Mobility improves client relationships
“The biggest advantage for me is being able to connect with my clients in a meaningful way,” says Maurice. “Entrepreneurs, in general, are tight for time, and accounting sometimes falls to the bottom. QuickBooks® Online (QBO) frees up my time so that I can connect with folks throughout the year, and help them make proactive decisions, accomplish goals and manage risk.”
This is tough to do when your clients are dropping off banker’s boxes at the end of the year, says Maurice. By utilizing QBO, Maurice and his team are able to chat with clients on a weekly or monthly basis, and, during the winter, Maurice can still run his business while ducking away to warmer climates.
Flexible accounting system enables flexible goal setting
“The key to high growth in cloud accounting is understanding what clients are trying to accomplish through their relationship with an accountant,” says Maurice.
“A lot of small business owners want more from their accounting relationship; they just don’t know what that looks like,” he says. “With our thorough discovery process, we find out exactly what our clients are trying to achieve in their business and find where we fit in.”
“If we can truly understand the value of what people are looking for, that lets us tailor the solution to the things that the client values most.” It’s important to understand what your clients want, not what you think they want, adds Maurice.
Cloud accounting enables revenue growth
With this approach, Maurice has seen significant growth in his company. This year, alone, he’s seen his top-line revenue triple, and also landed his largest client. Using a value pricing model, Maurice is able to charge more than a traditional accountant since his team is handling issues that solve specific client needs and pain points.
However, not all clients openly embrace cloud accounting. A lot of people don’t expect change from accountants, says Maurice. Validating the benefits of migrating to cloud technology encourages clients to accept this new way of accounting.
“The best way to accelerate adoption is to prove the advantage of cloud accounting,” says Maurice. “Our clients are hiring people and are more profitable. Across the board, we’re getting better information and making better decisions for these companies. The results and the benefits of cloud accounting are irrefutable.” Receiving good publicity from standard publications and social media also helped break down barriers, he adds.
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