Discussion:Year of the disappearing clients!

First, my first and favorite (personally) and biggest PITB clients moved to SC early this year. They say they will be back but if they don't it saves me a big headache.

Then my second favorite clients (low maintenance) apparently left when I told them I would actually have to *GASP* CHARGE them! They too are moving to SC (to work at the same place as client 1 above.

One of my favorite clients (a new tax client this year) moved to Florida and CLAIMS they will be back as they still have family in the area (or we will FedEx). Time will tell.

I am purposefully getting rid of one of my other clients--although I doubt he will take the hint and leave! :D He is the one that hasn't filed for 2002 through 2006 and seems in no hurry to get me the rest of his information (like post-tax health insurance premiums, tag receipts (easily obtained by the County), his 2004 W-2, etc.). The last contact I had with him was April 27th when he called me and told me that he would have everything for me...including his mileage logs...'shortly' because he needed to get them filed. He is staring at an intent to levy notice from the IRS dated December of last year. I haven't heard from him so I prepared the returns with what I have, wrote him a three page CYA letter explaining exactly how/where to file and I am sending his information back to him tomorrow. He may not like it but his mileage logs were NOT created contemporaneously so he gets no deduction from me--I am not putting myself on the line for him. The bad thing is that most of these years, we will be filing a refund status for the State of Georgia and two years with a refund status on Federal that he will likely lose. Oh well.

I know you guys are going SO WHAT? But these three comprise almost 50% of my revenue for the tax season--but also comprise 110% of my headaches.

I hope to make some room for some new, good, paying clients who will receive my new EA rates once I wrap up in Sept/Oct.

Michael

You let the kind of bush and brush you mention above litter the forest floor, and you're looking at a major fire. As they say in the porn business, keep the bush trimmed.

One other thing: never, ever give your card out at the church. You gotta know that these church dweebs are cheap, because they wouldn't be there if they weren't looking for a cheap way into heaven! Nay...you have to pick up the Cross and follow him to get there! There's no easy way to the promised land, only a fool would think so. Anyway.

Have your wife hint to the church ladies that you work for the CIA. That usually keeps the questions down, and it will keep these bloodsuckers off your back so you can breathe.

P.S. Michael, the odds will turn in your favor soon.

I don't work for the CIA but work for a guy who got his start designing software for the CIA. Maybe I could just give up this life of tax preparation and go for the big bucks being a hired CIA assassin. :D The Bourne series are among my favorite movies...of course, I would probably have to give up the chicken wings and actually get in shape somewhat! :D

The Church folk are cheap Crow, in fact they are absolutely free. For the widows and widowers anyway.

Michael

It is just frustrating that clients get mad and leave because I actually try to bill them...I wonder if they work this way with their Accountant? :D The ones who didn't leave because I actually had the audacity to bill them moved.

Michael

It is a circus trying to manage family, a full-time job, and a side tax business I am trying to grow. I plan to complete the EA around October and then work on growing the business.

The company I work for full-time only made 13.8 BILLION dollars in the last THREE months. Accordingly, our bonuses and raises were taken from us and several people disappear each and every pay period (just enough to avoid the WARN system). In December they will do a market salary review (which in this environment will yield lower competitive salaries) which is to say they will cut our salary in December. I expect that if my job lasts a year, that will be six months or so past its current life expectancy. We were acquired recently and someone must pay that our customers aren't flocking to our doorstep after the new owner doubled prices day 1 and began dictating terms to the customers (new and existing). This all during the worst economic times in history for our primary customers (AIG and other super insurers). All so that our billionaire owner can have one more dollar.

So needless to say, I am planning my post full-time job career and that will involve a rather hearty representation business I hope.

Michael

1) Best time to market is tax season, when need is greatest. 2)Followed by Late April. Lot's of pissed off clients put on extension.

Have you considered buying a practice?

Network with quality CPA firms. I am ALWAYS looking for a start up CPA/EA to refer business to.

Same tokem , I get referred to by larger firms. Their "throw aways" are winners to me.

As for me, I have tried networking with local CPA's and general Accountants and came close but no cigar yet. I had one lady who told me she didn't have any interest in bookkeeping (which is what I need to keep me going during the off season) and would refer all of those clients to me. I stopped back in to follow up with her a month later and she didn't know who I was and had no recollection of that conversations--She's elderly so I assume it is Alzheimers setting in. Once I get the EA, I will start canvassing the area in December giving out my new cards.

Michael