Intuit Inc. (Nasdaq:INTU) has been “playing Cupid” for more than 20 years by helping accounting professionals connect with those at the heart of their practices: small businesses. To celebrate the QuickBooks ProAdvisor Program’s 20th anniversary, the company today announced the availability of a new Find-a-ProAdvisor marketplace, a completely redesigned customer search experience to ensure ProAdvisors receive more and better qualified leads from prospective small businesses. The marketplace is now available to small businesses worldwide via these global websites: Australia, Canada, India, United Kingdom and United States. The marketplace first launched exclusively within QuickBooks Online last December.

The QuickBooks ProAdvisor Program is a membership program for accounting professionals that provides customer support, QuickBooks training, and access to Intuit products and services at discounted prices for them and their small business clients. ProAdvisors can become certified as a QuickBooks expert and then list themselves in the Find-a-ProAdvisor marketplace, which is visited annually by more than 1 million small businesses worldwide. In a recent survey of ProAdvisors in the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom, an average of 57 percent of respondents said building a relationship is the most important factor when deciding to do business with a potential client. Unlike other accounting directories available in the accounting industry, Intuit’s Find-a-ProAdvisor marketplace is the only one with certified QuickBooks experts trained to fuel small business success and focused on creating connections that build long-term business relationships.

“In 1997, we launched the ProAdvisor Program to provide access to our products and services, and create connections between accounting professionals and small businesses to help ensure their long-term success,” said Chris Hamilton, leader of Intuit’s Global ProAdvisor Program. “As we celebrate the program’s 20th anniversary and growth to more than 200,000 members worldwide, our commitment to match small businesses with trusted QuickBooks advisors hasn’t changed. We are already seeing a significant increase in the number of small business leads sent to ProAdvisors as a result of the new matching service and expect the number of those connections to continue to grow.”

Helping Small Businesses Find Their Perfect Match

Eighty-nine percent of small businesses say they are more successful when working with an accounting professional. For this reason, dozens of QuickBooks small businesses provided their feedback on marketplace concepts. They also provided their insights on the newly-formatted ProAdvisor profiles listed in the marketplace to ensure that the most important information is emphasized when small businesses seek their perfect ProAdvisor match. A ProAdvisor’s profile listing now clearly showcases their QuickBooks certifications, links to their social media accounts, such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, and elevates customer reviews. New search filters and result pages also clearly emphasize ProAdvisors’ business attributes, areas of expertise and specialized services so small businesses can easily identify the ProAdvisor that is right for them. The new Find-a-ProAdvisor marketplace is also designed with mobile devices in mind so small businesses can find their perfect ProAdvisor match anytime, anywhere.

“A small business owner should not be in business unless they work with an expert who can help them get their finances up to scratch,” said Jude Mayall, chef and founder of Australian native food retailer Outback Chef, based in Malvern, Australia. “As a business owner, I wear too many hats and finding and hiring a QuickBooks Online expert has given me time to focus on running my business instead of spending an average of six hours every week trying to balance the books.”

Helping Accounting Firms Grow with Right-For-Me Connections

QuickBooks Certified ProAdvisors who list themselves in the Find-a-ProAdvisor marketplace now have the ability to see the impact their profile has on turning prospects into active leads and ultimately, clients. Accessible only to ProAdvisors through QuickBooks Online Accountant, ProAdvisors can see how many times their profile has been viewed by prospects and how many active leads they have received through the service. ProAdvisors also have access to tips on how to improve their profile listing to increase the number of profile views and inquiries from small business prospects.

“I was one of the first bookkeepers in Australia to pass the ProAdvisor certification exam and when small businesses search for a QuickBooks Online Expert, my profile is one of the first they find,” said Lauretta Finis, principal and director of Australia-based bookkeeping firm Quick Bizness Bookkeeping Solutions and Jude Mayall’s bookkeeper. “The Find-a-ProAdvisor service provides at least a couple of new leads every week and when a small business can get to know me before ever reaching out, our relationship is built on trust from the beginning and my firm grows.”

All QuickBooks ProAdvisors with an active QuickBooks Certification are eligible for a free listing in the Find-a-ProAdvisor marketplace. For more information, visit the QuickBooks ProAdvisor Program website.

Additional QuickBooks ProAdvisor and Small Business Clients Quotes:

Canada:

  • “The ability to provide feedback and advice concerning a business’s financial health is at the core of what we do as accounting professionals. Being a part of the ProAdvisor Program provides a visual seal of approval that assures existing and potential clients of our value and expertise.” – Jennie Moore, Moore Details Bookkeeping, Quinte West, Ontario, Canada.
  • “To know where your business is going and really be on the right track, you need an accountant. Jennie’s services are an investment that allow me to focus on my own business, not my business’s pain points. She has saved me hours of time by moving our accounting system to the cloud.” Laurie Clarke, corporate coach and chief operating officer at The Tatham Group in Toronto, Canada and Jennie’s client.

United Kingdom:

  • “We have had business owners contact us just because we are QuickBooks ProAdvisors. They have seen the adverts for QuickBooks on TV and want an accountant who can work with them and support their use of the QuickBooks software. They are really impressed when we offer to train them in how to use it too!” – Jo Tomlinson, Business Works UK, Garforth, United Kingdom.
  • “They have allowed me to focus on the things I love to do and not spend my time on financial/accounting matters, which I have little interest spending time on. As long as I have a high-level view of my business, I am happy.” – Elizabeth Cottam, chef at HOME in Leeds, United Kingdom and Jo Tomlinson’s client.

United States:

  • “The ProAdvisor membership has enabled Blueback Accounting to be front-page as an expert. Being a ProAdvisor enables me to be a better accountant. Being a better accountant is my passion.” – Jay Holmes, CPA at Blueback Accounting, Boise, Idaho.
  • “Hiring someone who is an expert so that you can focus on what you’re good at or what you’re passionate about is definitely a good investment. We think of Jay more like a partner than an accountant. He's there to help us make all the decisions for our business.” – Frannie Wilson, owner of Paperie and Pen in Meridian, Idaho and Jay Holmes’ client.

About Intuit Inc.

Intuit Inc. creates business and financial management solutions that simplify the business of life for small businesses, consumers and accounting professionals.

Its flagship products and services include QuickBooks® and TurboTax®, which make it easier to manage small businesses and tax preparation and filing. Mint.com provides a fresh, easy and intelligent way for people to manage their money, while Intuit's ProConnect brand portfolio includes ProConnect Online, ProSeries® and Lacerte®, the company's leading tax preparation offerings for professional accountants.

Founded in 1983, Intuit had revenue of $4.7 billion in its fiscal year 2016. The company has approximately 7,900 employees with major offices in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India, Australia and other locations. More information can be found at www.intuit.com.