Improving Your Accounting Services 101

Maybe your accounting firm is thriving and growing at a record pace. But like they say, there’s always room for improvement. To give your clients the best services they can get and keep your firm flourishing, learn how you can improve your accounting services.

How to improve your accounting services

Sure, your accounting services are good. But, can they be even better? If your firm could use a dash of improvement (or if you’re an overachiever who always wants to improve), you’ve come to the right place. Give your accounting services a boost by using these four tips.

1. Invest in or upgrade your accounting software

One way you can improve your accounting services for your clients (and make things a little easier for your firm) is by investing in or upgrading your accounting software. If you already have a software but aren’t 100% satisfied with it, now’s the perfect time to upgrade it or switch.

Do your research. Take a look at things like online accounting vs. desktop software, cost, features, accessibility, and customer reviews. Also, look into whether the software provider offers special perks with a partner program.  

If you’re looking for a bit of an upgrade to what you currently have, check to see what other accounting products your current provider offers. Many providers have different tiers to choose from, like basic and premium accounting software. 

Not happy with your current provider? Do your due diligence to find out which software company is the right fit for your firm. Look at pricing, features, reports, etc. before making any moves. And, be sure to check out what kind of software options they have.

2. Offer additional services

In some cases, clients need help beyond their books and taxes. They may need assistance with things like:

• Running payroll and handling payroll taxes
• Budgeting
• Forecasting
• Business development

Offering additional services, like payroll, can benefit your firm in more ways than one. Adding to your list of services can help make your firm more profitable and draw in new clients. Not to mention, it can help you retain current clients by giving them more of what they need.

To determine which services to add to your offerings, do some research to find out what people want. And, don’t be afraid to get feedback from your current (and even previous) clients to see what other services they’re interested in.

3. Improve communications

Communication is everything when you’re dealing with clients—especially if your firm and/or clients are remote.

To enhance your services and build trust, always continue to improve your communications. This could include adding new channels of communication to give your clients more options to talk, such as:

• Video calls (e.g., Zoom)
• Text messaging
• Phone calls
• Screen sharing
• Emails
• Messaging software (e.g., Slack)

When it comes to communication channels, the more the merrier. That way, your clients know they have a variety of ways they can reach out to you.

If you add new communication channels to your list of options, let your clients know as soon as possible.

To keep communication alive and well, you can also reach out to clients when you haven’t heard from them in a while. It never hurts to do a friendly check in to make sure all is well with the client and see if they have any questions or concerns.

4. Never stop researching and reading

As an accountant, you’re constantly having to keep up with new laws and accounting information (e.g., PPP forgiveness rules). And if you want to make your accounting services top-notch, you need to stay in the loop about all things accounting to ensure accuracy.

When it comes to improving your services, never stop researching and reading to make sure you’re in-the-know about all things accounting for your clients. To help stay up-to-date with the latest news, laws, changes, regulations, industry trends, etc., you can:

• Continue reading The Woodard Report
• Subscribe to an accounting blog
• Sign up for newsletters
• Read industry publications
• Follow reliable sources on social media
• Subscribe to the IRS’s e-News
• Attend conferences and events

The more you research and read, the better off your firm and clients will be. Being well-informed can help you better serve your clients. And in turn, it can help you build trust with clients and long-lasting relationships.