Saw a video on red flags for housekeeping clients and it aligned perfectly with accounting clients. 1. It should be easy or not take long - means they dont want to pay much. 2. I'm looking for the right person - means they are a problem. 3. Argue over your rates - they dont respect what you do.
This should be a lesson in universities! Very important to our profession to get rid of bad clients. I also think the retainer system needs to be universal.
What did you forget? Umm: 1) Wait, I need to fill this out? 2) Why do I have to answer all these questions? 3) Can't you just do it? Why do you need information from me?!?!
Absolutely love this! I wish I had been wise enough to know this stuff 20 years ago when I was getting started. When you're young and hungry, it's too easy to be short-sighted and grab all the work in sight. Unfortunately, it's usually somebody else's garbage.
Im in that young and hungry phrase right now, and to be comepletely honest, I just gotta eat a bit of shit to get the momentum going. While these people arn't ideal clients, they are a starting point becuase it's so hard to get clients if you hadn't had any before.
I was a tax accountant and the "can you check my work" and pushing to get specific answers while avoiding answering questions is spot on. Too often smaller businesses think they can't say no to these bad clients, but that's just a bigger liability to take them on.
Haha loved this! Good team work with video call guy. Here is mine Red Flag 🚩- When they constantly second guess or criticise the work being done. Usually friends with the one who has changed accountants many times!
Have watched this video before but decided to give it a rewatch as we are starting a new onboarding phase. Boy, are there some great reminders here. Why are the red flags so obvious when we talk about them out loud but then during prospecting we turn a blind eye to one and sometimes multiple red flags? That might make for a whole podcast topic in and of itself.
These are too real! Here are a few more I've seen: - Talking s--t about their last accountant - it's ok to talk about what didn't work, but talking about how they were garbage is definitely a flag - Doesn't actually answer your questions - Takes over the meeting to talk about what they want to talk about - Next door to the victim - the 'you're just going to solve all my problems for me, right?' Good thing there's always 💰 in the Banana Stand.
This weekend...no joke...."Do I have to write my SSN on this sheet of paper? I don't like putting it on paper. Wait, I need to schedule an appointment to pick up my taxes? I can't just show up?" 😪🤬 She wasn't bad but....did make me pause. If she doesn't get her act together when we close out, you can go "I told ya so!" 🤣
How did you get my real life clients (->Logan 😂) to join in making this video? 😂😂 This video is so so entertaining & so true. Thanks for pointing out these red flags all in 1 video 😂 I hope more accountants have this awareness to choose better clients or quote more accurate price.
“If I have to fill out this Tax Organizer, why don’t I just do the tax return, myself?”
Saw a video on red flags for housekeeping clients and it aligned perfectly with accounting clients.
1. It should be easy or not take long - means they dont want to pay much.
2. I'm looking for the right person - means they are a problem.
3. Argue over your rates - they dont respect what you do.
OMG! Sooooooo funny - bcuz it is sooooo true!!! Here's one, "I don't have a scanner, can I just text you pictures."
omg triggered
This should be a lesson in universities! Very important to our profession to get rid of bad clients. I also think the retainer system needs to be universal.
What did you forget? Umm:
1) Wait, I need to fill this out?
2) Why do I have to answer all these questions?
3) Can't you just do it? Why do you need information from me?!?!
Absolutely love this! I wish I had been wise enough to know this stuff 20 years ago when I was getting started. When you're young and hungry, it's too easy to be short-sighted and grab all the work in sight. Unfortunately, it's usually somebody else's garbage.
Im in that young and hungry phrase right now, and to be comepletely honest, I just gotta eat a bit of shit to get the momentum going. While these people arn't ideal clients, they are a starting point becuase it's so hard to get clients if you hadn't had any before.
I was a tax accountant and the "can you check my work" and pushing to get specific answers while avoiding answering questions is spot on. Too often smaller businesses think they can't say no to these bad clients, but that's just a bigger liability to take them on.
Agreed. I lose $0 on a client I don't take. But I lose 100% of my sanity on one I shouldn't have! 😁
Haha loved this! Good team work with video call guy. Here is mine
Red Flag 🚩- When they constantly second guess or criticise the work being done. Usually friends with the one who has changed accountants many times!
Have watched this video before but decided to give it a rewatch as we are starting a new onboarding phase. Boy, are there some great reminders here. Why are the red flags so obvious when we talk about them out loud but then during prospecting we turn a blind eye to one and sometimes multiple red flags? That might make for a whole podcast topic in and of itself.
These are too real! Here are a few more I've seen:
- Talking s--t about their last accountant - it's ok to talk about what didn't work, but talking about how they were garbage is definitely a flag
- Doesn't actually answer your questions
- Takes over the meeting to talk about what they want to talk about
- Next door to the victim - the 'you're just going to solve all my problems for me, right?'
Good thing there's always 💰 in the Banana Stand.
Had a client told me what she was going to pay me and not what my rate was. Needless to say, I ignored and keep ignoring her.
Nailed it
This weekend...no joke...."Do I have to write my SSN on this sheet of paper? I don't like putting it on paper. Wait, I need to schedule an appointment to pick up my taxes? I can't just show up?" 😪🤬
She wasn't bad but....did make me pause. If she doesn't get her act together when we close out, you can go "I told ya so!" 🤣
How did you get my real life clients (->Logan 😂) to join in making this video? 😂😂 This video is so so entertaining & so true. Thanks for pointing out these red flags all in 1 video 😂 I hope more accountants have this awareness to choose better clients or quote more accurate price.
Once again, JStaats hits it out of the park! This is SO GOOD! The BLUTH's Tee is a bonus. lol
I have experienced many of these! I got burned when I first started out. Not anymore!
This is so bang on.... every single one! Thanks so much to both of you for this masterpiece!
Thanks for sharing these tips!
Hey it's me
my god this video is PERFECT
SpongeBob outro… Classic..
OMG - I know these all so well. Byeeeeeee!