Digital connectivity and convenience are two key parts of today’s customer relationships—and this is true for both B2C and B2B companies. Customers want to be able to easily address their needs online, and you want to make reaching your customers as simple as possible.

After working in accounting for a number of years—whether in the accounting department or for an actual accounting firm—you’ve no doubt toyed with the idea of striking out on your own. But what does becoming an accounting consultant entail, and what must you do to make the transition successfully?

Your accounting firm could be the best in the industry, but prospects won’t get to experience the value you provide if they’re turned off by your website. Yes, in addition to growth, client experience, and pricing, you must also consider your web presence.

Business leaders are always looking for ways to improve the bottom line. This typically means either selling more products and services to increase revenue, or doing more with less to reduce costs.

With today’s digital noise and limited results from offline approaches, marketing for any industry or profession can present a challenge. But marketing for accountants can be particularly thorny for a few reasons:

“I’ve been working for other accountancies too long. I need some independence, so starting my own accounting firm is my next goal.”

When you think about older intranets, images of ghost towns and tumbleweeds probably come to mind. That’s because these corporate solutions were costly, one-way communication tools—in other words, expensive megaphones.

Relationships are critical to service-based businesses, and accounting is no different. The work you do and the interactions you have with clients impacts their view of your firm. If something is amiss, it could sour your relationship and cause them to leave your firm for a competitor.

Collaboration is the foundation of business success today. It’s how employees come up with great ideas, stay in touch with their coworkers and managers, and complete important projects. Underpinning modern collaboration efforts is technology, as 83% of professionals depend on it to work together seamlessly.

So you’ve landed a new client for your accounting practice and you’re ready to get started. While congratulations are in order, it’s important to do some preparation before rendering your services and sending an invoice. One key step is to create an accounting engagement letter for your client to review and sign.