Do you meet clients in your home?

[mactoolsix]

I recently had a question posed by a prospective tax preparer. She is an engineer (previous 10 years) and has decided to become an EA with the desire of someday starting her own practice. Note: She has three small children and here's her concern (which I feel is very valid)

"I'm slightly paranoid when it comes to my own personal safety. My dream is to work for myself one day, with a schedule that I control. My subdivision allows a home office and this is where I plan to do my work. I know that this is a vague question, and maybe naive too, but how often do you have to see a client in person? It doesn't seem to me that you would have much face-to-face interaction, but I'd love to hear your opinion."

I know many of you have sole proprietor practices. I'm curious, especially from the women - do you allow clients to meet you at home, or do you use a separate office site? Have you ever encountered any serious aggression from clients?

Thanks for sharing,
Mike

[ATSMAN]

Be Carefull

I am a male tax preparer and my office is at the back of my house and I see 80% of my clients there. I do NOT take walk-in clients so all my business comes from referrals. For a new client I take the time to get from my referral source as much details I can and I log that in a notebook. My suggestion to avoid things getting out of control:

1) If your state allows have a personal protection device in your desk drawer. It could be mace etc.

2) Avoid small talk relating to politics or religion if you feel the client has very strong opinions.

3) When it comes to tax related matter. If you disagree with a position the client wants you to take, let it be known why and that you can not defend that position and suggest that he should go somewhere else. Don't make him/her feel that they are stupid (they may be really!).

4) Terminate the appointment if you feel that the client is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. You can tell that within 5 minutes of the interview.

5) If you find the male client trying to flirt with you change the conversation immediately. Also dress professionally like a librarian! If this lady is married or has a boyfriend, have a picture on the credenza.

In all my years of practice I may have had 3 or 4 situations where a disagreement over a tax related matter caused me to tell the client to go elsewhere because I could be of no further help. I can usually tell when to pull the trigger by the voice and body movements of the client. My goal is to get them out of my property not to win an argument. I will let them feel they won the argument.

[Roberts]

I've never met a client at my home and never would.
There is a tax preparer somewhat near me who works out of their home and there is routinely 1-2 cars sitting out front during tax season which are clients meeting in their home. It's a tiny little dump of a house so I can't imagine where they are meeting unless it is at the dining room table.

A client did drop off a check at my house in my mailbox. He was desperate to get it delivered to me for some reason and couldn't drop it off at my office (1 mile away), mail it to me or wait for me to pick it up. Very weird 1x event. I think he was more interested in seeing where I live.

I meet with each of my client each tax season except for 2 who only deal with me via email. A lot of times I go to the client's home / office, especially seniors.

Executive office suites are NOT that expensive. She could also contract with some non-related office space or meet with clients at a restaurant? I have met many a client at Starbucks or Panera type restaurant.

[TaxmannEA]

I do

I have a separate practice that I run out of my home. I'm in a rural area and am usually well acquainted with these people. I also meet with several clients at there home or business due to their advanced age, disability or availability of business files. I've never had a problem with this in 40 years. I would not, however, want a lot of the clients that I deal with in my "city" office to be coming to my home. I can regulate the flow at home and still have a certain amount of personal time. I think that the question of a home office depends quite a bit on the area you serve and your client base.

I'm also a male, 6'5" and a former brown belt. I don't have many clients get too out of control.

[John of PA]

I would love to have an office in my home and have clients come there, but the town I live in will not let me. The rule is, if any customers or client visit the office, even one a year, you are not allowed to have that office in the home. This in my view is government oppresion. Someone up the street has an office in thier home that no customers visit, however UPS and Fed Ex trucks are in and out throught the day with thier noise and polution, and that is allowed, but my humble office, that might average one or 2 visits per week is not allowed. I think a better law would be a minimum of say 1 or 2 customers per day, to be more fair. Just like banking is no fun anymore, neither is living in a small town with a big municipul government.

[oceanlovin'ea]

Yes, office in my home

I have an office in my home and have for 12 years now. I see all my clients here except for the ones that send me their information. All my clients come from referrals. Many of my clients I had from my Block days. I do appointments so I never have more than 2 extra cars in my driveway. I try to make sure there is enough time between clients so there isn't a traffic jam.
I don't have a sign in the yard or on the front of my house.
I have had my grandchildren here sometimes even during tax season. In fact, one time when my grandson was about 2 or 3 he came into my office and got up in the lap of an older gentlemen that was here. He LOVED it. But usually they know not to bother me when I have clients. Since my grandchildren came along after I started working from home, my clients are all used to them and always ask about them and want to see them. I have to have new pictures every year. Depending on the age of the children, it can be distracting at times. But if that client wants a formal office setting then they aren't the client for me. Mine is casual...professional but casual. Most have become friends and want to visit a little bit too. Remember I am in the South. Southern people are just that way, you have to be friendly and caring with them.
I get referrals every year. I trust my clients and know they wouldn't send anyone to me that is questionable. I don't do appointments after 6 or 7.
I will say my husband is now retired so he is around most of the time now.

Linda, EA

[MDEA]

Office in home

I have had an office in my home for eight years.I only take referrals at this office.If my main office is too far for new clients to travel I meet them at a local Starbucks.I am trying to eliminate clients that I have to go to their homes it takes to much time.

[Uncle Sam]

Meeting With Clients

A bit off the subject - but I would NEVER meet a client to discuss such confidential matters at a public place.
Would you like a physician to examine your body in a restaurant?

That is absolutely the poorest choice of meeting circumstances.

[joanmcq]

I have an office in my home and have for 12 years now. I see all my clients here except for the ones that send me their information. All my clients come from referrals. Many of my clients I had from my Block days. I do appointments so I never have more than 2 extra cars in my driveway. I try to make sure there is enough time between clients so there isn't a traffic jam.
I don't have a sign in the yard or on the front of my house.
I have had my grandchildren here sometimes even during tax season. In fact, one time when my grandson was about 2 or 3 he came into my office and got up in the lap of an older gentlemen that was here. He LOVED it. But usually they know not to bother me when I have clients. Since my grandchildren came along after I started working from home, my clients are all used to them and always ask about them and want to see them. I have to have new pictures every year. Depending on the age of the children, it can be distracting at times. But if that client wants a formal office setting then they aren't the client for me. Mine is casual...professional but casual. Most have become friends and want to visit a little bit too. Remember I am in the South. Southern people are just that way, you have to be friendly and caring with them.
I get referrals every year. I trust my clients and know they wouldn't send anyone to me that is questionable. I don't do appointments after 6 or 7.
I will say my husband is now retired so he is around most of the time now.

Linda, EA

This is me except I have dogs & cats instead of grandkids. Now the dog that is usually curled up on the floor is aged and usually looking for pets, but if anyone threatened me, she'd go for them. I don't do walk-ins, and have never felt threatened or intimidated by a client. My city doesn't allow me to have any signage, and that's ok. My biz is referrals or people that find me in the GLBT yellow pages or through Google Adwords. The Adwords people are all remote clients. My office is upstairs, so if clients have trouble with stairs, I'll meet them at a table in the shade of the yard if it's nice out, or at a nearby Starbucks. I also usually have a roommate or two, and the last few have been rather large males. And like Linda, if my clients don't like the casual atmosphere, they can go elsewhere.

[ATSMAN]

Depends how public the place is

A few times a prospective client has suggested that we meet for lunch or coffee at a chosen place instead of their business location. I never ask the reason why. Usually I arrive first and I will ask the server or host for a corner or booth seat because we want to talk business and if it is a place that you frequent they will find you a semi private spot.

We are aware of our surrounding so we keep our volume low and the first meeting is usually a get to know each other type anyways. I just bring my yellow pad and my business cards!

I have seen many other business folks talk business at those locations, so it is not an unique experience.

[DTS]

Home office

Mike,

I used to meet 4 or 5 at my home, but really hated that. When my wife became ill, I stopped meeting many people at their home due to time away from home and now I receive most documents by mail (I can access my large POB 24/7 and I love that.) and I go to the homes of a few elderly. If a client wants to drive to me, I'll meet them for a drop-off or pickup in the front of my home or a spot of their choosing that's close to me and in the case of a woman, I am very uncomfortable meeting a woman in her home alone, so I insist on this.

Rarely do I miss my store front office, but there are times.

D

[FEDUKE404]

Public meetings

A bit off the subject - but I would NEVER meet a client to discuss such confidential matters at a public place.
Would you like a physician to examine your body in a restaurant?

That is absolutely the poorest choice of meeting circumstances.

Disagree (and a very poor comparison).

I regularly meet many of my clients at one of several nearby restaurants. There are frequently MANY business people doing the exact same thing, over a nice cup of over-priced coffee or while eating a sandwich.

If you avoid the rush times, it is not difficult to find an out-of-the way table. If in a restaurant, I always request the greeter for a table "where we can talk" and (preferably) away from the children's groups.

As for discussing confidential matters, so long as you don't shout (like many do for any conversation or on a cell phone) no one will have any idea what you are doing.

In recent years past, most of my clients did come to my home. For several reasons, I avoid that now other than if they (long-time clients) want to quickly drop off or pick up something.

I also now regularly will NEVER meet a first-time client in my home...in today's world there is some risk to doing so. I do not advertise in any way, shape, or form but even referrals can not be what they might have seemed to be.

Since I am now semi-retired, I do have a bit more free time (still limited in tax season) but the breaks available by getting out of the house even for a brief while can be beneficial.

Oh yes: I also have something a bit stronger than mace available while at home. . .

FE

[ATSMAN]

Video Monitoring

Another suggestion is to get video monitoring. You can get a decent system from Harbor Freight for less than $300.

Just the sign that the location is video monitored may prevent some people from acting foolish!

[mactoolsix]

Thanks to all who replied - you guys are a world of help!

Mike

[Roberts]

A bit off the subject - but I would NEVER meet a client to discuss such confidential matters at a public place.
Would you like a physician to examine your body in a restaurant?

That is absolutely the poorest choice of meeting circumstances.

Exactly how often do you ask your clients to disrobe, lie down on the table or examine their body during a tax appointment?