Having a good accountant on your team is invaluable. Your business’s finances are not to be f***ed with so it’s important you have a trustworthy guide to navigate you through it.
Are you still doing your bookkeeping and taxes yourself? You might want to read this first. Click here to know if it’s time to hire a CPA for your small business.
We all know the saying, “teamwork makes the dream work”, but in this case it really holds true. Your accountant is responsible for the most important (and personal) aspect of your business… Your MONEY!! Help them help you!!
Here are 4 ways to be your accountant’s favorite client:
- Share information as soon as you have it.
You can easily avoid the stress of gathering your documents when it’s crunch time by sharing it with your accountant in a more timely manner. When you have financial reports ortax documents that affect your engagement with your accountant… share those items ASAP. Your accountant will know how to apply them and keep that info top of mind for when it is needed. Set yourself up for maximizing your deductions and never forgetting to supply vital details by giving that information to your professional as soon as you receive it. - Use your portal.
This is the time of technology. So more often than not, your accountant will have a handy dandy secure portal for you to login to and upload all your accounting and tax-related documents. Resist the urge to send your information via email (I know, I roll my eyes at software too). Attaching docs to email might seem like the easiest thing to do, but this mindless error is putting you at risk! The portals your accountants use are secure internet spaces that protect you against hacking and fraud. We accountants pay a pretty penny each and every year for these encrypted secured spaces for clients.If you have trouble using or accessing your portal, simply ask your accountant and they will gladly help you! The last thing you want is to have your money or identity stolen from some predatory hacker. - Be proactive.
Finances are deeply personal and impacted by ALL life factors. Only you know what’s going on in your life, so be sure to share the necessary information with your accountant. Are you preparing to have a child? Are you going to buy a house in the next year or two? Are you going to switch jobs in the near future? Will you be getting married soon? Of course, you don’t need to share intimate details, but giving your accountant an ample heads up about big lifestyle changes will help them plan and organize your finances. Plus your accountant will be way less judgmental of your life choices than that close-minded Auntie you see during the holidays - Be communicative.
This one is especially important when working around tax payment deadlines. Read your emails! Your accountant is trying to help you, those email updates are critical. You know your schedule so if you are going to be busy or unable to supply an answer until the weekend, just let your accountant know. This will allow them to understand where you’re at and support you even further.
A good practice is to respond to emails within 48 business hours. Even saying “I received your email, I will get back to you next week” is better than going ghost and not saying anything at all. Remember, you are in a relationship with your accountant. Timely communication is key to the success of the relationship.
As an entrepreneur, your accountant is a vital part of your team. This is one of the highest investments you can make for the long term success of your business.Work together to ensure you are getting the most out of your investment
Looking for a trustworthy CPA to build a lasting relationship with to skyrocket your business growth? Apply to work with me and let’s talk. Tell me about your business and we can discuss what service is right for YOU!
