Posts by Mark Holton
The Real Reasons Business Advisory Gets Stuck In Accounting Firms
You already know business advisory is the right move. Your clients need it. Your firm needs the revenue. You’ve had the conversations, maybe even built it into the strategy plan. But somewhere between intention and implementation, it stalls, and another financial year passes with the advisory still sitting in the “we’ll get to it” pile.…
Read MoreThe Crunch 2026: Accounting Firm Benchmarking
After 40 years working with accounting firms across Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Canada, I’ve sat in a lot of strategic conversations that should never have needed to happen. Partners debating pricing without knowing what the market actually supports. Productivity discussions going in circles because nobody knows where the firm sits compared to its…
Read MoreStrategies for Client Satisfaction: Elevate Your Accounting Practice
As a hard-working dedicated practitioner, you know that providing excellent service is essential to retaining your clients and client satisfaction. But believe it or not, you can provide your accounting clients with an experience that makes them not only likely to stick with you but can turn them into raving fans or as I often…
Read MoreDeveloping your firm’s strategy checklist
Reviewing an accounting firm’s strategic structure is a valuable process for the alignment of Partners to the firm’s strategic plan. In fact, it is a valuable process for any business and a perfect entry into more advisory based strategic planning services for your business clients. The following 15-point Strategy Checklist is a practical review to…
Read MoreThe key pillars of strategic success
In the realm of strategic success, the key pillars can vary depending on the industry and context, particularly in the realm of accounting firms. However, here are some common pillars that significantly contribute to achieving strategic success: Vision A clear and compelling vision provides direction and purpose to an organisation. It outlines the long-term goals…
Read MoreThe Need for Successful Succession Planning: Can You Afford to Retire?
When your business constitutes a significant portion of your income and wealth, effective succession planning becomes pivotal for growing and realising your business’s value. Securing the maximum return on your business investment is the ultimate goal of a well-executed succession plan. This article explores the critical connection between determining your current business worth and aligning…
Read MoreLessons for Accounting Firms from the Dentist
Streamlining Workflow, Enhancing Client Service, and Boosting Profitability Last week I was lying on my back with bright lights shining in my face, watching a television display of exotic marine life above my head with a dentist prodding around with sharp instruments and a drill inside my mouth. It was hardly the time to be…
Read MoreDo You Suffer From Being Good?
In his classic book “Good To Great” author Jim Collins states: ‘Good is the enemy of great.’ Collins further states that the reason why we don’t have great schools, government, companies and even lives, is because we tend to settle for having good schools, government, companies, and lives. If things are going well, it’s often…
Read MoreHow to sell your firm’s business advisory services; the ten key strategies
You have to be success minded. You have to feel that things are coming your way when you are out selling services; otherwise, you will not be able to sell anything. Benjamin Jowett I am often asked by practitioners; how do I sell my firm’s business advisory services to current clients and future prospects? Another…
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