{"id":8776,"date":"2021-10-22T16:57:54","date_gmt":"2021-10-22T20:57:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/?p=8776"},"modified":"2026-02-12T04:34:39","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T09:34:39","slug":"what-clients-want-in-2021-and-beyond","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/what-clients-want-in-2021-and-beyond\/","title":{"rendered":"What clients want in 2021 and beyond"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--generic\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/category\/accountants\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">Accountants<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat clients want in 2021 and beyond\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2021-10-22T16:57:54-04:00\">October 22, 2021<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"What clients want in 2021 and beyond\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/what-clients-want-in-2021-and-beyond\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/author\/johannabrown\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/07\/Johanna-headshot2-350x350.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Johanna Brown-Lyons<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Businesses have always turned to their accountant in times of need, and recent times have tested this rule to its limit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even before the coronavirus disruption, Sage\u2019s most recent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/practice-of-now\/\">Practice of Now<\/a> research revealed that 86% of US accounting professionals feel that clients expect greater flexibility and better service levels\u2014but for the same fee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Accountants in the know are acutely aware of their new-found value. Despite the struggle, they\u2019ve taken every business difficulty as an opportunity to show value, and to create new, meaningful relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can join them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">What clients need in 2021 and beyond<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Be better prepared for your clients evolving expectations. Discover the 7 things your clients want in 2021 and beyond.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-24780b7a-7626-4816-afb2-5a173fcad92b\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Download Now<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1215\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/12\/artofhiring-1215x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"Mastering the art of hiring\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/12\/artofhiring-1215x810.jpg 1215w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-preparing-for-2021-and-beyond\">Preparing for 2021 and beyond<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As the world gets back up to full speed following the pandemic, business needs are morphing yet again. The pandemic transformed the way we live and work, and out of that a new kind of client has emerged for 2021 and beyond. Will home working and better accommodation for our personal lives become the norm? With people having embraced technological solutions to enable this, including automation, where should accountants look to find new business in the coming years?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Accounting was already evolving before coronavirus arrived. Again according to the latest Practice of Now data, the majority of US accounting processionals (73%) had\u2014in the last 12 months\u2014 examined their business practices as they relate to customers and the evolving marketplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If anything, the events of recent years sent things into warp drive. Many accounting practices that would have reached the finish line in their own time have found themselves being pushed from behind by new kinds of client demands. And this isn\u2019t going to change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Clients in 2021 are fundamentally the same as they ever were, yet different at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>To be better prepared for client demands, \n<a  class=\"link\"\n\thref=\"#gate-24780b7a-7626-4816-afb2-5a173fcad92b\"\n>\n\tdownload<\/a>\n&nbsp;this free guide to discover:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The 7 things your clients want in 2021 and beyond<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How to differentiate yourself from the competition<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How to find (and keep!) clients<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<a\n\t\tclass=\"button button--primary gate-24780b7a-7626-4816-afb2-5a173fcad92b\"\n\t\trole=\"button\"\n\t\tdata-button-location=\"content_area\"\n\t\thref=\"#gate-24780b7a-7626-4816-afb2-5a173fcad92b\"\n\t>Download Now<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"gate-ab515c6e-7e90-4c2f-a67e-113872516e8b wp-block-sage-subscription-form\"><div class=\"gcdc-loader gcv2-loader\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Sage Accountants Network<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Elevate yourself above the competition and start benefiting from being a true business partner to your clients!<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/accountants\/products\/sage-accountants-network\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tid=\"cta-id-4957\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-button-location=\"cta_box\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Learn more<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1214\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/10\/iStock-615409760-1214x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"Pitching to an investor\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/10\/iStock-615409760-1214x810.jpg 1214w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">What clients need in 2021 and beyond<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Be better prepared for your clients evolving expectations. Discover the 7 things your clients want in 2021 and beyond.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-24780b7a-7626-4816-afb2-5a173fcad92b\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Download Now<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1215\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/12\/artofhiring-1215x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"Mastering the art of hiring\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/12\/artofhiring-1215x810.jpg 1215w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Businesses have always turned to their accountant in times of need, and recent times have tested this rule to its limit. Even before the coronavirus disruption, Sage\u2019s most recent Practice of Now research revealed that 86% of US accounting professionals feel that clients expect greater flexibility and better service levels\u2014but for the same fee. Accountants [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":795,"featured_media":9289,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[158,348,46],"tags":[2,359],"business_type":[312],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[57],"persona":[150],"imagine_tag":[222,233],"coauthors":[645],"class_list":["post-8776","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-accountants","category-free-guides-templates","category-growth-customers","tag-accountants","tag-grow-your-accounting-practice","business_type-accountants","industry-financial-services"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-us","author_name":"Johanna Brown-Lyons","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1178687924.jpg","imagine_tags":{"222":"Accountants","233":"Medium Businesses"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice US","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8776","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/795"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8776"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8776\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34822,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8776\/revisions\/34822"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/9289"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8776"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8776"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8776"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=8776"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=8776"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=8776"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=8776"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=8776"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=8776"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=8776"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}