Bookkeeping for ADD Clients

By: Monique Young
Submitted: 2007-01-17 12:49:03
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ADD Clients can be quite a challenge to deal with, especially if you’re accustomed to focused clients who can stay on topic for more than ten minutes at a stretch. Visiting their place of business can be both exhausting and fruitless, as they flit from one task to another, their minds never fully engaged on one task, their attention span barely long enough to register your presence. Speaking from vast amounts of experience with this type of client, I have found several methods that may be helpful.

1. Unless you work on-site, meet with them away from their place of business. If they’re unable to monitor what’s going on they may still be distracted, but much less so.

2. Make them aware that your hourly rates are based upon the time they spend with you, and not the amount of work that is done. This type of client can be the worst time wasters, so letting them know that your time is valuable and will be charged accordingly may garner their attention. I learned this only after too many unplanned excursions that the ADD client wanted to go on – being an agreeable sort by nature, I went along and ended up resentful at the imposition on my time. Remind the client of this periodically because they’re bound to forget.

3. Ask the client to put down the phone and let calls go to voicemail when you’re with them. You can suggest that the information you need will have a will be more accurately conveyed if YOU aren’t distracted by their other activities.

4. Do not get caught up in the swirl of chaos that can surround an ADD client. Remind them, gently or forcefully, that your top priority is making sure their books are accurate.

5. Explain to them very clearly what you need, then write it down so they have something to refer to. Then say it again and again, as necessary. Don’t assume that because you told them once, they’ve retained the information. With so much activity going on in their heads all the time it’s more of a surprise that they remember anything at all.

6. Remain calm. Remember that you are on the outside of this particular phenomenon, and that the client will greatly appreciate your calmness and stability.

Paying attention to the client’s specific needs and abilities can mean the difference between a satisfied client who is happy to pay what you’re worth and a difficult working relationship that satisfies neither you nor the client.

Monique Young is a writer and the owner of Young Business Solutions, a bookkeeping and consulting business for small businesses. She can be reached at monique@moniquewrites.com.

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