No-show letter

I do about 400 or so 1040's per year, but each year, while I gain 50 or so clients, I lose about 40. Has anyone tried sending a letter to the effect "hey, we missed you last year...". I am considering sending a survey of sorts, explaining that we are always trying to improve our services, and would like to know why they left--service, fees, Turbo-tax, moved, etc. They can send it back in an enclosed postage paid envelope, anonymously.My thought is, if it turns out they were not satisfied with their new preparer, I would offer them a discount to give my services a second try.Has any one tried this? How did it go? Anyone ever see a sample letter of this kind.

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3 Replies

Chrisusc

Contributor

12/16/07 9:11am PST

It sounds as if it might be a good idea. I have never tried this myself.

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Daniellwolf

Contributor

12/16/07 11:34am PST

I subscribe to Thompson PPC, publishers of bi-weekly tax bulletins to keep informed. They provide us with sample letters, questionnaires, etc. I have used the surveys every three years or so to ask "how am I doing and are my services what you need?" I enclose the SASE and get 25-40% responses. This helps me understand what my clients need, and I occassionally send them to former clients.

This has never brought back a former client, but sometimes they do come back anyway when they see how other preparers(HRBlock, Liberty, etc) are doing.

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Payup

Contributor

10/06/08 6:56pm PDT