When I get a call or email from a potential new client wanting to set up a meeting to meet me, I always give a free initial consultation. I don’t want any pressure on either the client or myself, we will just meet and talk and get to know one another. The potential client can tell me about themselves and their business if they have one, and I can talk some about the way I run my practice and ask about the services they need. I always request they bring at least their last years tax returns – looking at them and asking about any current changes from last year will allow me to quote them a flat fee to do their work. I explain the fee and then they can make a decision about hiring me to work with them. If it doesn’t work out on either side they are under no obligation and we can part on a friendly basis (who knows, they might still want to refer me another person who might work better with me.) Anyway, the free consultation is one of the ways you can count on us to count for you.For financial, accounting and [...]
When ‘free’ credit report isn’t free
This article by Claudia Buck in The Sacramento Bee is a great summary of all these ‘free’ sites that will get you on credit monitoring services that can charge $30 a month if you don’t jump through the hoops:http://www.sacbee.com/2013/06/23/5515750/claudia-buck-when-free-credit.htmlI recently went to ‘freecreditreport.com’ where if you don’t opt out in 7 days they will nail you for these fees. I also tried the www.annualcreditreport.com site and it seems to work ok.For financial, accounting and tax musings,You can count on us to count for you! email bstonercpa@sbcglobal.net phone 818-317-6035 Website www.briantstonercpa.com
Overdraft protection may raise fees
Actually requesting overdraft protection on debit card and ATM transactions may be letting themselves in for additional fees. See this posting in USA Today by Kevin McCoy:http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/06/11/bank-overdraft-practices/2408805/—–According to this, if you overdraft your account a lot, it is cheaper to not have the protection and just get the bill payment or ATM transactions declined with maybe an overdraft fee instead of the overdraft protection fees. What a crazy world!For financial, accounting and tax musings,You can count on us to count for you! email bstonercpa@sbcglobal.net phone 818-317-6035 Website www.briantstonercpa.com