7 dates for your client's diary: less chasing, more advising in 2027

You would put your firm's name against every reminder - along with explanations on every diary entry with more instructions, advice or context.

Being ‘in’ your clients’ Outlook diary would solve two of your deepest frustrations, in one elegant swoop:

1. Chasing clients: one simple diary alert they will actually read - not hundreds of mind-numbing email chases a year. Better for you, and your clients.
2. Having advisory conversations: I remember firms talking about doing more advisory work 15 years ago. Finding time for those conversations still feels impossible.

We have built a solution we think can help, for the rest of 2026 and all of 2027:

Introducing the client calendar builder - made for Australian accounting firms. You pick the reminders, we build the calendar, you email it to your client.

One click at their end - and every date is ‘in’ their diary through to the end of 2027.

For a typical client, that's 22 dates and reminders you won’t have to chase.

It is the most useful thing I can think of to send your clients before Christmas, and right now we’re giving it away for nothing. Happy building:

Build your first client's calendar here

Or read on for 7 ideas client diary ideas (as the calendar is completely customisable) - for less chasing and more advisory work moving forward:

1. Give your client two weeks' warning before every compliance deadline

The BAS deadline is in your practice system.

Is it in your client's diary?

Almost certainly not. And at the heart of it, that is why the chasing exists.

Our calendar includes one-click deadline options for:

• Individual and company tax returns
• Quarterly BAS
• Employer obligations
• Payday super

Simply choose how much notice you want your client to have: one, two, three or four weeks. Every date is the agent date, already moved off weekends and public holidays. 

Give them the heads-up. They will appreciate it.

2. Ask for the receipts on the first of every month automatically

You know the client. Receipts pile up until you ask.

Tick the monthly reminder - and the ask arrives politely on the first of every month in their Outlook.

For 2027, that is 12 prompts per client.

Across 50 clients, that’s 600 reminders you never have to write.

3. Start tax planning before it gets too busy for both of you

A client calling in late June is usually ready for a conversation you would rather have had in April.

Add a custom yearly prompt on 1 April - or whatever date suits your planning cycle:

"Book your tax planning meeting so we have time to act before 30 June. Bring any major purchases or business changes you are considering, and we'll cover the tax changes that matter to you."

That gives the client a date, a reason to call you, and a conversation that is already advisory before anyone has said the word.

4. Give the annual review a fixed place in their year

Switch on the annual review reminder and pick the month.

Then tell them what it's for:

"Let's review the year and agree on your priorities for the next one. What would you like to change about the business, what are your short- and long-term goals - and where would you like our help?"

There is a reason to ask:

In Xero's 2025 research with 500 Australian small business owners, 49 per cent said they had no long-term goals for their business.

Half your client list is waiting for someone to open the conversation. Open it!

Put the annual review in their diary

5. Talk before they renew the lease, refinance or sell

Finding out after they have signed leaves you very little room to help.

If their lease ends next September, drop a one-off prompt in a few months earlier:

"Talk to us before you renew your lease. Send the proposed rent and any changes to the terms, and we'll look at the cash-flow impact before you commit."

Same idea for a fixed-rate loan ending.

And for the biggest one of all: from 1 July 2027 the CGT rules change for anyone selling property, shares or a business. That is law, not a proposal. One prompt in early 2027:

"Thinking of selling property, shares or the business? Talk to us before 1 July 2027 to see how the new rules could change your position."

You already know these things about your clients.

This puts that knowledge where they will see it.

6. Plan for the busy season before cash gets tight

A seasonal business pays for stock and staff before the sales arrive.

You know the month. They know the feeling.

Add a yearly reminder ahead of the spend:

"Before you place the season's stock orders, let's check what you can comfortably fund. Bring your sales expectations and any staffing plans."

The invitation arrives while they are still deciding - which is the only time cash-flow advice is any use.

7. Wish them well before every public holiday

Not every diary entry has to ask for something.

Switch on public holidays and every day off carries a short note from your firm, national and state, all year.

"Enjoy the day off, from all of us at [your firm]."

Fifteen months of small, well-timed hellos. No chasing, no ask. Just the accountant who is there when things are good, as well as when they are due.

Imagine how much easier next year could be, with all this already in your client’s diary

All records arriving before you ask.

Your tax planning meeting actually taking place in April.

And on every day off - a note from your firm.

Fifteen months of your firm being there before the problem, not after it.

Built in a few minutes. A real step towards mastering the routine, and finally having the advisory conversations you’ve always wanted:

Create your client's free calendar

Free, no sign-up.

Workiro is a document management and client workflow platform used by accounting firms across Australia.