Pay me before I start?.....this is long
Experiences I'm having as I'm starting out are causing me to rethink how to deal with new clients.I want to know if you get some of your funds like maybe a set up fee BEFORE you do any work for new clients? What ype of arrangements do you typically make?I'll start with an example (sorry in advance for the length)Talked with potential client who is paying sooo much money for just payroll services with her second accountant. Her first accountant was so slothful that 2003 corporation return were not filed until 2005. Personally I don't think she should be a Corp which was done out of her ignorance. So after spending two hours with this lady learning a little bit about her business including that the 2004 return has just been filed for a whopping $600 because there were no accounting, 2005 not filed, 2003 and 2004 personal taxes were filed late and 2005 still not filed (usually get refunds because of all of the credits), I offer her how for about $40 more I could do monthly accounting and bi-weekly payroll and she would know how much she's profiting..you know, the whole nine yards. She decided that she wanted me to be her accountant, but she had to let the other lady who does not do personal returns, but did a one time high priced corporation (which she outsourced) She was to let the lady know, for sake of this forum on Tuesday. I was to come that Friday and pick up things to start. Meanwhile, I am working behind the scenes because I am gearing for all of this back work and of course she wanted me to be her accountant. When she told accountant on Tuesday, accountant now wants to offer services because "she did not know that the lady was in need of accounting services" So she scheduled lady to come Thursday just to hear her out and be fair. But she told me to still come Friday because she wants me to be her accountant. Meanwhile I am still working behind the scence. Get there Friday with engagement letter and ready to pick up documents and find out that the conversation had not taken place because she was "not there" when the lady came. So she asked me to come back Monday afternoon because she would had talked to the lady that morning. I left the enagement letter with her. I get there Monday afternoon to find out that her dentist appointment after her appointment with the lady took longer and she wad in pain so please come back Wednesday. Get there Wednesday, she told me that someone encouraged her that she could do her own accounting. She showed me a 2004 Quickbooks Basic that she had started loading. She told me that she thinks this would be a challenge for her to learn and bla bla bla. (yet she still had the unopened Turbo Tax box she bought months ago to do her own taxes) However, she told me not to kick her to the curb yet because she may call me back in a week if it looks like she can not do it. I walked away not earning anything for all of the hours that I invested behind the scences. Is if uncommom to collect something before you start?
