As an accountant or other tax professional (or even someone working for one), you’ve likely been purchasing tax folders simply because you’re expected to. Maybe you always admired a mentor’s meticulously organized folder system, or you saw your colleagues ordering custom folders and thought you should do the same. However, there’s more to this industry standard than expectation alone. In fact, customized tax return folders have benefits that will serve your business in many different ways.
Create a professional image.
Perhaps the most obvious of these benefits is the role these envelopes or folders will play in portraying you as a trustworthy professional. Besides tax preparation, few fields call for so much trust between you and your client. So when you present their tax forms in foil-adorned custom folders, you’re showing them that this trust is far from misplaced; you are someone who can be trusted with these vital documents and who will have their best interests in mind while using them. Sure, that’s a lot for one inanimate folder to say. But, in practice, it’s hard to deny the impact of this subtle air of professionalism.
Organize your immediate workspace.
Beyond your presentation folders, your workspace has a story it tells to visiting clients. Naturally, you want that story to be one of an organized, effective professional, with all the qualities an accountant needs to succeed in their role. That client might struggle to interpret it as such, though, if you‘re surrounded by stray W-2 forms or hand them the completed forms from a past tax season when they need this year’s. So instead, be sure to organize your workspace and place their completed forms safely in a dedicated tax envelope. Then, with only your standard tax envelopes in sight, they’ll have no doubt that they made the right choice in hiring you.
Increase brand recognition.
When clients get their tax returns, they’re likely thinking about where, how, and when they plan to spend that money. Once a whole year has rolled around, how can you expect to stay top of mind without a reminder working in your favor? More often than not, your clients will use your custom tax envelopes to store their copies of each year’s forms. Whenever they go to their filing cabinet, they’ll spot the past seven years of folders. Of course, that will help ensure you’re the first option that comes to mind when the next tax season comes around!
Promote your other services.
You’ll place your clients’ tax forms in custom folders, but you don’t need to stop there. Tax season is only so long, so you likely offer other financial services throughout the year. Is your average tax client taking advantage of these different offerings? If not, they may very well be unaware these options even exist. Print off some flyers, brochures, or other marketing materials introducing your existing clients to the other services you offer. You never know when one or two might be very much of use—and you’ll find a new year-round client thanks to your presentation folders.
When you hand a client their completed tax forms, you expect to pass them over in the special presentation folders you’ve designed for this purpose. However, these folders are much more impactful than you may have realized. By placing their paperwork in designated tax envelopes, you portray yourself as an organized professional and ensure that your clients will think of you whenever tax season rolls around or they need some other service you offer during the off-season. Either way, your tax folders give you the edge you need to keep clients coming back and make sure they’re impressed with your work every year.
