Firm operations

TOPICS / FIRM PRACTICE MANAGEMENT

January 4, 2016

Retiring the billable hour as a measure of performance

Measuring employee performance based on the number of charge hours worked is a practice that can create multiple problems for firms.

January 1, 2016

Q&A: How to present your prices to customers

Talking about price with clients isn’t as simple as saying, “That’ll be $19.99, please.” Here are the best practices to employ when using value pricing.

December 7, 2015

Heading off into the sunset? Avoid these 5 retirement pitfalls

This column outlines five important retirement mistakes for CPAs to avoid.

December 1, 2015

How to admit new partners: A fresh approach

Accounting firms seeking long-term viability must infuse the partnership ranks with fresh blood when the time and terms are right. A method called AAV can help with this process.

December 1, 2015

Preparing for what’s next

CPAs do a masterful job of taking care of their clients’ business, but they also need to make sure they look out for their own. Practice-continuation agreements can minimize the chaos in the transfer of a CPA practice to a successor.

November 1, 2015

The dangers of dabbling

Undertaking new, unfamiliar service offerings can elevate the risk of errors and professional liability claims.

November 1, 2015

Maximize proceeds in accounting firm sales

Misconceptions about how to price and structure the sale of a practice can cost CPAs much of their equity. CPAs have many options to sell on their terms.

September 7, 2015

Cost-saving tips for small firms

Even minor tweaks to daily processes can increase your firm’s efficiency and, in turn, boost your bottom line.

September 1, 2015

Effortless payroll service offerings

Experts explain how payroll providers can help CPAs help their clients.

September 1, 2015

Q&A: Pricing options that boost profits

It sounds too good to be true. But value-billing expert Ron Baker says there is a way to increase client satisfaction and firm profits at the same time.

August 1, 2015

Q&A: Price-sensitivity training

To price effectively, CPA firms first need to determine clients’ price sensitivity. Author and consultant Ron Baker, an unabashed value-pricing champion, explains how firms should communicate with clients to develop effective pricing.

July 1, 2015

Q&A: Price check

The JofA sat down for a Q&A session with author and consultant Ron Baker, an unabashed value-pricing champion, for a conversation that provided an in-depth look at the work firms need to do to quote clients an upfront price.

July 1, 2015

Opening a new CPA office

These suggestions will help CPAs get started in a new location.

June 22, 2015

Q&A: To boost revenue, try offering these pricing options

It sounds too good to be true: A way to increase both client satisfaction and firm profits at the same time. But consultant Ron Baker explains how offering different pricing options can help firms do just that in this Q&A.

June 1, 2015

How to eliminate time sheets

Firms can use a value council to determine prices and KPIs to measure performance.

April 27, 2015

Q&A: What you need to ask clients before setting a price

Billing by the hour isn’t the only way to charge clients. But to implement a different approach, you’re going to need to ask these questions first.

April 13, 2015

Models of success?

An accounting firm experiment hypothesizes that “there will be multiple successful business models for accounting firms of the future.” Explore the experiment’s results and different visions for public accounting’s future—and examples of that future already becoming reality.

April 13, 2015

The importance of tax quality control

Quality control (QC) is of utmost importance when delivering professional services, including tax planning and compliance services.

March 18, 2015

Q&A: How can firms implement value pricing?

Value-pricing advocate Ron Baker recommends that firms use price-led costing and nominate a value council to set prices.

February 10, 2015

Q&A: Should you dump the billable hour?

A growing number of industry pricing experts are urging CPA firms to jettison the venerable billable hour and replace it with value pricing. In this Q&A session, value-pricing champion Ron Baker provides an in-depth look at the benefits of making the switch.

FROM THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Flip out with the latest Tech Q&A

The September Technology Q&A column shows how to create dynamic to-do lists with Excel's checkboxes and also how to set up multifactor authentication texts that don't rely on phones. Flip through both items and view a video walkthrough in our digital format.