Sage 100

Sorry tried to create a poll (twice) but it's just easier to type the damn question. Do you 100% upgrade all your payroll customers each time there's a tax table update?

I take a look to see what the changes are. If they don't affect the client, then I don't go looking for trouble.

Same as @JeffSchwenk - if there is nothing affecting them, we don't install the update.

Most of our customers are in Florida and since very little in the tax tables normally directly affects them, no.

Same as @JeffSchwenk

Ditto - pre-check for affected customers.

Only if there are Federal changes and State changes that affect the client.

Ditto

This is a pretty lop-sided poll. We don't install the update unless there are changes that affect them.

Do not update unless they affect the customer.

I inform and customer decides. Some want the latest, even though it may not impact them. Other's will ask for details and decline if not relevant.

I'm with @MarkKotyla. Let the customer make the decision. I like to keep myself in a true consulting role as much as possible. Wandering into surrogate manager territory can be treacherous.

I should clarify my response. I let the customer know what is included in the update, but generally will recommend that they do not *need* to update unless the change affects them, so in 99% of the cases we will not load the update unless it affects them.

I'm sure you'll remind us of that at the MOTF, right @JohnShaver ?

+1 to John and Mark -- I find that most customers say ""Dunno what do you recommend"" - they're paying us for recommendations. That being said I follow your lead as well and usually am forced to say ""recommend we install because.."" or ""doesn't seem to impact us"". Same goes with PU.

@ThereseLogeais if you want to get a head start: http://www.amazon.com/Flawless-Consulting-Getting-Expertise-ebook/dp/B004NNV0QI/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1

Nice @JohnShaver - thanks!

Is this recommended reading ahead of time?

I highly recommend it.

Click http://www.amazon.com/Flawless-Consulting-Getting-Expertise-ebook/dp/B004NNV0QI/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1#reader_B004NNV0QI. The intro is good but if you scroll down past the acknowledgements, you will find Chapter 1. Interesting.

@ThereseLogeais I like Peter Block a lot. If I could just get him to stop calling his customers ""clients"" then we'd be all set!

@JohnShaver I do not refer to ""clients"" as customers either. Customers are defined as ""one that purchases a commodity or service"" vs. Client is defined as ""one who engages the professional advise or service of another"". I do not sell services, I provide services. I do not EVER want a client to see themselves as a Customer either. I want them to feel that I am an advisor. Would love other thoughts on this subject :)

After so many years at CPA firms, I could never call my clients customers. ""Client"" implies a professional and on-going relationship. As @KathleenMatthews stated, ""customer"" does not.

In tracing the history of the word client back to its Latin root, the Romans used it in the context of a client being someone who needed the protection (legal, financial, etc.) of a patron. So, the word implies that you and the client are not equals. The client is someone inferior to you. Almost someone you feel sorry for. I prefer customer because it is more of an equalizing term. The customer and I are equals, collaborators, accustomed to doing business with one another. In the end, it's whatever you feel comfortable doing. Although, I do enjoy having the conversation with customers about why I use that word instead of client. They seem to be happy that I've thought it through that far...it ends up being another connection point.

We had this discussion at one of our user group meetings and everyone seemed thrilled that we had given it any attention. FWIW, we use the term ""customer.

We've changed our reference from client to customer. Part of it is John's history. But another is that our customers all have ""good, long-time customers"" and none of them are called ""clients."" The only time our customers hear the word ""client"" is when their attorney, cpa or it guy talks about them. We don't want to be subtely included with that class. We want our customers to feel that we think about them the same way THEY think about THEIR customers.

@JerryNorman That sounds like the same logic used for returning communication (if I receive a call, I will return the call and if someone sends an email, I will reply by email). Would you refer to your ""customer"" because they refer to their ""customers"" and modify the title if they referred to theirs as ""clients""?