How to run a remote accounting practice
Running a remote accounting practice can have lots of benefits, but there are a few things to consider to make sure everything runs smoothly. From what you can gain from remote working to how to make your practice successful, we take you through it step by step.
Why start a remote accounting practice?
The current situation means that investing in an office for your practice may not be the right choice for now. With many working from home at the moment, running a remote practice could be an ideal solution that will also benefit you in the long run.
Working remotely offers greater flexibility. You can run your practice your way! A couple of examples are setting your own hours and choosing where you work from.
You can keep costs low. Without having to spend money on an office it can be a really cost effective way to start your own business.
Running a remote practice can give you access to a wider client base. Without being tied to a local area and with the right structure to your practice you could serve clients from across the UK.
Go solo or recruit talent?
When you’re starting a new accounting practice it’s up to you whether you want to go it alone or recruit talent.
If you do choose to recruit, make sure you’re choosing talented accountants and sales professionals who offer a high standard of service. Look for experienced accountants with a strong client base who could follow them to a new practice.
If you already run your own practice and are looking to switch to remote working, you may need to offer additional support for your employees. Make sure you keep in touch, make it clear what’s expected of them and check if there’s anything you can do to make it easier for them to work from home.
How to run a successful remote practice
You want your practice to run smoothly! Here are some tips to help you get started.
Get a great website
Your clients may be coming from anywhere in the UK and won’t always be local so creating a website for your practice is a must. Make sure to list all your services, USPs of your practice and information about your accreditations.
Starting a blog on your website can be helpful for a few reasons. It boosts the SEO of your website, so it’s more likely to be found when people search for accounting services. It’s also a perfect way to share your expertise and offer added value to your clients.
Look for clients
Growing your practice relies on looking for new clients. If you have existing clients in your practice then this process may be easier. You can start by focussing on your current clients and making sure you offer a great service. They can recommend you to their contacts, and increase your client base by word of mouth.
If you need to focus on increasing revenue then offer additional advisory services like financial planning and tailored advice.
Whether you’re growing your client base from scratch or need some extra strategies to look for new prospects, there are a few things you can do.
- Identify which attributes make up an ‘ideal client’ and focus your efforts on people who fit your criteria.
- Use advertising and marketing to spread the word about your practice.
- Attend online events, like business shows, to reach potential clients.
Make sure you’re using the right technology
The right technology is key to a successful practice. Cloud-based software is the ideal solution for remote working. You won’t be tied to one computer, and you’ll be able to log in and get your work done from anywhere.
Choosing the right accounting software is a big decision, so make sure your choice has all the features you need. You don’t always need to pay a lot for software! Bokio is a cloud accounting software that offers everything you need for clients like small businesses and sole traders, wherever you’re working from.
It’s also important to make sure you have the right technology to communicate with your clients. There are lots of low cost or free video conferencing solutions available, so find out which is the best fit for your practice.
Keep in touch
Good communication becomes a central part of your strategy when you aren’t meeting your clients in person. Have regular check ins by phone or email with the option for longer consultations too.
A collaborative approach to accounting can make your job easier. It also gets your clients involved and encourages them to be more engaged with their finances.
Choose a cloud accounting software that offers specific permissions to users and encourages collaboration with features like invoicing and receipt upload tools. This helps to give you the information you need to get your job done!
More about Bokio
Bokio is a cloud accounting software offering bookkeeping, invoicing and expenses management. It’s a great solution for collaborating with micro clients, like small businesses, sole traders and freelancers. Bokio helps you save time and money, so you can focus on offering high value advisory services to your clients.
