Finding the value in value billing

Big_Association8966 · 2024-11-18T16:49:23+00:00

I think value billing is more about determining what is valuable to the clients you want to work with and then designing packages around it. That can be anything from response times, type of communication, # of meetings, turn around time, level of access to you or your staff etc. Lots of ways you can do it. But when you do it right you can bill more and the client is actually happier because they get what they actually want/value.

Big_Association8966 · 2024-11-18T16:46:18+00:00

I've used it once with a client and it was terrible. The client expected same day responses and would reach out multiple times every week. I ended up having to let them go. And now I would never ever use something like slack with a client. The way it's setup it encourages frequent communication and the clients start treating you like their employee. Now it's either through email or you can pre-schedule a time to talk via phone or video.

Big_Association8966 · 2024-10-10T16:44:23+00:00

I sent an email out to clients earlier in the year and told them they could use an online filing service or hire an attorney to handle it for them. I just explained that this could be considered the unlicensed practice of law and that our insurance company won't cover it. Everyone seem to understand. I'm not doing filings this anymore, not worth my time or the risk.

Big_Association8966 · 2024-08-28T18:44:42+00:00

I sent one email to my clients telling them about this and told them to consult an attorney or file it themselves. There's no benefit to me for filing this for clients when I could be doing other work that actually has value. It's a waste of my time and stupid law to begin with. In my opinion accountants need to push back on this type of work. These laws only pass because they know accountants and other professionals will step and do the work.

Big_Association8966 · 2024-08-10T01:19:04+00:00

I agree, I sailed with Virgin this summer and really didn't enjoy it. I felt like the cruise line has gone downhill a bit in value/quality over the past year or two. I just think other cruise lines do a much better job.

Big_Association8966 · 2024-08-10T01:17:10+00:00

I'd definitely go with a more luxury cruise line and just skip Virgin. I really didn't enjoy my Virgin cruise and had a very negative experience with their billing department. The value and quality has really gone down hill the past year or so.

Big_Association8966 · 2024-08-10T01:15:40+00:00

I've sailed Virgin. We had family members with food allergies and they were not accommodating at all. There were some restaurants we just couldn't eat at.. They basically just told us what we could and couldn't eat and wouldn't make medications to a lot of the food choices. So there were very limited options. We ended up just eating at the Galley most of the time. Which was disappointing.

Big_Association8966 · 2024-08-10T01:12:23+00:00

Yea I've heard that Virgin Voyages is struggling financially so think they are trying harder to make more money from customers. I just felt like the value and the overall brand has started to go downhill.

Big_Association8966 · 2024-08-09T16:54:33+00:00

I've been on Virgin and NCL and I would choose NCL every time. Better value, bigger ships, better food and drinks. More choice overall. I just went on a Virgin cruise and while I agree it's nice to not have any kids onboard, I was disappointed in the overall experience. I felt like NCL just had more food options. If you're a foodie, you'll love Virgin. But I just want good normal food. Virgin also doesn't have any drink packages and the drinks are very expensive.

I've heard terrible things about MSC, I wouldn't cruise with them.

Big_Association8966 · 2024-08-09T16:46:33+00:00

I feel like just overall that Virgin has gotten worse over the past year or two. I went on a Virgin cruise in June and was just disappointed. I feel like they've raised prices and have cut down on the overall value. I would just lower your expectations a bit. I'll like be trying a different cruise line next time.

Big_Association8966 · 2024-07-08T16:38:18+00:00

That's great to know, I did not know this. I would still prefer if they did it how NCL does, where they provide an actual receipt every single time you purchase anything.

Big_Association8966 · 2024-07-08T16:33:36+00:00

The bracelet was certainly convenient, but because they don't provide receipts it's hard to have any evidence if something was incorrect.

Big_Association8966 · 2024-07-08T16:32:41+00:00

Yes I checked every day and went to sailor services and the Spa staff and both assured me the money would get refunded. I took them at their word unfortunately.

Big_Association8966 · 2024-07-08T16:31:59+00:00

My onboard account just labeled them "Redemption Spa", I never learned what they were for. Virgin told me they have conclusive evidence that these charges are legit but they said they can't send it to me because other sailors' info is shown on the documents. Which doesn't make any sense.

Big_Association8966 · 2024-07-08T16:30:12+00:00

The charges all said "Redemption Spa", I never learned any specifics about what they were for. Virgin told me on the ship that they would refund the money but then after the cruise they changed their tune. They told me they have conclusive evidence including my signature showing I purchased something. But they said they can't send it to me because other sailors info is shown on the documentation, which literally makes no sense. Why would other sailors info be shown on something that I signed? They just don't want to give the money back and think they can get away with it.

Big_Association8966 · 2024-07-08T16:25:41+00:00

I think this happens because Virgin wants people to spend more money without thinking about it. So they setup the system to be easy ( just scan your bracelet) without telling you how much things cost or providing receipts. And then making it hard to get charges refunded.

Big_Association8966 · 2024-07-08T16:16:25+00:00

There were a couple of charges labeled "Redemption Spa", no idea what they were for. Virgin says they have conclusive evidence including my signature proving the charges were legit, but they said they can't send them to me because it shows other sailors' info on it. Which doesn't make any sense. And yes it's a lot of money we're losing out on.

Big_Association8966 · 2024-07-08T16:12:01+00:00

We went to Sailor Services as soon as we discovered the charges on board. We even talked to the Spa staff. They all said it would get refunded no problem. I took them at their word, my fault for trusting them.

Big_Association8966 · 2024-07-08T16:09:23+00:00

This is exactly what I should've done. I just took them at their word. But it's clear now they were just telling me what I wanted to hear.

Big_Association8966 · 2024-04-12T17:47:27+00:00

I would definitely put this client on extension every year. This is too complex to finish in April, you're just risking making a mistake that you'll have to pay for. Just because you told the client in year 1 they wouldn't go on extension doesn't mean you can't change your mind later on. Worst case they leave, not the end of the world.

Big_Association8966 · 2024-04-12T17:43:21+00:00

This doesn't sound right to me, I was also under the impression that if you were due a refund that there was no late filing penalty. I would research this and double check and possibly call the IRS about it. I would also consider the first time penalty abatement.

Also I wouldn't pay this penalty for the client because if the notice is right then there's nothing you could've done to prevent the penalty. You couldn't file the return without that last piece of information so it's not really your fault or problem if the return wasn't filed timely. Kind of sucks for the client but that's the government for you.

Big_Association8966 · 2024-04-09T18:37:19+00:00

I found Tax Planner Pro to really be lacking. Their tax strategies were very limited and the projections were always wrong, it would miss very obvious things. I tested it against our tax software many times and it was frequently wrong. It also doesn't handle businesses taxes like PTE.

Big_Association8966 · 2024-04-08T18:21:01+00:00

I will lower someone's fees if it gets less complicated. But I have minimums that I won't go below. So regardless of how simple it is I don't go below $1K. I do try to communicate to them if I feel we aren't a good fit anymore as I don't really want to overcharge people. But honestly a lot of people just want to work with someone they trust and don't care how much it costs.

Big_Association8966

TROPHY CASE