Trust is key for any relationship to be successful — including the relationship between you and your bookkeeping clients. As a bookkeeper, your clients trust you with a lot of sensitive information and rely on you to protect them from legal trouble. Your clients must have the utmost confidence in you. 

It’s also worth noting that building trust between you and your bookkeeping clients is ultimately profitable for your business. For any firm to grow and be successful, current and former clients must be satisfied and willing to recommend your services. Clients who trust you also stick around and refer friends to your firm!

So how can you build trust with your clients and retain them for years to come? 

Provide Measurable Results

It’s one thing to say that you are providing value and essential services to a business — it’s another to show your clients the hard data. Your clients want to see quantifiable proof that you are providing quality services, and they are more likely to trust a bookkeeper who can provide them with real numbers to back up their claims. 

Develop a Communication Plan (and Stick to It!) 

Communication is vital in all relationships, and your business relationships are no different. A communication plan outlining your availability and preferred channels can help you maintain expectations with bookkeeping clients. They should know when and how to reach you, and you should go above and beyond to ensure they always have the information they need. 

Don’t Miss Deadlines

A surefire way to enhance trust at your firm is consistency. If you consistently meet your deadlines, your clients will ultimately find you more trustworthy. They’ll know that you manage your time well and that they can trust you to get the job done. 

Practice Transparency 

Honesty is the best policy. We’ve all heard it said, but honesty can be paramount to maintaining healthy working relationships. We’re all human, and we all make mistakes from time to time. The important thing is that you are transparent and upfront with your clients. 

Be Genuine

It might seem obvious, but here’s the real secret to establishing trust in your working relationships: authenticity. Be yourself. Be authentic in the way that you communicate your brand and interact with your clients. Don’t be afraid to be personable either. Get to know your clients, ask them about their weekends, and remember their birthdays. Being genuinely kind goes a long way. 

While there are lots of aspects that draw clients in and keep them coming back to your business, one should never overlook the importance of trustworthiness and integrity. Behind the computers and paperwork, you and your client are both people. And your client wants to know that they are dealing with a good person who will take their work seriously, protect their information, and not try to hide anything. Sometimes, the most important rule in business is the golden one.