Downsizing your client base: A 9-step transition checklist

If you’re making space for retirement, stepping back, or downsizing, this handy checklist will help you set milestones, track your progress, and keep your long-term objectives top of mind. This checklist is also useful for those considering succession planning; you’ll want to include a meaningful client offboarding strategy within that plan.

Protect the reputation you’ve worked so hard to build by following these steps:

✔ Step 1: Decide where you’d like to transition your clients, whether selling your business, your book of business, or transitioning part or all of your client base.

• Another local firm
• Another firm, non-local
• Family member or friend
• Intuit tax experts 

✔ Step 2: Determine what your ideal client is at this time; if you’re retiring, you can skip this step and step 3.

• Use an ideal client matrix to determine who is most ideal for your firm; download it for free.
• Read “How to identify the relationships draining your firm.”

✔ Step 3: Determine the group of clients that are not a good fit for your goals: What group of clients do not fit within your vision, according to the ideal client matrix activity above?

✔ Step 4: Notify the clients you plan to transition.

• Contact all of the clients you plan to offboard by email, phone, text, and/or in-person. Ensure that they have received this notification via the method they prefer.
• Use this free template if you need a starting point

✔ Step 5: Obtain consent from the clients you plan to offboard. Obtain consent to share their name and contact information with their new tax firm or tax expert.

✔ Step 6: Set a deadline: Set a firm deadline for when you will no longer offer services to these clients.

✔ Step 7: Share or upload your clients’ names and contact information with the new tax firm or expert.

• Work with the transitioning tax expert to determine the best method for them to receive your client information.
• If you are participating in the Intuit program, upload your client information using a secure portal.

✔ Step 8: Facilitate an introduction between your clients and their new tax expert.

• Depending on each of your clients’ needs, consider meeting in person, virtually, writing letters, or emailing the new expert and the tax client.
• If you are sending your clients to Intuit tax experts, your clients will be matched with the most qualified and suitable expert based on each client’s needs.

✔ Step 9: Get paid for your efforts: Intuit provides payment to tax pros looking to transition 100+ clients. Learn more about the client transition program.