{"id":6357,"date":"2010-03-15t15:59:50","date_gmt":"2010-03-15t19:59:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/48e130086c.nxcli.net\/?p=6357"},"modified":"2015-10-23t03:47:04","modified_gmt":"2015-10-23t07:47:04","slug":"six-ways-to-save-a-client-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/\/www.g005e.com\/2010\/03\/15\/six-ways-to-save-a-client-today\/","title":{"rendered":"six ways to save a client today"},"content":{"rendered":"

local accounting firm redefines “r&d” for client retention and business development. how to keep clients happy and build your\u00a0business.<\/strong>
\n <\/em><\/p>\n

by rick telberg<\/em><\/p>\n

at most companies, \u201cr&d\u201d means \u201cresearch and development.\u201d but at dugan & lopatka cpas in wheaton, ill., every staffer knows it means client \u201cretention and development,\u201d as in business <\/em>development.<\/p>\n

\"\"
lopatka<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

like many firms faced a couple years ago with the credit crash and ensuing great recession, dugan & lopatka\u2019s attention was wrenched from landing new clients to serving the clients they already had. \u201cwe started a renewed focus on client retention and business development,\u201d according to managing principal jerry lopatka, who dropped me a line in response to \u201cdo you know the secrets of happy\u00a0clients?<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n

dugan & lopatka has 45 people, including nine principals. it specializes in the usual small- and medium-size business lines \u2014 manufacturing, distribution, real estate and construction. this tax season, they\u2019ll probably do about 750\u00a0returns.<\/p>\n

today, what the firm abbreviates as \u201cbiz r&d\u201d \u201cis a daily focus for all of us,\u201d lopatka\u00a0says.<\/p>\n

the firm\u2019s \u201cbiz r&d\u201d program contains six building blocks, which may be intuitive for many and familiar to anyone who has studied relationship marketing or consultative\u00a0selling:<\/p>\n

1. going the extra mile on the current engagement.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n