to be prepared.

by jody padar
the radical cpa

a cch white paper, “charting a course for the future: a report on firm preparedness,” defines some of the trends that will have the most significant impact on accounting firms and their customers over the next five years.

more on radicalism: 5 radical transparencies; are you ready? | 4 questions radical firms must face | being radical is all about your customer | being radical starts with being the change | why start being radical now? | going radical: the 4 tenets of a ‘new firm’ | why should cpas be radical? | the roots of ‘radical’ cpas | the first 3 questions i should have asked before starting my own practice

the study also notes how well-prepared accountants are to take advantage of these trends. by putting the “very prepared” firm under the magnifying glass, the report examines what makes firm owners confident about the future.

free instant download:
report on firm preparedness

the most important take­away is that firms that feel more prepared for the future report that they are more productive and more profitable today. read more →

are you guilty of random acts of consulting?

by jody padar
the radical cpa

to me, the most trusted business advisor is the small busi­ness advisor. that’s what my customers see. my firm serves small businesses from the ground up to $10 million. yes, we look at their numbers, but practically speaking one gains a lot when you’re in their financial underwear drawer.

most of our conversations are around their questions. it’s a natural extension of the work we already do – financials, taxes, payroll, cash flow and forecasting.

more radical cpa: 5 radical transparencies; are you ready? | 4 questions radical firms must face | being radical is all about your customer | being radical starts with being the change | why start being radical now? | going radical: the 4 tenets of a ‘new firm’ | why should cpas be radical? | the roots of ‘radical’ cpas | the first 3 questions i should have asked before starting my own practice

these people are not asking complex tax questions. they’re asking about it, human resources, general licensing and for help with some decision-making. we’re small business consul­tants.
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plus 4 questions as you shift from number cruncher to advisor.

by jody padar
the radical cpa

aside from creating a new way to do compensation and work, the “new firm” model brings upon a whole new level of trans­parency for both the customers you work with and your employ­ees.

more on radicalism: 4 questions radical firms must face | being radical is all about your customer | being radical starts with being the change | why start being radical now? | going radical: the 4 tenets of a ‘new firm’ | why should cpas be radical? | the roots of ‘radical’ cpas | the first 3 questions i should have asked before starting my own practice

1. data is changed in real time. no longer can you say that you never got that fax or email.
2. more clarity in communication and expectations is required.
3. what you communicate and how you deliver these communications will materially change, which calls for better monitoring of how team members communicate as well.
4. communication tools will vary. are you using email, phone, videoconference, in-person, text or facebook?
5. how will you feel about your employees having transparent communications with firm customers and, more important, how is all this communication shared internally?

here are just some of the things that shift: read more →