do you value your cas value?

four empty metal bucketsfour ingredients to consider.

by hitendra patil
client accounting services: the definitive success guide

“why did i start my accounting firm/practice?”

if you are the owner of your firm, print this in a bold, big font and post it somewhere in such a way that you can see it, even if it is just in your peripheral vision, every moment when you are working at your desk.

more: the mindset you need for client accounting services
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if you are a partner of the firm or an employee, print the following question to post it where you can see it all the time:
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the mindset you need for client accounting services

woman executive coaching a male employee across deskwho is leading?

by hitendra patil
client accounting services: the definitive success guide

it was the 10th of may, 2012.

over dinner on that quiet mid-spring evening, at a classic traditional italian restaurant, i met the owner of one of my largest clients, only after about five years of providing services to his firm. his firm had chosen a particular niche industry to serve and only that. he was doing well – over $3.5 million in annual revenue, growing consistently, and employing 39 staff members. in any given week, two new clients were being onboarded via a very detailed process, moving clients’ accounting databases and processes into his firm.

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he would not take on any new client unless the client handed over all of the accounting work responsibilities to the firm.

all or none.
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essential kpis for your cas practice

portrait of a young pensive businesswoman in officeplus, how to tailor your offering.

by hitendra patil
client accounting services: the definitive success guide

“i am not a good salesperson.”

i have lost count of how many accountants have told me this over the years. but i also learned that what they really mean is that they do not have a well-defined, structured sales process.

more: how to cas: first, break bad habits | how much cas profit per person? | five reasons the top 100 loves cas | look backward for your cas processes | make sure your differentiation is truly different | is it time to outsource? | your firm’s cas team: who and how many | two tech approaches to cas | when to start building your cas tech stack | stop derailing cas
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this post is not about fundamental sales skills. that is beyond our scope today. this post is more about how to develop and execute your cas sales process, pitch and supporting collaterals that can help get you more cas sales, including:

  1. how to define your cas sales process
    • four stages necessary for a sale
    • seven things you need to know about your sales process
  2. the cas sales pitch
    • thee key recommendations
  3. the cas sales collaterals
    • 11 items for your tool kit
  4. your existing clients as your cas salespersons
    1. how to provide client references
    2. daft template of the introduction email
  5. the cas sales process performance measurement
    • 10 kpis
    • 3 objectives

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cas pricing: money in the middle

businessman and tablet with the word "pricing" above.consider your pricing tiers carefully.

by hitendra patil
the definitive success guide to client accounting services

when your prospects shop for client accounting services, what they find out about pricing methods and trends defines their expectations. if you follow very different approaches to price your cas offering, it will take significant effort on your part to educate the prospects (and existing clients) about why you are pricing cas the way you are.

more: how to cas: first, break bad habits | how much cas profit per person? | make sure your differentiation is truly different | two tech approaches to cas | show your priciest cas package first | how cas drives virtual cfo billings | the roi on identifying clients for cas
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as they say, it’s easier to ride the horse in the direction it’s going. it is good to first conform to the perceptions of prospects when it comes to your cas pricing. once you ride the horse, you can direct it to the destination you want to take it to. once you conform to the pricing method (not the dollar value) expectations of the prospect, their anxiety and perception of risk (what value will they receive in the price they are willing to pay) reduce. after that, they are more open to evaluating the choices you present to them.
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how to cas: first, break bad habits

woman and man meeting in an officeyou’re providing more than reports.

by hitendra patil
the definitive success guide to client accounting services

a successful client accounting services practice requires increased interactions with clients. your usual non-cas methods of client communications are not sufficient to meet the demands and expectations of your cas clients. you must leverage new tech tools to reach out, communicate and collaborate with clients more frequently.

more: how much cas profit per person? | five reasons the top 100 loves cas | look backward for your cas processes | make sure your differentiation is truly different | is it time to outsource? | your firm’s cas team: who and how many | two tech approaches to cas | when to start building your cas tech stack | stop derailing cas | show your priciest cas package first
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some accounting software can help you automate client notifications (by email/text) based on customized triggers set up in the software. similarly, automated payroll software can keep clients informed automatically. mobile apps of core accounting software are becoming a necessity to deliver client service and communications.

why?
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how much cas profit per person?

survey reveals the top four pricing strategies.
price and value balanced on scale above a tablet computer

by hitendra patil
the definitive success guide to client accounting services

pricing your services correctly to ensure reasonable profitability is a significant decision you will make in your client accounting services practice.

more: five reasons the top 100 loves cas | look backward for your cas processes | make sure your differentiation is truly different | is it time to outsource?
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our survey results revealed how cas firms price their cas offering:

  • the topmost method of pricing cas offering was fixed/flat fee, which 41 percent of the respondents used.
  • the following most common pricing method was a mixed method of pricing (a mix of hourly, fixed, and value pricing), charged by 36 percent.
  • hourly billing was used by 33 percent.
  • about 28 percent used value pricing.

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five reasons the top 100 loves cas

client accounting services surpasses attest as the hottest menu item.

by hitendra patil
client accounting services: the definitive success guide

cas is the new no. 1. for the first time ever, top 100 firms see client accounting services as the no. 1 growth driver

“niche services fueled growth for the 2022 top 100 firms, with client accounting services/business process outsourcing the most commonly reported area of expansion over the last year for the 83 responding t100 firms,” according to accounting today in releasing the much-followed list of the nation’s top-grossing tax and accounting firms.

“cas/bpo shot up nine percentage points to attain the no. 1 position for the first time ever, with 84% of the t100 experiencing increased demand, continuing its rapid upward trend in reported growth over the last few years,” says accounting today.

why and how has cas become the #1 growth driver for the top firms in the country? let’s take a closer look.

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engagement letters require what and when

woman holding paper at deskit’s no less true for cas than for anything else.

by hitendra patil
client accounting services: the definitive success guide

“people think of us (accountants) as the compliance agents – the necessary evil.”

more: look backward for your cas processes | make sure your differentiation is truly different | two tech approaches to cas | show your priciest cas package first | how cas drives virtual cfo billings | the roi on identifying clients for cas
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this sentence haunts me even today, after hearing it nearly 15 years ago from a multi-award-winning, highly experienced cpa.

perception!
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look backward for your cas processes

process touch screen showing workflow designsmart design will save you time.

by hitendra patil
client accounting services: the definitive success guide

we have examined how you can enhance your firm’s internal processes and what factors influence those processes. in this post, we will focus more on cas-specific processes that can give you competitive advantages. however, this post is not about the technicalities of accounting processes. as a professional accountant, you already know the accounting fundamentals required to create your processes for each of the segments of the services you provide.

more: make sure your differentiation is truly different | is it time to outsource? | your firm’s cas team: who and how many | two tech approaches to cas | when to start building your cas tech stack | stop derailing cas | show your priciest cas package first | your firm needs a cas champion
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are client accounting services processes different than what you have been doing until now? yes, and no.
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make sure your differentiation is truly different

your firm’s processes can set you apart.

by hitendra patil
the definitive success guide to client accounting services

if you were to define in three sentences how your firm is different, what would those three sentences be? write them down.

more: is it time to outsource? | your firm’s cas team: who and how many | two tech approaches to cas | when to start building your cas tech stack | stop derailing cas | show your priciest cas package first | your firm needs a cas champion
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

read those the next day and judge for yourself if your competitors can say the exact same three sentences to differentiate their firms. if yes, you will see why this is a significant challenge for your firm’s growth aspirations.
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is it time to outsource?

four businessmen standing on world maptwelve signs to watch for.

by hitendra patil
client accounting services: the definitive success guide

when you are the key person to make things happen at your firm, you want to invest as much time in “business development” (not just marketing and sales) as humanly possible. your firm’s growth will make you feel that producing and delivering your services is an essential core business function for you, but some of it is not.

more: your firm’s cas team: who and how many | two tech approaches to cas | show your priciest cas package first | how cas drives virtual cfo billings | the roi on identifying clients for cas
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freeing up yourself to spend more time focusing on the things that add value to your practice and help set it apart from the competition is the most essential differentiating growth strategy you will ever deploy. the same principle applies to your experienced, talented staff.
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your firm’s cas team: who and how many

you may need to boost their human skillsets.

by hitendra patil
accountaneur: the entrepreneurial accountant

“we do not have the staffing for client accounting services.”

non-cas firms cite this as the topmost reason for not being able to offer cas. nothing could be further from the truth.

more: two tech approaches to cas | when to start building your cas tech stack | your firm needs a cas champion | your top six cas questions
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experience of firms that offer cas, including that of small firms with fewer than five staff members, proves beyond doubt that you do not need more staff to start offering cas. even solo practitioners provide cas. the only thing you need to begin your cas journey is to be ruthless, relentless and fearless to leverage newer and cloud technologies. automation, integration and even artificial intelligence make it easier, faster and cheaper to perform some repetitive, time-consuming work of accounting firms.
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two tech approaches to cas

smiling businesswoman working at deskand one fundamental requirement.

by hitendra patil
the definitive success guide to client accounting services

client accounting services essentially requires an ability for your firm to be able to best serve the needs of all your clients.

more: when to start building your cas tech stack | stop derailing cas | lower your costs by 75% with cas | cas drives up demand for virtual cfos | turn client wants into needs | a job description for client accounting services
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in other words, your firm’s technology stack, services, processes and pricing packages need to cater to businesses of different sizes, turnovers, as well as various levels of tech-savviness of the business owners and their employees. in yet other words, your firm should have the ability to do part of the accounting work or all the work your clients offload to your firm.
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