The term *wantrapreneur* is usually credited to Noah Kagan. It describes someone who loves the idea of running a...
Business Strategy Articles
There’s one question every sole practitioner accountant should regularly ask themselves
The first time I told the following true story to a friend, I realised it had profound implications for many sole...
How to future-proof your compliance-focused firm
I’ve been debunking the “compliance is dying” hype since at least 2011. It wasn’t true then, and it’s still not true now. But that doesn’t mean everything’s staying the same. The loudest voices promoting this nonsense still tend to come from software vendors and...
The hidden cost of misunderstanding who your best clients are
Not all clients are worth your energy. You probably know that; although you hate to admit it. Many accountants seem to spend far too long servicing clients who: - drain time and never refer anyone - pay late (and not that much to begin with) - don’t respect you or...
Why undercharging is holding you back – and how to fix it
Accountants are expected to be brilliant at spotting value in their clients’ businesses. If you're giving them business advice you'll probably be referencing margins, markups, missed opportunities and lots more. But when it comes to your own fees? Hmm. Many...
Still doing it all yourself? Excuses vs real reasons to delegate
Let’s be honest. Delegation sounds good in theory. But in practice? It often feels like more trouble than it’s worth — especially when you’re a sole practitioner. How do you find someone to whom you can delegate anything? You’ve got high standards, and the idea of...
Why charging upfront fees shouldn’t shock accountants
Are you shocked to hear that some accountants charge an upfront fee before starting work? I’m not. And if you’ve ever been ghosted by a client after delivering valuable advice or submitting their accounts, I bet you’re not shocked either. One of the accountants I...
Want to earn more without working more? Stop making this one mistake
Want to make more money without working longer hours? Then it’s time to stop doing one thing. It’s incredibly common. Quietly damaging. And probably costing you more than you realise. What is it? *** Making assumptions *** So often, I see the making of assumptions...
The essential client workflows that boost productivity, profits and keep clients happy
Efficient client workflows are a crucial element of any accounting practice — whether you work alone or with a team. If you’ve been running your own practice for any length of time, you’ll already have systems in place to track client work. The real question is how...
Are you an accountant, a business adviser, or both?
For some time now it has been increasingly common to see firms describing themselves as “accountants and business advisers.” But what does that really mean? Is it just branding fluff, or a genuine service offering? Some firms add the label as a way to differentiate...
Why practice admin feels harder than it should – and what to do about it
There are few things that drag down our energy quite like admin. Some of the admin that accountants do now might be different from when I was still in practice. But much seems to have remained the same. And attitudes don't seem to have changed. You know what I...
The five AI teammates every accountant should get to know
The biggest risk of AI in accounting is the risk of being left behind. One way to avoid this is to better understand the range of technology that incorporates AI; and the different ways in which this may challenge or support accountants in the future. Essentially,...
How to introduce valuable, profitable and scalable business advisory services
We’ve all heard it before: Compliance work is dying. Accountants must move into advisory. It’s a claim that’s been doing the rounds for over a decade. I first started debunking the hype back in 2009. So no, it’s not news - or accurate. The pace at which the...
Still waiting for your hard work to pay off? These 8 skills could be the key
You’re doing the work. You care about your clients. You’re reliable, responsive, and technically strong. But if you’re still not seeing the results you hoped for — in profit, time, or confidence — you’re not alone. Many accountants quietly wonder: “What more do I...
Is your CPD setting you up to thrive or just helping you tread water?
For many accountants, CPD is still a tick-box exercise. They look to do the minimum possible and, even then, focus almost exclusively on keeping their technical knowledge up to date. But CPD has NEVER just been about keeping your technical knowledge up to date....
How to get the most from Accountex – or any big accounting exhibition
Whether you’re heading to Accountex this week or attending any other big accounting event, here are a dozen of my top tips to help you get the most value from your time there. These events are typically full-on. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, miss things, or come...
Overcoming that sense of being ‘flat out’ every week
You’re busy. All the time. And while that might sound like a good problem to have, it’s not a badge of honour. Your firm has grown. You’ve got new clients coming in from both referrals and smart marketing. But if your weeks are spent bouncing from one urgent thing...