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killer2021
Regular
Joined: 12 Apr 2008
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Posts: 236
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| Posted: 30 Nov 2009 at 19:35 | IP Logged
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So I finally got a job at a small cpa firm as a tax
preparer starting in January. Its a small office but
after looking for almost a year I finally got a job in
the accounting field so I am super excited about that!
My main functions are to assist with her existing clients
but I can also bring in my own clients and do their
returns. I get 75% of the profit charged for those
clients.
This leaves me with the question of how do I get new
clients? I know the tax preparation field is pretty
competitive considering as how there are tons of liberty
tax and H&R blocks located EVERYWHERE.
My only strategy at the moment is to just tell people i
know that I can do their taxes. I've also been working on
building up my facebook friends of people I know that way
I can just use facebook to tell everyone to let me do
their taxes! Anyone know any other methods. I like the
word of mouth method since its cheap/free to do. Just
have to find people, get to know them, and tell them
about my services.
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brendaledb
Regular
Joined: 23 Nov 2009
Location: United States
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Posts: 101
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| Posted: 05 Dec 2009 at 12:08 | IP Logged
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Will your firm pay for your Chamber of Comm membership. This is a good way for the community to get to know you. Also chuch, clubs etc.
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Lawrence CPA
Newbie
Joined: 12 Dec 2009
Location: United States
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Posts: 11
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| Posted: 15 Dec 2009 at 02:21 | IP Logged
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I just started my own CPA firm and am in the same boat. I find networking and online marketing is beneficial to meeting people and getting clients. Join a group and advertise online.
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killer2021
Regular
Joined: 12 Apr 2008
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Posts: 236
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| Posted: 30 Dec 2009 at 06:41 | IP Logged
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hey Lawrence. I am probably going to be headed in the
same direction as you (starting own firm). I don't think
advertising online will be very helpful (ie. google
adwords). Mainly because those keywords are super
expensive and I don't think the conversation rate is very
high. I don't know many people who look online to file
their taxes. If the person doesn't know anyone, they just
go to liberty or H&R. The only online marketing method I
would use is facebook since everyone uses facebook these
days! Also its free. During tax season just like once a
week you post, "Hey everyone, its tax season, if you need
your taxes done I can do them for you."
My main focus right now is just local clients, since the
firm only has one office. So that leaves me with going
down in the trenches and actually talking directly to
people and convincing them to go to my firm instead of
H&R/liberty.
My idea was to do two things:
1. meet new people in general - once they know me, I add
them on facebook and then I can direct message them and
see if they need someone to do their taxes.
2. Meet people and directly tell them I work for CPA firm
and can do their taxes.
I think these will be the only effective methods since
the industry is so competitive.
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anmore
Contributor
Joined: 14 Jul 2009
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 73
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| Posted: 30 Dec 2009 at 08:50 | IP Logged
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I had my own tax prep business for 10+ years - the best way to get clients is word of mouth. You can offer a discount for referrals. I merged my biz in 08 because I was tired of doing everything myself, plus I was tired of "eating what I kill". But the biz was built up over years with zero advertising. You want to consider things like local papers, church bulletins, professional organizations and banks or other finance people. Lawyers are good too as they can refer newly incorporated/formed businesses. In our local paper, there is listing of all the businesses that registered with the county - solicit them if you have something similiar. The $$ is in the business returns - everyone wants to pay next to nothing for personal tax prep. Oh, and fast turn around is key.
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Topic: How to get clients?
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