Managing multiple clients with these simple steps
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to client management. Every freelancer or firm handles clients differently, and you often have to tailor your approach to the specific client.
As long as you’re striving to be the best accountant you can be, it’s possible to efficiently manage multiple clients and grow a strong foundation with each of them.
Learn more about managing your firm in our resource centre.
1. Time management
Managing multiple clients requires time management. Begin with a structured schedule to track deadlines, appointments, and project milestones. You may want to use a shareable calendar or a digital planner, ensuring everyone in your team is on the same page and can visualise your deliverables.
The big picture is only one part of the story. You also need to master time management on a smaller scale, tackling tasks in your day-to-day. It’s important to focus on just one task at a time. This is called monotasking, and it makes your day more efficient by ensuring you can focus and complete one task at a time. You can use QuickBooks Time to help you and your employees manage time.
2. Prioritise
Learning how to prioritise your tasks is crucial. You need to recognise urgent projects that require immediate attention to ensure you’re focusing on what matters most.
One valuable method is the Eisenhower Matrix, which involves grouping your tasks into four quadrants:
- Important and urgent: Tasks needing immediate attention.
- Important but not urgent: Important tasks that require planning.
- Urgent but not important: Tasks of urgency but lower importance.
- Not important and not urgent: Tasks that are neither urgent nor important.
The idea is to prioritise the tasks in the first category, schedule the second, delegate the third, and don’t do the fourth. Set aside 15 minutes at the start of your day to write your to-do list and categorise your tasks.
3. Set clear expectations
Setting clear expectations is essential if you want to maintain healthy relationships with your clients. You need to openly communicate your availability, deadlines, and project scope to avoid misunderstandings.
The most important part is to be transparent and honest about what you can deliver within your agreed budget. If there is any confusion, make sure you seek clarity and ask your clients questions.
Finally, make sure you document agreements and project details in a clear contract. This safeguards both parties and allows for adjustments as needed.
Remember, it’s acceptable to say no when it ensures better service for your clients.
4. Communicate
Communication is a skill. However, it’s one that you should master if you want to keep your clients happy.
Part of this relates to setting those clear expectations in an honest, polite manner. But there are other facets to good communication, including accessibility. Make sure your clients can reach you effortlessly and get answers to any questions they may have.
Accounting can be fast-paced, and your day can become busy quickly. Set specific times to check your emails, ensuring you reply to all messages. Doing it at a specific time also sets clear boundaries, which means your clients won’t always expect an instant response. This even helps with monotasking, ensuring you don’t get swept up in an email chain when you’re meant to be doing something else.
5. Use tools
When you’re trying to manage multiple accounting clients, tools can go a long way. Project management tools are invaluable when you’re juggling deadlines and projects.
Fortunately, there are tons to choose from. Certain tools, like Live Flow and Asana, are general project management tools. However, others like Financial Cents and Aero are project management tools designed for accountants.
6. Automate tasks
Automation lets you do more with less. Technology is a great ally to accountants, and there are now countless tools at your disposal to help you automate various tasks, from invoicing to project tracking and beyond.
Evaluate your everyday processes to find out where your team is spending a lot of time. Then, see if you can find automation tools to help you cut through the clutter and boost productivity.