Our goal as an accounting firm has always been to help business owners make more money and keep more of it.
We want to give you the insight you need to run an awesome business. We do this by providing systems and guidance so that your back-office support (us) becomes a true extension of your business.
This article is really for our clients because we believe it’s important to deliver financial insight in an accurate and timely manner—and there are many ways you can help us do that efficiently.
It’s hard to know what you don’t know, right?
This isn’t meant to be a client call-out session (we can do that behind closed doors!). Instead, this is a list of things we, your accounting team, wish you knew so we can provide you with the best possible service.
Our biggest challenge as an accounting firm isn’t the actual work. Our biggest challenge is getting your documents in the door—on time, in the right format, and with all the necessary information.
At the same time, we also don’t need extra, irrelevant documents that clutter the process. The more organized you can be, the easier it is for our team to support you.
We ask for certain documents in specific formats (PDF, Excel, Word, etc.) for a reason. But we understand—you’re busy running a business, and sometimes emails get skimmed.
When this happens, we often receive:
This creates delays because our team has to decide whether to:
We know you don’t want to pay us for email tag or phone tag—you want us to focus on your finances. That’s why organization matters.
We operate on tight deadlines, balancing multiple clients and government agency requirements—all of which have a hand in your pocket.
When we request documents by a certain due date, it’s important to send them in as soon as possible. If that’s not possible, let us know so we can adjust our schedule.
Once a deadline passes and we haven’t received your documents, we have to rework our schedule to fit them in later. Keep in mind:
The most important thing we wish you knew? Ask more questions.
If you don’t understand something, need clarification on a number, or have an idea for growing your business—talk to us.
We don’t always know what you don’t know. That may sound silly, but it’s okay if you don’t understand:
That’s why you hired us. What matters most is understanding how your numbers impact your business decisions.
When you sign your tax return, you’re doing so under penalties of perjury (JAIL!). That’s a big deal! You need to understand what you’re signing—because “I didn’t know” isn’t a great legal defense.
To get the best service from your accounting team, remember these three things:
If for some reason, you cannot do those things, be diligent to communicate with us, so we can adjust our schedule and accommodate your work.
You’d be surprised how these small changes can make a big difference for your accountant. Our number one goal is to serve you as efficiently and effectively as possible.
If you have questions, reach out to us! We’d be happy to set up a call to talk about your accounting needs. Like we always say: You don’t know what you don’t know—so let us help you ask the right questions!
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