PALO ALTO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Bill.com (NYSE: BILL), a leading provider of cloud-based software that simplifies, digitizes, and automates complex back-office financial operations for small and midsize businesses, today announces along with CPA.com and Hinge Research Institute the release of a new report: “Where Opportunity Meets Value: Business Model Trends for Accounting Advisory Services.” The report is based on the responses of more than 650 accountants and business professionals across the nation and offers valuable pricing benchmarks and emerging trends for firms of all sizes while showcasing the shifting expectations on what services and expertise companies prioritize from their accounting firms.
The evolution of accounting firm business models
“The survey results show that many firms are moving beyond traditional accounting and compliance services and offering more strategic offerings,” says Kevin Au, senior director of product marketing for Bill.com. “In fact, our report shows that more than 60% of accountants surveyed offer strategic advisory services, 26% offer outsourced/virtual CFO services, and nearly 25% offer cash flow analysis. While this survey took place prior to the pandemic, we’ve also seen that the need for strategic advice in recent months has only grown. This report can serve as a great resource to provide firms with benchmarks to help guide them on how to move into the new normal.”
Value pricing, automation, and customer experience are connected
The survey data indicates that being able to offer expert insights when it comes to finances will give firms the upper hand when it comes to implementing value pricing as it enables them to provide a better customer experience. In fact, accountants that responded to the survey ranked the top benefits of value pricing as transparency (64%), demonstrating the value of expertise (60%), and eliminating billing surprises (59%), suggesting that value pricing does more than build revenue.
“Value pricing creates a better overall client experience, especially when combined with automation,” says Vishal Thakkar, CPA.com’s director of alliance marketing. “Automation eliminates manual work, supports accuracy, and gives accounting professionals the data and time to function as trusted advisors. We also found that accounting firms that rated themselves as ‘highly automated’ consistently reported experiencing challenges to a lesser degree than their counterparts who rely less on automation.”
Opportunities for accounting firm growth
Business professionals shared the leading challenges for their companies, highlighting opportunities for accounting firms to increase their value for clients. The top challenges included planning for growth and expansion (19%), cash flow and minimizing overhead costs (18%), staying in compliance, and the lack of time they need to focus on accounting and financial matters (both 17%). Buyers from large companies said they experience difficulties with technology and maintaining efficiencies, while midsize respondents struggle with attracting top talent, planning for growth, and staying in compliance. Buyers from small firms indicated a lack of time and difficulties dealing with cash flow.
“By understanding companies’ challenges and tailoring services to meet them, accounting firms have a head start on landing new business or offering more services to existing clients. Buyers also identified services they value the most, including accounts payable/bill pay, forensic accounting, data analytics, and technologies services, offering an opportunity for accounting firms looking for where to expand their services,” comments Lee Frederiksen, managing partner, Hinge Research Institute.
For more benchmarks, data, and insights, download “Where Opportunity Meets Value: Business Model Trends for Accounting Advisory Services” at https://accountants.bill.com/business-model-pricing/cpacom-billcom-hinge-businessmodelsurveyreport.
About Bill.com
Bill.com is a leading provider of cloud-based software that simplifies, digitizes, and automates complex, back-office financial operations for small and midsize businesses. Customers use the Bill.com platform to manage end-to-end financial workflows and to process payments. The Bill.com financial software platform creates connections between businesses and their suppliers and clients. It helps manage cash inflows and outflows. The company partners with several of the largest U.S. financial institutions, the majority of the top 100 U.S. accounting firms, and popular accounting software providers. Bill.com has offices in Palo Alto, California, and Houston, Texas. For more information, visit bill.com.
About CPA.com
CPA.com brings innovative solutions to the accounting profession, either in partnership with leading providers or directly through its own development. The company has established itself as a thought leader on emerging technologies and as the trusted business advisor to practitioners in the United States, with a growing global focus.
Our company’s core mission is to drive the transformation of practice areas, advance the technology ecosystem for the profession, and lead technology research and innovation efforts for practitioners.
A subsidiary of the American Institute of CPAs, the company is also part of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, the world’s most influential organization representing the profession. For more information, visit CPA.com.
About Hinge Research Institute
The Hinge Research Institute (HRI) is a division of Hinge dedicated to studying high-growth professional services firms and their clients. At HRI, we conduct and publish independent research on professional services firms. This groundbreaking research is available nowhere else. HRI is dedicated to uncovering the marketing strategies and business challenges of high-growth professional services firms; giving B2B companies and associations the data and insights they need to understand and profit from the professional services industry; and showing organizations how they can use research not only as branding intelligence for themselves—but as content for target audiences to drive content initiatives, leads, and sales opportunities. For more information, visit hingemarketing.com.
