Are your Firm brochures a little stale? Does the Web site still look and read exactly as it did this time last year? Has the leadership team grown, service offering list changed, or client base expanded into a new niche? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, it is time to engage the help of an advertising agency to update your marketing and advertising campaigns. How do you find the agency that is right for your firm? If you have more than three partners, establish a marketing committee to spearhead the agency search process.

by Linda L. Heineman, CPA I must confess, I love my home office. Over the years I have continued to fine-tune how my office works so I can stay home as long as possible.There are some great benefits to a home office. First, it's economical - no rent, no landlord. And, living in a traffic-clogged city like Los Angeles, it's wonderful not having to face a daily commute. You can work whenever you want. That flexibility is another reason why having a home office is so attractive.

For most accountants and CPAs, selling is often not a favorite part of the job. In order to develop and maintain a solid book of business, however, selling is a must whether you are a sole practioner, seasoned partner in a large firm, or a new associate.

By Troy Waugh

It is a classic debate in CPA firms. Are events worth it? Are they an investment or just an expense? Consider the debate settled: They are an investment and they work as a business development and retention tool. Accept it. Now that you've accepted that events work, truly embrace the idea and approach creating an event strategically and purposefully to serve your firm's business development needs. First, set goals for your event.