Watch out for unnecessary mistakes. There’s an irony of the current economic engine. While there is more business, margins are also getting thinner. That’s why IBM took its PCs out of retail venues and is selling them online.Take a close look at your company. Are we sharp? Or, do we just think we are? When we sit around the conference table and talk about ourselves, we come away convinced that we are the best.Keep mining for new customers! Good times can mask future problems.

AccountingWEB is pleased to announce a partnership with First Research, Inc. to provide our members with the opportunity to purchase individual industry profiles in over 80 industries.If you are committed to understanding your clients' and prospects' businesses and separating your firm from its competition, then these Industry Profiles can help you achieve your mission. What are Industry Profiles?First Research, Inc. publishes targeted Industry Profiles on over 80 industries, written from a business development and marketing perspective.

RSM McGladrey, Inc., a subsidiary of H&R Block, has announced a national alliance with three major insurance companies to provide life insurance solutions for McGladrey clients.Jefferson Pilot Financial, Pacific Life Insurance Company, and National Life Insurance Company will work locally with McGladrey wealth management planning teams through a network of approximately 85 independent agents nationwide to provide insurance services to McGladrey clients.RSM McGladrey's financial planners will not receive commissions based on an individual's life insurance purchases.

Joe Hurley, founder of savingforcollege.com, and author of "The Best Way to Save for College - A Complete Guide to Section 529 Plans," presented a live workshop at AccountingWEB on Thursday, October 26.Among other things, Mr.

David Maister, author of "The Trusted Advisor," joined AccountingWEB in an online workshop today for a unique perspective of what it takes to become a successful advisor in today's competition-rich professional world.

Members of AccountingWEB met with representatives from the Indiana Chapter of the Association of Accounting Administrators today in an attempt to share goals and explain what the two groups have to offer each other.AAA members were treated to a tour of the AccountingWEB web site, and had an opportunity to quiz Michael Platt, AccountingWEB CEO, Kelly McRae, AccountingWEB Business Development Specialist, and Gail Perry, AccountingWEB Managing Editor on the offerings of the site.

The following is an editorial by Paul Dunn, co-founder of Results Accountants' Systems.As we look around the world at great accounting practices (what we’ve called "the Practices of the New Millennium") one constant theme is the selection of clients.It’s critical, we’re often told, to select clients who you like, clients who are profitable, clients who are open to suggestions, clients who are willing to listen and so on. And farmers feature infrequently in that list for many practices.

Service is what will set the successful ASPs aside from the unsuccessful ones. "I think service is the single most important aspect." according to Jack Fox, M.B.A., author of, among other titles, Building a Profitable Online Accounting Practice. Mr. Fox presented the AccountingWEB workshop on August 31, "Online Accounting…Frontline to Bottom Line." Mr. Fox addressed aspects of online accounting, describing how accountants can pave the way for the new economy.

No one likes voice mail, but if you make an effort to use voice mail more efficiently, you will see improved results in a matter of days.Take advantage of the greeting to promote a new offer or new service of some kind. And, be sure to update your email message daily so you send a clear signal that you are on top of your agenda at all times.There are other tips as well.