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Casual Articles - Small Business - Is The Accounting Profession Ripping Them Off?
Hospital Call Centers
In hospital call centers, doctors and other medical staff take calls from patients and assess the harshness of their symptoms and guide them accordingly. Demographic data such as age, gender, height, weight can also be analyzed. Hospital call centers assist to determine the course of medical action, based on the various symptoms. Hospital call centers also give technical and customer support for medical emergencies.Hospital call centers answer phones, make physician referrals and register callers. People generally want to speak with a live person. Internet is an effective means that avoid dumping of telephone calls. It is less expensive than hiring a live person. Some hospitals have introduced 'live chat' on their websites. Through the Internet, a consumer can talk live with a hospital representative. Sometimes customers can request specific times from hospital representatives for live telephonic conversations. Normally, answering ph
The accountant was most unhappy. “They are difficult clients”, he said, “I have kept the fee lower than it should be and I have done extra to help them”.In hospital call centers, doctors and other medical staff take calls from patients and assess the harshness of their symptoms and guide them accordingly. Demographic data such as age, gender, height, weight can also be analyzed. Hospital call centers assist to determine the course of medical action, based on the various symptoms. Hospital call centers also give technical and customer support for medical emergencies.Hospital call centers answer phones, make physician referrals and register callers. People generally want to speak with a live person. Internet is an effective means that avoid dumping of telephone calls. It is less expensive than hiring a live person. Some hospitals have introduced 'live chat' on their websites. Through the Internet, a consumer can talk live with a hospital representative. Sometimes customers can request specific times from hospital representatives for live telephonic conversations. Normally, answering ph
Indeed, he had! The financial statements were beautiful to behold with colored graphs and key ratios compared against industry average. (most accountants still don’t do that.
I had advised that both wages costs and cost of foodstuffs were too high. Our focus was to form tactics to reduce them.
“But I had already told them that”, said the Accountant, “what do they need you for?’
I told him that the client knew the kitchen wages were too high and what he wanted was for someone to show them how to reduce the wages in the kitchen.
“I can’t do that”, he said, “I’m an accountant”. I would have to camp down there in the restaurant to see what’s going on. And they wouldn’t pay the fee”.
Yes they would. They were going to pay me.
Most accountants see their role as being the provider of financial statements, cash-flow projections and tax returns, and there’s the rub.
Each of these is a tool not an end in itself. It’s like giving the client a hammer and saw and telling him to go build a house. He needs more than the tools, he needs to be shown how to use them.
Of c
Merchant Services Offers Innovative Solutions
Merchant services enables businesses to accept a variety of payments including:VisaMasterCardDiscoverAmerican ExpressGift CardsBenefits to Merchant Services customers includeCost effective payment alternativesSecure method of paymentImproved cash flow24 - 48 hour funds availabilityAccelerated collection of receivablesThe cost of setting up and maintaining a merchant account depends on who you choose to provide your merchant account services and how many middlemen to go through. It is better to eliminate costs through the use of one robust system, the greater the advantage to have with the credit card processing solution. Merchant account services enable you to begin processing credit cards immediately through a merchant account!Merchant Services understands the most essential modes of payments including paperless money i.e. acceptance of credit cards.
My 16 year-old daughter said, “Gee Dad! You look just like an accountant”
Merchant services enables businesses to accept a variety of payments including:VisaMasterCardDiscoverAmerican ExpressGift CardsBenefits to Merchant Services customers includeCost effective payment alternativesSecure method of paymentImproved cash flow24 - 48 hour funds availabilityAccelerated collection of receivablesThe cost of setting up and maintaining a merchant account depends on who you choose to provide your merchant account services and how many middlemen to go through. It is better to eliminate costs through the use of one robust system, the greater the advantage to have with the credit card processing solution. Merchant account services enable you to begin processing credit cards immediately through a merchant account!Merchant Services understands the most essential modes of payments including paperless money i.e. acceptance of credit cards.
And she wasn’t being complimentary.
Accountants are perceived to be boring, stodgy and conservative.
Over the years we’ve been the butt of many jokes. I’ve heard them all.
Why did the accountant cross the road? Because he looked up the file and that’s what they did last year! Ha Ha!
What do accountants use as a contraceptive? Their personality! Ha Ha!”
Why do accountants become accountants? They don’t have the charisma to be undertakers! Ha Ha!
What do they call an accountant at the bottom of the sea? A bloody good start! Ha Ha!
I think I am the exception.
That’s why I’ve begun to call myself a business strategist and counselor. “You’re still an accountant,” says teenage daughter.
I am still an accountant and I’m still as passionate about it as the day I started. Because accountants have an impact on people’s lives. The advice we give changes people’s businesses which in turn changes their lives. I’m excited in my role of accountant.
Accounting is not stodgy. Accounting is exciting. Accounting is cool! My ambition is to become the “cool dude of accounting”. (do they still say “dude”, do they still say “cool”. Remember that song: When I say, “cool, man, cool, I don’t mean cool, man, cool, I mean you leave me cold, Jack”)
We were throwing some ideas around with some of our clients as we do from time to time, looking for that unique benefit that our firm gives to our clients. That unique something that distinguishes us from other accounting practices.
One said, “You have helped me to improve my business. Not only am I making more profits and have more to spend, but I also have more time to spend away from the business. The more time I spend at home with my family the happier my life is. And the happier I am the happier my wife and children seem to be.
When my wife is happy all sorts of good things happen – even our sex life improves. That’s it! You can advertise that using Kelvyn Peters CPA and Associates improves your sex life”
I don’t think so!
Sorry, we haven’t accepted his idea. You’re completely on your own in that department, but we can help you improve your business and consequently your life. And your goal might not be extra profit but extra time for living! We know we can because we are doing it for others.
We repeat ourselves so often because the truth is the truth and there is only a limited number of ways to tell it. You’ve heard this before. If you are spending every waking moment in a hassle about your business, there must be a better way. There is!
Accountants have been ripping off their clients for years
In 1973 I attended a workshop for accountants at the Finance Management Research Center then headed by Dr Keith Cleland. The workshop was intended to drag participants into the 20th century.
“Accountants have been ripping off their clients for years”, he told us. The 25 participants were shocked. These represented vibrant accounting firms from all around Australia, both large firms and small. They were at the cutting edge of the industry. Otherwise they would not have been at this kind of workshop.
To a person they resented that comment and one fellow wanted to punch him on the nose. (It wasn’t me, but I would have held his coat).
By the week’s end we discovered how we were charging high fees for things that our clients couldn’t understand, couldn’t use and didn’t need. At the same time we were neglecting the information that they did need to increase their profits and safeguard their businesses.
20 Years Later what’s Changed?
I attended a week long seminar hosted by CPA Australia in 1993 which was to train us in “client based accounting”. Dr Cleland presented the initial module. He did not openly criticize accountants this time, after all, it was the CPA’s hosting it, but he gave almost the same speech (same jokes, too) as he had 20 years before.
“These things aren’t taught in Universities”, he said, “so the accounting profession has mostly ignored them. They have let small business down but things are changing”.
Know-it-all, Kelvyn Peters had to jump to his feet and say that the doctor had said exactly the same thing 20 years ago. Where were the signs of change? Universities were still not teaching accountants how to help their clients.
“This seminar with CPA Australia and the suggestion they might make client based accounting a speciality is a good sign”, he replied.
10 Years Later…
Nothing has changed. Our hopes have withered on the vine and small business must look elsewhere for help.
Recently I was called in to assist an ailing restaurant. We were happy to work with their existing accountant. We’d rather do the fun stuff and let the accountant do the boring tax returns and compliance work.
In this case the client insisted we take over the whole of the accounting function.
The accountant was most unhappy. “They are difficult clients”, he said, “I have kept the fee lower than it should be and I have done extra to help them”.
Indeed, he had! The financial statements were beautiful to behold with colored graphs and key ratios compared against industry average. (most accountants still don’t do that.
I had advised that both wages costs and cost of foodstuffs were too high. Our focus was to form tactics to reduce them.
“But I had already told them that”, said the Accountant, “what do they need you for?’
I told him that the client knew the kitchen wages were too high and what he wanted was for someone to show them how to reduce the wages in the kitchen.
“I can’t do that”, he said, “I’m an accountant”. I would have to camp down there in the restaurant to see what’s going on. And they wouldn’t pay the fee”.
Yes they would. They were going to pay me.
Most accountants see their role as being the provider of financial statements, cash-flow projections and tax returns, and there’s the rub.
Each of these is a tool not an end in itself. It’s like giving the client a hammer and saw and telling him to go build a house. He needs more than the tools, he needs to be shown how to use them.
Of co
Ten Stories That Can Sell Anything
Advertising is all about telling your marketing story: a story that your audience can relate to, so that it builds confidence and credibility in your ability to deliver your product or service.A well-crafted business story invites your audience to open a dialogue with you, a line of communication that will ultimately lead to a customer and sale for you, and a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment for your new client.Effective marketing stories are about universal truths and primal needs; they provide a cathartic emotional experience for your audience. There is no point in spending a lot of money on advertising until you have identified that fundamental change your product or service provides to your audience.Once you have isolated that hidden quality in what you do, you can then develop a video, audio, or print campaign that delivers your message in a memorable, meaningful manner that audiences will respond to.
“dude”, do they still say “cool”. Remember that song: When I say, “cool, man, cool, I don’t mean cool, man, cool, I mean you leave me cold, Jack”)Advertising is all about telling your marketing story: a story that your audience can relate to, so that it builds confidence and credibility in your ability to deliver your product or service.A well-crafted business story invites your audience to open a dialogue with you, a line of communication that will ultimately lead to a customer and sale for you, and a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment for your new client.Effective marketing stories are about universal truths and primal needs; they provide a cathartic emotional experience for your audience. There is no point in spending a lot of money on advertising until you have identified that fundamental change your product or service provides to your audience.Once you have isolated that hidden quality in what you do, you can then develop a video, audio, or print campaign that delivers your message in a memorable, meaningful manner that audiences will respond to.
We were throwing some ideas around with some of our clients as we do from time to time, looking for that unique benefit that our firm gives to our clients. That unique something that distinguishes us from other accounting practices.
One said, “You have helped me to improve my business. Not only am I making more profits and have more to spend, but I also have more time to spend away from the business. The more time I spend at home with my family the happier my life is. And the happier I am the happier my wife and children seem to be.
When my wife is happy all sorts of good things happen – even our sex life improves. That’s it! You can advertise that using Kelvyn Peters CPA and Associates improves your sex life”
I don’t think so!
Sorry, we haven’t accepted his idea. You’re completely on your own in that department, but we can help you improve your business and consequently your life. And your goal might not be extra profit but extra time for living! We know we can because we are doing it for others.
We repeat ourselves so often because the truth is the truth and there is only a limited number of ways to tell it. You’ve heard this before. If you are spending every waking moment in a hassle about your business, there must be a better way. There is!
Accountants have been ripping off their clients for years
In 1973 I attended a workshop for accountants at the Finance Management Research Center then headed by Dr Keith Cleland. The workshop was intended to drag participants into the 20th century.
“Accountants have been ripping off their clients for years”, he told us. The 25 participants were shocked. These represented vibrant accounting firms from all around Australia, both large firms and small. They were at the cutting edge of the industry. Otherwise they would not have been at this kind of workshop.
To a person they resented that comment and one fellow wanted to punch him on the nose. (It wasn’t me, but I would have held his coat).
By the week’s end we discovered how we were charging high fees for things that our clients couldn’t understand, couldn’t use and didn’t need. At the same time we were neglecting the information that they did need to increase their profits and safeguard their businesses.
20 Years Later what’s Changed?
I attended a week long seminar hosted by CPA Australia in 1993 which was to train us in “client based accounting”. Dr Cleland presented the initial module. He did not openly criticize accountants this time, after all, it was the CPA’s hosting it, but he gave almost the same speech (same jokes, too) as he had 20 years before.
“These things aren’t taught in Universities”, he said, “so the accounting profession has mostly ignored them. They have let small business down but things are changing”.
Know-it-all, Kelvyn Peters had to jump to his feet and say that the doctor had said exactly the same thing 20 years ago. Where were the signs of change? Universities were still not teaching accountants how to help their clients.
“This seminar with CPA Australia and the suggestion they might make client based accounting a speciality is a good sign”, he replied.
10 Years Later…
Nothing has changed. Our hopes have withered on the vine and small business must look elsewhere for help.
Recently I was called in to assist an ailing restaurant. We were happy to work with their existing accountant. We’d rather do the fun stuff and let the accountant do the boring tax returns and compliance work.
In this case the client insisted we take over the whole of the accounting function.
The accountant was most unhappy. “They are difficult clients”, he said, “I have kept the fee lower than it should be and I have done extra to help them”.
Indeed, he had! The financial statements were beautiful to behold with colored graphs and key ratios compared against industry average. (most accountants still don’t do that.
I had advised that both wages costs and cost of foodstuffs were too high. Our focus was to form tactics to reduce them.
“But I had already told them that”, said the Accountant, “what do they need you for?’
I told him that the client knew the kitchen wages were too high and what he wanted was for someone to show them how to reduce the wages in the kitchen.
“I can’t do that”, he said, “I’m an accountant”. I would have to camp down there in the restaurant to see what’s going on. And they wouldn’t pay the fee”.
Yes they would. They were going to pay me.
Most accountants see their role as being the provider of financial statements, cash-flow projections and tax returns, and there’s the rub.
Each of these is a tool not an end in itself. It’s like giving the client a hammer and saw and telling him to go build a house. He needs more than the tools, he needs to be shown how to use them.
Of c
Why Email - Instant Messaging and the Phone Put You at a Significant Disadvantage
I say this because what I am about to share with you is Scientifically Proven and has had astounding results to back it up.The one condition however is that this applies to your face to face encounters.Although you can glean some sense of what others are conveying through how they say it on the phone, it's also the #1 modality for communicating lies. It's true! People lie in approximately 37% of phone conversationsEmail and Instant Messaging is the weakest mode for conveying a message and although that may seem obvious, what is surprising is that people are less likely to tell a lie.That's understandable when you consider 2 key points.1. Recordability: There is a record of the interaction2. Synchrony: The extra time to respond when using email makes it a lesser likely modality for lying. People tend to lie more frequently when they have to respond in real time.The a
a limited number of ways to tell it. You’ve heard this before. If you are spending every waking moment in a hassle about your business, there must be a better way. There is!I say this because what I am about to share with you is Scientifically Proven and has had astounding results to back it up.The one condition however is that this applies to your face to face encounters.Although you can glean some sense of what others are conveying through how they say it on the phone, it's also the #1 modality for communicating lies. It's true! People lie in approximately 37% of phone conversationsEmail and Instant Messaging is the weakest mode for conveying a message and although that may seem obvious, what is surprising is that people are less likely to tell a lie.That's understandable when you consider 2 key points.1. Recordability: There is a record of the interaction2. Synchrony: The extra time to respond when using email makes it a lesser likely modality for lying. People tend to lie more frequently when they have to respond in real time.The a
Accountants have been ripping off their clients for years
In 1973 I attended a workshop for accountants at the Finance Management Research Center then headed by Dr Keith Cleland. The workshop was intended to drag participants into the 20th century.
“Accountants have been ripping off their clients for years”, he told us. The 25 participants were shocked. These represented vibrant accounting firms from all around Australia, both large firms and small. They were at the cutting edge of the industry. Otherwise they would not have been at this kind of workshop.
To a person they resented that comment and one fellow wanted to punch him on the nose. (It wasn’t me, but I would have held his coat).
By the week’s end we discovered how we were charging high fees for things that our clients couldn’t understand, couldn’t use and didn’t need. At the same time we were neglecting the information that they did need to increase their profits and safeguard their businesses.
20 Years Later what’s Changed?
I attended a week long seminar hosted by CPA Australia in 1993 which was to train us in “client based accounting”. Dr Cleland presented the initial module. He did not openly criticize accountants this time, after all, it was the CPA’s hosting it, but he gave almost the same speech (same jokes, too) as he had 20 years before.
“These things aren’t taught in Universities”, he said, “so the accounting profession has mostly ignored them. They have let small business down but things are changing”.
Know-it-all, Kelvyn Peters had to jump to his feet and say that the doctor had said exactly the same thing 20 years ago. Where were the signs of change? Universities were still not teaching accountants how to help their clients.
“This seminar with CPA Australia and the suggestion they might make client based accounting a speciality is a good sign”, he replied.
10 Years Later…
Nothing has changed. Our hopes have withered on the vine and small business must look elsewhere for help.
Recently I was called in to assist an ailing restaurant. We were happy to work with their existing accountant. We’d rather do the fun stuff and let the accountant do the boring tax returns and compliance work.
In this case the client insisted we take over the whole of the accounting function.
The accountant was most unhappy. “They are difficult clients”, he said, “I have kept the fee lower than it should be and I have done extra to help them”.
Indeed, he had! The financial statements were beautiful to behold with colored graphs and key ratios compared against industry average. (most accountants still don’t do that.
I had advised that both wages costs and cost of foodstuffs were too high. Our focus was to form tactics to reduce them.
“But I had already told them that”, said the Accountant, “what do they need you for?’
I told him that the client knew the kitchen wages were too high and what he wanted was for someone to show them how to reduce the wages in the kitchen.
“I can’t do that”, he said, “I’m an accountant”. I would have to camp down there in the restaurant to see what’s going on. And they wouldn’t pay the fee”.
Yes they would. They were going to pay me.
Most accountants see their role as being the provider of financial statements, cash-flow projections and tax returns, and there’s the rub.
Each of these is a tool not an end in itself. It’s like giving the client a hammer and saw and telling him to go build a house. He needs more than the tools, he needs to be shown how to use them.
Of c
Managing Hardware Assets
Managing Hardware Assets can be a daunting task. Exactly what needs to be tracked and for what reason.The reason is simple enough. The company books or Accounting department. Within the corporate structure accountability needs to be addressed in terms of taxes and associated liabilities. I will not jump into that because it is way too deep for this discussion. But that is the underlying reason.Okay, for the What. The hardware that needs to be tracked is virtually every active piece device that connects to the network and even those that do not.This means ever file server, printer, copier, scanner, and a users computer. It also means the router, switch, firewall, UPS, and tape backup drives. If you can think of it then it probably needs to be tracked.In my case, we use mostly Dell equipment. So I document the service tag, description, and year & month purchased. I update the list annually and give a copy to the acc
in 1993 which was to train us in “client based accounting”.
Dr Cleland presented the initial module. He did not openly criticize accountants this time, after all, it was the CPA’s hosting it, but he gave almost the same speech (same jokes, too) as he had 20 years before.Managing Hardware Assets can be a daunting task. Exactly what needs to be tracked and for what reason.The reason is simple enough. The company books or Accounting department. Within the corporate structure accountability needs to be addressed in terms of taxes and associated liabilities. I will not jump into that because it is way too deep for this discussion. But that is the underlying reason.Okay, for the What. The hardware that needs to be tracked is virtually every active piece device that connects to the network and even those that do not.This means ever file server, printer, copier, scanner, and a users computer. It also means the router, switch, firewall, UPS, and tape backup drives. If you can think of it then it probably needs to be tracked.In my case, we use mostly Dell equipment. So I document the service tag, description, and year & month purchased. I update the list annually and give a copy to the acc
“These things aren’t taught in Universities”, he said, “so the accounting profession has mostly ignored them. They have let small business down but things are changing”.
Know-it-all, Kelvyn Peters had to jump to his feet and say that the doctor had said exactly the same thing 20 years ago. Where were the signs of change? Universities were still not teaching accountants how to help their clients.
“This seminar with CPA Australia and the suggestion they might make client based accounting a speciality is a good sign”, he replied.
10 Years Later…
Nothing has changed. Our hopes have withered on the vine and small business must look elsewhere for help.
Recently I was called in to assist an ailing restaurant. We were happy to work with their existing accountant. We’d rather do the fun stuff and let the accountant do the boring tax returns and compliance work.
In this case the client insisted we take over the whole of the accounting function.
The accountant was most unhappy. “They are difficult clients”, he said, “I have kept the fee lower than it should be and I have done extra to help them”.
Indeed, he had! The financial statements were beautiful to behold with colored graphs and key ratios compared against industry average. (most accountants still don’t do that.
I had advised that both wages costs and cost of foodstuffs were too high. Our focus was to form tactics to reduce them.
“But I had already told them that”, said the Accountant, “what do they need you for?’
I told him that the client knew the kitchen wages were too high and what he wanted was for someone to show them how to reduce the wages in the kitchen.
“I can’t do that”, he said, “I’m an accountant”. I would have to camp down there in the restaurant to see what’s going on. And they wouldn’t pay the fee”.
Yes they would. They were going to pay me.
Most accountants see their role as being the provider of financial statements, cash-flow projections and tax returns, and there’s the rub.
Each of these is a tool not an end in itself. It’s like giving the client a hammer and saw and telling him to go build a house. He needs more than the tools, he needs to be shown how to use them.
Of c
Private Practice Marketing: The Top 7 Free Ways to Successfully Market Your Private Practice
Private practice marketing is highly competitive. Entrepreneurs are willing to spend hundreds and many times thousands of dollars trying to market their practice.But did you know that the absolutely most powerful ways to market your practice do not cost a thing? Read on to discover the top 7 no cost strategies to powerfully market your practice.The top 7 free ways to market your practice1. Create an Effortless Referral System - There are three and only three things you need to do to create a referral system that keeps your calendar full:1 - Get your name in front of your ideal clients and those that refer them. 2 - Do great work. 3- Keep your name in front of your ideal clients and those that refer them.2. Talk Your Way to More Clients - Speaking engagements are the second best way to market your practice. If you talk to your clients, you can speak in public. You can even make money d
The accountant was most unhappy. “They are difficult clients”, he said, “I have kept the fee lower than it should be and I have done extra to help them”.Private practice marketing is highly competitive. Entrepreneurs are willing to spend hundreds and many times thousands of dollars trying to market their practice.But did you know that the absolutely most powerful ways to market your practice do not cost a thing? Read on to discover the top 7 no cost strategies to powerfully market your practice.The top 7 free ways to market your practice1. Create an Effortless Referral System - There are three and only three things you need to do to create a referral system that keeps your calendar full:1 - Get your name in front of your ideal clients and those that refer them. 2 - Do great work. 3- Keep your name in front of your ideal clients and those that refer them.2. Talk Your Way to More Clients - Speaking engagements are the second best way to market your practice. If you talk to your clients, you can speak in public. You can even make money d
Indeed, he had! The financial statements were beautiful to behold with colored graphs and key ratios compared against industry average. (most accountants still don’t do that.
I had advised that both wages costs and cost of foodstuffs were too high. Our focus was to form tactics to reduce them.
“But I had already told them that”, said the Accountant, “what do they need you for?’
I told him that the client knew the kitchen wages were too high and what he wanted was for someone to show them how to reduce the wages in the kitchen.
“I can’t do that”, he said, “I’m an accountant”. I would have to camp down there in the restaurant to see what’s going on. And they wouldn’t pay the fee”.
Yes they would. They were going to pay me.
Most accountants see their role as being the provider of financial statements, cash-flow projections and tax returns, and there’s the rub.
Each of these is a tool not an end in itself. It’s like giving the client a hammer and saw and telling him to go build a house. He needs more than the tools, he needs to be shown how to use them.
Of course the client will complain about fees whatever the level if all he receives are not useful to him.
Accountants generally are flat out preparing financial statements and tax returns. Meeting dead-lines. They haven’t the time to ‘smell the roses’. Anything that doesn’t help meet a dead-line has to wait until later. Often its too late.
I may still look like an accountant, even the cool dude of accounting, but there is nothing I like more than talking with a business owner about his business. There’s nothing a business owner likes more than discussing his business and planning to make more money. It’s great fun and he loves to pay me for it.
Mostly, small business owners know what their problems are. And mostly they know the way to solve them. It’s just that they need a little help to implement the changes necessary. Quite often their business only needs a bit of fine-tuning and at http://www.profitstrategies4business.com you'll find Kelvyn Peters and Associates. They’ll give you the help you need.
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