Starting a tax preparation business is a lot easier than many
people think. If you are good with people and numbers, this is
definitely a good business to consider. You do not necessarily have to
be a CPA or tax accountant to start this business. However, it is
important that you are well versed with state and federal tax laws, IRS
rules and regulations and filing requirements. You can take a training
course to be a certified tax preparer.
While attending the
course and getting certified is not difficult, you would have to make
some efforts to get clients. Mentioned below are some tips to help you
find clients for your tax preparation business.
Cold Contacting
This is similar to cold calling. Cold contacting includes looking for clients everywhere. This is done by making random phone calls or sending emails to random people. Cold contacting needs a lot of patience and perseverance. More often than not, this method of looking for clients is time consuming and expensive. It can also be quite demoralizing as you can get rejected most of the time.
Print Ads
A great way to target a large number of customers is by creating print ads like posters and flyers. You can post these in your locality where people can see them easily. For instance, ask your local supermarket or shopping centre to put up a few of your flyers. This will take your business to hundreds of people in and around your community. With this kind of advertising, you can reach out to a large number of people. You can also include an ad in your local newspaper.
Radio Advertisement
If your budget permits, you can also use a radio advertisement to promote your services. There are many people who tune into the radio, so you can be sure they will hear your ad. But ensure that your ad is played at the right time for people to hear it. Airing your advertisement late at night will not be fruitful. You must air it during peak hours when people travel back and forth from work. They will most probably have their radios on and come across your radio ad.
Referrals
Another good way to reach out to more clients is by asking for
referrals. Word of mouth is an inexpensive and effective way to promote
a business. Ask your clients to refer you to anyone else they know. You
may get more business as your clients will surely refer you to their
friends and family who trust and believe in them.
In addition to
all these, you can also post advertisements for your services on
Angieslist or Craigslist, where people look for these kinds of
services. You can also get an 800 number so that handling client
enquiries becomes easy and more professional.