Quick Book Swiz: What’s your problem?

(If you’re on my mailing list, you may have already read these, but if not – or you didn’t read them, you might get some good tips).

I recently spent 5 weeks on the road for Intuit, training folks on the power of QuickBooks Online. That’s my jam: I love to help fellow accounting professionals get better at what they do.

While I was on the road, I got to talk to people all over the country and hear their triumphs and their struggles. Most of the time (and by “most of the time,” I mean always), those struggles are the problems I’ve faced at various times in my practice.

And here’s Problem#1: Not enough time.

The #1 problem I hear is people don’t have enough time. While I can’t add more hours to the day for you, I have learned a few tricks to get back some of the time I so desperately need. Maybe they’ll help you:

Processes: Use the same process for each and every client you have
Automate: Use apps that will improve your productivity–and help your clients, too
Outsource: I have my web designer Jen, and Laura to work out all the marketing details
Prioritize: Get really clear on your priorities and try hard to eliminate things that aren’t important to you

These simple steps won’t solve everything, but they’ll give you a foundation upon which to work.

Another time-saving tactic is the StacyK Academy course Building Your Kickass Practice. It’s a six-week course that will save you time! Why? Because you get the benefit of my experience building a kickass practice. I’ll share what I’ve learned, and WHY it works. You’ll learn my system, get the tools we use, and we’ll talk about how to make them work for you. After all, my kickass practice doesn’t necessarily look like your kickass practice.

#2. Money.

Sigh. Maybe I should have made this #1.

Now, I’m not your fairy godmother, so I can’t magically put money in your back account. But I’ve been there with the money problem. Here are a few ideas that helped me. Maybe they’ll help you:

Get more clients. Duh, you say. But it is possible and it doesn’t have to be hard.
Get paid what you’re worth. So many ProAdvisors are charging too little for the work they provide and offering discounts for “more work” in the future. Stop that. No, really, stop that.
Get paid up front. Invoice at the beginning of an engagement. Don’t start work until the money is in the bank. And can your clients pay you by credit card right from the invoice? Mine can.
Get paid by deadbeat clients. The QuickBooks app center even has a few things to help–CollBox collections is one. Another is Fundbox, which will advance you for outstanding invoices (but again, don’t start work until you’ve got the money!)

The money problem is a bit more complex than the time problem. But I’m here to tell you, there are ways to get more clients and get paid faster.

In the StacyK Academy’s Building Your Kickass Practice, I’ll teach you ways to earn more money:

I’ll share my time-tested QuickReview™ process that improved my close rate to 75%.
We’ll talk about pricing, and I’ll share my Base+ Pricing approach.
You’ll get my attorney written engagement letter and other tools designed to protect you.
We’ll go over my Client Scoring Matrix to help you work only with clients you love, and get rid of the crappy one. (I know that sounds crazy, in an email about money, talking about getting rid of clients. But honest, you lose money on the bad ones).

#3. Crappy clients.

I hear about crappy clients ALL THE TIME. I mean, the client that calls at all hours of the night, the client that demands you invoice them in a certain way, the client that wants you to do a ton of services but doesn’t want to pay you.

Well, let me tell you, I have no tolerance for crappy clients. The solution is pretty easy:FIRE THEM! That sounds pretty extreme, I know, but I’ve done it a lot (when I need to) and I always find a better client to replace them.

The issue really isn’t crappy clients, it’s getting clients you want. Here’s what has worked for me:

Have a niche that works for you.
Have an ideal client profile.
“Date” your clients before you agree to work with them.
Develop strict boundaries and enforce them.
“Grade” your clients every six months.

I’ve also designed the StacyK Academy Build Your Kickass Practice to help you with the crappy client problem:

My QuickReview ™ “dating” process.
An attorney written engagement letter designed to protect you
A process that works for you and teach you how to enforce it with your clients.
My Client Scoring Matrix to help you know who you want to work with.

More Problems?

I’ve designed the StacyK Academy to be pretty comprehensive – and customizable to fit your practice. Here’s the complete course, week-by-week:

Week 1: Move Online – July 14, 2016, 11:30a-12:30p ET

Move Online Action Plan
QBDT to QBO Conversion Checklists
Most Conversion Steps
Attorney created Engagement letter
Attorney created NDA/Confidentiality agreement

Week 2: QuickReview™ Sales Funnel – July 21, 2016, 11:30a-12:30p ET

QuickReview™ Checklist
Sample QuickReview™ Report

Week 3: Base+ Pricing Structure – July 28, 2016, 11:30a-12:30p ET

Base+ Pricing Structure Outline
Schedule of Practice Services

Week 4: Workflow Management (Stacy’s Favorite Apps) – August 4, 2016, 11:30a-12:30p ET

Workflow Analysis Worksheet Software
Decision Matrix If/Then Tool

Week 5: Learn to Prioritize with Client Scoring – August 11, 2016 11:30a-12:30p ET

Client Scoring Matrix
Client Email Format

Week 6: Social Media 101 for ProAdvisors – August 18, 2016 11:30a-12:30p ET

Basics of Social Media Management Tools

I’d love to have you! We keep the class pretty small so I can help individuals with other problems that may not be on this list. Join us!

Quick Book Swiz

Monday, July 16, 2018

What’s your problem?

#2. Money.

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