I am terrible at welcome packets to my clients.. My good friend Dawn..forget her id here..sorry Dawn.. has brilliant ideas for welcome packets.. I keep telling myself I need to do it..

But I do send gifts through the year, little reminders that I love them as clients and value them

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Winslow Girl Virtual Assistant
www.winslowgirlva.com
Taking Virtual Assistance to the Next Level

By law (at least in the US), businesses really should not be paying you at all without a W9 on file.

If they get audited and don't have that on record (and then can't get one for the auditor) they will be fined.

The government always makes sure their cut is covered!

Since Accountants will most likely tell their clients NOT to pay anyone without a W9, you might as well make sure you can get paid on time by providing it.

Pat

awesome infomation

thanks

what types of things would you include in a welcome letter to a new client? I have my prototype of my package together but I dont have a welcome letter. What types of things did you put in your letter to differenate it from a marketing letter?

Pat,
Thank you for that info on w9. I am a little confused though about why we do need to have this? Since I am offering a professional service to my clients just as an accountant and attorney's do for their clients and they don't have to do W9. At least this has been my experience. Whenever I've hired either an accountant or lawyer since they were a business and providing a service this never came up. I would love more information regarding this if you have it.

Thanks.

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LoriLee
Executive Virtual Staffing
(web site to come in near future)

Has anyone every had folders done up that included a rolodex card with all their contact info on it? I saw these in a magazine and thought it seemed like a good idea to have printed up.

Karrie

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Karrie Underwood
Achieve Virtual Assistance

THat is a great idea about the packet. I will do this once I actually get my first client. Still working on that one but the packet is a great idea.

This is great info. I never thought of adding a welcome package .

I throw in a gift card to either Starbucks or Caribou in my welcome packet.
Actually, sometimes I don't even send a packet, it's just a card with a handwritten note and the gift card.

Holly

Wow, I can't believe I've never included a W-9! Another thing to put on my to-do list! Thanks again...

For those unanswered W-9 questions on this thread:

Your clients will be required to report payments made to you to the IRS via a 1099-MISC form at the end of the year IF they pay you more than $600 during the year and IF you are not operating your business as a corporation.

The purpose of a W-9 is to provide your name, address, business type (sole proprietorship, partnership, S-Corp or C-Corp) to your client so that they have all the information necessary to complete the 1099-MISC at the end of the year.

Many businesses don't give you a W-9 unless you ask for one because: (a) they're not as forward thinking as a VA, or (b) they're a corporation and know you don't need to report your payments to them.

I think it's a great idea to include a W-9 in your welcome packet because it shows that you're on top of things, you're anticipating your client's needs in advance, and you're making sure they know who to make the check out to! Also, as administrative professionals, it is sometimes our job to educate our clients about their responsibilities as business owners. While we won't get in trouble about not getting a 1099 at the end of the year, our client could be fined $50 for every 1099 that they fail to file with the IRS. So, once again, the VA (or Virtual Bookkeeper, in my case) is helping watch their backs and easing their stress! Yeah, VA's!

Deb

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Deb Howard Greenleaf, Certified QB ProAdvisor
Virtual Bookkeeping & QB Consulting

Thanks Deb.
Can I you clarify - my client (who pays me) is an LLC and so am I. I am pretty sure they will need a W-9 from me for their taxes. Will they then give me a 1099 at the end of the year for my taxes?
I really need to get an accountant :O)

Thank you!
Angela
MyRightHandLLC

Originally Posted by debhowardgreenleaf

For those unanswered W-9 questions on this thread: Your clients will be required to report payments made to you to the IRS via a 1099-MISC form at the end of the year IF they pay you more than $600 during the year and IF you are not operating your business as a corporation. The purpose of a W-9 is to provide your name, address, business type (sole proprietorship, partnership, S-Corp or C-Corp) to your client so that they have all the information necessary to complete the 1099-MISC at the end of the year. Many businesses don't give you a W-9 unless you ask for one because: (a) they're not as forward thinking as a VA, or (b) they're a corporation and know you don't need to report your payments to them. I think it's a great idea to include a W-9 in your welcome packet because it shows that you're on top of things, you're anticipating your client's needs in advance, and you're making sure they know who to make the check out to! Also, as administrative professionals, it is sometimes our job to educate our clients about their responsibilities as business owners. While we won't get in trouble about not getting a 1099 at the end of the year, our client could be fined $50 for every 1099 that they fail to file with the IRS. So, once again, the VA (or Virtual Bookkeeper, in my case) is helping watch their backs and easing their stress! Yeah, VA's! Deb

Thanks for the taking the time to answer those questions. Greatly appreciated.

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Alicia Granda | A Grand Assistant | Virtual Assistance for Professional Individuals | AGrandAssistant.com

Very informative Deb. Thanks for explaining!

How does everyone feel about simply emailing a welcome packet? Does it lose the effect over email? I assume it gets there immediately and they can look over everything... I just wouldn't be able to include a business card via email.
Thoughts?