What factors make a good accounting firm for you and your business? This is a question I re-visit every year to make sure we are providing value to you – our dear clients.
A large part of what I personally do is advise restaurant owners – both clients and non-clients on how to streamline and make efficient their back-of-the-house accounting systems. And what they should be paying for accounting services based on their size, sales, and sophistication.
So what makes for a good accounting/payroll/tax service for today’s restaurant and bar owner ?
Right size.
There is a broad range of accountants and payroll services in the market. From the large regional firms to the bookkeeper working out of his or her house. Fees and knowledge correlate very closely to size.
Larger firms are going to be very expensive and the small guy working out of his house is going to be cheap. Whether they have the knowledge of tax law and the restaurant industry and can provide the services you need as well as knowledgeable answers to your questions is another story. Kallas is “right sized” for most all restaurant owner’s needs, meaning we are not too big and we are not too small to meet your needs most precisely.
Specialization and expertise
We have made the claim for 75 years and it still holds true today.
No other accounting or payroll firm in Michigan specializes 100% in the bar-restaurant industry. Every day, employees here at Kallas are answering questions regarding taxes and management related to the restaurant industry. Our experience in this industry is unparalleled.
I talk to accountants with expert knowledge of taxes who have not even heard of some of the issues we deal with every day. And our office systems are set up to cater only to our restaurant clients. We don’t spread ourselves thin by handling bowling alleys, car dealerships, grocery stores, metal shops, medical practices and other industries.
This newsletter, which we have been producing every quarter for 38 years is an invaluable free service to our clients and no other accounting firm has anything like it.
Right Pricing.
I check competitive pricing all the time. Some accountants will not even take a restaurant client because it is too much work for too little money. Others expect you to do all the work. Others will charge you to do research for simple things that if you know the restaurant industry, you would know. And others don’t know what they don’t know.
Last week I was out at a new client that previously used ADP for payroll. The Kallas price for payroll, bookkeeping and tax returns was $120 more than what ADP charged for just payroll. That new client was very, very happy. We can charge very reasonable fees – fees that a restaurant can afford because of our specialization, our “right sizing” and our bundled services.
Responsiveness.
When you call Kallas, you talk to someone immediately. You don’t get an answering machine with 10 to 12 options and, if you are lucky, a return call the next day. Many accountants and payroll companies prefer using voice mail to save effort. Against many people’s advice, I refused that notion years ago.
Our clients need answers right away. New clients who come to us are astounded when they see how fast we give them answers especially when they got used to sometimes waiting days for an answer from their prior accountant.
Bundling.
We bundle our bookkeeping, tax and payroll services to give you the biggest bang for your dollar. Buying these services separately will usually cost more. In addition, you only have to make one call to get issues resolved.
There is no finger pointing when you have a problem. Everything is handled by one expert company.
Personal relationships.
We have a personal relationship with every client. You are not a number with us. We know your goals, your resources, the things you value, the things you need, your risk tolerance and your sensitivity to tax issues and we use that information to better serve you.
So what factors make a good accounting firm right for you? Right sizing, expertise in the industry, right pricing, responsiveness, services offered and personal attention – and don’t forget gratitude. We never take for granted what you do for us.
Thank you again for your continued patronage.
