Tag: ltdcompany

How to increase your business capacity without breaking the bank!

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Winning new clients should be an exciting part of growing a business. And yet, due to the current climate, this rising demand is often met with limited resources and labour shortages.

Throughout this article, we’ll explore how outsourcing and offshoring can help you increase your capacity without breaking the bank!

What is the difference between Outsourcing and Offshoring?

Outsourcing is when a business hires a third party to perform tasks in order to improve efficiency and cut back on costs. Think of this as hiring freelancers.

Offshoring, however, is when a business bases some of its in-house operations overseas. By moving entire processes overseas (i.e. manufacturing or customer services), they’re able to source cheaper labour and gain access to a much larger talent pool.

Both options serve as a cost-effective solution to labour shortages and fulfilling increasing demands.

4 ways outsourcing can increase your capacity

Now that we understand what outsourcing and offshoring are, let’s explore how they can help your business increase capacity:

1. Expanding your skillset

We all understand the importance of identifying and remedying gaps in our workforce. However, hiring and training specialist staff comes at a cost. So, what’s the solution?

By outsourcing global talent, you’re able to employ highly skilled professionals for just a fraction of the cost. In turn, you can address any gaps in your workforce and leverage their talents to expand your services and attract new clientele.

2) Boosting Productivity

By assigning repetitive tasks to your external team members, you can save a lot of time otherwise wasted on labour-intensive, lower-value tasks. As a result, you’re able to boost your existing teams’ efficiency and engagement, scale your overall output and ultimately increase your capacity.

3) Facilitating 24hr operations

Many people are hesitant to outsource global talent because of the time difference. What they don’t realise is that this can actually work in their favour!

By outsourcing a global team, you’re able to extend your working hours and potentially operate 24-hours a day. In turn, you have the opportunity to accept a lot more work and expand your client basis. After all, you’ve practically doubled the number of hours in your working day!

4) Offering fast and flexible labour solutions

Labour shortages are placing a real strain on businesses at the minute. Thankfully, outsourcing provides a fast and flexible solution to this problem!

By hiring freelancers, you’re able to continue growing your business, fulfilling demand and satisfying customers. What’s more, these flexible contracts come with no strings attached, giving you the freedom to adjust your external team to match your capacity and workload.

Expand your team to increase capacity

Instead of surrendering to your current circumstances, try expanding your horizons by outsourcing global talent.

Outsourcing allows you to scale your business, increase your clientele and reach your highest potential – all for a fraction of the price of hiring internally.

So what are you waiting for? Offshoring could be the beginning of your global enterprise!

Why knowing your numbers is important

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Every Sunday, Paul reads The Sunday Times to keep up to date with current affairs and to read the great reports in the business & money section.

In his column, Julian Richer of Richer sounds talks about the importance of knowing your numbers and taking an interest in the bookkeeping and accounting side of your business as well as the selling.

On a recent team meeting, facilitated by Heather Townsend of the Accountants Growth Club, it dawned on us that very few clients actually go into their accounting software, study the reports, and ask questions on a regular basis. We are now spending extra time explaining things like profits and balance sheets.

One of our long-established clients used to regularly ask us questions regarding overdrawn director’s accounts, why they didn’t have any cash in the bank, and if they were really making a loss. They joined our successful business growth plan and we explained how a balance sheet works and the impact of stock on the profit and loss account. We discovered that a lot of time was spent on R&D and a lot of stock had never been counted, especially if it was fully assembled.  By understanding how it all worked fully and how to run off the reports this business owner will have a much better understanding of their business.

The article in the Sunday Times by Julian Richer does a great job of illustrating just how important it is to know the broader financial details of your business and not just your turnover. It is also important to understand your profit, KPIs, and your balance sheet!

We are committed to trying to help our clients have a better understanding of their numbers as it can really help with making decisions to do with their business and improve cashflow. We offer all new clients training on their accounting software so that they have a basic understanding of how it works, and we regularly publish blogs on a huge variety of topics so that our clients are able to educate themselves even when we are not available.

Talent Management Planning: Why Do It?

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Talent management planning is a term we often hear floating around the business world, but what exactly does it mean and why should we do it?

To help you gain a clear understanding, we’ll explore what talent management planning is, what it consists of and, most importantly, why it’s beneficial to both you and your employees.

What is talent management planning?

Talent management planning is all about implementing effective strategies to attract, retain and nurture skilled professionals.

What should a talent management plan consist of?

Each company’s talent management plan will look slightly different based on its unique set of goals and objectives. However, each company’s plan should focus on improving these primary features

  • Recruitment
  • Training and development
  • Employee retention
  • Performance management
  • Employee engagement
  • Succession planning

Why is talent management so important?

Talent management planning helps ensure you’re getting the most out of your teams by implementing systems and processes to support their development and improve their performance.

In short, it is the blueprint for hiring and maintaining a highly-skilled, high-performing workforce, which, as we all know, is imperative to your company’s success.

How does talent management planning benefit your business?

Besides the obvious advantage of strengthening your overall workforce, there are several other benefits to implementing a talent management plan. Some of which include:

  • Increased engagement: by demonstrating a keen interest in your employee’s goals and personal development, you will find they are more engaged with their work, making them more productive and more profitable.
  • Efficient recruitment: you can utilise recruitment software to streamline your recruiting process, filter applicants and ensure you’re attracting only the highest quality candidates.
  • Improved staff retention: by offering your employees consistent opportunities to enhance their skills and advance their careers, you’re providing them with a clear incentive to retain their position within your company.
  • More candidates for succession: by adopting formal performance management techniques, you can see which employees are most suitable for senior roles and adapt their training to prepare them for these positions.

How does talent management planning benefit your employees?

Perhaps the best thing about utilising a talent management plan is that it’s mutually beneficial. To demonstrate our point, here are just a few of the benefits your employees can enjoy as a result of effective talent management planning:

  • Better onboarding process: by refining your onboarding process, employees will be more engaged and more at ease from the get-go. So do your best to make the onboarding process as personal as possible.
  • More training opportunities: by facilitating regular training opportunities, you’re providing your team members with the necessary tools to upskill and advance their careers.
  • Greater career autonomy: by partaking in mentorship programmes, you’re able to support your employees with their own career goals by offering advice, recommending training programmes and aligning them with appropriate internal opportunities.
  • Positive working culture: by assisting employees with their goals, funding their training and fostering a culture of growth and development, your employees will be more motivated, engaged and invested in your business.

Don’t underestimate the value of talent management planning

There are countless benefits to developing a talent management strategy, so don’t overlook this opportunity to strengthen your team! Invest in their development, support their career aspirations and focus on creating a compelling company culture. Your employees, profit margins and performance metrics will all thank you for it!

How to combat rising wages and staff shortages

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It’s no secret that hundreds of small businesses are suffering from increased wage costs and staff shortages. These issues span multiple industries, from hospitality to construction, and have only intensified since the beginning of the pandemic.

So, how do you handle rising demands with limited labour?

To help you navigate these challenging times, we’ve curated a list of strategies to boost your staff retention, improve your recruitment processes and increase your profit margins.

Here are our 5 strategies for combating rising wage costs and staff shortages:

1) Hire graduates, and interns, and apprentices

Graduates and interns offer an effective and inexpensive solution to staffing shortages.

Straight out of college or university, these young adults are primed for training, ready to be moulded to your company’s exacting needs. What’s more, studies have shown that hiring graduates can significantly increase your staff retention rates. Approximately  57% of graduates still retain their position five years later.

Hiring an apprentice, whilst quite an investment in time, can also be beneficial for many companies.

Although hiring a graduate may not be a quick fix, it’s a brilliant way to source new talent – plus, the ROI is second to none.

2) Invest in your employees

Loyalty is a two-way street. Therefore if you want your employees to remain loyal to your company, you need to invest in their development.

Provide them with opportunities to upskill, fund their training and encourage them to diversify their skillset. Not only will it improve your retention rates by 30-50%, but it will also allow you to cultivate a team of highly skilled professionals.

3) Utilise mergers and acquisitions

More and more companies are deciding to partake in mergers and acquisitions. Why? Because resources are limited and successors are few and far between.

By combining forces the parties involved gain access to a larger workforce, a greater array of talents and more viable candidates to succeed their business.

Plus, with an increased market share, companies are better equipped to manage rising wage costs as they acquire more capital and increase their profit margins!

4) Delegate administrative tasks

With labour dwindling and demand rising, our employees are really being pushed to their limits. So don’t exacerbate the problem by burdening them with non-essential responsibilities. Instead start automating repetitive tasks and hiring administrative staff to handle any paperwork.

Although investing in new employees and tech can be costly, they can notably increase productivity, profits, and employee engagement. Stop placing unnecessary strain on your staff and start streamlining your administrative tasks!

5) Update your recruitment style

Now more than ever you need to be investing your resources into your recruiting process. After all if you want to solve your staffing issues, you’ll need to attract and attain new employees. So what can you do to improve your recruitment style?

Firstly, you need to be harnessing the power of social media. This allows you to broaden your search whilst offering applicants an accurate insight into your business.

Secondly, you want to focus on your company culture as this can quickly attract or deter applicants. Ask yourself, what makes your company the place to work? Do you offer impressive employee benefits? Do you accommodate flexible working?

Whatever it is that makes your company attractive and unique, make sure to funnel that into your recruiting process.

Take care of your employees

Running a business is never easy, but our current climate is making things even more challenging. We wanted to end this discussion with some words of encouragement.

If your business can survive Brexit, a global pandemic and an inflating economy all in quick succession, it can also survive these labour shortages. Just remember to streamline your processes, adapt your recruitment methods and take care of your staff, as they will take care of your business.

Sole Trader VS Limited Company: Which is better for you?

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Have you been thinking about switching to a limited company because of the upcoming changes due to Making Tax Digital? Has anyone told you that you could be paying less tax as the owner of a limited company instead? We will take you through what the differences are and ultimately help you make the right decision for you & your business.

Regardless of whether you stay a sole trader or become a limited company, if you make a profit in your business then you will have to pay some level of tax. Changing your company structure may change how you pay tax and may be beneficial for some, however there are other factors to consider as well as tax.

What is the difference between a sole trader and a limited company?

If you are a sole trader, then HMRC and the law view you & your business as the same thing. This doesn’t stop you from hiring staff or taking on premises, but what it does do is mean that you are personally liable for any losses or debts that your business makes. The good news is that as a sole trader you can keep all your business profits! Just remember that these business profits will then be taxed as part of your personal income.

A limited company however is a separate legal entity. It will have its own finances and legal reporting requirements, and Its finances must be kept separate from the business owner’s personal finances. As your limited company is a separate legal entity this means that as the director of your limited company you will have limited liability on any losses or debts incurred by the business. However, it is important to point out that if your company takes on any borrowing then the lender may place a personal guarantee on the directors of the business. In other words, if the business is unable to pay back the loan then the directors will be personally liable to pay back the loan.

What are the advantages to being a sole trader vs a limited company?

Setting up as a sole trader is comparatively straight forward. You simply need to register with HMRC for income tax and national insurance to receive your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) number and you can start your business straight away.

There is also relatively little paperwork or administration, although the changes being brought in by Making Tax Digital mean that sole traders will have a legal obligation to keep their accounting records digitally up to date. You will no longer be able to only keep paper records and hand your receipts to your accountant once a year. This makes it easier to understand your finances, your profitability, and how much tax you are likely to pay, and see it in real time. As there is less administration and filing responsibilities, it also means a smaller accountants bill compared to a limited company!

One of the little realised advantages of trading as a sole trader is your financial affairs are very private. They are between you, your accountant and HMRC. There is no requirement, such as with limited companies, to put your annual accounts into the public domain on Companies House.

In your first period of account, if you are likely to make a taxable loss this can be relieved against profit from the past, even if this is from a prior employment, whereas in a limited company this can only be carried forward until a profit is made.

And finally, as a sole trader you are in complete control of your business affairs. You don’t need to consult any shareholders or partners to make decisions.

What are the disadvantages of being a sole trader vs a limited company?

Banks and other investors tend to prefer working with limited companies. This means it can be harder to raise finance as a sole trader. Whilst it is still possible to grow without external funding it can be much slower. After all, most businesses need to buy some equipment, vehicles, stock, or tools to be able to start trading.

It’s not just banks and investors who can look down on sole traders. Many businesses and customers prefer to work with a limited company vs a sole trader as they believe, whether rightly or wrongly, that they will have more protection with a limited company. However most ‘Business to Consumer’ sole traders are unlikely to have this problem with credibility. For example, a householder is rarely concerned whether a plumber is a sole trader or a limited company, they just want a good job done.

Historically the tax rates on sole traders have been more punitive than owners of limited companies. However, over the last 5 years or so this tax gap has reduced significantly with the dividend tax relief being slashed. Currently sole traders pay 20-45% income tax, whereas limited companies pay from 19% corporation tax. However, directors of limited companies must still pay personal income tax between 20-45% on any income from the business via payroll. Dividends from the business are also taxed.

As a sole trader you cannot protect your business name. Anyone can decide to use your business name. This is not the same with a limited company.

What are the advantages of being a limited company vs a sole trader?

The biggest benefit of incorporating and becoming a limited company is the limited liability and the business being legally entirely separate from the people who own it. This means that your personal assets will be secure should your company get into debt or other trouble.

A limited company can also be more attractive to work with – depending on your clients. You can appear to have more credibility and trust as a limited company over being a sole trader and depending on your industry this could make a difference in who decides to work with you.

Another benefit is that you are more able to control your income as a limited company director. By splitting your income between salary and dividends you may be able to reduce your tax bill. Dividends are taxed at a lower rate than income and the first £2000 is tax free.

While you pay corporation tax on all the profit, there is no getting away from paying tax, it is possible to accumulate wealth within the company if you do not need to extract it all and save tax that would be assessable on you if you were a sole trade.

What are the disadvantages of being a limited company vs a sole trader?

Limited companies are more complex to set up and run. There is far more paperwork and administration involved with a limited company. For example:

  • Confirmation Statement with Companies’ House
  • Filing company year-end accounts
  • Corporation tax return
  • Registering with companies house
  • Legal documentation such as articles of incorporation, shareholder agreements
  • Minutes of board meetings and preparation of dividend vouchers

Therefore, having a limited company means it is really advisable to pay for an accountant.

Directors of limited companies still need to:

  • File a personal tax return (which will eventually come under the Making Tax Digital regime)
  • Pay personal income tax

Why change from being a sole trader to a limited company?

When people start in business they often start as a sole trader. After all it is easy to set up and often has less administration or accountancy fees involved than a limited company. There often comes a time when it makes sense to switch over; either because of a desire to involve others in your business in a decision making capacity or pay less tax or become more attractive to potential clients or investors. In fact, when your sole trader profits (not just income) reach £30k it is worth considering changing to a limited company to reduce your tax liability.

Everyone’s circumstances are different and before you decide to make the change do take advice from your accountant. You may find that you are better off remaining as a sole trader.

If you would like more information or advice on whether you should remain a sole trader or become a limited company please get in touch now.

How automation can improve your efficiency and productivity

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Automation was already on the rise pre-pandemic, but now it has become a business priority. The positive benefits of automation pay dividends for those businesses that invest in it. Many business owners don’t know that accountants can offer a lot of assistance in this area: streamlining and automating processes to improve business efficiency, so here are the many benefits.

1) Automation reduces the time spent on repetitive tasks and the risk of human error.

Expenses is an area that is notoriously labour-intensive, time-consuming for staff to submit and finance departments to process, and it’s extremely prone to human error. The same goes for invoicing and purchase order processing. However, with a streamlined and automated workflow, the whole process is connected through a single system from start to finish. This means it’s a lot quicker and, therefore, cheaper (less time is wasted, and the risk of manual input errors are eliminated), and skilled staff can now spend their time on higher-value tasks.

2) Automation results in better credit control.

Late payments are one of the biggest causes of stress for business owners, not to mention it has a huge negative impact on cash flow. With the use of digital payment process, however, late payments can be greatly reduced. Automation makes it easier and faster for businesses to chase payments; it increases the chances of invoices being paid on time, and it saves 15 hours on average per week on credit control management.

3) Automation gives you accurate real-time reporting.

Knowing your numbers is crucial for business success. However, it is both time-consuming and expensive to have your staff monitoring every KPI and to have to trawl through all the data. With automation, however, you have the ability to see your overall business performance at any given time. With real-time financial reports, you can then accurately budget and forecast cash flow and make effective business decisions.

4) Automation increases both client and staff satisfaction.

Contrary to what people believe, automation does not take away from human interaction. In fact, it does the opposite. Speeding up and streamlining business processes means that your staff have more time and energy to better serve your clients. It gives them the time and means to respond to needs and nurture stronger client relationships.

As well as improving customer service, automation also leads to higher employee engagement. Your staff will no longer have to concern themselves with paperwork or mindlessly boring manual tasks. They will now be free to focus on higher-level, more rewarding tasks such as spending more time with clients to understand their goals and how the business can help deliver those. Satisfied and engaged staff will directly contribute to growing your business so this is a very important benefit of automation.

5) Automation improves productivity and the bottom line.

Streamlining processes means that staff and the business as a whole work more effectively and efficiently. This time can then be spent on the higher-value tasks that will increase revenue. As well as enhancing workflow, automation can also help solve the current talent shortage as employees can be better trained and developed on the job.

Save time and money with automation

Too often, business owners spend too much time working in the business rather than on it. However, with automation, employees can be relieved from these day-to-day menial tasks to focus on what will directly grow the business.

As well as increasing efficiency and productivity, automation can save you a lot of time and money by eliminating errors and reducing staffing and credit control costs. So, if you want to streamline your business, don’t hesitate to reach out!

Why do we ask for your bank statements?

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Depending on which service you are on, you will find that you receive requests from members of our team asking for copies of your bank statements.  You may receive different emails from different team members depending on the work they are undertaking for you.  Whilst we try to eliminate asking for the same information on multiple jobs sometimes there are instances where information is requested more than once.  This may be sent as part of an auto request from our system, then again manually by an individual looking at your records in real-time.
We would like to clarify why you are asked for these and why it is so important they are provided to us when asked.

Why do we request copies of your bank statements?

We request copies of your bank statements to check the balances in your accounting software are correct and that all transactions have been correctly accounted for.  Many of you will have ‘bank feeds’ from your bank accounts which feed transactions directly into your accounting software.  Whilst bank feeds are usually reliable there can be instances where they drop out for security purposes or there are blips where transactions are missed or duplicated by the feed.  In order for us to spot these errors in a timely manner, and to ensure your records are always as accurate as possible, we will ask for copies of your bank statements for a given period or as at a given date to check.
If entering transactions from your bank account manually into your accounting software without bank feeds there is always a larger risk of errors – if you would like to discuss bank feeds with us or you need any help with this please get in touch.

When will we request copies of your bank statements?

Depending on your service levels with us or the nature of your business you will get asked for statements at different intervals.  This could be in relation to the following jobs:

  • Bookkeeping service (once a month)
  • Monthly Review (once a month)
  • Quarterly Review (once a quarter)
  • Year-end accounts – 3 months before your year end as a 9 month ‘Health Check’ and again once your year-end date has passed
  • Sole trader accounts and tax return – annually (unless you have our sole trader bookkeeping service)
  • Ad-hoc – if we (or you) notice there has been a problem with the bank transactions or feed we may ask for copies at unusual intervals

How do you upload your statements for us?

You will receive an email from us that looks something like the email on the right.
To upload your bank statements, you need to click on “manage checklist”. The next page will ask you to input your PIN. If this is the first time you have done this process then you will be asked to create one. If you have forgotten it, there is a link underneath to reset it.


You will then be taken to your checklist where you can upload your statements. You will also be able to see the due date, exactly what we need from you, and be able to send us a message using the comment function. There is no “submit” button, but once everything is uploaded we will be able to access it at our end and will be notified that you have uploaded your statements.
The system we use is called Karbon and it is completely cyber-secure and GDPR compliant so you do not need to worry about your information.

What happens if the bank balance in your software does not agree to your bank statements?

If we complete your bookkeeping we will identify and correct any bank issues as part of our service at no extra charge.
If you complete your own bookkeeping we will help you identify the difference.  We can complete any corrections for you for a fee (on request), or alternatively you can complete the corrections yourself. If you complete your own bookkeeping we would advise you check the bank balances in your software to the bank statements weekly ideally or monthly at the latest to make sure any error are picked up in good time. If you need any help with this or are struggling with your bookkeeping please get in touch.

The Do’s and Don’ts of pricing in a recession

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No matter how big or successful your company is, maintaining business throughout a recession is hard. With fluctuating demands, losses in sales and competitive price drops, the whole experience can feel like a rollercoaster ride. So how do you survive the economic chaos?

To help guide you through, we’ve created a comprehensive list of pricing do’s and don’ts. These tips can help you find long-term solutions to your turbulent, but hopefully temporary, problems and ensure you not only survive the recession but develop strategies to help you thrive long after.

The Do’s

Do promote your value

Unforeseen circumstances can quickly change the landscape of the economy. However, these external factors shouldn’t directly impact the value of your products or services. Therefore, we believe the best way to navigate a recession and stand out from your competitors is to focus on communicating the intrinsic value of your products and services. Through effective marketing, you can remind your clientele of your unwavering commitment to high-quality service and customer satisfaction regardless of the economic landscape.

Not to mention that it will take you a lot longer to do all your finances than a professional anyway. Why would you waste your time when you could be doing what you do best and what you actually enjoy?

Do control your costs and address inefficiencies

Controlling your prices during a recession is incredibly important. Why? Because the decisions you make during times of crisis strongly reflect your company standards and values. Make the wrong call, and it can irreparably damage your reputation and relationships with customers, which in turn will harm your sales long after the recession is over.

Instead of altering your prices to increase your profit margins or sales, focus on streamlining your companies’ processes. Address any inefficiencies, create long-term solutions and invest in your team’s development.

Do create valuable bundles

Dramatic price cuts aren’t as effective as you may think – not to mention, they’re almost always unsustainable. Instead, you want to find solutions that will accommodate your customer’s current needs without compromising the value of your products or services.

Creating valuable bundles and packages is one solution that is both reliable and sustainable. By offering a range of bundles (from low to high value), you’re able to attract a variety of customers and cater for their varying needs. As a result, you’re able to drive up sales, preserve the value of your products and services, and accommodate your cost-conscious customers throughout these difficult times.

Do keep looking ahead

Every business owner, CEO and partner knows that for a business to succeed, you must constantly be looking ahead – innovating and improving upon your current position. (Even amidst a recession, you must focus on long-term solutions.) Therefore, it’s vitally important to focus on your research and development strategies. Assess your customer’s wants and needs – ask them how you can improve and really listen. You can then use this information to improve upon and create products/services that incentivise customers to start (or continue) investing in your business.

The Don’ts

Don’t rapidly reduce your prices

There are several reasons why rapidly reducing your prices is an ineffective and ultimately damaging tactic during an economic downturn. However, we believe the most significant reasons are:

  1. You can destroy your long-term value. If you lock in a long-term price drop, you’re signaling to customers that the value of your products and services are significantly lower than your standard price point.
  2. Discounts won’t resolve your demand issues. If your products or services aren’t currently in demand, lowering your prices won’t change a thing. For example, there was little to no demand for theatre tickets at the height of the pandemic. However, since restrictions have eased, sales have returned to normal, and box offices have successfully maintained their original prices.

So don’t fall into the trap of lowering your prices – they are not the problem.

Don’t rapidly increase your prices

If you’re experiencing a sudden surge in sales – fantastic! Be grateful, not greedy. Rapidly increasing your prices when your products/services are in high demand implies that you are taking advantage of your customers and their needs. Not only will this alienate your customers and damage your reputation, but it can also lead to legal implications. So, whenever you are increasing your prices, make sure you do so ethically and sustainably.

Don’t get into a pricing war

If a competitor reduces their prices, don’t immediately assume you have to do the same. Competitive pricing will only damage your value (and your profit margins). Now, that isn’t to say you can’t develop a cheaper product or service that’s of equal value to your competitor’s offering – but you should only cheapen your services if you have adjusted their intrinsic value.

Remember, customers will respect your pricing so long as the services or products you provide are of a high standard.

Don’t focus on quality over quantity

Guiding your business through a recession is no mean feat. It takes a lot of courage to maintain your prices and values. However, this perseverance will help to preserve your reputation and uphold your high standards. So, instead of taking a reactive approach, focus on being proactive! Find long-term solutions, provide non-monetary discounts and drive sales based upon the quality of your products and services.

How accountants can make you look good

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When you as a business owner think of an accountant, you think of taxes, financial reporting, or loan applications. While this is all correct, it is just the beginning!

Accountants may be the frontrunners when it comes to your finances, but we can offer so much more than that. One of our most valuable offerings is making you look good!

Here are some ways that accountants can help you with your image:

1) They help you look professional 

Accountants can help you manage your accounts, budget smartly, and fix your cash flow, all of which are the foundations of a successful business. They can also help you to automate your business and work more efficiently.

For example, automating your invoicing system so you no longer need to chase unpaid invoices or reconcile payments manually. Not only does this save you a lot of time and free you up to focus on other areas of your business, but it also makes you look professional to your clients as they can see that you’re on top of your processes.

2) They help you remain competitive

One of the most common mistakes that business owners make is that they become too chargeable. I.e., they are not charging enough for their services. While this may bring in more business initially, in the long term, it will start choking your business growth.

By pricing correctly, you can let go of the clients who are not paying enough or who don’t align with the direction of your business. Once you start pricing what you’re worth, you’ll soon see that you will attract the right types of clients – the ones who support your growth and overall goal.

3) They help you look & feel confident

With an accountant by your side, you will be able to walk the walk as well as talk the talk. You will be making smarter business decisions such as increasing your capacity by outsourcing working rather than hiring a full-time employee, and you will have the figures you need at your fingertips. Figures that will give you, your clients, and any other third-party peace of mind.

4) They help to reassure your clients

If your business grows suddenly and takes on more clients, some of your existing clients may be worried that you can’t handle this growth, or they worry that they will become less important to you. To reassure your clients that you’re growing sustainably, an accountant can help you forecast the future and outline your business strategy. They can help you make necessary changes now so that you’re prepared for any growing pains.

Invest in your image 

A good impression of your brand is incredibly important, so invest in an accountant to make sure that you give off a positive one. From helping your business run smarter, to outlining the future for your business, an accountant can help you to reassure yourself and your clients that you will sustain value and growth for the foreseeable future.

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How to attract the right clients (ones who value what you do)

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I heard this saying recently, “you get the clients you deserve.” At first, I wasn’t sure what it meant so I dug a little deeper, but my conclusion was and still is, that this is 100% true.

Think about it, if you’re accepting low-paying, nit-picky clients and you’re not setting their expectations for how you actually like to work, you’re going to keep getting these types of clients who you don’t even enjoy working for. Conversely, if you stick to your guns with your prices, you set client expectations, and you emanate confidence and passion for what you do, you’re going to weed out the energy-drainers and only attract the type of clients that you actually want.

Sounds perfect, right? It really is as simple as that. If you want to attract the right kinds of clients – the ones who actually value what you do and are willing to pay for it – here is how you do it.

Step 1: Create a growth plan and strategy

Choose your ‘one big focus’ for your business for the year ahead. Maybe it’s to win X amount of clients or to reach a financial goal. Whatever it is, write it down and work backwards to create actions that you need to take every month, week, and day, to reach this goal.

Step 2: do a full client portfolio analysis

Make a spreadsheet of all your clients and go through them all individually. Record what you do for them, how long it takes, your profit margin, whether they are easy/medium/hard to work with, if you like working with them, and whether you’d be happy to lose them.

Step 3: create your client personas

Now you have identified your best clients, create a client persona/s. This should outline their age, gender, occupation, education, family/marital status, goals, values, personal aspirations, fears, challenges, and pain points. The more detailed you can be with this, the clearer the picture will be of who you are targeting, what they want, and how you should communicate with them.

Step 4: tailor your marketing to your client personas

The mistake that many business owners make is being too generic with their marketing. They want to cast as wide a net as possible to “appeal to more people,” but what ends up happening is they make no impact at all. When you have your client personas, adapt your marketing message to target them. You only want to win these types of clients so address their specific pain points and position yourself as the solution or the guide that can help them achieve their goals.

Step 5: ditch your ‘D’ clients

Look back at your client portfolio analysis and identify your A-B-C-D clients. Typically, they are as follows:

  • Clients who make up 65% of your sales = A clients
  • Clients who make up 20% of your sales = B clients
  • Clients who make up 15% of your sales = C clients

D clients are those low-paying, nit-picking clients who you’re not really happy with and who don’t contribute a huge amount to your bottom line.

The last step in the process of attracting the right clients is to ditch these clients. Not only does this give you more time to go after the ones you actually want, but it makes room for them too so that you can provide them with the service they deserve.