Increasing Client Satisfaction in Accounting Firms

What if you could increase customer satisfaction while increasing your revenue and profits? Even better, what if you could accomplish both objectives without increasing your workload or adding staff?
In a recent webinar, we explored the benefits of helping clients manage the burden of incorporation, LLC formation, registered agent services, and annual compliance requirements. We also explored CorpNet’s Partner Program and showed how CPAs, accountants, and bookkeepers can easily add these services to their existing advisory offerings.

I answered some excellent questions from the audience at the end of the webinar, and I’ll share them—along with some other helpful Q&As—later in this article.

Business Formation Requirements

Whether your clients are in the process of starting or growing a business, they might wonder about the steps involved in legitimately forming a business entity or the tasks they need to complete on an ongoing basis to keep their existing business entity in good standing. Some of their inquiries may flow naturally into your area of expertise, while others may require you to align clients with other resources. For example, a business owner should talk with their attorney to get the lowdown on legal requirements for their specific type of business and their location.

And for clients who have already consulted with you and their lawyer to determine legal and tax-related details, you can enhance customer trust and loyalty by giving them a way to save them time and money on their business formation and compliance filings.

How? By signing up your accounting firm or professional services practice in the CorpNet Partner Program. We created our program for business professionals like you who aspire to create a new revenue stream without overwhelming yourself and your team members. With Reseller and Referral Partner options, the CorpNet Partner Program offers flexibility—and it’s free to join with no setup or annual fees.

You can partner with us and get wholesale discounted pricing as a white-label Reseller of our business filing and corporate compliance services, or you can become a Referral Partner and refer your clients to us, receiving a referral fee for each sale. We provide you with all the resources you need, including turn-key digital marketing assets, a portal to track your clients’ filing and reporting deadlines, and expert support.

I’ll share more about it later in this post. Right now, let’s discuss various business filings your clients may need assistance with:

• Changing Their Business Entity Type – Perhaps you’re working with a sole proprietor who wants to protect personal assets while running her company. Or maybe the owners of a multi-member LLC (Limited Liability Company) have decided they want to be able to sell stock to raise funds to expand their business. In these situations and others, your clients must submit documentation to legally form or change their business entities. Examples of business formation paperwork by business entity type include:
  • Articles of Organization – For LLC registrations
  • Articles of Incorporation – For Corporations
  • Certificate of Conversion – To convert an LLC to a corporation
  • Election by a Small Business Corporation – S Corporation election
  • Certificate of Authority – For foreign qualification to operate an LLC or corporation outside of the state in which it was formed
• Obtaining an EIN – As you advise your clients that they’ll need an EIN (Employer Identification Number) to hire employees, set up a bank account, and file their taxes, they may ask about the cost and where they get one. EINs are free of charge from the IRS.gov website or clients can pay a third party a fee to apply for one on their behalf.
• Applying for Business Licenses and Permits – Many of your clients may need specific business licenses and permits to operate their companies at their locations legally. The requirements will depend upon where they are and what they do. Some businesses might require federal, state, county, and local licenses and permits, so it’s essential that their owners check to find out what requirements apply to them.
• Designating a Registered Agent – Your LLC and corporation clients must assign a registered agent to receive service of process (state and federal correspondence, legal notices, corporate filing notifications, and other important paperwork) on their behalf. Maintaining a registered agent is a critical ongoing business compliance requirement.
• Filing a Beneficial Ownership Information Report – The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) includes a Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Reporting Rule that requires most business entities (domestic and foreign) operating in the United States to file a BOI report to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). This new reporting requirement went into effect on January 1, 2024. Entities subject to the rule must file a BOI report to disclose any individuals who own 25% or more of their company or who have substantial control over the business. Businesses formed or registered to do business on or after January 1, 2024, must also report their company applicant (the person who submitted the entity’s formation paperwork and—if applicable—the individual who directed the filing.
• Registering for State Payroll Taxes – If a business hires employees, it must register with the appropriate state tax authorities to fulfill state income tax and unemployment insurance requirements. Registering for these tax accounts enables employers to withhold state income tax from employees’ paychecks, report, and remit them to the state. In most states, only employers are responsible for paying into state unemployment insurance (SUI) programs. While they are predominantly an employer responsibility, entities must register to set up an account with the state to report and pay into SUI.
• Submitting Annual Reports – Some states require LLCs and corporations to submit annual reports or “statements of information” so that companies’ vital information is up to date in state records. In the states requiring them, the deadline may be annual, every two years, or on some other schedule. Sometimes, the filing deadline for an annual report may be aligned with the deadline to file other state taxes.
• Closing a Business – When clients have decided to cease doing business, they must officially notify the state(s) in which they operate their companies by submitting Articles of Dissolution. If they do not formally end their entity’s existence with the state, they continue to bear the responsibilities of filing reports, paying taxes, and performing other compliance tasks even if they haven’t been actively conducting business.

Use CorpNet’s Partner Program to Help Your Clients

You and your clients will benefit from our program when you sign up for our Reseller Partner or Referral Partner options. Either way, you can make additional income for your accounting business and reduce business compliance issues for your clients. Moreover, your clients will have peace of mind that their business and compliance filings (in any state) will be completed accurately and on time.

Option 1: CorpNet Reseller Program

When you sign on as a CorpNet Reseller, you can increase your professional services revenue by offering to prepare and complete your clients’ business filings related to incorporation, the formation of an LLC, S Corp election, BOI report filing, business license and permit applications, annual reports, and more.

No matter in which state your clients are doing business, you can submit filings through CorpNet on their behalf. Behind the scenes, we work as your silent fulfillment partner. You’ll get all the tools you need to ensure success—private label services, a dedicated account manager, marketing templates, and personalized service. Rest assured, we will never contact your clients without your consent. We do all the work behind the scenes while YOU get the credit!

You receive discounts on our retail rates, and you resell our services as your own at whatever rates you choose.

All fees for all products and services published on the CorpNet website represent our retail rates. We can send wholesale pricing to you when you sign up for the program and after we’ve onboarded you. You can then charge your clients whatever fees you see fit for the services you order from us when serving your clients.

Option 2: Partner with CorpNet as a Referral Partner

As a CorpNet Referral Program partner, you can refer clients to a trusted resource for incorporation, LLC filings, registered agent services, and annual corporate compliance and monitoring in any state. You refer your client to us, and we’ll do all the work and send you a commission check. Or, if you like, you can waive your commissions and have us pass the savings to your clients instead.

To make the referral process seamless, we assign you a dedicated account manager to respond to your needs and treat your clients with exceptional service. Even though we are handling all orders directly with your customers, we are happy to keep you apprised of the status of your clients’ filings (with their permission, of course!).

Option 3: The Best of Both Worlds

You may participate in just one or both programs to optimize your clients’ experience and your opportunities to increase professional services revenue.

For instance, you could be more hands-on and perform as a Reseller for key clients with whom you want to interact more frequently while exercising the Referral option for transactional or lower-spend clients. Or you might select the Reseller or Referral options based on the type of filing. If you’re unsure which will be more advantageous in particular scenarios, we can help walk you through the decision-making process.

Webinar Q&A Session With Attendees

Is this considered an unauthorized practice of law?

It is not considered the practice of law to file business registration and compliance paperwork on behalf of your clients. You may also advise your clients on which entity to choose from the standpoint of your area of licensed expertise. For example, an accountant or tax advisor can offer insight from a tax implications perspective. Of course, if your clients need legal or tax advice and you’re not qualified and credentialed to provide it, they should get guidance from a licensed professional when determining which entity they should choose. After they’ve gotten that direction, forms may be submitted by an attorney, the client, or the client’s representative (like you with the help of CorpNet). You can help your clients save time and money as you get the job done quickly and accurately through CorpNet’s services and seamless process. It’s a win for your clients and you as you increase professional services revenue for your business.

Who can be a Corpnet Partner? How can I utilize this service when I’m only a bookkeeper? I’m not a CPA or tax professional.

Our most successful partners are usually individuals who consult or advise small business owners and startups. Types of partners include:

• CPAs, accountants, bookkeepers
• Quickbooks advisors
• Lawyers who assist clients who own businesses
• Estate planning experts
• Business coaches

Services professionals who offer advisory services to businesses are good candidates to participate. We screen prospects to ensure a good fit for program participants and CorpNet. The best relationships are fruitful and beneficial to all parties.

Should I be a CorpNet Reseller or a Referral partner?

You can be both! Many of our CorpNet Partners participate in our Reseller and Referral Partner programs. For example, you could resell and brand our services as our own when working with your key accounts while referring other customers directly to us to handle the transaction.

When do I get paid my commissions?

CorpNet calculates commission on the last day of the following month for any given period. We usually issue commission checks within 72 hours of that day. Thus, if you refer clients to CorpNet and they make a purchase in month 1, we will calculate all sales, refunds, and commissions due for that month 1 period on the last day of month 2. Then, your commission check is mailed out in the first week of month 3.

What if I don’t get credit for a sale that SHOULD have been my referral?

Call us at 1-888-449-2638 or email us at partners@corpnet.com …and we’ll make it right. Remember, we want you to be a happy partner. We want you to be excited about the services you offer your clients through CorpNet.

How do you keep track of referrals?

A cookie is stored on your user’s device when a user clicks your link with your unique partner ID. All purchases made at corpnet.com from that device will list you as the referral source. Once you become a CorpNet Partner, you will receive a program overview and support document from your dedicated account manager, including all this information for your review and reference.

Do you help set up Non-Profit Corporations and for tax-exempt status?

Yes, we do, and we can assist with the set-up of any type of Non-profit Corporation in any of the 50 states. We can also help you file for their 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status!

Is the price the same for a Single Member LLC, a Multi Member LLC, an S Corporation, and a C Corporation?

Our package prices (from basic to all-inclusive) are the same across the board for all business formations.

What is the suggested price we can charge our clients for the service?

As a Reseller Partner, you are free to charge whatever price you want and mark up our prices as high as you like. As a Referral Partner, the price your clients will pay is based on the rates disclosed on our website.

Do you provide guidance and marketing materials to help me promote your services to my clientele?

Yes! We have a variety of marketing materials readily available. Reseller Partners receive white-label design versions to brand the materials as their own (or co-brand them with CorpNet):

• Marketing brochures (providing an overview of the formation and compliance services)
• Checklists (giving clients a rundown of common tasks and requirements when starting a business)
• Website content (for a dedicated page about the filing services you offer)
• Email copy (for an e-newsletter to your clients)
• Digital display banner (to add to your website or social media platforms)

Other Resources:

• FAQs (about the potential tax-saving benefits of LLCs and Corporations)
• Client questionnaires (to help your clients determine their needs before creating an LLC or Corporation)
• Articles, webinars, and videos (to augment your knowledge and educate your clients)
• Interactive Business Structure Wizard tool (to help your clients home in on the business entity type that might best suit their needs)
• Free Business Name Search tool (to help you and your clients determine if their desired business name is available)
• Portal with compliance checks (to stay aware of your clients’ upcoming compliance responsibilities and due dates)

What about non-compete and non-disclosure between my firm and yours?

Our Corpnet Partner Program Terms of Use and Affiliate Agreement includes information about non-compete and non-disclosure.

For you to provide me with white-label services for my clients, is there a minimum monthly sales volume I must meet to qualify for the option? I’m still building my practice.

There is no minimum requirement whatsoever. That is the beauty of our program!

Is it possible to move a client’s existing registered agent over to CorpNet?

Yes, absolutely—any time, any day, and in any state! Just provide us with the list of your clients, and not only can we switch over their existing registered agent to us, but we will also do a complimentary business compliance check at the time we switch them over.

Does CorpNet file on the county level as well?

Yes, we can handle any type of county-required filing in any of the 50 states that require a county filing, including “Doing Business As” (fictitious name) filings.

Can you help clients who are foreign investors buying rental property in the United States?

CorpNet can assist any foreign business owner or professional wanting to form a USA business entity.

If a client doesn’t know what business structure they should choose, will you recommend the business type?

CorpNet is a document filing service and CANNOT provide you with legal, tax, or financial advice. That said, we have plenty of resources, content, and tools available at your fingertips to help individuals make informed decisions about which business structure might be most beneficial for them. For example, our Business Structure Wizard—which attorneys and accountants created—can assist you by taking you and your clients through a series of questions based on their specific needs and business requirements.

Also, an accountant, CPA, or tax professional can advise clients on the business type they should consider forming based on which will offer the most favorable tax outcomes.

If I usually direct my clients to an attorney, would my clients benefit from CorpNet’s services instead?

Lawyers are not required—and in many situations, not necessary—to file these types of documents. Often, we can save your clients time and money by getting filings done faster and with lower service fees than attorneys.

Does CorpNet require a Power of Attorney (POA) for our customers to receive your services?

No, we do not require a POA for our filing submissions because we use the client’s credentials as a scrivener when we submit applications on their behalf. This avoids the additional roadblocks in the client experience that occur if we were to submit applications as a “third party.”

Does CorpNet guarantee its services?

CorpNet is committed to providing service excellence! We offer a satisfaction guarantee, providing a refund of our service fees (this does not include refunds for state and government fees) if you are not satisfied with our document filing services. Visit our CorpNet Guarantee page for more details.

Do you have checklists to help our clients know their formation and compliance responsibilities?

Yes, we have a plethora of free guides and checklists available. Here’s a sampling of what you’ll find on our website.

• Starting a Business Checklist
• Free DBA Free Guide
• Free Incorporation Guide
• Free LLC Guide

How does CorpNet keep my clients’ information secure?

We use online and offline security technologies, procedures, and organizational measures to help protect customer’s information against loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction.

• Data is encrypted when transmitted over the internet to our website.
• We have layered firewalls and other security technologies to help prevent unauthorized access to our systems.
• We enforce robust password protection protocols on our computers, and employees are kept up to date on our security and privacy policies.
• The servers that store consumer information are maintained in a secure environment with appropriate security measures.

Please visit our Privacy Policy page for additional information about how CorpNet manages data.

Do CorpNet’s services compete with what I already offer in my accounting business?

Answer: We do not offer services that compete with accountants and payroll services providers. Moreover, CorpNet will never sell you or your clients’ information to third parties.