December 2006 – ProAdvisor Starts Member Organization - Advisor Spotlight Update

Some of you may remember Dawn from our Spotlight four years ago.

Since then, Dawn has remade Accounting Directors into a firm dedicated to educating QuickBooks users about QuickBooks add-on solutions that expand beyond QuickBooks capabilities. “This approach has tripled our earnings and driven the company’s success to new levels,” she says.

New Member Organization. Now Dawn has created an organization to support other ProAdvisors as they expand QuickBooks with add-on software.

The Association of QuickBooks® Technologists (AQBT) aims to give solid technical and marketing support to QuickBooks specialists who are working to expand the reach of QuickBooks financial software through add-on products. Membership includes listing in a special directory of technologists to help potential clients find a qualified specialist in the area of doing more with QuickBooks. (Note: the new Association is not sponsored by Intuit, but it joins the ranks of other independent QuickBooks-oriented groups like The Sleeter Group.)

“These are exciting times for the Association Members,” Dawn says, “who are thankful for Intuit’s continued developments of QuickBooks Enterprise and the enthusiasm of the Intuit Developer Network.”

Learn more about the Association of QuickBooks Technologists here.

December 2005 - How to Write a Knock-Out Proposal by Sandi Smith, CPA

Writes: Dawn Scranton, Certified QuickBooks Advisor, of Accounting Directors, Inc. offers a different format with her fixed-bid proposals. Her proposals include product as well as service and training rates. The proposal is a full solution to the client's accounting issues.

Her services list the scope of what she and her employees will do and the timeframe in which they will it. She focuses on outcomes for the client and only briefly discusses process when she talks about re-creating the books from bank statements or financial statements.

She also breaks the proposal down into phases or goals based on the prospect's budget and timeframe. This provides more options for the prospect to consider. When you can provide options to the client, your proposal can be much more effective. You've given the prospect some control and choice in the matter, and they are more likely to use you when they feel more in control.

It's important to note that you don't have to write a book to do an effective proposal. Dawn's proposals are one page each. Creating bullet point lists and making the document skim-friendly will also get a faster answer from your prospect.

http://accountant.intuit.com/practice_resources/articles/practice_development/article.aspx?file=ss_writeaknockoutproposal

2005 – How to use Remote Access to Save Time & Money  - QB 2005 Recorded Webcasts

Learn how to use QuickBooks Remote Access to save you and your client's time and money. Hear how Dawn Scranton, CQA, a QuickBooks consultant and ProAdvisor, uses remote access in her practice.

July 2005 – ProAdvisors Tool Box: Service Management Software  - Intuit ProConnection Newsletter

Most ProAdvisors are sidestepping single service bookkeeping and marching toward introducing a full range of services that complement the core accounting offerings. As a standard practice, Dawn Scranton, president of Accounting Directors, challenges new clients to “think beyond your bookkeeping needs.”

July 2004 - Free Marketing Leads Right Under Your Nose – QuickBooks Library for Accounting Professionals
Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor Dawn Scranton identifies one source of marketing leads that is close at hand during processing of your clients' records.

May 2004 - Dawn Scranton Book on Integration Consulting – Intuit ProAdvisor Newsletter
“Earn More Than $100/Hr.” Claims Subtitle. Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor Dawn Scranton of Accounting Directors, Inc. sees solid margins for ProAdvisors who expand a core QuickBooks practice to include third-party solutions, and on the cover of her 82-page book claims to tell “How Certified [QuickBooks] ProAdvisors earn more than $100/Hr.” While Intuit has no stake in the book, and your editor is just starting to read it, high-powered ProAdvisors who provided back-cover blurbs are positive. They include Louis Gutberlet, Darryl Abrahms, Bonnie J. Nagayma, and Leslie Capachietti. Dawn, like those just mentioned, may be known to you from an earlier Advisor Spotlight.

The book, QuickBooks Add-on’s and Integration Consulting, is available through Dawn’s Web site.

October 2003 - Best Overall Corporate Package by Bill Teague

Awarded: “Best Overall Corporate Package” in Business Card Contest

Many of our practitioners let us know how their business stationery echoed their card design. We thought the best example was the card from Dawn Scranton, which has an excellent design and nice balancing of her firm logo and the Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor(SM) logo. Also shown is the Rolodex card she sends out to all clients and appropriate prospects.

November 2002 - ProAdvisor Spotlight – Intuit ProAdvisor Newsletter

Read how this entrepreneur drove her business to new levels by leveraging referrals and QuickBooks expertise. Now Florida-based Dawn Scranton and her Accounting Directors, Inc. follow a unique online approach to success.