Surpass Growth
A calculator and a pen on a sheet of figures, in black and white

Marketing for accountants and tax preparers

Most new clients come from a friend's referral, and then they look you up on Google before they call. We make sure what they find backs up the referral, and that someone answers the phone in April.

Where an accounting firm loses jobs

Hands going through tax forms beside a calculator

The phone never stops from January to April

Tax season is when new clients call, and it's also when you have the least time to pick up. Every call you answer pulls you out of a return, and every one you miss goes to voicemail.

People with a deadline don't wait for a callback. They try the next preparer on the list, and a client who files with someone else this year may stay there for years.

The fix: Riley, AI ReceptionistOur AI receptionist answers every call during the rush, books new clients into open appointments and sends you a summary, so you can stay with the return in front of you.Setup: $750
Person typing on a phone

A friend refers them, then they look you up

In a National Society of Accountants survey, nearly every firm said it relies on referrals from existing clients to find new ones. That referral is a strong start.

Even so, the person still searches your name before calling. A listing with three reviews from 2019 makes them wonder, and some call the firm with the stronger profile instead.

The fix: Review GenerationReview Generation asks every client for a Google review once their return is filed, with a direct link, so the next person they refer finds plenty of recent ones.With a website from us: Included
Butcher shop owner smiling at his phone behind the counter

People without a referral ask Google or ChatGPT

Not everyone has a friend to ask. A new business owner types 'CPA for small business near me' into Google, or asks an AI tool who to see, and gets a short list of names.

Those names come from what the web says about each firm, mostly the Business Profile and the reviews. When your details are thin or out of date, the list leaves you off.

The fix: AI SEOAI SEO works on getting your firm named in ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google's AI answers, and into the three spots under the Google map, in one plan.Monthly plan: $950 per month

What one tax client pays each year

These are the average fees firms charged per return in the National Society of Accountants' fee survey. A client who stays is billed again every spring, so one new client is worth several years of these fees.
What one tax client pays each year: the typical price, and the usual range
Personal return, itemized, with state$323
Personal return, not itemized, with state$220
S corporation return$903
Partnership return$733
Source: National Society of Accountants, 2020-2021 Income and Fees survey, national averages.

What usually works best for accounting firms

Back up every referral with a strong Google profile, then reach the people who are searching without one.
  1. Review GenerationRecent reviews that back up a friend's referral
  2. Near Me SEOA spot in the map for 'tax preparer near me'
  3. AI SEONamed when someone asks an AI tool for a local CPA
  4. Riley, AI ReceptionistNew-client calls answered all through tax season

  • Review Generation

    With a website from us: Included

  • Near Me SEO

    Monthly plan: $750 per month

  • AI SEO

    Monthly plan: $950 per month

  • Riley, AI Receptionist

    Setup: $750

An accounting firm's year

Most new clients call between January and April. September and October bring a second, smaller rush as extended returns come due.

Map and AI rankings take around 90 days to move, so start Near Me SEO or AI SEO by October. Send review requests as each return is filed, all season long.

How busy a typical month is
JanuaryBusiest
FebruaryBusiest
MarchBusiest
AprilBusiest
MaySlower
JuneSlower
JulySlower
AugustSlower
SeptemberSteady
OctoberSteady
NovemberSlower
DecemberSteady

Check your firm's Google listing before tax season

Look up your firm by name on Google Maps, the way a referred client would, and check each of these. None of them costs anything.
  1. 1.Your category fits the work

    'Accountant', 'Certified public accountant' and 'Tax preparation service' are separate categories on Google. Make the main one match what most clients hire you for.

  2. 2.Your tax-season hours are on the listing

    Show your longer hours for January to April. Google also lets you set special hours for dates like April 15 and the holidays.

  3. 3.Your services name the work

    Add each kind of work, such as business returns or bookkeeping, as a service, so a searcher can tell at a glance whether you do what they need.

  4. 4.Your newest review is from this season

    A referred client reads the dates. Reply to each review in a sentence, and never mention anyone's taxes or money in a public reply.

  5. 5.Your website says how to get started

    Say what to bring to the first meeting and how to book it. A clear first step turns a friend's tip into an appointment.

  6. 6.Your name and number match everywhere

    Use the same firm name, address and phone number everywhere, from Google to directories like Yelp. AI tools find it easier to recommend a firm whose details agree.

Want us to check yours for you?

Send your website and the area you serve. We'll look at your listing the way a customer would and tell you which of the services above fit an accounting firm, priced line by line.
Let's talk (720) 419-1422

Frequently Asked Questions

Most of my clients come from referrals. Do I need marketing?
Referred clients still look you up first. Reviews and a complete Google profile make sure that search backs up what their friend said, and the same work reaches people who have nobody to ask.
When should an accounting firm start marketing for tax season?
In the fall. Work on the map and on AI answers usually takes around 90 days to show, so a plan started in October is landing as the January calls begin.
Can the AI receptionist answer tax questions?
It answers the questions you put in its script, such as your fees or what to bring. Anything that needs your judgment becomes a message for you or a transfer to your phone.
Is it all right to ask tax clients for reviews?
Yes. Ask every client the same way, and keep their return and their money out of anything you write in reply. Some clients prefer to stay private, and that's their choice.
What's the difference between Near Me SEO and AI SEO?
Near Me SEO works on the Google map for seven searches you choose. AI SEO covers the map too, and adds the work of getting your firm named in AI answers like ChatGPT's.
Should a CPA firm run Google Ads?
Ads can work for business clients searching for bookkeeping or a business return. Many firms start with their listing and reviews, since that's what referred clients check.
Do I have to sign a long contract?
No. You're billed month to month, and every price is on our service pages.

Other businesses we serve

See every kind of business we serve

Get more calls as an accounting firm

Send your website and your service area. Your proposal lists the services that fit your business and prices every line from the prices on our site.
Let's talk (720) 419-1422
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