I just returned from a three-day retreat for CPA firm owners. It was at the Hotel Hershey in Hershey, PA. At this retreat, small accounting firm owners mentor each other, share with each other and sympathize with each other over the trials of running a small accounting and tax practice in today’s economy. It is by far the most beneficial training I receive each year.
The Maryland Society of Accountants holds the event at various locations in the Mid-Atlantic region once a year. This retreat is three days of opportunities to get input from fellow practitioners on any topic or challenge facing your practice. Many of the policies and procedures I utilize in our firm were either learned or refined at these retreats.
Books are wonderful sources of information. However, the wisdom of many years of experience often cannot be easily found in a book. Additionally, what works for one Practitioner does not necessarily work for all. Retreats let you draw from a larger pool of experience. Maybe they have tried the software you are considering purchasing or they have implemented a customer service policy for their practice that you are considering adopting. Whatever the challenge that is before the small accounting practice owner, the input from someone who has traveled the road before you can be priceless.
