Is your accounting firm prepared for the 2026 tax season?
Key Takeaways
- Fall is prime preparation time for the next tax season.
- The accounting firms that thrive make time for what’s important, not just urgent.
- Consistent, human-centered marketing for accounting firms builds long-term stability.
- Start now: strengthen visibility, follow-up, and client relationships before the rush.
- Marketing done right is relationship-building, not noise-making.
“For though we sleep or wake or roam or ride,
Time flies, and for no man will it abide.”
— Geoffrey Chaucer
As the father of four small children, I’ve accepted that the passage of time will forever be an enigma. Slow days, fast years… as they say. (Is it already almost November?)
While there’s a lot to enjoy this time of year, I can also feel the end of the year creeping up on me like my three-year-old daughter does at 4 a.m.—slow, quiet, and startling.
To many tax and accounting professionals, the fall (or more acutely, post extension deadlines) signals the start of one long marathon that lasts through April.
And as is true with any long race, the difference between success and failure is preparation.
Are you prepared for the end of the year and the 2026 tax season? Or are you carbo-loading like Michael Scott before a 5K?
“I never ate more fettuccine alfredo, and drank less water, than I ever have in my entire life.” – Michael Scott
The Real Divide: Busy vs. Prepared
One of the big bright lines I’ve seen separating those who thrive from those who merely survive is this: the ability to make space for what’s important, not just what’s urgent.
Accountants, bookkeepers, CPAs, tax planners, and tax preparers often know the elements of their business they need to get to, focus on, and fix.
Awareness of the problem isn’t the issue.
The issue is either:
- They don’t make time to address those areas, or
- They don’t delegate them to someone else who can.
And probably the most neglected area for a small tax or accounting firm is marketing.
The Hidden Cost of Neglecting Marketing
The common reasons sound familiar:
- “I’ve got plenty of referrals. Why do I need to do any marketing?”
- “I’m a startup and need clients, but I don’t have the money to invest right now.”
- “Marketing never worked for me in the past.”
Are these explanations rational and understandable? Absolutely.
But let’s read between the lines…
When next to zero time or money is spent on marketing, you miss out on the benefits that can come from sowing those seeds into the right soil.
I’ve seen firsthand what happens when firm owners finally make that shift.
Take one of our clients, Kyle. When he decided to invest in his marketing, the results came fast: more leads, more engagement, and a steadier flow of ideal clients.
I want to find and serve more Kyles in the tax and accounting world… to help them experience the fruit that comes from sowing their marketing seeds into the soil.
Because marketing isn’t a vanity exercise. It’s how you communicate value, build trust, and stay top of mind when clients need you most.
Marketing for Accounting Firms That Works
The firms that thrive through tax season and beyond do one thing differently: they treat marketing as an ongoing relationship with their audience.
That looks like:
- A website that clearly speaks to client pain points and your expertise.
- Regular, relational emails that sound human and helpful.
- Consistent follow-up systems that prove you care.
- Gathering and displaying reviews that validate trust.
- A mindset of “show up, follow up, and stay connected.”
That’s the simple formula: Get found → Follow up → Stay connected → Get chosen.
Preparing for the Marathon Ahead
Put the fettuccine alfredo down.
Lace up your running shoes.
And start preparing your firm for the year ahead.
This is the perfect window to:
- Audit your online presence (Google Business Profile, reviews, website).
- Re-engage your client list with a relational email.
- Plan January–March ad campaigns now so you’re not scrambling later.
- Set up your systems for faster, friendlier lead response.
- Revisit your marketing content so it sounds like you — not a template.
The marathon’s already begun. You can still join it — but waiting until January means running uphill.
FAQ
The best window is right now — October through December. That’s when you can refine your online visibility, test your email strategy, and enter tax season with momentum.
Many small firms allocate 5–10% of annual revenue to marketing. The key is consistency — sustained effort beats short bursts every time.
Relational email marketing and local SEO remain top performers. When combined, they build both visibility and trust. (External LINK suggestion: [HubSpot – Email Marketing ROI Statistics])
Track real outcomes — new client inquiries, consultations booked, and referrals — not vanity metrics like likes or impressions.
If this season feels like it’s speeding by faster than usual, take a few quiet minutes to prepare your firm before the rush.
Look at your marketing through the lens of relationships, not just promotion.
That’s how accounting firms grow… steadily, predictably, and with purpose.