I had an email from an accountancy firm asking if I would give free tax advice in half-hour sessions over the telephone. I thought the guy must mean free to the client, but his firm would be paying my business.
It turned out he really did mean “free” and that I would be giving this free advice in the hope of picking up start-up businesses as clients as a result of their gratitude.
Things I have learned about free advice:
- If you give it, you will never be asked for more advice for which you get paid.
- Your insurance position is questionable if someone thinks they had the wrong advice.
- Someone who wants it has no respect for all the experience, study and learning you have put in.
- You could be being paid for the work you would be doing instead, rather than giving time away free.
Yes, I sometimes do give free advice, but that is on behalf of a registered charity. Never, never, never sell your work short, and never, never, never, never work for nothing except for a cause you hold dear.
Do you have a tax issue I can help you with? Get in touch and I will guide you.
