Accountants: What's On YOUR Holiday Wish List?

With Black Friday rapidly approaching, it's time to think ahead and think about your holiday wish list.

Fortunately, the general attitude amongst most accountants that I talk to is more positive than year's past. In fact, it's a little optimistic as it relates to how the year is closing and prospects for 2016. And some have been pleased with profit margin improvements over the past couple of years.

Here are a few things that I've heard so far:

1. Practice Management tools – Is there a magic bullet to help me as my practice grows?
2. Online Payment Processing – Absolutely needed to shrink A/R!!
3. Higher better staff – Ok, this is always on the list…
4. Learn something new – Explore a new area to improve the practice.
5. Attend a new conference for 2016.
6. Replace my website (facelift) with a responsive web design that looks modern.
7. Outsource marketing and lead generation for 2016.
8. Improve my reputation locally so new business walks in the door.
9. Develop a new niche in my practice.
10. Add 1-2 new certifications to give prospects more reasons to hire your firm.
11. Move my office to a better location after tax season.

Since the list is rather long, here are some suggestions to make your wishes come true.

• Plan now for technology investments. Since tax season is rapidly approaching, now is the time to explore and test new technologies whether it's a practice management tool, tax software, replace your dated website with a responsive website, or implement online payment processing to shrink A/R. Resist the instinct to test this at year-end.
• Hire and train staff now.
• Register now for 1-2 new conferences (or initiatives) in 2016.
• Stop the DIYer marketing approach and finally outsource your marketing so it is done throughout the year and more effectively.
• Enhance your local reputation by obtaining more online reviews and move the office to a better location in 2016.
• Cut the productivity killers (e.g., lousy staff members, time killing clients, old technologies that fail to deliver on their promise).