Best Ways to Reduce Tension During This Year’s Busy Season

It’s not uncommon for accounting professionals to have a love/hate relationship with accounting busy season.

Pretty much all accountants enjoy the extra income that’s part of the deal, which can support their company in the months that follow. Regrettably, plenty of accountants don’t touch their accountant websites and other important aspects of the firm for months on end, and they lose sleep and eat poorly, leading to greatly decreased health. Even taking into account the extra money it brings, busy season can ruin a practice.

To get the most out of busy season and leave the stress behind, successful CPA firms follow these 5 steps:

1. They Choose Their Accountant Websites Wisely

In filing season, every minute counts toward the bottom line. Taking precious time to file paper returns and fix broken printers slows accountants down – and ultimately equals less revenue.

Keeping the office simple is the name of the game, which is why well-prepared accountants use high quality accountant websites to increase efficiency. The following website features take care of a lot of the grunt work that can slow down a CPA during busy season:

• Automated newsletter
• Pay by credit card
• FAQs
• Secure file exchange
• Electronic tax prep forms

2. They Take Time NOW to Improve Their Accountant Websites

Disorganization in the workplace (and at home for that matter) really adds to people’s stress. Especially in a business like accounting, piles of papers and files quickly get out of control, spilling all over the floor and teetering on the edges of crowded desks. Important documents can get lost in clutter mountains – leading to angry clients.

Accountants who prepare for busy season before the first of the year are more relaxed and more effective in their client work. These CPAs arrange files, update their accountant websites, and clean out inboxes. And they’re careful to “hibernate” any projects that can wait until after April 15th by placing them out of the way where they won’t add to the general chaos.

Lastly, take a few minutes at the end of every workday to tidy up the office. You don’t need to go crazy, but never walk out of the office leaving the place looking like a storm just blew through. Nobody likes coming to work when it looks like a construction site. A few touch-ups at the end of a workday will give the next day a much better shot at a smooth start.

3. They Send Bad Clients Packing

All accountants have clients who trigger ulcers when they walk through the door. These difficult folks might take issue with every single fee, leave nasty comments on firms’ accountant websites, or just come across as highly unpleasant and antisocial.

It may be hard to do, but it’s okay to fire obnoxious clients, and smart CPAs terminate these relationships. The time accountants waste dealing with these troublemakers is better spent working with the clients who are easy and problem free.

4. They Hire Outside Help

Historically, accountants have been the biggest administrators. They answer e-mails, handle returns, manage their accountant websites, field phone and website inquiries, and other tedious tasks. But this work doesn’t make money, and it’s not hard – so why not hire an assistant or two for these pesky duties?

Busy season is the perfect time to hire interns. Interns are typically eager to gain some accounting experience, and they don’t usually cost much. Both accountants and interns benefit – and busy season can become much more manageable.

5. They Aren’t Married to the Job

During busy season, many accountants work 10, 12, 14 hours a day – or more. But not all of them. The most successful CPAs set boundaries for themselves.

Take a page from their playbook. Decide in advance each day what time you’re going to leave the office, and stick to it. A few more hours of sleep will greatly enhance your mood and boost your efficiency.

Be willing to set some boundaries for clients as well. Let them know that ALL pertinent documents must be received in your office by a certain date or else their returns will be extended. Period.

If you’re an accountant facing busy season, remember to take time for yourself. On a regular basis – at least one day a week – put aside all thoughts of taxes, numbers, and difficult clients. Decide to do something that’s fun and is really different from tax accounting, such as going for a bike ride or driving to the next town over with some friends. When you do, you – and your business – will come out of the busy season much better off!