[Anonymous]

I am a CPA and would like to get in to tax preparation. Can you guys share with me any marketing tips on getting new clients. Thanks.

[RSBro]

Do you do taxes now? That is kind of an important selling point. I've worked for “tax” firms where the proprietor was a lifetime auditor, and it was horrible and they didn't help clients, more like the Tax Police. Tax is like chess- you vs. the IRS, and what you're willing to do for your clients (with their consent). Which is why I love doing it.
I bought a firm, so maybe look at small sole props who are selling out in your area? Getting bookkeeping clients also leads to lots of tax work. We are probably 60/40 bookkeeping to tax. Is a great monthly revenue stream.

REG - ('11) 71, ('12) 71 - Becker
AUD - TBD
BEC - TBD
FAR - ('16) 54 - Becker

[Missy]

I agree with RSBro, you're likely facing an uphill battle if you don't have experience.I want to do the same thing but doing one season at JH first so I can (a) say I have experience, (b) have a rough idea of a fair billing scheme and (c) anticipate various customer service issues that will arise/practice some customer service techniques before it is my own name/business on the line.

Let me give you an example, I knew the basics of tax before this season and frankly if you're using most tax prep software it does all the legwork, you don't need to be a tax expert to prepare an accurate tax return (which is why so many people do their own with turbo tax). BUT where the value added for a tax preparer (and you need customers who want to come back year after year) is when you start doing some planning for them with their consent, (for example, telling your client their daughter is 16 years old this year, next year they won't be eligible for the child tax credit, so what can they do now to mitigate that change.), knowing where to direct and/or help them on the health connector to get ACA coverage if they have a penalty, knowing that you can help them prepare a new W-4 to adjust their withholdings, etc.

If you just go into business and aren't prepared to handle scared and frustrated customers, they'll be someone else's customer the next year.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Author]

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