NT / How Not to Talk to an Accountant at Your First Meeting

[RitaB]

Gal comes in this morning with a bulging accordian file, circa 1987, and says "Dee" sent her.

Me: (thinking) Who? Could you be more specific? And, I'm going through the alphabet for a while there, wondering who A, B, and C are, in case that's a clue as to "D."

Then she says she just bought a business and the previous owner was using "Big Shot Accounting and Associates" (not their real name), but they are really pricey.

Old owner also said BSA & A didn't "give" him any tax breaks, either.

Me: Do tell. Well, thank you for coming in (without calling or anything), but I am just not in shape to take any new clients right now.

[JohnH]

When she walked in, you needed to have the "Cost for Questions" conversation.

You:
"First of all, we need to have a clear understanding about how much I charge to answer questions."

Client:
"Well how much do you charge for answering questions?'

You:
"The first answer is free.
Everything after that is $100 per question.
What's your next question?"

[RitaB]

Yeah

You don't happen to work with BSA & A, do ya, John? LOL