Client Accounting Services: A Guide for CPAs

how to use data to do advisory services for accounting clients

That said, CAS can contain elements of advisory services of its own, or can easily lead to more advisory-style tax planning, though it is not the core focus. If you follow the roadmap above, you’ll have an easier time transitioning to advisory services. Demand for these services already exists, and there’s a good chance that your current clients already need the services that you can add to your business. If you want to offer advisory services today without needing to go through the steep learning curve, you can outsource the process. One of the perks of outsourcing is avoiding having to learn the ins and outs of services. Those are reasons why strengthening advisory services should be a priority, many firms need help with the how.

For example if you’ve assisted customers with small business loans, but never worked with them in advisory before, those customers could be a big opportunity to turn short term work into long term value. If you’re unsure of which pricing strategy to adopt, you can check out this playbook on how to set up profitable pricing for your firm. This focuses accounting advisory services on helping companies, and organizations find their way through the complicated world of taxes by giving them expert advice and support. This set the stage for making good decisions based on data and predictive analytics. Some or all of the services described herein may not be permissible for KPMG audit clients and their affiliates or related entities.

Advisory

We use our deep and diverse experience to solve problems, drive data-driven solutions and deliver outcomes that align with your values, build trust, and accelerate transformation. With our multidisciplinary perspective, we know opportunity is everywhere. Our teams combine industry know-how with functional experience–built through a high velocity https://www.bookstime.com/articles/invoice-financing of deals–to help win the right deals, divest successfully, and create long-term value. We help accelerate tomorrow by uncovering breakthrough insights, reframing business problems, seizing opportunities, and building a roadmap for growth. Let’s address some common queries you might have as you embark on scaling your accounting firm.

  • Once you have your niche down, and your service offerings chosen, the next step is to determine how you’ll be pricing your services.
  • This level of service strengthens client relationships and positions you as an indispensable partner instead of a “nice to have” service provider.
  • Or, as Merhib put it, “You need to have the books in good order to advise your clients on what they can be doing with their businesses.”
  • Accountants could use automation and cloud-based solutions to improve process efficiency.
  • However, once the move is made, there are significant benefits and, as client expectations evolve, it is a real differentiator.

Because it’s difficult to quantify the value of each piece of advice you give, the best idea is to put clients on a monthly retainer, where they pay a set fee each month for access to unlimited advice. With the average CPA charging $174 per hour, that advice costs $29 if you stick with the hourly pricing model. This doesn’t remotely represent the value you’ve provided with this advice, which could earn your client tens of thousands of dollars in revenue. You’ve recently prepared a client’s quarterly financial statements and provided some actionable advice in relation to them. Providing Client Advisory Services in addition to your regular CPA services helps you differentiate from those low-cost, report-only service providers and keep the bottom line healthy (and growing).

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