Training has emerged as one of the most effective—and least costly—client acquisition strategies for accounting professionals. Beyond attracting new clients or moving clients further into your services funnel, it can also stand alone as a lucrative revenue stream. By positioning yourself as a trusted expert who simplifies complex tools like QuickBooks Online (QBO), you not only meet a pressing market need but also differentiate your firm in an increasingly competitive landscape.
But let’s get real—staying current in today’s rapidly evolving fintech landscape can feel like a nearly impossible challenge. With most apps, including QBO, rolling out update after update on no particular schedule, accountants must ask themselves: How do we stay informed so that we can provide relevant, high-value training? Is it even worth it?
Additionally, how do we turn this knowledge into a structured, valuable service offering that is both profitable and scalable? This is where intentionality and strategy become critical. Implementing a well-organized training program that keeps you ahead of the curve and meets your clients’ needs is key.
The Challenge of Staying Current
How do we best address the challenge of staying current on an ongoing basis? This step is often overlooked when developing our training strategy and should be the first item in our process. Staying current doesn’t have to be a time-consuming or frustrating task. It’s about identifying reliable, up-to-date resources and incorporating ongoing education into your routine. Even one hour a month can make a big difference:
- Leverage Trusted Resources: Intuit offers regular “In the Know” webinars to help you stay informed. Favorites like “The Appy Hour” by Liz Scott and Heather Satterley, QuickBooks Demo Day, and Murph’s great articles on Insightful Accountant, along with product blogs, all provide reliable information.
- Dedicate Time to Learning: Pick your preferred method of consuming this information and commit at least one hour a month to staying current.
- Engage in Peer Communities: Accounting-focused forums are excellent spaces to learn from others, share strategies, and gain insights into the latest tech developments.
Identifying Current Training Resources
Finding reliable QuickBooks training resources can be challenging due to constant updates and evolving features of the software, making it difficult to find materials that remain current and relevant. Additionally, many available resources lack the customization needed to address specific client industries or skill levels, requiring extra effort to adapt them for effective training delivery:
- Don’t Reinvent the Wheel: Creating your own training curriculum can be an enormous time suck when current materials are available that you can customize for your own firm.
- Identify Training Resource Providers: QBExpress provides five different QBO curriculums that can be private-labeled for your accounting/bookkeeping firm and include instructor and student guides, PowerPoints, and more. Intuit’s Education Division also provides training resources for those teaching in accredited educational institutions.
Structuring Your QuickBooks Training Service
Once you’ve committed to staying current and identified training resources to deliver your sessions, it’s time to transform your knowledge into a structured, revenue-generating service. Here’s how to build your training program:
- Identify Your Target Audience: Determine which clients or prospects would benefit most from QuickBooks training. Consider their industries, business sizes, and current proficiency with the software.
- Develop Tailored Training Packages: Offer tiered packages based on client needs. For example:
- Basic setup for new users
- Intermediate training on reporting and analytics
- Advanced customization for unique business needs
- Lunch and Learns
- Choose Delivery Methods: Decide whether training will be delivered live, through one-on-one sessions, via online courses, or through pre-recorded modules. Offering a mix of formats ensures you cater to various learning styles.
- Create a Resource Library: Build a collection of current, accurate training materials, including step-by-step guides. This allows you to provide clients with resources they can refer to after the training session.
- Establish a Timeline and Pricing Structure: Set your training calendar for the next 12 months, aligning sessions with key business periods like tax season or fiscal year-end. Develop a pricing strategy that reflects the value you provide while ensuring profitability.
- Develop Your Marketing Strategy
- Identify the ONE sale that will fill the room: Pinpoint the organizations, networks, or key clients who can help you maximize attendance for your training sessions.
- Promote through targeted channels: Leverage platforms like LinkedIn, email marketing, and local business directories.
- Leverage your client base: Encourage referrals and provide incentives for existing clients to attend.
- Document Your Processes: Create a detailed guide for delivering the training, covering everything from scheduling and communication to follow-ups and feedback collection.
Why Training is a Game-Changer
QuickBooks training is about more than teaching software—it’s about empowering clients, building relationships, and positioning yourself as a strategic advisor. While it is undoubtedly the best funnel feeder into an accounting or bookkeeping firm that we have ever encountered, it equips clients with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed.
Join Us to Learn More
To help you turn QuickBooks training into a structured, profitable service and identify training opportunities, we’re excited to partner with Insightful Accountant and an accountant panel for Part 2 of our four-part webinar series: Gear Up to Deliver Game-Changing Client Education through QuickBooks Training.
This session will guide you through the process of implementing your training program, from setting your prices, selecting the right materials, setting your calendar, choosing effective delivery methods and more. You’ll leave with a step-by-step plan, complete with written processes, that ensures your training initiative runs seamlessly and profitably.
Register now and take the next step in building stronger client relationships, enhancing your revenue, and cementing your expertise as a leader in the accounting profession.
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