Comments for CPATechViews http://www.cpatechviews.com At the Intersection of Technology and Public Accounting Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:25:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 Comment on Payroll and Your Practice… by dmcclure2@hughes.net http://www.cpatechviews.com/2010/07/878/comment-page-1/#comment-3732 dmcclure2@hughes.net Fri, 30 Jul 2010 04:20:45 +0000 http://www.cpatechviews.com/2010/07/878/#comment-3732 Isaac, I love the thought, but I have to disagree. Payroll is not the way to build a client relationship or strengthen it. If you do not have such a relationship, you have to compete with every bank, every bookkeeper, Intuit, Sage, and half of the universe for the relatively trivial tasks of cutting checks and filing taxes. That is no way to survive in today's accounting world. The relationship must come first, and you must be prepared to show each client why your service can provide more value than Intuit Online Payroll, or you are out the door. Of course, I think most accounting firms that focus on client service and satisfication can easily demonstrate value. Those who cannot should get out of the payroll business, and it will quickly become a dance of Limbo...how low can your fee go? Find how you can better serve the customer, and the payroll business will follow...IMHO. Dave McClure Isaac, I love the thought, but I have to disagree.

Payroll is not the way to build a client relationship or strengthen it. If you do not have such a relationship, you have to compete with every bank, every bookkeeper, Intuit, Sage, and half of the universe for the relatively trivial tasks of cutting checks and filing taxes. That is no way to survive in today’s accounting world.

The relationship must come first, and you must be prepared to show each client why your service can provide more value than Intuit Online Payroll, or you are out the door.

Of course, I think most accounting firms that focus on client service and satisfication can easily demonstrate value. Those who cannot should get out of the payroll business, and it will quickly become a dance of Limbo…how low can your fee go?

Find how you can better serve the customer, and the payroll business will follow…IMHO.

Dave McClure

]]> Comment on 64-Bit versus 32-Bit: What Should Our Firm Purchase Now? by Eric Patterson http://www.cpatechviews.com/2010/03/64-bit-versus-32-bit-what-should-our-firm-purchase-now/comment-page-1/#comment-3721 Eric Patterson Tue, 27 Jul 2010 07:38:04 +0000 http://www.cpatechviews.com/?p=705#comment-3721 operating systems can either make or break your system that is why it is wise to choose a vey stable one.*'- operating systems can either make or break your system that is why it is wise to choose a vey stable one.*’-

]]> Comment on QuickBooks Hosted on an ASP – Why it Makes Sense by Isaac.obannon@cygnusb2b.com http://www.cpatechviews.com/2009/04/quickbooks-hosted-on-an-asp-%e2%80%93-why-it-makes-sense/comment-page-1/#comment-3692 Isaac.obannon@cygnusb2b.com Sat, 17 Jul 2010 04:36:20 +0000 http://cpatechviews.com/?p=122#comment-3692 Appreciate the comments, Tracy. Feel free to post here any time, and also check out our main publication site <a href="http://www.cpatechadvisor.com" rel="nofollow">www.cpatechadvisor.com</a>. Appreciate the comments, Tracy. Feel free to post here any time, and also check out our main publication site http://www.cpatechadvisor.com.

]]> Comment on QuickBooks Hosted on an ASP – Why it Makes Sense by Tracy http://www.cpatechviews.com/2009/04/quickbooks-hosted-on-an-asp-%e2%80%93-why-it-makes-sense/comment-page-1/#comment-3691 Tracy Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:37:07 +0000 http://cpatechviews.com/?p=122#comment-3691 When choosing a Quickbooks Hosting provider, it is important to know the difference between Terminal Servers and Citrix Hosting. Citrix tends to be a bit more on average, but in my experience is well worth the extra $10-$20/ month. Citrix is more efficient (on average 3-4 times faster than Terminal Servers) and reliable. For one, Citrix is on average 3-4 times faster than. Even installing and running the application is easier in Citrix. With Citrix, the application sits on your desktop like any other program installed on your computer (even though its hosted elsewhere) and with Terminal Servers, you must login to the server each time you want to access your data. Also, with slow connections (like a dial-up), Terminal Servers may not even work. And, graphics tend to display better with Citirx. The two Citrix Quickbooks Hosting providers I know about are: NovelASPect (http://www.novelaspect.com) and The EstepGroup. When choosing a Quickbooks Hosting provider, it is important to know the difference between Terminal Servers and Citrix Hosting.

Citrix tends to be a bit more on average, but in my experience is well worth the extra $10-$20/ month. Citrix is more efficient (on average 3-4 times faster than Terminal Servers) and reliable. For one, Citrix is on average 3-4 times faster than.

Even installing and running the application is easier in Citrix. With Citrix, the application sits on your desktop like any other program installed on your computer (even though its hosted elsewhere) and with Terminal Servers, you must login to the server each time you want to access your data.

Also, with slow connections (like a dial-up), Terminal Servers may not even work. And, graphics tend to display better with Citirx.

The two Citrix Quickbooks Hosting providers I know about are: NovelASPect (http://www.novelaspect.com) and The EstepGroup.

]]> Comment on Reach Out and Touch a Client by Scott Cytron http://www.cpatechviews.com/2010/07/reach-out-and-touch-a-client/comment-page-1/#comment-3681 Scott Cytron Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:54:29 +0000 http://www.cpatechviews.com/?p=868#comment-3681 Rikk - thanks for your comment. Can you explain what you mean by a "client page?" Do you mean listing your clients with regard to what they do so other clients can call on them for specific services? In other words, if you have a carpet cleaner as a client, one of your other clients can call the cleaner for services? Thanks. Rikk - thanks for your comment. Can you explain what you mean by a “client page?” Do you mean listing your clients with regard to what they do so other clients can call on them for specific services? In other words, if you have a carpet cleaner as a client, one of your other clients can call the cleaner for services?

Thanks.

]]> Comment on Reach Out and Touch a Client by Rikk Taft http://www.cpatechviews.com/2010/07/reach-out-and-touch-a-client/comment-page-1/#comment-3680 Rikk Taft Tue, 13 Jul 2010 16:51:49 +0000 http://www.cpatechviews.com/?p=868#comment-3680 I would agree with Nate as well. I'm always looking for ideas for my clients. These are some really valuable suggestions. I agree that with today's economy nobody can just sit back and wait for the phone to ring. Another thought which is two fold is some of my clients add a client page to their website. It starts to build a small community, creating a resource for your clients and it creates traffic to your site. This will help with the SEO initiative. This coupled with the suggestions above will create a bond between you and your clients that will increase your retention numbers. I would agree with Nate as well. I’m always looking for ideas for my clients. These are some really valuable suggestions. I agree that with today’s economy nobody can just sit back and wait for the phone to ring. Another thought which is two fold is some of my clients add a client page to their website. It starts to build a small community, creating a resource for your clients and it creates traffic to your site. This will help with the SEO initiative. This coupled with the suggestions above will create a bond between you and your clients that will increase your retention numbers.

]]> Comment on Reach Out and Touch a Client by Scott Cytron http://www.cpatechviews.com/2010/07/reach-out-and-touch-a-client/comment-page-1/#comment-3679 Scott Cytron Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:00:58 +0000 http://www.cpatechviews.com/?p=868#comment-3679 Nate - I agree, and collateral of all kinds deserves its own discussion. Nate - I agree, and collateral of all kinds deserves its own discussion.

]]> Comment on Reach Out and Touch a Client by Nate Hagerty http://www.cpatechviews.com/2010/07/reach-out-and-touch-a-client/comment-page-1/#comment-3669 Nate Hagerty Mon, 12 Jul 2010 20:36:37 +0000 http://www.cpatechviews.com/?p=868#comment-3669 Not a bad list--though I would certainly include a print newsletter, and some sort of email program as a *must* for the independent CPA firm. Otherwise, you're seen as "just another accountant." The more personal, and conversational--the better. Not a bad list–though I would certainly include a print newsletter, and some sort of email program as a *must* for the independent CPA firm. Otherwise, you’re seen as “just another accountant.”

The more personal, and conversational–the better.

]]> Comment on Reach Out and Touch a Client by Client Retention http://www.cpatechviews.com/2010/07/reach-out-and-touch-a-client/comment-page-1/#comment-3576 Client Retention Thu, 08 Jul 2010 18:20:10 +0000 http://www.cpatechviews.com/?p=868#comment-3576 Great information. Clients will feel more comfortable around those they know better, so frequent and direct contacts is a great way for them to feel your sincerity. Thank you for the advice. Great information. Clients will feel more comfortable around those they know better, so frequent and direct contacts is a great way for them to feel your sincerity. Thank you for the advice.

]]> Comment on Intuit Websites Down by Ken Hoffman http://www.cpatechviews.com/2010/06/intuit-websites-offline-more-than-24-hours/comment-page-1/#comment-3308 Ken Hoffman Sun, 20 Jun 2010 23:11:54 +0000 http://www.cpatechviews.com/?p=848#comment-3308 Thank you for the quick response and for reposting the article. There is a lot going on over at Intuit. I hope you get to the truth first. Thank you for the quick response and for reposting the article.

There is a lot going on over at Intuit. I hope you get to the truth first.

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