Getting documents and data from clients is, if I'm not mistaken still the No 1 cause of time wasting in any practice, what tools and workflow systems are there out there that solves the problem to make things smoother?
Most of my clients are pretty good in this respect, but I've just started using airtable for my Ltds, to prompt me to send out reminders at 6 months, 4 months and 2 months left to file. If they don't have the paperwork to me with 1 month still to go, I don't guarantee it'll be filed.
For the SA clients I used Trello last year, all clients on the left hand side and columns set for receiving paperwork, bookkeeping done, prep work done, tax return complete. Reminders sent when I wanted to chase them, which worked quite well. Again, if accounts not in by 31st December, no guarantee it'll be filed in time.
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John
Any advice given is for general guidance and professional advice should be sought applicable to your circumstances.
You'd be looking at some kind of practice management software. Accountancy Manager can set up automatic reminders to go out at scheduled intervals to clients, and I expect several of the others can also. I use Glide personally, which does have some chasing abilities but not as automated as AM is. If you have everything set up on a purpose built system, or use Trello etc as John has mentioned, then this keeps you on track to send out individual reminders and diary jobs on. I often find that clients respond better to individualised emails rather than one that they view as a 'catch all'.
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Jenny
Responses are my opinion based on the information provided. All information should be thoroughly checked before being relied on.
