Exit Planning Services for Accountants with Christine Nicholson

Episode 65. In today's interview, "Exit Planning Services for Accountants with Christine Nicholson." Christine Nicholson is a multi award-winning UK Business Mentor and a Top 50 Woman in Accounting 2020. She has authored 4 business books and is a regular keynote speaker on Succession and Exit Planning. As a businesswoman who has built multi-million turnover businesses over the last 30 years, she has worked with many business owners in all sectors including taking one from bankruptcy to 8-figure exit in 18 months. She has spent a few years accidentally running a zoo! Her latest book, SELL IT, helps business owners get their business and themselves ready for the hardest part of the entrepreneur journey, leaving their business in the hands of others. Key takeaways from this episode include: ➯ what would have to be happening in an accounting firm or with a business to warrant a conversation about 'exit planning' ➯ the 3 tiers of accountants who are coping at different levels with the covid pandemic ➯ what accounting firms can do to make themselves more attractive to the younger generation of talent ➯ what a modern approach to your accounting practice can do for your firm's employer brand in the talent market ➯ the complexity of humans that should make running a business so interesting for accounting advisors ➯ what a culture of rainmaking in an accounting firm might look like ➯ what all accounting firms actually want from their professional advisors to make them feel special ➯ what happens to accounting firms who do not plan succession and exit well in advance ➯ the two most common responses of accounting firms to the pandemic - one lost clients and the other gained them ➯ the role of empathy for accountants and CPAs who really want to be the trusted advisor for their clients ➯ the 4 D's that force the the exit for business owners or accounting firm owners ➯ the filter accountants need to apply to their client base to prioritise exit planning conversations ➯ the most common trigger accountants should recognise that prompts exit conversations for business owners ➯ what needs shifting with the mindset of business owners that means accountants can help them with exit ➯ the best way for accountants and CPAs can add value to their clients given that 100% of business owners leave their business Christine sits as a Court Assistant of the Company of Entrepreneurs of the City of London where she lead a co-mentoring project with the Culture Mile working with amazing and powerfully impactful creatives. Contact her here: Website: http://www.businessmentoruk.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-nicholson NOTE TO LISTENERS: The Accounting Influencers Podcast is a CPE-accredited daily radio-style show with four segments coming out every Monday which are repeated on the other 4 weekdays as standalone episodes, plus a bonus 'from the client's perspective' episode on Saturdays. On Sundays, listeners get a short min trailer for the coming week's episodes. Every Tuesday the show gives you a relevant news topic from the accounting and fintech world with a direct application to accountants, CPAs and bookkeepers. Great to stay informed and build your commercial acumen. Every Wednesday and Friday, we feature an uncut interview with top authors, leaders, thinkers and performers in the accounting and fintech world. Every Thursday the show gives you a practical 'here's what works' tips concerning a key challenge, need or strategy for accountants, CPAs and bookkeepers. Great to stay current and keep your skills topped up. Finally, every Saturday gives listeners a bonus episode which focuses on the buyers of accounting services - the clients themselves. In particular how they feel, react to and experience their interactions with accountants. That includes why they buy or don't buy, why they move or stay and why they think how they think about you, your firm, your prices and your offerings. Martin and...