75% off

for 3 months

Start fresh this new year with QuickBooks Online

Buy now

SALE

Buy now and
save 50% off today See plans & pricing

SALE

See plans & pricing

Start your business
Start your business
Run your business
Run your business
Grow your business
Grow your business
Accountants and Bookkeepers
Accountants and Bookkeepers
- Accountants and Bookkeepers
  Learn how accountants and bookkeepers can be productive in these articles & guides
- Learning and Development
  A range of informative content to enhance your QuickBooks experience.
Updates
Updates
- Product Updates
  Watch this space for monthly product updates.
- Intuit News
  Latest news, articles & guides

QuickBooks Blog

Need help choosing a plan?

1800 917 771 Schedule a call

Schedule call

7 effective ways to find accounting clients

accountants and bookkeepers

How to find accounting clients - 7 ways

By QuickBooks Australia

Published on June 10, 2024

Are you an accounting or bookkeeping pro in need of effective ways to increase your client base? Or, do you want to replace some of your lost accounting clients or ditch old marketing techniques for new channels to build a steady pipeline of clients? Implementing proactive strategies and investing resources in technology and marketing turns prospects into clients. Whether you are building a new accounting business or growing your existing firm, finding new clients is crucial to your business’s success.

But before you learn how to find clients for your accounting or bookkeeping firm, first identify your target audience. Start by answering a few questions to find your ideal clients and jobs that suit you:

How much time do your clients spend managing their payroll and books?
Which clients are likely to return?
How profitable are your customers?
How much revenue do your clients generate?

Once you focus on a specific type of client, proceed to implement your marketing ideas to reach out to potential new ones.

Ask For Referrals and Reviews

One of the fastest ways to expand your client base is to tap into your current client list. Offer high-quality services and your customers will tell others about you. Although most of your clients refer your business to potential customers for free, establishing a referral programme for your existing clients can be a smart move.

But how do you create a referral programme that works? Start by deciding what you are willing to give clients who send referrals your way. Offer discounts, gift cards, and other benefits to motivate your clients to tell others about your business. Send newsletters and emails to your clients to tell them that you are looking for referrals. Put some testimonials on your website showing how some of your customers are satisfied. Set up a tracking system to identify referrals, so that you can reward clients who refer them.

Partner with other Professionals

One other way to get clients for your business is to partner with other businesses or professionals who are not in direct competition with you. Such businesses include, among others, insurance agents, lawyers, bankers, and tax professionals. Obviously, they have clients who are in need of your services. Let these professionals know that you are an accounting or bookkeeping professional, and verbally ask them to send some of their small business clients your way.

You may improve business alliances with other trusted professionals by sending them some of your clients. Once other businesses introduce you to their clients, you may offer cash bonuses if you are not in a position to send clients their way.

Network Effectively

Make the most of networking events to meet new prospects and expand your client list. What are the best ways to network?

Join local business groups in your city and find a way they can support your business. For mutual benefit, also offer some contribution to the groups. You may find referrals in these groups.

Another way to network is to find meet-up groups consisting of people with a common goal. For example, you may join groups of people who love exercising in the morning. Once in a while, tell them about your profession and ask them if they can get accounting and bookkeeping clients for you.

Volunteer to teach in your local neighbourhood’s educational institutions. Offer the best service for your students to refer clients your way. A university or college may also decide to give you a job. Ensure that you hone your public speaking skills before you become an instructor.

Looking for the full package?

Engage with the QuickBooks suite to unlock additional price benefits for Simple Start subscriptions

Call us on 1800 618 521

Create a Professional Website

With the world now gone digital, it is crucial that you create a website that revolves around the accounting services you offer to find clients online.

You may hire someone to create a professional website and list all your services and their adjacent prices. You can also visit online sites to learn how to create professional websites. Alternatively, use free online templates to make a website where you can advertise your work and build your client base. Once you create a website, learn the basics of SEO and paid Google advertising.

Market Yourself on Social Media

Do you use social media sites to interact with your existing customers? You may also use these sites to advertise your business and get more clients. Developing brand-name recognition online in a cost-effective way to market your accounting practice. Some tips for effectively promoting your accounting business on social channels include:

Choose the right platforms

Sharing your skills on the right platforms is crucial to your success. Consider which sites your customers use the most, so they can easily connect with you.

Respond to customers quickly

Address questions and problems from both your clients and prospective customers quickly. Be sure to engage with the customers and apologise if you take too long to respond.

Be visual

Do you want your products and services to show off and boost engagement on social channels? Add photos and videos to your content, and post pictures of happy clients on sites like Instagram and Pinterest.

Create a calendar

Avoid rushing to create last-minute posts. To get consistent results with less time and effort, create a schedule, automate some activities, and assign some tasks to your employees or contractors.

Create a profile on the QucickBooks Find-a-ProAdvisor directory

The QuickBooks Find-a-ProAdvisor directory is used by tens of thousands of small businesses looking for a new accountant or bookkeeper. QuickBooks Certified ProAdvisors get a free listing to promote their practice in the directory.

Techniques to Find New Accounting Clients at a Glance

You may want to start with two or three of these strategies to land new clients. Be sure to consult with experienced accounting professionals to learn about ways they win over new clients. You may also want to employ some old yet effective marketing techniques, such as cold calling, to reach out to a wider market. Now that you know which tools and resources work best for your accounting business, make a plan and set deadlines to implement these ideas. Remember to teach and encourage your staff to use these tips to find prospects.

Whatever growth means to you, we’re here to support you in achieving your goals. Our guides can help you find more clients, add new revenue sources, and build a future-fit business.

Are you an accountant or bookeeper in search of a solution to organise your invoices and payments, and automate workflows and payroll? Collaborate with clients, stay on track and grow your firm with QuickBooks Online Accountant. Sign up for free.

accountants and bookkeepers

Accountants & Bookkeepers: Key partners in the fight against inflation

November 8, 2022

accountants and bookkeepers

Why client reviews matter when attracting new business

June 10, 2024

accountants and bookkeepers

Identifying your ideal client and establishing your growth goals

November 14, 2022

Looking for something else?

Get QuickBooks

Smart features made for your business. We've got you covered.

See how it works

Help Me Choose

Use our product selector to find the best accounting plan for you.

Choose your product

QuickBooks Support

Get help with QuickBooks. Find articles, video tutorials, and more.

Start learning

A computer screen showing a picture of a computer.

TAKE A NO-COMMITMENT TEST DRIVE

Your free 30-day trial awaits

Our customers save an average of 9 hours per week with QuickBooks invoicing*

No credit card needed

Cancel anytime

Unlimited support

By entering your email, you are agree to our Terms and acknowledge our Privacy Statement.

- - QuickBooks reserves the right to change pricing, features, support and service at any time. Prices are in AUD and include GST. See our Terms of Service for further information.
  - Pricing: All prices are in AUD and include GST.
  - ProAdvisor Program: Please find the terms of our ProAdvisor program here.
  - 75% off for 3 months: For new subscribers, enjoy a 75% off price subscription on QuickBooks Online Simple Start, QuickBooks Online Essentials or QuickBooks Online Plus for the first 3 months of your subscription (Offer). The discount will applied from the date of your enrolment and will continue for 3 months. From month 4, you will be charged the then current monthly retail price for your subscription. See current prices here. QuickBooks Payroll and QuickBooks Time prices are not eligible for any discount and will be invoiced separately according to your usage on a monthly basis during your subscription. Intuit reserves the right to request information to verify the eligibility of a purchaser of the Offer. Acceptance of such verification information is at the reasonable discretion of Intuit, which may revoke the Offer and impose a monthly cost for the subscription at the then current retail prices, at any time if it considers the purchaser is ineligible for the Offer.
  - 50% off for 12 months: For new subscribers, enjoy a 50% discount off the current monthly retail price for QuickBooks Self-Employed, QuickBooks Online Simple Start, QuickBooks Online Essentials or QuickBooks Online Plus for the first 12 months of your subscription (Offer). The discount will applied from the date of your enrolment and will continue for 12 months. From month 13, you will be charged the then current monthly retail price for your subscription. See current prices here. QuickBooks Payroll and QuickBooks Time prices are not eligible for any discount and will be invoiced separately according to your usage on a monthly basis during your subscription. Intuit reserves the right to request information to verify the eligibility of a purchaser of the Offer. Acceptance of such verification information is at the reasonable discretion of Intuit, which may revoke the Offer and impose a monthly cost for the subscription at the then current retail prices, at any time if it considers the purchaser is ineligible for the Offer.
  - 75% off for 3 months (existing subscribers): For existing QuickBooks subscribers who upgrade to QuickBooks Online Essentials, Plus or Advanced, enjoy a 75% discount off the current monthly retail price for 3 months of your subscription (Offer). The discount will be applied from the date you upgrade in-product and will continue for 3 months. From month 4, you will be charged the then current monthly retail price for your subscription. See current prices here. QuickBooks Payroll and QuickBooks Time services and prices are not eligible for any discount and will be invoiced separately according to your usage on a monthly basis during your subscription. Intuit reserves the right to request information to verify the eligibility of a purchaser of the Offer. Acceptance of such verification information is at the reasonable discretion of Intuit, which may revoke the Offer and impose a monthly cost for the subscription at the then current retail prices, at any time if it considers the purchaser is ineligible for the Offer.
  - Free Trial: First thirty (30) days of subscription to QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Self-Employed and QuickBooks Payroll (including QuickBooks Advanced Payroll), starting from the date of enrolment, is free. During the free trial, you may pay any number of employees using QuickBooks Payroll free of charge. To continue using QuickBooks after your 30-day trial, you'll be asked to present a valid credit card for authorisation and you'll be charged monthly at the then-current fee for the service(s) you've selected.
  - QuickBooks Payroll powered by Employment Hero: Payroll services are offered by a third party, Employment Hero. QuickBooks Payroll is only accessible via QuickBooks Online subscriptions. You will be charged $6.00 (incl. GST) per month for each ‘active employee’ paid using QuickBooks Payroll. An ‘active employee’ is one who has been paid at least once in the billing month. For Advanced Payroll, there is an additional monthly subscription fee of $10 (incl GST). Pricing, terms and conditions, including service options, are subject to change.
  * Employment Hero was voted the leading payroll solution for SMBs <50 employees (Australian Payroll Association 2021 Payroll Benchmarking Study)
  - Customer support: Call or chat to an expert for QuickBooks Online Accountant, QuickBooks Simple Start, Essential, Plus, and Advanced or use in-product QB Assistant and chat for QuickBooks Self-Employed. You'll also find useful resources in the QuickBooks Community.
  - Compatible Devices: QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Self-Employed and QuickBooks Payroll require a computer with Internet Explorer 10, Firefox, Chrome, or Safari 6 and an Internet connection (a high-speed connection is recommended). The QuickBooks Online mobile app works with iPhone, iPad, and Android phones and tablets. QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Payroll are accessible on mobile browsers on iOS, Android, and Blackberry mobile devices. Devices sold separately; data plan required. QuickBooks Payroll cannot be used on the mobile apps. Not all features are available on the mobile apps and mobile browser. QuickBooks Online mobile access is included with your QuickBooks Online subscription at no additional cost. Data access is subject to cellular/internet provider network availability and occasional downtime due to system and server maintenance and events beyond your control. Product registration required.
  - Get paid faster: Get paid 2.5x faster invoicing with PayPal
  * PayPal and QuickBooks customers get paid on average in less than 5 days, which is over 7 days faster than the average for invoices that get paid with other payment methods. Data is for paid invoices that were created in QuickBooks in Australia between 23.05.22 and 23.11.22
  - Tax deductions: Tax deductions not guaranteed due to being subject to user data entry errors. Mileage calculation provided by the Australia Taxation Office - 85 cents per kilometre for the 2023-2024 income year. To a maximum of 5,000 business kilometres per car (Deductions are only applicable to cars)
  - Customer Service Awards: Excellence in Customer Service Award at the CX Australia Awards 2022
  - Multiple file discount: Multiple file discount applies to QuickBooks Australia customers only and valid when signing up for more than one QuickBooks Online subscription in one order. Further terms and conditions available here. Not applicable to QuickBooks Self Employed.
  - Reviews: GetApp, Capterra, Google Play Store, Apple App Store reviews as at date 08/01/24.
  - Cost per day claim (annual): Based on a QuickBooks Simple Start plan at its regular retail price of $313 per year and a 365 day year.
  - Annual Billing: You may pay for your QuickBooks Online subscription on an annual, upfront basis to enjoy a discount on the current fees. If you use QuickBooks Payroll powered by Employment Hero, your payroll costs will still be charged monthly to your nominated payment method in accordance with your usage as set out here. If you cancel your QuickBooks Online subscription within the pre-paid 12 month period, you will not be eligible for a refund, but will retain full access to your QuickBooks Online subscription for the remainder of the 12-month period. Unless cancelled by you prior, your annual subscription will auto-renew on the 12 month anniversary of your sign-up date using the billing details you have given us. Discounts, prices, terms and conditions are subject to change.
  - Over 7 million customers: Based on number of global QB customers (ecosystem) (7.1m) worldwide as of October 2022.
  - Free Onboarding: Applicable to Buy Now subscriptions on QuickBooks Simple Start, Essentials and Plus plans. Not available for QuickBooks Self-Employed.
  - Save Hours: Save up to an average of 29 hours per month with QuickBooks.
  - * Based on a survey conducted by Intuit Australia Pty Ltd in September 2022. Time saving is in comparison to previous accounting method, based on 184 responses from customers that saw time savings.
  - Get access to QuickBooks Tax: ***Access QuickBooks Tax, powered by LodgeiT, by becoming a member of the QuickBooks ProAdvisor Program (it’s free to join). Find out more about the ProAdvisor Program here, including the terms of the QuickBooks Tax offer in the Program here.
  - QuickBooks Time Disclaimers & Offers for Australia: For Important pricing offers and disclaimers with further information, please see here.
  - *Full terms and conditions for access to QuickBooks Tax, powered by LodgeiT as part of the the Proadvisor Program can be found here. QuickBooks reserves the right to change pricing, features, support and service at any time.
  - **Intuit conducted a study involving 56 interviews with accountants and bookkeepers who used Books Review for BAS preparation between March to December 2021 and found that when using Books Review, participants reduced the time spent preparing their clients BAS Reports by around 40%.
  - Our Terms of Service apply to all QuickBooks Online subscriptions. Please review them carefully.

Intuit helps put more money in consumers’ and small businesses’ pockets, saving them time by eliminating work, and ensuring they have confidence in every financial decision they make.

How to find accounting clients - 7 ways

Ask For Referrals and Reviews

Partner with other Professionals

Network Effectively

Create a Professional Website

Market Yourself on Social Media

Create a profile on the QucickBooks Find-a-ProAdvisor directory

Techniques to Find New Accounting Clients at a Glance

Related Articles

Looking for something else?

Get QuickBooks

Help Me Choose

QuickBooks Support

Your free 30-day trial awaits