How can I fill the quiet months after tax season with advisory work?
May to December leaves capacity that compliance work doesn't fill. Advisory work can, if clients know you offer it.
- How do we sell advisory work?
- What do clients actually buy outside tax season?
- Can we smooth revenue across the year?
Package two or three clear advisory offers, such as a mid-year planning review, owner pay and dividend planning, or cash flow and budgeting, with fixed prices. Then use your client data to find who fits each offer, invite them with a short personal message in May and June, and follow up automatically. Monthly or quarterly packages spread revenue across the year.
Package the offers
| Offer | Who it's for |
|---|---|
| Mid-year tax planning review | Business owners and high-income individuals |
| Owner pay and dividend plan | Incorporated owners |
| Cash flow and budget setup | Growing small businesses |
| Quarterly advisory package | Clients who want regular check-ins |
Use automation to sell it
Tag clients by type and needs, send each group the relevant offer, book reviews online and follow up those who open but don't book. See how AI finds clients who need more than filing.
How we look at it at ShoutEx
Advisory sales are one of the strongest growth levers for a firm. We help package offers, write the campaign and set up the follow-up.
- Vague "advisory services" with no price.
- One email to every client.
- Starting campaigns in the fall.
- No follow-up after the first message.
- Two or three packaged offers.
- Targeted client groups.
- Campaigns starting in May.
- Monthly or quarterly packages.
What accountants and regulators say
Here is what practitioners say about advisory work.
Firm owners discuss moving from compliance to advisory and how they priced and sold it.
Browse the threads →CPA Canada's resources discuss how automation frees time for higher-value advisory work.
Read CPA Canada's resource →Community summaries describe recurring themes in public threads, not individual posts. Vendor pages describe vendor claims, so test them on your own calls.
Read next
Go deeper in the ShoutEx guides, or check the sources behind this answer.
We'll help package offers and run the campaign to your clients.
Book a call →Follow-up questions
Should advisory be fixed price?
Fixed prices make it easier for clients to say yes. Scope clearly.
Who should deliver advisory work?
A partner or senior manager. Clients buy judgment.
Can we sell advisory to personal tax clients?
Some, especially high-income or self-employed clients. Business owners are the main market.