the process should align you with the client on the value and which services will be delivered.
by jody padar
radical pricing – by the radical cpa
scoping is a time commitment, so know that the client is worth the commitment and they have the revenue to back it. start by setting a minimum price point you will charge for the assessment process. if the client falls below your threshold price point, it doesn’t mean you’re not going to scope them, it just means the process will be less complex and can probably be done within an hour.
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for smaller clients, it helps the process if they arrive at the assessment with all the necessary information. you can look at their quickbooks data and tax returns to get a strong sense of what they need and how long it will take to deliver. scoping a small, straightforward client will become second nature with time. but be careful about being too casual when scoping smaller clients. if you miscalculate, you are still opening your firm up to risk.
scoping is based on costs and inputs, or the number of transactions and amount of risk your firm will take on based on the client’s gross receipts. gauge what risk your firm is comfortable taking and place your threshold for scoping accordingly.
when i ran my firm, we set our price point at $25,000 (the same threshold i used for value pricing). any client that would constitute an annual engagement of that amount or more would be scoped and have an in-depth client assessment. again, this is important because you are measuring your firm’s risk on a client of this size. so, you really want to invest the time and ensure you have all the information possible. when a client was under $25,000, the client ended up in a fixed price bucket or fixed price with value added.
regardless of size, you will invest some amount of time discussing scoping with the client and the value it brings to them. so, whether you spend 30 minutes scoping a small client or 16 hours scoping a larger one, make the value apparent to them. you want to price for value or be sure to account for your internal costs.
either way, this is the first substantive meeting you will have with this client, and you want them to find value in what you’re bringing to the table and have faith in your abilities from the start. additionally, getting to know the client is the first step toward building a relationship of trust, which is important as you continue to service them and grow their engagement.
the scoping process does three things:
- accurately identifies your firm’s costs;
- provides the opportunity to demonstrate value so that when you determine prices, your client will be more receptive to your pricing; and
- makes your client feel heard and lets them know this process is all about them, their needs and establishing a foundation of trust.
this scoping process should align you with the client concerning the value and which services deliver it. if handled properly, clients will recognize value when you quote them a price. they’ll also feel confident you will deliver the right solution to their problem.
imagine how most clients will feel about the difference between your unique and specialized assessment and their experience at a traditional firm, where they’re told the firm charges x number of dollars per hour, end of conversation. doing a deep dive into what the client needs creates value and trust, as well as guaranteeing the appropriate services and pricing.