My Week – The Google Accountant

If you are anything like me when a potential client asks questions, you respond in the best possible way to impress them to buy your services.

For me, it is hard to know where to draw the line as regards to giving too much information and giving just enough for them to become a client then all will be revealed. How can I talk, for example, about Flat Rate VAT scheme, without giving details how the savings would be generated? It is easy to say don’t give too much information or don’t give them the answer.

I think just by merely mentioning Flat VAT Scheme, the client would go away and ask the Google Accountant, and he would get all the information.

When I sought quotations to have vertical blinds fitted in my flat, no one gave me the measurements of my windows. I was emailed quotations telling me number of windows they would cover and the price. This way I could not order them on the net. The thing is I did. I looked up on YouTube how to measure windows for vertical blinds. Including the fitting costs I saved 50% of the lowest quote by ordering the blinds online.

The compliance service most of us provide is straightforward. It is easy to get the information from the Google Accountant. Maybe in this fantastic easily accessible information age, lines can no longer be drawn. Best to tell all and have a fee that is competitive and service that is outstanding.

So the potential clients I lost during the week was not because I gave too much information away, it was because another accountant fees were competitive and may be their service offering was better. On reflection, I think it is not about where to draw the line but about price and service delivery. In this case, someone beat me to it, and I am not at all happy! I will not forget the one that got away.