19 ways to make reviewers happier

bonus: they improve the firm for everyone else, too.

by ed mendlowitz
the 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 practice doctor

question: how much time should a reviewer spend on a return in relation to the preparer time? our reviewers spend .75 hour for each hour of preparer time.

more: before you sell your practice | price your practice by gross | advising estate executors: the newbie guide to getting started | how’s your overhead? | envision your future, then plan for it
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

answer: you are high and most firms i speak with are also high with an average time of about 24 minutes, or .4, hour.
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why should clients keep you?

most business clients must use an accountant, but it doesn’t have to be you.

by ed mendlowitz
call me before you do anything: the art of accounting

i met someone one day and asked how she was doing with her accountant. she said everything was fine, but reduced the three interim quarterly visits to once every four months. the year-end work did not change.

more: advice to new accountants | what does the client want to see? | 6 ways to increase your fees … if you dare | the clients that got away | upselling made painless | boosting a fixed fee substantially | creative ways to retain staff | what cpas can learn from lawyers and doctors
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

this got me thinking. most business clients must use an accountant, but it doesn’t have to be you.
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before you sell your practice

older couple on autumn walk with trees in backgrounda broker is an option, but you have things to decide first.

by ed mendlowitz
the 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 practice doctor

question: we are contemplating selling our firm. it’s a difficult decision due to the financial rewards and the enjoyment we get from our work. i am 63 and my wife-partner is 62 and we are not in a hurry.

more: price your practice by gross | an alternative to pro bono | work the client needs … but won’t pay for | tossing timesheets is just the start | collect more by clearing up billing | envision your future, then plan for it | 5 ways to build teamwork
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

we would like to sell to a cpa who would be very committed to this business and our clients, many of whom have been with us for over 20 years. how should we start?
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price your practice by gross

price targetbonus checklist: 11 questions to make sure you’re comparing apples to apples.

by ed mendlowitz
the 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 practice doctor

question: everyone i talk to about what my practice is worth talks about a percentage or multiple of gross. just what is “gross” and why is it done this way?

more: an alternative to pro bono | work the client needs … but won’t pay for | tossing timesheets is just the start | collect more by clearing up billing | 5 ways to build teamwork
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

answer: you are right that practices are priced based on gross. the main reason is that this method seems to work well. however, there is a wide range of what gross is and how it is applied.
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advice to new accountants

businesspeople discussing chartswhat to know when you’re starting out.

by ed mendlowitz
call me before you do anything: the art of accounting

i was asked to provide advice to people starting out in accounting and am sharing my thoughts here. i get many requests to speak, write and comment on all sorts of areas of practice management. here is one such interview that hopefully you might find interesting and insightful.

more: what does the client want to see? | the clients that keep you awake at night | creating a cross-selling culture | cross-selling beyond your comfort zone | a test of concentration | value pricing in uncharted waters
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

what is the best career advice you received? why do you consider it so?
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an alternative to pro bono

businesswoman at crossroads, facing two pathstry board service instead.

by ed mendlowitz
the 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 practice doctor

question: occasionally i receive requests to perform accounting services for free for not-for-profit organizations. i usually ignore them. do you have any suggestions on how to handle these emails?

more: work the client needs … but won’t pay for | advising estate executors: the newbie guide to getting started | 14 better uses for timesheet data | tossing timesheets is just the start | how’s your overhead? | 9 must-haves for firm growth | collect more by clearing up billing | envision your future, then plan for it | 5 ways to build teamwork
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

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work the client needs … but won’t pay for

young businesswoman putting hand out in "stop" gesture while sipping coffeemaybe it’s time to part ways.

by ed mendlowitz
the 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 practice doctor

question: i know that one of my clients needs some extra work done, but they don’t want to pay for it. it is important that this work gets done.

more: advising estate executors: the newbie guide to getting started | 14 better uses for timesheet data | 9 must-haves for firm growth | 5 ways to build teamwork
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

do you think i should do it anyway? what is my responsibility?
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what does the client want to see?

the lesson isn’t the investment, it’s the presentation.

by ed mendlowitz
call me before you do anything: the art of accounting

here is a story of something that occurred in 1980 and became the reason for my understanding of how bond investments work.

more: the clients that keep you awake at night | clients don’t lose sleep for overpaying taxes | when time-based pricing works | how auditing is like a pirouette | ¿que es bookkeeping? | underpaying others hurts you, too | yes, christopher columbus had an accountant | 10 reasons for my success
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

these rules still apply today, so in some measure, i’ve learned a lifelong message.
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advising estate executors: the newbie guide to getting started

bonus checklist: 14 questions to answer.

by ed mendlowitz
the 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 practice doctor

question: i have a client who became the executor after his mother died.

more: 14 better uses for timesheet data | tossing timesheets is just the start | how’s your overhead? | 9 must-haves for firm growth | collect more by clearing up billing | envision your future, then plan for it | 5 ways to build teamwork
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

he has a brother and two sisters. they asked me to advise them, but i am not that familiar with handling estates. is there anything you can tell me to get me started?

answer: it is never good to work on things you are not familiar with, but doing so can provide that familiarity, as long as you cannot do any harm to the client.

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yes, your clients need annual minutes

businesswoman writing with pencil on notepad in the officebonus checklist: 34 items for corporate or organization minutes.

by ed mendlowitz
the 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 practice doctor

question: should my corporate clients have annual minutes?

more: 14 better uses for timesheet data | tossing timesheets is just the start | how’s your overhead? | 9 must-haves for firm growth | collect more by clearing up billing | envision your future, then plan for it | 5 ways to build teamwork
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

answer: yes. and not only corporations, but also partnerships, llcs, not-for-profits and other entities.
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14 better uses for timesheet data

woman reading paper document at office desk in front of computerif you just pay people and move on, you’re missing critical information.

by ed mendlowitz

question: i keep timesheets for billing purposes but am not clear how i can use them to better manage my practice. how can i do this?

more: tossing timesheets is just the start | how’s your overhead? | 9 must-haves for firm growth | collect more by clearing up billing | envision your future, then plan for it | 5 ways to build teamwork
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

answer: analyzing time records is a very effective practice management tool and is an essential part of most professional services organizations. some people contend that timesheets should not be used because they should not be the basis of any pricing, with fees solely based on the value to the client.

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tossing timesheets is just the start

pen ready to fill in blank timesheetrecommended: two books to read.

by ed mendlowitz

question: i’ve read that many firms are no longer using timesheets. how do you feel about that?

more: how’s your overhead? | 9 must-haves for firm growth | collect more by clearing up billing | envision your future, then plan for it | 5 ways to build teamwork
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

answer: there is a growing group of firms that no longer use timesheets.

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the clients that keep you awake at night

masked man carrying large money bagwhen even the best internal controls fail, guess who the client will blame?

by ed mendlowitz
call me before you do anything: the art of accounting

i have addressed the importance of controls when trying to get a client. but it is also important to retain the client.

more: clients don’t lose sleep for overpaying taxes | 6 ways to increase your fees … if you dare | the clients that got away | upselling made painless | boosting a fixed fee substantially | creative ways to retain staff | what cpas can learn from lawyers and doctors | my top 10(ish) regrets
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

a good system that is not monitored is a sure way to lose your client – and your sleep.

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