There are a zillion accounting firms around the world and being distinctive can be difficult for accounting practitioners. Moreover, with fierce competition in the industry, few accounting firms also struggle to find new business opportunities. Nevertheless, with the right business development tips and strategies – you as an accounting practitioner can gain a competitive edge, boost revenue, and ultimately expand your business.
Importance of Business Development for Accounting Firms & Practitioners:
Business development for accounting firms is important. It does not only aid the accounting practitioners or the business owners to retain their existing clients, but also helps in classifying and attaining new clients.
Business development for accounting firms and practitioners can be rewarding as it directly leads to the growth of the business. By using business development tips and tactics your accounting firm can assess prospective markets, target audience, understand competitors, initiate leads for potential sales, streamline sales policies and processes, etc.
This is why you as an accounting practitioner must have a structured business development plan. But before you go ahead and draft out your business development plan, check out the 10 tips that will help you recognize the need for business development for accounting firms and practitioners.
The 10 Tips for Business Development of Accounting Practitioners:
1. Brand Yourself
Do not just have a brand image for your accounting firm, but also resonate with the brand as an accounting practitioner. For an accounting firm that offers financial services, the quality of service offered by the practitioners in the firm defines the company’s brand image. Hence as an accounting practitioner, you are liable to brand yourself as well as the company. Being an accounting practitioner, you must brand yourself in a way that motivates the clients to sign on with the firm. Being an accounting practitioner, you should also ensure that the quality of service reflects the brand. This will make sure that the clients want to remain with the firm for the long haul.
2. Build A Network
Networking for accounting practitioners can be enriching in many ways. From forming a relationship with people in the industry to acquiring new clients and connecting with influencers – networking is great for the business development of accounting practitioners. As an accounting practitioner, you can build a network and represent your firm on various national and international platforms. Networking through commercial events or trade associations creates business development opportunities for your accounting firm. Also, as an accounting practitioner, you can build a network by joining communities and societies created by fellow accountants.
3. Analyse Competitors
As an accounting practitioner, it is your responsibility to offer the best financial services for your accounting firm. But you can only offer the best if you have analyzed what the competitors are offering in the market. Business development for accounting practitioners also depends on thoroughly analyzing the competitors. These will enable you to understand market trends and customers’ perspective. You can also identify the cost structure your competitors are offering and persuade the clients by offering them something more cost-effective. Analyzing competitors also allow recognizing opportunities and threats – so you being an accounting practitioner can work on mitigating them earlier.
4. Explore Innovation
Most accounting practitioners and CPA’s explore innovation in their management practices for business development. As an accounting practitioner, you also can initiate the same and explore areas that allow your clients to benefit. Start by offering set packages, creating a value-added approach, or providing free consultations to generate client engagements. Exploring innovation will not just help your company with business development, but also distinguish you as a well-known accounting practitioner. Moreover, being an accounting practitioner, you can also ensure that innovation is a process and not a one-time ideation. Push you to reflect differences in every social post, client meeting, public events, etc.
5. Integrate Technology
Integrating technology is a great strategy for the business development of accounting practitioners. The transition from desktop-based applications to cloud-based solutions help accounting practitioners sever their clients better. Know that accounting is the language of business that has changed throughout the ages. However, the integration of inventive technology has made your job, as an accounting practitioner more accurate and easier. With technologically advanced methods, you can analyze statistical values, interpret data effectively and proficiently be the most trusted business advisor.
6. Upgrade Continually
The accounting business is changing continually, thus accounting practitioners must upgrade themselves. Accounting practitioners are expected to be familiar with new business modules, altering financial laws, advanced technological tools, AI integrations, cloud-based applications, etc. Each client has a different outlook and accounting practitioners must be able to collaborate and work with these clients. For business development, you as an accounting practitioner must adapt quickly to ensure the needs of your client are met consistently. Being an accounting practitioner, ensure to upgrade your knowledge in general IT, accounting software, accounting business modules and laws, etc.
7. Ask for Referrals
This is a business development tip that can be best executed by accounting practitioners. Being an accounting practitioner yourself, you have the understanding of your clients and their network. Ask for referrals from these existing clients to gain new customers and widen your reach. Asking for referrals does not just bring new clients, but also develop your business through word-of-mouth publicity. This can increase the trustworthiness and credibility of the company, eventually developing the business. Asking for referrals can also mean that clients write a testimonial for you on social media platforms or submit reviews.
8. Get Data Smart
Business development of accounting practitioners basically means growing the business by finding new or better clients. A seamless way to get this done is by getting data smart! As an accounting practitioner, being data-informed will allow you to make better business decisions. Use tools to get better insights about your clients by conveniently being relevant. You are an accounting practitioner, but you are also a business owner of the accounting firm. Hence, you must use tools to understand your clients and learn patterns and discrepancies. This will help you identify the business’s blockages and find newer prospects for growth.
9. Outsource Added Services
If you being a CPA or an accounting practitioner want to stay ahead in the game, then outsourcing added services is a must! The accounting businesses are extremely competitive and accounting firms are expected to offer one-stop solutions. But delivering varied services consistently at reasonable rates can be difficult. Moreover, if you have a limited staff and work on hectic schedules the quality of service is sure to deteriorate. An ideal way to deal with this is to outsource manual work and simple tasks such as bookkeeping, payroll accounting, tax filing, etc. You as an accounting practitioner can continue to monitor the outsourced services and concentrate on more complex responsibilities.
10. Set KPI’s, Targets & Goals
Setting KPIs, targets, and goals are crucial for the business development of accounting practitioners. As an accounting practitioner, you are instrumental in driving client retention, loyalty, and satisfaction. Hence, defining set goals and achieve targets can ensure business development. Moreover, you must determine the KPIs that concern and track them frequently. Analyze KPI’s such as revenue per client, client retention rate, profit margins, time taken for processing and submissions, etc. Create a monthly report that can give you a picture of past performances. Setting realistic targets and monitoring them will help you adjust your strategies to productively develop your business.
Contact Us
Need to consult an expert? Accelerate your business development with Diligen.
Diligen offers various financial services exclusively designed for accounting practitioners. We ensure that your business has minimum overheads, and increases productivity, and most importantly has an unburdened process to eventually result in the growth and development of the business.
For more information contact us right away!
