Finding a professional who not only sounds good but delivers isn’t always easy. Flashy freeway billboards and engaging social media posts may direct you to a business that appears trustworthy, but that’s what marketing is designed to do.
Absolute trust isn’t automatically given. When you start working with the expert you’ve chosen, truley trusting them may take time. Our CPA team partners with business owners and individuals throughout the year before their taxes are finally filed. And we understand how critical those first few discussions are in building trust. Before end-of-year taxes come around, other issues may come up that we can address.
For instance, a new client might have an extension from the last tax season and is dealing with late filings and possible penalties. Sometimes they may be facing an IRS audit, which requires a CPA with a defense plan. Our first action is to address these issues and help a business owner get back on track. While we work through the current problems, we must also consider the best tax strategies moving forward. That requires the business owner to trust us with their financials and let us learn more about their business.
There is a quote that says, “Trust is earned when actions meet words.” A CPA can say they will get right on your new business tax strategy, but what is it they do? Our CPA firm in San Francisco knows that’s when it’s time to show you can trust us.
Experts find it easy to build trust with their clients
There is educational knowledge and intuitive knowledge. When someone mentions talent, it usually includes some intuitive sense of how things should be done. Professionals who successfully build trust with their clients normally already have a specific inner compass pointing in the right direction. That may sound vague, but articles can help clarify it, such as the Forbes post about ‘timeless ways to build a trustworthy reputation for your business’.
Here are five core tips for taking action toward trust in business:
- Begin with listening and understanding. When a company leader comes to us, we need to hear their story first. Where they struggle, where they’ve had success, and what their goals are. If they are dealing with an extension or audit, a little empathy helps too. We’ve helped many business owners through tax hardships.
- Be honest about their situation. After a thorough examination of the business financials, we tell the truth. Sometimes it’s not easy to hear and we understand that. It’s why we also share the best tax solutions to help them do better.
- Offer value right away. Our CPA’s are ready to share helpful insights and articles improving our clients’ knowledge. When everyone understands the bigger picture, everyone is committed to the work ahead.
- Remain in touch. Year-round tax strategies normally involve more than one discussion before April 1st. It’s a series of check-ins throughout the year. We work with our clients to ensure they feel on track for a successful business tax season ahead.
- Be consistent and deliver. Following through with our promises is the main ingredient to a trustworthy partnership. That includes using our time to deliver the best tax experience our CPA team can provide!
Trust is the goal of a long-standing partnership, and our San Francisco CPA team works toward it with every client who chooses us.
