How to Do Marketing for CA Firms In 2026 (Updated For New Rules)

This is a practical breakdown of what's working for CA firms right now, what you should consider doing, and how to think about investing in marketing when you've never had to do it before.

You just got permission to market your CA firm.

And now you might be sitting there wondering what to do next.

Because knowing you CAN do marketing and knowing HOW to do marketing are two entirely different things. 

You might’ve built a solid practice on referrals and networking. Those methods worked for years. They still work now.

But something's changing, and you've noticed it.

Your newest client would’ve asked for your website before scheduling a meeting. A prospect mentioned they found your competitor's blog post about GST compliance helpful. Someone at a networking event asked why your firm wasn't on LinkedIn.

Small signals. But they're adding up.

You're now aware that the playing field is shifting, and you want to understand what's actually required to stay competitive without throwing money at tactics that don't make sense for a professional services practice.

That's what this guide is about. This is a practical breakdown of what's working for CA firms right now, what you should consider doing, and how to think about investing in marketing when you've never had to do it before.

What's Actually Changing in How Clients Find CA Firms

Let me show you something that's happening right now in your market.

Let’s say there’s a  mid-sized manufacturing company that needs help with international tax advisory. 

Their taxation person / CFO opens up Google and types "international corporate tax consultant Chennai" or "international tax advisory Delhi."

Three CA firms appear on the first page of results. And it's not yours.

He clicks the first one. The website loads quickly. 

He spends four minutes on the site, reads two articles, and submits an inquiry form.

Your firm, with 15 years of international tax experience, never appears in that search. Not because you're less qualified. Not because your services aren't valid but simply because you haven't invested in showing up when potential clients are looking.

Why This Feels Uncomfortable (And Why That's Completely Normal)

I've sat across the table from CA firm partners explaining digital marketing.

The conversation usually goes like this:

"Okay, so if we spend ₹1,00,000 per month on marketing, how many clients will we get? What's the conversion rate? How long until we see return on investment? Can you show me the exact numbers?"

These are smart questions. You've built your career on financial discipline, on understanding inputs

and outputs, on making decisions based on data.

But marketing doesn't work like a balance sheet. It compounds over time. It builds momentum. It creates visibility that turns into trust that eventually converts into clients, often months after the initial touchpoint.

When you attend a networking event, you don't demand to know exactly which three conversations will turn into clients. You show up, build relationships, establish credibility, and trust that some percentage will convert over time.

Digital marketing follows the same logic. 

You create content that demonstrates expertise. 

You optimise your website so prospects can find you. You show up consistently on the platforms where your clients are researching solutions. And over time, you start seeing inquiries from people who found you online.

The challenge is that this feels uncertain compared to referrals, which have always been your primary source of new business. 

A satisfied client recommends you to someone in their network. You take a meeting. You close the deal. Simple. Predictable.

But referrals have a ceiling. 

They grow linearly with your existing client base. They're limited by your network's size and memory. 

And increasingly, even referrals check about you online reaching out. 

If they Google your firm and find nothing, or worse, find outdated information and broken contact forms, they move on.

The second hesitation I hear often is about trust. 

You've spent years building expertise in a complex field. The idea of handing marketing responsibilities to someone who isn't a CA, who doesn't understand the nuances of tax law or compliance regulations, feels risky.

That concern makes sense. 

But to market a service, you don’t need to know every little detail of accounting, taxation and Company Law. 

What you need to do is understand how your ideal client searches for solutions, what questions they ask before hiring a CA firm, and how to position your expertise so you're the obvious choice when they're ready to make a decision.

You don't need a marketer who can file a tax return. 

You need someone who understands how to rank content on Google, how to run targeted ad campaigns, and how to turn website visitors into qualified leads.

The CA firms getting results right now are the ones that stopped treating marketing as an outside intrusion and started treating it as a necessary business function, just like client relationship management or continuing education.

What Actually Works: The Channels That Make Sense for CA Firms

Let's talk about what's actually effective for professional services firms like yours.

Most marketing agencies will pitch you a standard package: "We'll post on Instagram three times a week, run some Facebook ads, and send you monthly reports."

That approach doesn't work for CA firms. Your clients aren't scrolling Instagram looking for accountants. They're not making impulse decisions based on a clever reel. Sure it’s a good place to be and land on people’s feeds when they’re bored…

But for the BIGGEST IMPACT, 

You need to be there WHEN they are searching for specific solutions

This could be on Google, keywords like "how to structure international tax for exporters", "transfer pricing guide India to USA", “DTAA rules India Colombia), asking their network for recommendations, or evaluating firms on LinkedIn based on demonstrated expertise.

If you're going to invest in marketing, you need to show up where your clients are actually making decisions.

Your Website: The Foundation Everything Else Builds On

Your website is ALWAYS a first place every potential client goes after hearing your firm's name, whether through referral, search, or social media.

If your site loads slowly, looks outdated, or doesn't clearly explain what you do and who you serve, you're losing clients before they ever contact you.

Your website needs:

Clear service descriptions. 

Not vague statements like "we offer comprehensive tax services." 

Specific explanations like: "We help mid-sized manufacturing companies structure international tax strategies for cross-border operations, focusing on transfer pricing compliance and double taxation avoidance."

This is an example I just wrote from the top of my mind, but you can come up with 10 more and create 10 different pages. 

Mobile optimization. 

Your site needs to look good and function properly on phones. This isn't optional anymore.

Working contact forms. 

Test them yourself. Fill out your own inquiry form and see if it actually reaches your inbox. You'd be surprised how many firms lose leads because their contact forms break.

Evidence of expertise. 

Case studies (anonymized if needed), blogs, articles explaining complex regulations, downloadable guides. Anything that shows you know what you're talking about.

Google Business Profile: Free Visibility You're Probably Ignoring

When someone searches "CA firm near me" or "tax consultant Bangalore," Google shows a map with three local business listings.

If your firm isn't one of those three, you're invisible in the most important moment of the client journey.

Setting up your Google Business Profile takes about 20 minutes and costs nothing. Go to google.com/business, claim your listing, and fill out every field:

• Business name, address, phone number

• Service categories (be specific: corporate tax, GST consulting, international tax advisory)

• Business hours

• Photos of your office and team

• Service area (which cities you serve)

Then ask your existing clients to leave reviews. Most will do it if you simply send an email saying,

"We'd appreciate it if you could share your experience working with us on Google."

Reviews matter. When a prospect is comparing three firms, the one with eight 5-star reviews gets the call. The one with zero reviews gets skipped.

This is low-effort, high-impact marketing that most CA firms completely ignore.

Content Marketing: Demonstrating Expertise at Scale

You answer complex questions every single day.

"How do I structure my holding company for tax efficiency?" "What documentation do I need for transfer pricing compliance?" "How does the new GST regulation affect my manufacturing business?"

Your clients value this expertise. It's why they hire you.

Now imagine publishing those answers on your website so that when someone Googles those exact questions, your firm appears with the answer.

That's content marketing. And it works because you're not selling. You're teaching. You're

demonstrating that you understand the problem and have the expertise to solve it.

When a CFO searches "GST compliance checklist for pharmaceutical manufacturing" and finds a detailed, practical guide written by your firm, two things happen:

1. They get immediate value, which builds trust

2. They remember your firm when they need professional help

You don't need to publish daily. Start with two well-researched articles per week addressing a question your ideal client is actually asking.

After six months, you'll have a lot of pieces of content working for you 24/7, ranking on Google, building credibility.

LinkedIn: Where Your Clients Are Already Spending Time

Your clients are on LinkedIn. CEOs, CFOs, business owners, they're scrolling through their feed during lunch, before meetings, on their commute.

LinkedIn is a great place for positioning yourself / or your firm as someone who understands the challenges your clients face and has solutions.

When a prospect reads three or four of your posts explaining complex tax strategies in clear language, they develop a perception of expertise before they ever meet you. And in the first meeting you have them, you don’t have to explain who you are and why you are good. You can go straight into their specific situation and propose a solution.

You don't need to post every day. Thrice a week is enough. Pick a topic from your recent client work (without naming clients), explain it clearly, and publish it.

Do this consistently for 90 days and track what happens to your inquiry volume.

Google Ads: Targeted Visibility for High-Intent Searches

This is going to be a BIG thing. This is exactly where competition is going to increase because of de-regulations. 

Organic content takes time to build momentum. SEO requires patience. LinkedIn requires consistency.

Google Ads gives you IMMEDIATE visibility for specific searches.

When someone types "ca firm for tax filing Delhi" into Google, they have buying intent. They're looking for someone to hire.

If your ad appears at the top of that search with a clear headline, and a relevant landing page, you'll get clicks from qualified prospects, GUARANTEED. 

The key is specificity. Don't bid on broad terms like "accountant" or "tax help." Target the exact phrases your ideal clients use when they're ready to hire someone.

Start with one campaign. Budget ₹60,000-₹80,000 per month. Track every lead. Measure which keywords convert. Double down on what works.

Email: Staying Visible Without Being Intrusive

Most CA firms send exactly two emails to prospects: the initial pitch and the follow-up a week later. If the prospect doesn't respond, communication stops.

Email marketing keeps you visible during the long consideration period professional services typically require.

When someone downloads a guide from your website or attends your webinar, add them to an email list. Send them helpful content once or twice a week:

You should not focus on selling in every email. What you should focus on is providing value and staying top of mind so when they're ready to hire a CA firm, yours is the first name they think of.

How to Think About Budget When You've Never Spent on Marketing Before

Based on what's working for professional services firms, allocate 30-40% of your gross profit to marketing if you're serious about growth.

If that sounds high, consider that you're probably already spending 10-15% on business development activities, networking events, association memberships, sponsorships, and client entertainment. 

Anything less and you're spreading your budget too thin to see results. You'll dabble in SEO, run a few ads for two weeks, post on LinkedIn three times,

and conclude "marketing doesn't work for CA firms."

It does work. But only with committed execution over a meaningful time period.

Timeline: When Should You Expect to See Results?

Give any channel 90 days minimum before deciding whether it's working.

You need time to test, gather data, and adjust based on what you learn.

Month 1: Foundation

• Website audit and optimization

• Google Business Profile setup

• Content strategy development

• Ad campaign planning

Month 2: Execution

• Publish first content pieces

• Launch Google Ads campaign

• Start consistent LinkedIn posting

• Begin tracking all inquiries

Month 3: Measurement and Adjustment

• Review which channels are generating inquiries

• Identify which content is ranking on Google

• Adjust ad targeting based on conversion data

• Double down on tactics showing early traction

If you expect immediate results in 30 days, you'll quit before anything compounds. The firms seeing results now gave marketing 90 days of consistent effort before making decisions.

After that initial 90 days, you'll have data. You'll know which keywords are converting. Which blog posts are ranking. Which LinkedIn topics are getting engagement. Then you can allocate budget strategically instead of guessing.

What to Look for in a Marketing Partner (And What to Avoid)

Most agencies pitch CA firms the same one-size-fits-all package they sell to every other business.

"We'll manage your social media, run some ads, and send you a monthly report."

That doesn't work for professional services. Your sales cycle is long. Your clients make careful decisions. Your value proposition is based on expertise, not price or convenience.

You need a marketing partner who understands these dynamics and operates accordingly.

What good agencies do:

They ask strategic questions before proposing anything.

They want to understand your ideal client profile, your competitive advantages, your current client acquisition cost, your growth targets. Then they build a plan tailored to your specific situation.

They think independently.

They don't ask for approval on every social media post or blog headline. You hire them for their marketing expertise, and they use it.

They have their own strategy.

They come back with recommendations based on research, not just a checklist of activities they'll execute if you tell them what to do.

They communicate in plain language.

They explain what they're doing and why it matters without hiding behind jargon.

What bad agencies do:

They make you do the work.

They ask you to provide content ideas, review every piece of copy, approve every design choice. You end up spending hours managing them instead of focusing on client work.

They pitch channels that don't make sense for your business.

If an agency suggests building your TikTok presence as a core tactic for a CA firm, they don't understand your market (Might not understand that TikTok is even banned in India) 

They promise guaranteed results without understanding your business.

"We'll get you 50 leads in 30 days" sounds appealing, but if those leads aren't qualified prospects, they're worthless.

The right partner becomes an extension of your team. They understand your business well enough to make smart decisions without constant oversight.

If you want a partner that can help you grow your CA firm with effective marketing, Revenueholic is an option you might be interested in. 

Contact Us Here

The Practical First Steps: What to Do in the Next 30 Days

If you've read this far, you're at least considering whether investing in marketing makes sense for your firm.

Don't try to do everything at once. Start with the fundamentals and build from there.

Week 1: Audit What You Have

Run your website through Google PageSpeed Insights. Check how it looks on mobile. Click every link and form to make sure they work. Google your firm name and see what appears.

Search for keywords your ideal clients would use: "corporate tax consultant [your city]," "GST advisory [your industry]," "international tax services [your location]."

Who's ranking? What does their content look like? What are they doing that you're not?

Week 2: Claim Your Digital Properties

Set up your Google Business Profile if you haven't already. Update your LinkedIn company page. Make sure your firm's name, address, and phone number are consistent across every online directory.

Ask all your existing clients to leave Google reviews. Send a simple email: "We'd really appreciate it if you could take two minutes to share your experience working with us on Google."

Most will do it. It's a small task that makes a big difference when prospects are comparing firms.

Week 3: Create One Piece of Valuable Content

Start writing 2 blog posts answering a question your clients frequently ask. Do not have too much promotional content. Blogs aren’t supposed to be a sales pitch. A genuinely helpful guide that someone could read and implement is what works. 

Format it clearly. Use subheadings. Include specific examples. Make it the kind of resource you'd want

to find if you were searching for that information.

Publish it on your website. Share it on LinkedIn. Send it to a few clients who might find it useful.

Week 4: Set Up Basic Tracking

Add one question to your client intake process: "How did you hear about us?"

Track every answer in a spreadsheet. Google search, LinkedIn, referral from [client name], networking event, etc.

After 90 days, you'll have real data showing where your clients are actually coming from. That data tells you where to invest.

Why Waiting Is the Riskiest Decision You Can Make

EVERY SINGLE CA firm in your city just got the same regulatory green light you did.

Some firms are already moving. They're claiming Google listings, publishing content, running ads, building email lists. They're establishing themselves as the visible choice in their niche.

The firms that move first will rank on Google for the keywords that matter. They'll build audiences on LinkedIn. They'll develop email lists of prospects who've engaged with their content.

The firms that wait will spend the next two years competing for whatever visibility is left.

The question isn't whether you need to invest in marketing. It's whether you'll do it proactively while you're still competitive, or reactively when you're already losing ground.

Start Building Visibility Before Your Competitors Do

You don't need perfect certainty to get started.

You need enough information to make a smart first move, enough budget to test properly, and enough patience to let marketing compound over 90 days.

You can start doing this thing next week.

Either yourself…

But what we do recommend is going with a marketing partner like Revenueholic (us) 

Think about it, is it wise for a business owner to audit their own books? Or is it wiser to give it to a CA?

Same way,

If you want to build a marketing strategy that actually makes sense for your CA firm,

Book a free call with Revenueholic here 

We'll review your business, identify where you're losing potential clients, and tell you how we can help you grow.