Richcpaman

Where would you rather Play? Public or Private Course? You can look good at either facility. And the cost difference isn't that much. I re-checked, I got 500 tax jackets for $642 so that is really $1.28 each Maybe my initial order was higher for set up costs, etc. Rich

Why are we being so "Cheap" with our final presentation to our clients? Ok, I spend about $3 for the preprinted embossed jackets I use for my clients, on a premium quality heavy duty linen... However.... The only things (besides us talking to them...) our clients "get" from us are tax returns, and if it looks "cheap" then you are precieved as "cheap". My average 1040 return fee is about $300, so your rates may vary. So $3 to me is only 1% of the fee. One of the firms I worked with in the past, now charges an average of $500 for a 1040, and they just stick the returns into a rubber-stamped blue folder like you used to get for your 3rd grade thesis report... Looks "cheap" to me.... And maybe it doesn't matter, just look how much thier fee is now... Rich

I just use Quickbooks for all my internal accounting work for my firm, and if someone is paying me by credit card, I insert the card info into Qbooks, and I get paid. I don't want to learn 5 or 6 processes to get paid.... And ATX's "Bill Pay" process is a scam... I used to be a proadvisor, but saw no reason to pay them $400-600 more every year for a listing on thier website. It has worked so far, but if I was starting out, I might pay extra to get a premium listing on thier website.... I buy the new version of Qbooks every year, and if a client gives me a version 2010 file, I can give it back to them, as well as 2004, 06, 07, 08, 09, 11, 12, 13 and soon, 14... I do any client bookkeeping in Qbooks ver 2012. I will upgrade THOSE to Ver 2015 when needed... YMMV. Rich

Can I run ATX 2013 on the server with MS Server 2008 and then use that same computer to preparer returns as a preparer? Rich

Easy: Yes, I have read those links in the past, and have followed up on the "Soros" connection. Doesn't seem to be much in that direction. And I looked even further. But if *I* wanted to discredit something that kept proving me wrong, the first thing I would do is tie it to "Soros" and "Obama". Since I can not win the argument on the merits, I have to win by discrediting the person, with unfounded accusations. And Snopes has *always* posted thier sources of thier research. The *discrediting* ones only post accusations and nebulous sources. Is Snopes perfect? No. But give me 100 posts from the Internet, and 100 from Snopes and I would go with Snopes truthfullness just about 100% of the time. Rich

Mixed case. And if someone at the Guv'mint' complained? I would laugh. Sheesh. Rich

Well, I didn't hear about Wal-Mart, but this floored me: http://dailycurrant.com/2013/10/18/nancy-grace-arrested-for-murder/ I thought Mr. Morgan was rather restrained in his response to this horrible crime.

MAS: I would go with what Lion posted. *IF* you cleint reported thier share of income/expenses of the partnership. Rich

Let me tell you what I learned at a "Gear UP" Seminar years ago: The speaker, (I can't recall his name, but he is the baseball card guy...) said that he wanted the "Cringe" reaction when he presented the invoice to the client. If he didn't get a "cringe" from the client, then he didn't bill enough. Sounds harsh, and I am NOT there, yet.... We can get lots of clients, through referrals or from advertising, and we can decide what we want to bill them. And just becasue you started out with a $200 fee 5 years ago, does not mean you have to *STAY* at a $200 fee. I had one client, a corp 1120 return, and 1040 each year. Started at about $800 a year. That was in 2002. He is now up to about $1,200. He complained one day. "Rich we agreed to $800..." And I said, "that was before three different like kind exchanges, four rental properties ago, and an expansion in your business...." Things change. So do my prices. Never heard a word out of him anymore. Some folks have left becasue the price has gone up. But I can count those clients on one hand. When I look down my list of departed clients, I would say less than 10% left because of fees. I have used Qbooks since I started the business, and can track the increase for each of my clients. There are very few that are not paying me a least 15-20% more than thier first return prepared by me.. If they have been here since my start date of June 2003, they are probably 30% or more in increase. I am worth it. Not that I have a "big head" about that, just that *I* wanted to make more money. If I bill more, I make more. And I am not concerned about losing some clients, if it means I am making more money and working less. (the working less hasn't happened yet, but I have replaced *bad* clients with better ones.) Rich

Taxed: This line:"My problem is that I still can't figure out how they will respond." Its not your problem. Really. If you increased all your rates for all your clients by 5%, or $25 whichever makes sense for you, you end up possibly making 5% more or ($25 x the number of returns you prepare) Now, if you are like me, with 350 returns, that would be anywhere from $6,250 to $8,750 in increased billing for tax season. I could lose 4-5 clients at $350 a pop and still be well ahead. Look at it this way: "I have been hired, and I have been fired" Neither of them hurt me.... Rich

Interesting thread. I actually attended the Road Show in Brooklyn on Friday. Jack, Kerri says hello. My specfic question to the assembled employee's of ATX at the Road Show regarding operating a "Peer to Peer" network system was met with a "No". Meaning, that an ATX user can load as many copies of the software on as many computers as they want, but they will not be able to share a common database/Return Manager/EFile Manager,etc. As was available for years with ATX. You gotta go with the MS Server2008 and make that one host the common database/Return Manager. THAT is all I want. I want ALL my ATX clients in ONE place, accessed by ANY of my employee's from any computer in my office, all the time, and without serious time lag or shutdowns. I could not find out about that at the road show. It is promised, but I have NOT seen this happen yet. Much has been promised, but.... The program ran fine at the Road Show on a stand alone laptop. 2.6Ghz processor, and 8Ghz RAM, 64bit. It took about 12 seconds to open an average 1040/SchA/SchB return, and they had a "Large" return that took about 45 seconds to open. But it was big and ugly. Learned a couple of new things, and that will make tax season easier. I purchased the program after I left the road show. The $150 discount was nice, paid for the trip to NYC. I now have to go buy a new server box, with MS Server and some other things. I need a new computer anyway... Rich

I have *known* Ron for a long time from various internet Tax Forums. If he has been run off? It probably has something to do with dealing with folks who just do not get it, and will never get it, and that is just how the world works sometimes. Some folks have all the answers and it does't matter what others may think or to be respecful in disagreement. Sorry you had to beat your head against the wall, Ron. You are one of the good guys. Rich

I find it interesting that a thread about disposing of clients turns into a discussion of how clients are supposed to contact you. Whatever rings your bell, I say. If its passenger pigeons, than that is great. But firing clients? Yeah, I got that one. There are VERY good reasons to fire clients. Mine is the "Caller ID Cringe". If I see the number on the caller ID and I cringe, then its time for me to re evaluate that client. My number one source to fire them is to raise thier rates. If it was $350 this year, next year it will be $425, and the next it will be $500. If that doesn't do it, then at least I am making alot more money. I don't want so many clients that I can't play golf. I also have my financial goals that I want to get too. And I am about 2-3 years away. (I may ALWAYS be 2-3 years away, If I can still handle it, why not?) And since my missus can retire, (possibly) in two years, that lines up well. The main point of this thread is managing your practice, and not letting your clients manage you. Rich

Speed is of concern... But they have not *really* discussed installation on a network and how that will work.... So, its easier to install, and they had to provide more info.... But does it run on a network like it did prior to 2012? That is what I need to know... Rich

Thank you for all the well wishes for my wife.... Thought I would update, Have not been around much... I was training as a nurse... I am trying hard! However.... My wife had lumpectomy surgery on Oct 16th. She got to spend the night, which was nice, (the ins co has since denied paying for this...) and we went home the next day. Some of you ladies on here, and some of the men, may have spouses, sisters, daughters or mothers who have been thru this... But there is alot of pain at first, that is controlled by drugs, thankfully, and you get to carry what is called a "drain" Yes, a plastic tube runs out of the side of your chest down to a little bottle that you have to collect the fluids that are draining from your body... It is my job to clear the tube, log the total fluid, and empty the bottle.... It has been 13 days and she still has the drain.... But we are getting close, and she can get it removed soon... YEAH! Cuz its a PITA.... However. The pathology on the cancer came back and they did not get it all..... The "pictures" of the cancer had it at 2.5cm, and they cut out 5cm, and they still didn't get it all. So, she has to go back to surgery after she completes chemo in March. And she will have the double mastectomy then. If the Mammograms can't see the cancer before the surgery, they are not going to see it in the other breast later, so, she made the decision to remove them both. Makes for a bad week.... Her spirits are good, and she got to go into work today for the first time, so things are good. But this is a long slog.... Rich

Joan: My wife is having surgery for Breast Cancer tommorrow. I haven't gotten anything done for two months since this process started. I will still bill my late clients a premium, but I will be giving those that got me stuff earlier a break... Your client has got to pay. Sorry. She has had those receipts since January. All she had to do was drop them off. Maybe she will next year..... Rich

^^^^ QFT

Eric: You do what you feel you have to do. I am involved with other boards, and I am involved with the Moderation Policies and procedures on one in particular. Some folks, NO MATTER WHAT, are going to be Dicks. All the moderation in the world will not prevent that. And when they get too disruptive, you ban them And when they log in again as a new member name, you ban them again. Someone may be the most wrong politically from my ideas as possible. But they don't have to be a Dick. How many members have been involved with this forum, and have never been moderated, or had posts modified, or Notify's sent? A very large percentage will be part of that group. Its the ones that GET these actions against them that are really the problem. Rich

MAS: I may be over analyzing my own business. I spend alot of time looking at things like that, and not enough doing the actual work sometimes. But a failure to plan, is a plan to fail. And that is why you posted this thread. Why is your net income going down? You are probably working harder, and doing more returns, but taking home less cash. Let me ask you some other questions: How old are you? How long have you been doing tax/accounting work? How much longer do you think you will be doing this? You mentioned that you were ready to leave this employment area, when your employer offered you the tax and small business practice. So, is some of this becasue you just are not interested any more? And there is nothing wrong with the answer. Rich

MAS: MAS: Then what is your business mix? How much revenue from different sectors of your practice: How much for personal tax returns, Corporate Tax Returns, how much for Write-up work, payroll, etc? Try to break it down to 5 or 6 major pieces, with misc being the remainder. And compare to what did you start with in 2008 in those categories? That would give you an better idea of what may make you more money, or has the most opportunity. Then, I would analyze each of those revenue area's. And break it down by client. If you only have 10 clients, then that pretty simple. But if you have 300, its a little more work, but should still be done. Compare what you are billing to your average, or what the averages from PPC are for that type of service in your geographical part of the country. Assign the amount of time you DID work on some of those clients, and compare some of the ones that seemed to have major writedowns to what you really think of them... And then resolve what increase you are going to assess against them next year. What are you using to bill your clients? Does it detail what you have done, by client, each year? Rich

That is my point. I don't want my employees perfoming work "under the shade tree" and those clients assuming I am liable if something goes wrong. *All* the clients are the firms clients, just some of them are *the employee's* clients. And if that employee left, they could take those clients with them... That is how I have it set up. But I have no employee's with clients at the moment. Rich

Interesting topic. I would LIKE any employees of mine to develop a practice of thier own. I would require those clients to be handled out of my office. I want them to handle thier own clients, but to keep them in-house so that we know what we are responsible for. And yes, I would pay them a % for "thier" clientele. As to the OP thoughts about making less each tax season.... What is the plan? Do you plan for your work during tax season? For after tax season to Oct 15th? Then from Oct 15th to Jan 15th? I do. I start with the prior years work, and which clients, subtract those who left, or had a special sitch (house or business sale, etc), and try to add any new things that I feel my clients may need. Follow ups on something from tax season, maybe tax law changed that affects a number of clients and do extra year end analysis's... That way, I can see the holes, and try to move work/add work in the time periods that are light. Also, review the operating expenses to reduce/adjust them. My office staff is down to two days a week right now. Rich

Mr P. I ususally wait to post sometimes, because I can be sarcastic. And I deleted some things that would have been un-helpful to say the least. And really, there is no point to it. And really, I find taxes alot of fun. Becasue they are PITA. Something bothered me about the way that this agent presented this TFP request. I don't know why it bothered me. It just did. I know the path that we are on. But something seemed off. I was wondering what it might be. There really isn't anything else. Thanks for all the help. Rich

Great Case isn't it? Two different years. She won in year one, but blew it all up in year two. Maybe she went to one of those "Tax Coach's" Seminars? Rich

It is interesting to read about myself in the third person. Maybe I have not been clear in my questions, and I don't want this to spin somewhere else... She agrees to the TFP being assessed, and will pay that. She will have to do it with a payment plan, but she is goingto pay it the TFP. What happens to the rest of the 941 taxes that are due, plus the penalty and interest? It still is hanging out there. A corporate liability. If she continues to operate the business, the IRS can try to collect. They know there isn't anything there, so they will not be aggressive about it, but they haven't so far, and that may change, but they have the 433-A and 433-B's to know there isn't anything there. That is why the agent put this into Non-Collectible status. Really, in the long run, this has been hand to mouth for quite a while. No excuses there, but she isn't/wasn't jetting to the islands with Trust Fund money... Had the IRS assessed the TFP earlier, then the IRS would have gotten ALOT more for the TFP. But they didn't. And it isn't that I haven't sent 5-6 different requests to the IRS in the past two years to set up a payment plan for some of the notices that they did send, that were ignored. It wasn't until finally WE called them, and the person at the call center finally said that the balance is too high, and you need to speak to an agent. That was 5 months ago... And no, I did not have all the notices or know the total amount when we sent in the request for the first or subsequent payment plans. I presumed the amount was less than $25k. Even the AGENT, after being assigned the case, and I asked her for ALL the outstanding liabilities, missed reporting $20k of them to me.... I was operating on the assumption that it was $71k, not $91K. Now the next question, simply, is if she agrees to this assessment of the TFP, is she opening up any other issues? I do not believe so, but just in case, I want to be sure. Once the agent realized that there were no $$ to be gotten, she proposed the TFP assessment. I wanted to make sure there wasn't something I was missing. Outside of my client being a criminal, not much, I guess. Rich