From lawyers to architects, engineers to town planners – there’s no denying COVID-19 has affected all professional services in one way or another.
It could range from working from home, or reduced hours and income because less people are engaging with your professional services.
What’s important is remaining positive and proactive in your business – no matter the role you play or situation you find yourself in. How can you do this? Read more from Crest Accountants to find out.
1. Professionalise your home office
To combat the virus, remote working has hurriedly and forcefully been introduced to many professionals. Here’s a run-down on the pros and cons of our new office environments:
Pros:
- A very short commute (often involves walking down the hallway or the stairs)
- The opportunity for casual clothes every day (or even pyjamas if that’s more your thing)
- The opportunity to shake-up the 9-5 work day (for some people).
Cons:
- Distractions (cooking, cleaning, Netflix, you name it)
- Struggles to keep on top of a routine
- Less than ideal work set-ups like a cluttered breakfast bar, couch or bed – neck pain anyone?
It’s important to professionalise your home office set-up. So, create a dedicated workspace, keep distractions to a minimum, stick to a routine and stay positive on what you can still provide to your clients. If your Gold Coast Accountant can work from home, so can you.
2. Focus on what you can still deliver
It’s time to hone in on services you can still deliver to your valued clients, rather than dwell on what you can’t. For example:
- Lawyers -hone in onWills, estate planning, contracts and generalist legal advice for clients over video link, phone or email.
- As an engineer, online resources are available for you to stay-up-to-date and find available opportunities (particularly in the Department of Health) for your services.
- Town planners – In times of crisis, your professional services are needed for strategic planning and support, with less focus on growth and development. There’s time for that later.
- Accountants – we’re spending more time helping our clients than ever (virtually). From guiding them through the myriad of government schemes and benefits now available, to writing blogs such as these.
Whatever your professional service role in the economy, now is the time to adapt and move your business online. To remain proactive and positive, concentrate on what you can still deliver, rather than what you can’t.
3. Keep connected to stakeholders
Just because we’re socially isolating from others, doesn’t mean we can’t stay connected to our employees, stakeholders and clients. Your stakeholders need reassurance from you in these times.
Here’s how to do it:
- Keep the communication flowing with relevant stakeholders
- Update your website to include your COVID-19 response
- Let clients be reassured with positive content and a proactive response.
Keeping your stakeholders informed and reassured will ensure a better chance of business continuity.
4. Seek advice from your Gold Coast Accountant
If you need more clarity and advice on business continuity, your Gold Coast Accountant is here for you. Crest Accountants have specialised accounting solutions for people in the professional services like yourself, to ensure you stay viable and rise above, when all this goes back to normal (or the new normal at least).
Here’s how your Gold Coast Accountant can help:
- Financial management – such as Xero for cloud-based accounting
- Cashflow management – with our proactive approach to financial forecasting
- Budgeting – for business continuity and contingency planning
- Shedding light on what parts of the economic stimulus package you could be eligible for.
There’s no denying COVID-19 has affected all professional services in one way or another and times are tough, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel, and we’re here to help you on your journey.
Need more on how to remain positive and proactive as someone in the professional service sphere? Contact Crest Accountants today to see how your Gold Coast accountant can help you through crisis and beyond.
