What Makes a Good Client

What factors do you use to determine if someone will be a good client?

What factors do you use to determine if someone will be a good client?

I am thinking of my business clients.... There are off the top of my head what most of them have in common.


They value you and your time

They pay their bills in less than 30 days.

Keep a well maintained set of books and reconcile all cash accounts and CC accounts before you arrive

Don't bring unneeded risk to the relationship

There are some common factors, but more importantly is defining what a good client for YOU looks like.

What southparkcpa said.

When I was working in England my junior told me a tale about his mother who worked in a bank. At the start of a training day, they were asked to list their five best and five worst customers. They took the lists away and, after lunch came back with some news that surprised everyone (except the trainer, I expect). The "best" customers generated the smallest profit for the bank and the "worst" generated the greatest. There is a difference between a client who is a troublemaker and one who demands quality work. It is not always easy to tell which is which.

Some green flags with a new potential client:

* Earns enough to afford a professional

* Responds to email correspondence within one day, but also not too fast either

* Does not blame prior preparer for issues

* Pays estimated taxes or is aware of them

* Effective communication

* Does not expect free and immediate tax advice during a meet and greet, especially if they self-prepared.

* Does not say things like, "my taxes are very simple" while they have, in fact, become too complicated for him/her to do them on turbo tax.

* Has no problem utilizing a portal to upload documents

* The prior year tax return was not signed in the 1st and 2nd week of October (September for those returns).

* Is likable and also appears to be "smart" or "intellectual".

* Is proactive about sending items

--A baseline level of respect and grace. Some individuals believe they can talk to a service provider however they like. The individuals that make that mistake with me quickly find their way out. I don't care who they are and who they're connected with. This is a non-negotiable for me; life is too short.

--Pays invoices timely.

--Provides high quality referrals regularly.

--Views me as a value generator, not a cost center.

--Fits into my niches, which allows me to serve them at my highest level.

One thing I love is when a client will actually reach out to me for advice before making some kind of decision affecting their taxes such as purchasing a rental property, investing in a partnership, etc. versus just doing it and then we have to be the bearer of bad news when they can't deduct a loss, give them a surprise tax bill, etc.

I think that I may have misunderstood the OP.

Or other's did.

Are we seeking how to predict whether or not a client "will" be a good one?

Or do we just want to know what makes a good client?

In no particular order, someone that would be a good client for us:
- Referred to us by another good client. Good clients bring good clients, bad bring bad.
- Asks informed questions during the initial meeting.
- No unreasonably negative things to say about prior accountant. We know most of the other preparers in our area, at least by reputation if not personally, so hearing something that's out-of-character for one of them is a dead giveaway.
- Is up-to-date on all tax filings and payments. This one is an immediate deal-breaker.
- Proactive about tax planning/bookkeeping/organization in general.
- Client is looking for us to do year-round services, not just tax prep.

I think that I may have misunderstood the OP.

Or other's did.

Are we seeking how to predict whether or not a client "will" be a good one?

Or do we just want to know what makes a good client?

I was asking more about the initial evaluation stage but hearing what others felt once the client engaged is also helpful.