"Most of the software (accounting) firms are using is becoming Web-enabled," Charles McCann, CPA firm veteran and president of Q3Avenue, said, citing Great Plains, QuickBooks, Peachtree, and Netledger as examples.

"Eventually, nobody will buy software. We'll all subscribe to it on the Web," according to McCann.

 

These days, McCann, best-known for his 23 years at Mayer Hoffman McCann, which was acquired by CPA firm consolidator Century Business Services back in 1998, is focusing on leading small and mid-sized firms online at Q3Avenue.

 

The firm recently launched its own remote-hosted subscription-based virtual office, CPAvenue.

 

The virtual office application, powered by online business service huddle247, is customized for small firms, and provides services such as Web conferencing, e-mail, contact management, scheduling and document and project management, as well as a database of free intellectual capital that includes new engagement ideas and templates, power point presentations and other tools.

 

"In order to stay competitive, firms have to get on this bandwagon," McCann said. "CPAs need to understand that this is a tremendous marketing and service opportunity. They can say to their clients, 'we have a virtual office, we can offer anytime, anywhere accounting services.'"

 

Since its launch less than three weeks ago, the firm's Web site, www.CPAvenue.com, has received over 1,500 hits, and more than 100 firms have signed up to try the service, McCann said.

 

The annual subscription price for the virtual office service is $139 per firm. Monthly usage fees start at 39.95 per month for 50 MB of storage space, and increase based on the amount of space used, McCann said.

-- By Melissa Klein

Send comments to information@smartpros.com

Back to NewsLine