How do you bind final accounts for clients ... or are most firms not printing accounts out now, and just providing a PDF version?
IF firms are producing paper final accounts still, are they using plastic combs, metal spiral binders, glue binders or possiby stapling with the little corner printed card that firms of solicitors sometimes use.
I'm interested to know what method people find works best and gives the best presentation.
We use metal spiral binding, but have got fed up with the high fail rate where the metal spiral slips in the binder and subsequently the pages drop out! It's time for a change.
Thanks.
Replies (17)
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Clip files
We use clip files with a clear front cover for both accounts and tax, and only send a pdf if requested. We stopped giving bound accounts years ago.
Still paper for this reason..
Client can delete a computer file - if the accounts are put in a presentation folder they are less likely to lose them but more importantly it actually gives them something - something to show for the number of hours that have been worked on their accounts!
I also present them with the invoice at the same time.
My solicitor gives out copies of contracts with just a small corner of cardboard stapled to top right to hold the papers together and secure - it has his firms logo on.
My presentation folders are becoming harder to find. They have a front with a window through which can be seen the name of the company and the year. The front also has my firms logo/ address etc on the front. There is a blank cardboard back and they are all stapled together with three staples down the left hand side.
That way if the client want to rip the cardboard folder off they can; if they want to present to an investor or bank (!) it at least looks better than a scrappy bit of printed out paper.
The folders dont cost a lot.
PDF
I give PDFs, with paper (thermal bound) copies to those clients who have a preference for paper. Ideally I'd just do PDFs, less hassle for me.
I'm with JA Adams
Perhaps that reflects my generation - that I did my "articles" in the early 1960s
We use "glue blinders" provided by Touraco Limited
They provide a good product and an excellent service
Touraco Limited
6 Robert Leonard Industrial Park
Aviation Way
SOUTHEND ON SEA
SS2 6GG
The old fashioned way....
The old fashioned way with nice windowed report covers and Velobind strips. Very simple, very easy. Needs to be done manually but far less expensive than comb binding and easy to take apart if necessary. But they do look nice. I think the bound accounts are an important reflection of our work so I will keep providing them until clients tell me they no longer want them.
I inherited a comb binding machine ...
... they do the job a treat, but as said above, not easy to get the window covers these days.
Window covers
... they do the job a treat, but as said above, not easy to get the window covers these days.
Try D3 Office Group 01482 878737. We get Rexel covers from them that are in packs of 25 sets of 1 window and 1 full cover and have bought them from them for years with no problems. The colour choices are limited but we use white with blue binder strips to match in with our logo and they look the part. They have an online catalogue, but I have found it better to speak to one of their sales team and they will source them for you.
Regards
Jimess
I have a stack of ...
Snopake Clip File 4's should anyone really want a 'bound copy' ..... 99% don't so they last quite a long time nowadays.
Well I always used to get the junior (who's father pays me to work here) transcribe them onto velum pass them to the shoeless delivery boy to run them to the bookbinder in the next town who puts a hand engraved leather cover on them, before having my butler deliver them in the coach and horses to the client on a silver tray along with my bill with a red seal, but then I figured sod it, and now just print them out shove them in a plastic wallet or email depending on the client's preference.
I was actually thinking of charging £5 for paper documents but decided it was a bit petty.
By the By
Does anyone know what those card corner thingys that you staple to accounts are called? I've always thought they were rather smart but can't find them on the interweb anywhere!
I always email accounts or just print off a copy on plain white paper with a paperclip for those still living in the dark ages who don't do email (seriously, even my gran does email!).
Do it your self!
Does anyone know what those card corner thingys that you staple to accounts are called? I've always thought they were rather smart but can't find them on the interweb anywhere!
Buy them? Ye Gods! You take an old (yes used) cardboard binder/cover and cut off a triangle. Then fold the triangle in half and staple (or as we do) rivet the corner on. (Before you ask rivet guns are around £20 and the bags of rivets a couple of quid.)
... but then again we still supply press-seals with all companies we provide, and print on 100gsm Conqueror AND send 3 copies of the (bound) M&A etc. - all boxed, by courier. Our clients expect it (and may I say) pay for it.
Document corners or legal corners
Does anyone know what those card corner thingys that you staple to accounts are called? I've always thought they were rather smart but can't find them on the interweb anywhere!
I always email accounts or just print off a copy on plain white paper with a paperclip for those still living in the dark ages who don't do email (seriously, even my gran does email!).
Document corners or legal corners
I always send pdf's
"Client can delete a computer file - if the accounts are put in a presentation folder they are less likely to lose them"
I would have thought they are more likely to lose paper accounts. If they do lose my email with the accounts pdf then they only have to ask and I will forward the email again in a couple of seconds.