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How to run your firm profitably, and what to charge

That is the question The Firm exists to answer. If you are new here, these are the pieces to read first, in roughly the order the problems turn up: the fee, the margin, the machines, and the exit.

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Charge properly

Get paid before you send the draft: the four rungs of collection A client took the figures off a draft return, lodged it themselves and skipped the bill. The four rungs of collection, and what to change in the engagement letter and onboarding. Trent McLaren · 18 Sept 2026 · 9 min read
How much should you really be charging for individual tax returns? Owners in a private Australian practitioner group shared their hourly rates and individual tax return fees for 2025. What the figures suggest as a guide, and what holds firms back. The Firm · 29 Nov 2025 · 5 min read
When clients compare your fees to their last accountant and how to fix it Clients often compare your fees to their previous accountant without considering the full scope of services provided. This article explores how to shift the conversation from price to value, offering strategies to clarify your worth and educate clients on the rationale behind your fees. The Firm · 29 Nov 2025 · 6 min read

The full hub: Pricing your work

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Keep more of what you bill

The full hub: Running a profitable firm

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Use AI without giving the margin away

The full hub: AI in practice

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Build something you could sell

The full hub: Buying, selling and merging firms

Past issues are in the newsletter archive.