Catching Up With Clients Over the Phone—Solo CPA John Gruninger

What do you love most about your job?

When folks ask me what I do, I usually answer with “I do tax returns.” I have a small practice, and I know each client personally. Here is how I go about preparing a tax return. First, I ask the client to send me all their information. Once all the information input into my software (this part is not too much fun), the part of my job that I love happens.

I call the client. We usually catch up on personal stuff, then I ask my questions. These questions are where the value I provide resides. After 28 tax seasons, I know what to ask, and I believe my clients appreciate this very much. I love these annual telephone calls—we might discuss the tax implications of a son starting college in a few years, or a daughter getting married, or a spouse jumping into the gig economy. Whatever it is, it provides a human connection for me and the client. Sometimes, I can sense that the client I am speaking with seems a little lonely, I usually jokingly tell them to call me in August, because no one calls me in August.

The phone call—that’s what I love.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc., the publisher of Bloomberg Law and Bloomberg Tax, or its owners.

Author Information

John Gruninger, of John Gruninger CPA, PLLC in Syracuse, N.Y., has been a certified public accountant since 1994 and a solo practitioner since 2002.