Accounting Firm Success Tips in the Philippines

There’s never been a better time to be an accountant in the Philippines. As the number of SMEs rises (there are now more than 1.2 million), and as those businesses digitalize, there’s plenty of demand for high-quality accounting.

But accounting is also changing. Gone are the days of pens and ledgers, in 2025, accounting professionals must adopt effective strategies to stay ahead.

There are a number of challenges to overcome. Firstly, there’s building a strong client base. Then, there’s managing overheads. You’ll even have to learn new technologies to maintain efficiency and compliance. There’s a lot more to it than just crunching numbers!

As leaders in the accounting software field, we work with successful Filipino accountants every day. We’re here to let you in on some top tips for accountants, including how to start an accounting firm in the Philippines, and teach you how to take your accounting firm to new horizons. 

How to start an accounting firm in the Philippines

Succeeding as an accountant is one thing. First, though, you’ll have to know how to start an accounting firm in the Philippines in the first place. It might not be easy, after all, there are quite a few legal and operational steps to take, but with the right guidance, it won’t feel impossible.

Here’s our step-by-step guide on starting an accounting firm in the Philippines in 2025:

1. Meet the educational and professional requirements: Unfortunately, you can’t just wake up and become an accountant. You need certain educational qualifications. First and foremost, that means you have to be a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the Philippines. To be a CPA, you’ll need to have passed your CPA Licensure Exam administered by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).
2. Register your business: Now it’s time for the exciting (and tricky) part—getting started with your own firm. First, you’ll have to decide on your business structure (sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation) Then, register your business name with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) or the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), depending on the structure. You also need to secure a Barangay Clearance and Mayor’s Permit from your local government unit (LGU).
3. Obtain BIR registration and other licenses: You’re going to need to be able to issue receipts and pay taxes, so getting a Certificate of Registration (COR) from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is essential. You might also need to register with the Social Security System (SSS), PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG if you plan to hire staff.
4. Set up your office: If you’re going for a physical office, spend time finding the right one. Don’t forget, you’ll have clients coming and going all day, so you need to give the right impression. You might also want to invest in reliable accounting software and secure storage solutions.
5. Create a business plan and market your services: Many overlook this part. Take the time to sit down and draw up a serious, thorough business plan that outlines everything from your pricing strategy to your marketing plan. Don’t forget to market on both online and offline channels.

Cultivating a positive firm culture

Running a successful accounting firm comes down to a number of interlocking factors. Your skills, your staff training, your technology/software, your marketing, your pricing—the list is endless. But when it comes to accountant tips, one of the most valuable is to cultivate a positive firm culture.

What does firm culture mean exactly? It’s essentially the way your team works together and the values that drive that work. The shared beliefs, values, and practices that shape how your team interacts with one another and with clients. Of course, that’s not an easy thing to pin down.

But you can get things off to the right start. The first step is to clearly define your firm’s core values. They might include integrity, client focus, continuous learning, transparency, or innovation. But don’t just choose a bunch of random words, make sure they’re reflected in your everyday operations.

As the boss, you have a big part to play. Take an active role in encouraging open communication and providing personal growth opportunities. Why not try:

• Regular team check-ins
• Training sessions
• Informal bonding activities

Try it. You’ll see that clients prefer close, cohesive teams. So firm culture isn’t just about keeping the office peaceful. It’s also about growth and sustainable business success stretching far into the future.

In fact, we’d go so far as to say a strong firm culture is one of the biggest indicators of long-term success for accounting firms in the Philippines.

Effective client onboarding strategies

Okay, so your new accounting firm is up and running (or soon to be). What next? One of the best tips for accountants is to develop an effective client onboarding strategy. After all, first impressions matter. Especially in the accounting industry, where trust and professionalism are essential from the start. A great onboarding process sets the tone.

One of the best things you can do is standardize your onboarding process. By that, we mean making sure it’s the same every time. Every client, however big or small, gets the same level of care and professionalism.

Here are a few tips for accountants who want to develop a more impactful onboarding process:

• Set expectations: After you’ve welcomed your client, it’s a good idea to outline some expectations. Include deliverables, timelines, communication channels, and points of contact. Many find that providing a checklist of documents needed also helps.
• Introduce your process: Transparency is everything. Let your clients know how you perform their accounting and mention which tools you use (for example, QuickBooks). 
• Provide a welcome pack: In our experience, a simple welcome pack can go a long way. Include things like FAQs, firm policies, and service agreements. Don’t forget, this doesn’t have to be physical, you could send it digitally. 
• Personalize the experience: Treat every client equally, but not the same. Clients need to feel you understand their needs. So take the time to learn about their business goals, pain points, preferences, and so on. Even when it doesn’t seem directly relevant to accounting.

Don’t neglect onboarding. This is your opportunity to show just how great your firm really is!

Selecting the right business model

Developing a comprehensive business model can seem like a daunting task. But it’s worth it. A business model gives you structure. And structure helps your firm deliver services that truly align with your clients’ needs while keeping your operations efficient and scalable. Tailoring your model is key to standing out and building long-lasting relationships that pay.

• Understand your ICP: ICP means Ideal Client Profile. Who is your ideal client? What industries do they belong to? What specific services do they need (bookkeeping, tax compliance, payroll, or financial consulting)? Knowing this will make it much easier to choose a service delivery model, such as project-based billing, monthly retainers, tiered service packages, or even subscription-style pricing.
• Workflow mapping: It’s a good idea to document each step of your service delivery, from onboarding to reporting. Without this, how will you be able to identify pesky bottlenecks and miscommunications?
• Use accounting technology: These days, firms that don’t embrace accounting tech are likely to fall behind. Accounting software, like QuickBooks, has the power to seriously slash your time spent on tedious repetitive tasks. It can also help you monitor progress, assign responsibilities, and keep things clear across your teams. In 2025, clients expect the kind of speed accounting technology delivers.

If we had to choose one of the most important tips for accountants developing their business model, we’d say put the client first. Build your business model around your ICP and the rest will fall into place.

Implementing robust management practices

Overarching business models are important. But so are everyday operations. Every accounting firm needs strong management practices to maintain peak performance that brings clients back for more. That’s especially true as your firm grows. Growth brings great opportunities, but also greater complexity when it comes to managing staff assignments, capacity, and multiple client deadlines. Reliable management systems will be your best friend.

Here are a few things to think about:

• Develop SOPs: SOPs, standard operating procedures, are formally defined processes for everything from client communication to report generation. They’re essential for maintaining consistency and accountability across teams, they’re also a handy first port of call when team members have a question.
• Use accounting practice management solutions: Imagine how easy it would be to manage task assignment, progress monitoring, deadline setting, and workloads all from one dashboard. That’s exactly what tools like QuickBooks can do. In particular, QuickBooks Practice Manager helps you improve collaboration and stay on top of progress in real time.
• Capacity planning: Capacity planning is another critical component. Regularly assess your team’s workload to avoid over or under-assigning tasks. Use historical data and project timelines to forecast staffing needs and allocate resources accordingly.

Of course, these are just a few places to start. Watertight practice management comes down to juggling dozens of moving parts, but modern accounting software tools can help.

Ensuring data security and compliance

Digitalization is the future. However, digitalization also brings with it new security and compliance challenges. Protecting your clients’ personal data—not to mention your own financial data—is non-negotiable.

Unfortunately, in the Philippines, data breaches and cybersecurity threats are on the rise. So, adapting to this increasing threat with solid, watertight data security and compliance systems is absolutely a top priority. 

Here’s how you can ensure data security and compliance:

• Regular team training: Whatever kinds of protection software you have in place, know this: phishing and virus attacks will likely slip through. So, training your staff, at every level, to recognize phishing attempts and suspicious links is crucial. Remember, everyone plays a role in keeping client data safe. Not just IT. Why not conduct workshops or simulations to test awareness and improve response to potential threats?
• Secure your digital infrastructure: The most reliable way forward in 2025 is to use secure, cloud-based accounting platforms. QuickBooks offers encryption and multi-factor authentication—two must-haves for Filipino accounting firms. You should also invest in antivirus software and secure backup systems. Remember, you must keep all client and firm data in encrypted databases with strict access controls.
• Compliance: Security isn’t just about preventing nasty surprises. Every business is legally obligated to follow the Philippines’ Data Privacy Act of 2012. We’d recommend setting out a clear privacy policy and always following proper consent protocols. 

In short, maintaining strong security isn’t just about reassuring your clients. It’s also about safeguarding yourself from legal repercussions. After all, when it comes to accounting, confidentiality and accuracy are paramount.

Establishing an online presence

Gone are the days when posters and flyers were businesses’ primary communication methods. Today, it’s all about having a slick, informative website. But a website is more than just a digital flyer, it’s your opportunity to show off your services and communicate your brand values.

In 2025, very few clients sign up to a service without first exploring their website. So making your online presence as attractive as possible is crucial. Here are some tips for accountants looking to build up their digital image:

• Define your target market: As with all marketing, you need to know who you’re talking to. Otherwise, you may as well be shouting into the ocean. Ask yourself, are you focusing on startups, SMEs, freelancers, or specific industries like retail or real estate? Once you know this, you can tailor your messaging more effectively. Always make sure your target audience can find what they need quickly and easily.
• Build a professional website: A clean (and mobile-friendly) website is always a plus. Make sure to include important information that builds trust, too, like your background, team credentials, customer testimonials, and your services. You might also find that incorporating a blog/resource section goes a long way when it comes to establishing your authority. Plus, it’s great for SEO.
• Integrate social media: Social media is your secret weapon. Of course, it’s great for keeping in touch with clients. But it has another purpose. Social media localizes your brand and makes it easy for clients to either find you based on your location or refer friends. That’s crucial for an accountant operating in specific Philippine cities.

These days, a strong online presence is as important as your physical office. Don’t neglect your online channels, they’ll pay back in the long run.

Maintaining effective communication with clients

You’ll know from your own experience as a customer how important clear, proactive communication is. It can make the difference between signing a contract and walking away. For firms in the Philippines, where trust and personal rapport carry significant weight in business dealings, maintaining regular contact with clients can set your practice apart and foster long-term loyalty.

But effective communication isn’t just about replying to emails promptly, or, for that matter, sending out invoices. It also involves keeping your clients updated and reassured. In other words, being proactive. Every interaction is an opportunity to demonstrate your attentiveness. So keep clients in the loop on:

• Tax deadlines
• Regulatory changes
• Compliance requirements

Here are a few other tips for accountants who want to improve their client communications:

• Send newsletters: Why not work on developing a monthly newsletter packed with useful tips and info (like changes in tax laws and filing schedule reminders)? Studies show newsletters boost business credentials.
• Use multiple channels: Different clients have different preferences. You can accommodate this by staying active on different communication channels, such as email, messaging apps, client portals, direct mail, and so on.
• Personalize, personalize, personalize: The devil, as they say, is in the detail. Even the smallest touches, like using their business name or referencing a recent conversation, can speak volumes. 
• Be transparent: Make sure clients are kept updated on the progress of their financial reports and filings. Even when those updates are less-than-ideal. If there are delays or issues, be honest.

Developing a strategic marketing plan

Love or loathe it, marketing is an essential part of any modern business. If you want to penetrate the competitive Philippine market and reach the right clients, you’re going to need a stellar marketing strategy. And that means planning—lots of it.

Consider the following steps:

• Set clear objectives: Unfortunately, wanting to attract more clients just isn’t enough. How many clients do you want to attract? In what timeframe? Perhaps you want to penetrate a new industry segment or increase brand awareness in a certain demographic. Your goals will shape your marketing approach.
• Identify resources you’ll need: Think about what kind of budget, personnel, tools, and time you have to play with. You also have a choice to make between marketing in-house and hiring a professional. Allocate your resources wisely.
• Outline specific actions: These may include building a website, creating social media content, running email campaigns, networking in local business communities, and offering free financial tips or webinars to demonstrate expertise. 
• Use analytics: Crucial to marketing: watch your analytics. Tools like Google Analytics and Facebook Insights are great for this. They’ll help you measure key metrics and identify areas for improvement. 

Niche specialization for market differentiation

Frankly, there have never been more options for clients than there are today. Especially in growing markets like the Philippines. That’s why, if you want to cut through the noise, you’re going to need to specialize. That means finding and exploiting a niche. Offering general services to everyone means offering nothing to anyone. Instead, become a go-to expert in a specific space.

Some areas include:

• Online sellers
• Real estate developers
• Medical professionals
• Small food businesses

Your niche doesn’t need to be one of these. The point is that specializing helps you understand the unique financial challenges and requirements of that segment. That means better advice and faster solutions.

It’s helpful for you, too. Specialising helps you streamline your internal operations. Think about it, if clients share similar needs, you can standardize workflows much more easily. 

Oh, and don’t forget that marketing to a particular niche is much more effective than marketing to everyone.

Revising pricing strategies for profitability

Pricing can be one of the hardest things to get right, it can take new accounting firms months, even years, to hit the sweet spot. After all, you want to please clients while also remaining profitable.

On the surface, you have a few pricing models to choose from, each with its own pros and cons:

• Hourly billing: Traditional, but doesn’t take value into account (only time spent).
• Flat monthly rates: An increasingly popular option as it offers predictability for both you and your clients, which helps with budgeting.
• Service packages: A more modern approach. By bundling related services, like bookkeeping, payroll, and tax compliance, into tiered packages (basic, standard, or premium), clients can choose what suits their needs and budget. 

You might even consider creating custom packages for niche markets or industries. Whatever pricing strategy you go for, make sure you’re totally transparent from the off and that clients always know exactly what they’re paying and why.

Leveraging technology for operational efficiency

Finally, let’s talk tech. Technology is central to modern accounting. Accounting software does everything, from streamlining operations to enhancing overall service delivery. So, one of our top tips for accountants is to invest in reliable accounting technology.

Here are some types of accounting tools you should be looking into in 2025:

• Cloud-based accounting: Platforms like QuickBooks open up accounting wherever and whenever you are. What’s more, they provide real-time collaboration—no more endless back-and-forth emails! Automation is another big plus. QuickBooks can automate all those pesky time-consuming tasks, like invoicing, bank reconciliation, payroll processing, and tax calculations.
• Project management tools: Tools like Asana and Trello enhance internal workflows and client interaction. Combine them with messaging apps for sleek, streamlined management.

Your proficiency with these types of tools sets you apart. It demonstrates your efficiency, but also that you’re a forward-thinking business.

Don’t believe us? See for yourself how much difference QuickBooks can make with a free 30-day trial!