Brenda C, CPA
@bsuecannon
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CPA,Mom,Wife, gardener,crafter. Trying to find better ways to improve our clients’ experience. I’m here for the polls
Edmond, OK
Joined April 2013
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Reflection:
We’re 2 CPAs short and gained 1 awesome accountant, so down net one employee. Revenue is up 8% YTD and net income is up even more. Why is that? I think there are a number of reasons:
1) We let go of 276 clients who were
*under our minimum
*not a fit, and
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I will use tech as much as I can and continue to learn new things, but don’t take this away from me!
I will die on this hill!
#TaxTwitter
#ineedmy10
-key
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Approx 20 clients never picked a date on the calendar. We sent an email today saying “Happy August. Since we haven’t heard from you, we’re changing your account to inactive. We appreciate having had you as a client and we wish you the best.”
5 clients called our office saying
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I’m tired of apologizing for the delay in getting returns prepared. There are only so many hours in a day. 🤦🏼♀️
#TaxTwitter
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Instead of trying to grow our firm and hire, we’ve decided to work more on having all A clients. When a better fit comes along, a D or C client will be let go. An A client is a client who doesn’t have a problem with our fees and follows our simple instructions. Are any other
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We need to take time out of the equation. Who cares if a return takes 15 minutes. How many years of education and experience did it take to be able to prepare a return quick and give tax advice? More than 15 minutes. 😐
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I’ve had the best day! I decided not to trade my yellow mini (Sunny) in when I purchased my car. Instead I wanted to find someone who really needs a car. I’m friends with a high school teacher and she knew the perfect kid. This young lady is 5th in her class (was 4th but got
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Raised our fees this tax season and I don’t think we raised them enough. Why has it taken me 10 years to realize I want fewer clients at higher rates? 🤦🏼♀️
#taxtwitter
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Thought. Accountants used to do bookkeeping for all business clients. Then QuickBooks happened and business owners thought they were accountants. Are we going back to accountants doing books for all business clients? Seems like we’re going in that direction.
#taxtwitter
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The cost of losing 70 clients last year (most probably because of our new process), $35k to $50k 🤷♀️. Getting to spend Easter with family, PRICELESS! ❤️ (side note, revenue is up)
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I’ve been self-employed 13 years today. It doesn’t seem like that long, but then it does. I’ve learned so much about running a firm, especially since I got connected on
#TaxTwitter
,
#Realize
,
#FutureFirmAccelerate
, and my mastermind group that I adore. I’m very thankful. This is
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My husband, Randy (not on X) went back to school to take the accounting classes needed to get his CPA (straight As and passed all parts of CPA exam first time 🙄) after being a software developer for 20 years. He went to work for a CPA firm for a few years, then joined me. I
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Who wants to start a lobbying group with me to push the tax deadline to September 15 and October 15? Who knows people in DC who can get things done?
#TaxTwitter
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I had a thought. What if most accounting firms started controlling their workflow and didn't let clients just willy nilly upload/drop their tax docs off and expect their returns to be completed in 2 or 3 weeks. What if they had to schedule it (I'm not talking about scheduling an
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If you’re worried about letting clients go who aren’t a fit, don’t worry. It makes room for more clients who are a better fit, and probably at a higher fee.
We let go of 276 clients the end of last year and our revenue is up 8.5%. Net income is up even more. How crazy is that!
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Happy 25 years to us! I can’t imagine going through life without my Randy. I met him at church but didn’t know his name. He sang in the choir and sang solos a lot because he has a gorgeous voice. Until I knew his name, I secretly referred to him as “choir boy”. Then one day a
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Last year we lost about 70 clients. I’m not sure if they were all because of our new calendar/workflow process or if maybe because we raised our fees. Even if they were all because of our new process, it’s 100% worth it. My weekend time and lower stress level are so worth it.
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We are making big changes for next tax season. Letting go of 150-200 clients. This will get us closer to the business model we want, which is only business clients & their owners, on a monthly fixed fee engagement. What changes are you making for next tax season?
#TaxTwitter
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Seeing posts about people passing the CPA and EA exams makes me so happy. I wish I had had this group 24 years ago. I just went to work the next day, was smiling real big in the elevator, and the man in the elevator asked what I was so happy about and I said, "I'm a CPA!" 😂😂😂
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After the 10/15 deadline, take some time to reflect on this year and how you want it to be better next year.
A couple of years ago, I decided that I want to work regular hours year round, even in Feb/Mar/Apr Sep/Oct.
I don’t have seasons anymore. I have a life.
You can be
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I’ve been in business 12 years today. I’ve learned so much, and many things the hard way. I should write a book called “What Not To Do If You Start an Accounting Firm”. 😂
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I took off yesterday afternoon and this afternoon to help my son find another car, because his car was totaled a couple of weeks ago. I am so thankful that my schedule now allows me to take an afternoon or two off if I need to. And I’m also feeling a lot of guilt in looking back
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I find it so interesting that non accountants are acquiring accounting firms. It’s like they see value in our businesses, that maybe we don’t see.
#TaxTwitter
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#TaxTwitter
, I’m so thankful for all of you. What got me to discover TaxTwitter? In 2020, after a bad thing happened (we’ll just say an employee left on bad terms), I was hurt and maybe a little crazy 🙄. We had a peaceful breakup with a partner, and my husband and I were finally
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How many times this tax season did you get this message from a non-client? I know you’re busy but I have a quick tax question.
#TaxTwitter
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To anyone studying for the CPA or EA exam, do not give up. These are my ugly results. 😂. There were a few people in my life who actually discouraged me from taking it the last time, but I didn’t listen to them. I listened to those who encouraged me. Those 2 years of all work and
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It’s so much better for me now, but I know many can relate. 🤣
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There’s a group of (older) accountants that haven’t evolved with technology and haven’t charged enough for decades, which requires them to have more clients than they can handle. Some of them will die at their desk. It’s sad. 🥲
#TaxTwitter
👇🏻
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@RIPTwitz
@Liz_Wheeler
@elonmusk
They weren’t there to eat lunch! I would cancel it too. I don’t feed my employees lunch. What’s wrong with not feeding your employees lunch? 🤦🏼♀️
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Client emails me “can you explain why my estimated taxes were underestimated?” Me: “they weren’t underestimated. You didn’t make all 4 pmts.” And they’re “estimated” because I don’t know exactly what your taxable income is going to be. 😬🤦🏼♀️
#TaxTwitter
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We won the 2023 Oklahoman Community Choice Award for Accounting Firms this evening! 😃
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I know this may sound counter-productive, but I watch shows on Netflix/Hulu/Prime on my iPad while I work. As crazy as it sounds, it keeps me planted at my desk. I’ll pause if I need to read something and really focus though. Anyway, I need something to watch. I’ve seen
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Early in my accounting firm owner career, I just wanted to grow. Getting a new client was so exciting. I thought that was the path to success. We got up to about 1400 clients, but we weren't making more money, and we just had more headaches. I now know it was because we weren't
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I wish I could gather up all the older accounting firm owners (I’m not picking on old people…I qualify for senior discounts) and say “Stop! Let’s look at what’s going on. You’re killing yourselves and not making any money. Let’s fix this.” It makes me sad. 😢
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43 people have contacted me about the scheduling thing. I am pumped!!!! 😃
I’m excited for 2 reasons:
1) I really want to help tax preparers/accountants have a better work/life balance and not have to plan their lives around “tax season”. Like
@LoganGrafTax
mentioned, people
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#TaxTwitter
I’m overwhelmed with technology 😭. I don’t know what to do next, and I still have tax prep, tax planning and accounting to do, so not sure when I have time to learn new things. 😭
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I am still very fortunate to have both my parents. 86 and 89. Still active and fun. I think they are the cutest Valentines. Picture from when they were dating in 1955. ❤️
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Most important thing I figured out, and it took me 10 years. I don’t need every client. We accept maybe 10% of those who contact us now. Know your worth. You can pick your clients.
#TaxTwitter
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Two of my clients passed away in the past 2 days. I'm so sad for their families. We really do grow close to our clients.
#TaxTwitter
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First trip to the garden center this year. I might have gone a little crazy. I was in a trance. 😂
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It has taken me so many years to grow a backbone and I used it this morning!
#feelingconfident
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Friday mornings are for breakfast with my precious parents. 90 and 86. Married 66 years. How cute are they! This time is nonnegotiable.
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We’re trying to transform our firm to have all clients on a monthly fixed fee, adjusted annually, and eventually have only business clients and their owners. We’ve made good progress in 2023
#TaxTwitter
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Just used Ignition to send a fee proposal to a client I’ve had for 12 years. Every year I’ve done a big ol accounting cleanup before preparing the return. And when I do a tax projection mid year, I have to make a bunch of adjustments just to get to a good estimated income amount.
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This is so funny. Teenagers/young adults trying to do their tax return and asking their parents questions. 😂
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My Mom just called me because she was reading the newspaper and noticed we won the 2024 Oklahoman Community Choice Award for accounting firms. 😃. I really didn’t think we’d win this year (because we let go of 276 clients 🙈😂) so we didn’t go to their gala thing. So yay!!!!
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I want to give a shout out to Rebecca Driscoll
@ConsciousCPA
!!! She coached me last fall and helped us make the big move of letting 276 clients go. She helped me run the numbers and look at worst case scenario, and feel confident about it. I’m so glad we made that huge change.
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@andreacpa0
I have a different thought. File and pay something when return is filed, then pay something each month until balance can be paid. That will reduce P&I a little and the IRS won't start collections that quick.
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One of our employees had something devastating happen to her last Monday and it was a complete shock to her. I told her to take the week off. Hang out with your best friends. Take the longest nap. Have a bond fire. Do what you need to do to help yourself through this and don’t
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THIS is going to change! It’s your business. It’s your schedule. You’re in charge.
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I think meeting with every client in person, paper copies of tax return, no portals, could be a niche now, for a ton of Boomers who are still old fashioned about such things. I’m thankful to have a CPA friend in town who does just that, to refer that category of people to.
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I am over clients thinking they can stroll in our office in October. No more. That changed this year. 😐
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A client lost their 41-year-old son. Heartbreaking. I just got back from the funeral. It was such a nice tribute to him and the life he had lived. We do grow with our clients through their happy times and their sad times. Friends, go do the things. Tomorrow is never promised.
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Last summer I hiked every weekend getting ready for the Grand Canyon Rim 2 Rim.🤦🏼♀️ (side note: never been a hiker). This summer my hobby is floating. I’m enjoying this summer much more. 😊
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We emailed about 70 clients who never responded to our communications this year about our calendar process (and no communication) that we're changing them to inactive. One client called today and says he can't find his tax docs. 1)
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I was going to do a couple more returns (that I'm not scheduled to do) but I changed my mind. I am D-O-N-E. If you're still working on returns, I'm sending you positive energy! You've got this!
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On my way home from the gym I saw the most beautiful cloudy pink sunrise. God’s artwork.
#oklahomasunrise
#Godsartwork
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My precious mom is 87 today. She is an absolute joy. Honestly, the older she gets the more fun she gets. She does things like call political candidates to ask them specific questions. When Trump was President, she got her Thesaurus out and wrote him a letter with a list of more
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I have a prediction about our industry.
😀I think firm owners are starting to make major changes to take control of their businesses and run them more efficiently and more intentionally.
😀 It’s like we’re all putting our heads together
😀from our network on
#TaxTwiuter
😀and
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It’s dark-thirty am and I’m heading to Aruba! I Shitzu Not! 😃🦩
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Today my sweet Mom decided that she needs to not be driving anymore. I have so much respect for my Dad (about 6 years ago) and now my Mom for making the decision not to drive, instead of us having to have an awkward conversation someday. I'm going to work with my brother and
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Two years ago versus today. Two years ago on April 5th I still had 95 tax returns to prepare. I was so stressed. This year we were able to move some clients up on our calendar and I need to prepare 25 tax returns by 4/15. Night and day. Today I’m actually doing some accounting
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Friday morning breakfast with my precious parents. It’s a priority.
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I’m very ADHD in the morning. I get to a hyper focus mode at about 2pm. So about a year ago I changed my schedule. I start working later in the morning and work until later in the evening. I don’t have kiddos to feed. etc. anymore, so it works for me.
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This is
@JStaatsCPA
3rd podcast about scheduled work. If you want to have your clients pick a date, like I do, he mentioned that Calendly is kind of wonky for this because you have to pick a time, and they don’t need to pick a time. They just need to pick a day to give us their
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Yesterday I tweeted about “older” accountants. I probably should’ve said “old school thinking accountants”. I hope I didn’t offend anyone. I’m old. Senior citizen discount over here. 😂
#TaxTwitter
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I'm going to start posting about our calendar process for those who are interested.
The first thing I think you need to do if you are planning to use a process like this for the 2024 tax season, is to let your clients know. Let them know that you're going to be doing
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“I can’t file an extension. It doesn’t fit my personality”. What response do you recommend? 😂
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Even my own parents give me their tax docs still in the envelope.
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It takes an incredible amount of patience to do our job. Just tried calling IRS. Couldn't even be on hold earlier today. Got the "we're too busy to take your call message". I finally called and got the "15 to 30 minute" message, listened to that music that is engraved in my
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I wonder if tax software companies are checking out TaxTwitter to see what people are talking about. Other software companies are all over TaxTwitter. Smart.
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UltraTax renewal $18,260 + tax. You would think for the $$$ they charge the instructions would include information to pay taxes online.
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When potential clients answer our initial questionnaire, this is usually the complaint about previous accountant. There’s always two sides to the story, but I think many of us (me included) have too much work and not much time to communicate.
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We have these instruction links (created with Scribe) saved in our Teams so we can easily send clients instructions for making payments online, instead of walking them through it on the phone). It has saved us so much time.
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@LizDoogCPA
Extend them now. Get that stress off your shoulders. Then do what you can do until tax day. No one is going to die if their return is extended.
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I did my first Automation! I copied
@chaddavis
and
@vipcpa
, but I copied it correctly! 😀😂 I'm so excited!!!! Now, when I get emails from clients with attachments, they will automatically be saved in my OneDrive folder in Teams, that our admin has access to, so he can save the
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This is the best time in our industry to change your firm to what you want it to be.
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My friend and I wrote this article. 😄
Five ‘Don’ts’ When Starting Your Own Tax or Accounting Business
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When you call the IRS (to help client authenticate their identity) RIGHT AT 7AM and you still get the "we're sorry but due to high call volume we can't take your call at this time". Do they ever answer that phone number? 😠
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1) I’ve learned that we can control our workflow
2) it’s okay if a client doesn’t like that. Move on and make room for clients who do.
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One thing I noticed at the TaxRetreat was the number of young (under 30) firm owners who are forward thinking and structuring their firms as they grow, instead of after they’ve grown and are overwhelmed. I am so impressed! I’m talking to you
@aaronatxcpa
@Brooks_G_
and others I
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Final “let go” number is 252. One BIG client plus 251 others. Tough decision to let some go, and I decided to keep the older ones because I just love ‘em. 😭 Change is hard. Big move towards the business model we want (with exception for sweet old people who come to the office
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At 5:00 we started our celebration with our traditional water gun fight! 😂. Then a yummy steak dinner and drinks! We have a great team.
#TaxTwitter
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For those who are thinking about implementing scheduling tax prep, I am collecting email addresses to plan some Zoom meetings and talk about it, and help however I can. It you want to join, DM me your email address.
#TaxTwitter
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Let’s talk about pencils. I still use pencils to write out adjusting journal entries, etc, or to make notes on workpapers that I might want to erase later. Mechanical pencils drive me nuts when it’s not very dark on the paper. I honestly like regular pencils, except I have to
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I think it’s time to hire or cut a few clients. Probably going to cut a few clients. It’s never fun. It’s just business.
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I did something crazy today. My 57th birthday is tomorrow and I wanted to prove to myself that 57 is just a number. So I took the day off and did all 8 workouts at my gym 😳 and my crazy friend did them with me. 😂. Turns out 57 IS just a number. 👍🏻
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