Short answer: an accountant can offer services to people who did not ask, within the professional rules: useful information, accuracy, discretion and no comparison. This page covers France, where article 152 of the code of ethics sets the frame. It changes what a message may say: no "cheaper than your firm", no promise, no client name.
What does the code of ethics say about soliciting clients?
Article 152 of the decree of March 30, 2012, in force since August 22, 2014, asks that promotion give the public "useful information". It allows offering services to third parties who did not ask, "under conditions compatible with the ethical rules". It rules out any comparative element, anything inaccurate or misleading, any lack of restraint, and anything that harms independence, dignity or professional secrecy. Solicitation is done "with discretion" (Légifrance, article 152, accessed October 8, 2026, translated by us).
The profession's own site sums up the effect: advertising and solicitation have been allowed since 2014, but comparison tables with competitors, claims of lower prices and rankings stay excluded (les-experts-comptables.fr, accessed October 8, 2026).
One limit: none of the texts we read targets LinkedIn in particular. The general rule applies to the channel. Outside France, the rules of your own professional body apply, and they may differ. If in doubt about a wording, ask your regional chamber of the Order.
What changes in a message?
| Avoid | Write instead |
|---|---|
| "We are cheaper than your firm" | A question about what the person expects from their firm |
| "We worked with [client name]" | "We work with independent restaurants", no name |
| "You will save X" | What the engagement covers, no promised figure |
| "Leave your accountant" | "How do you track your cash flow today?" |
| A follow-up every two days | Two spaced follow-ups, the last one to close |
Do not cite any client without their written agreement: professional secrecy applies, even to a compliment.
Who should you target on LinkedIn?
An audience fits in one sentence: who, at which company, at what moment. Three situations give a reason to write.
- An owner announcing a launch or an opening: a second outlet, a new site. That is when the books get structured.
- A hire for a finance or admin role. It signals a need for follow-up.
- A change of owner or a takeover, when the former firm is being reconsidered.
Avoid people showing "Open to work" and fellow accountants. For a list ready to test, see our method to define your ICP.
What does a sequence within these rules look like?
Three messages over three weeks. The invitation goes out with no note. The examples target a restaurant owner.
1. After acceptance
Hi [First name], I saw the opening of your second restaurant, congratulations. With two sites, many owners wonder how to track cash flow for each. Is that a topic for you?
2. Follow-up, a few days later
[First name], I am preparing a short page on cash flow tracking for a multi-site restaurant. Shall I send it over?
3. Closing
I will stop here so as not to crowd your inbox. If the topic comes back, just reply to this message.
No comparison, no promise, no name. The page mentioned in the follow-up must exist before you send.
Which objections should you expect?
These objections are our own hypotheses, not the result of a study.
- "I already have an accountant." Answer with a question: "Do they follow you on cash flow, or only on the year-end accounts?" Never criticize the colleague.
- "An accountant soliciting me on LinkedIn is not serious." A sober message with no promise, signed with your name, answers better than an argument.
- "What are your references?" Describe the type of clients without naming them.
If the person considers changing firms, taking over a client follows article 163. You must inform the predecessor, check there is no intent to dodge their obligations and make sure the former fees are paid (les-experts-comptables.fr, accessed October 8, 2026).
What does Sales Farmer do for a firm?
Sales Farmer extracts the profiles of a LinkedIn search, chains invitation, message and follow-ups, and stops the sequence as soon as the person replies. The Watchlist follows executives' profiles and picks up their hires, funding rounds and job changes. Each message can be read and edited person by person before you click Launch: you answer for every word.
Sales Farmer does not check your messages against professional rules. That responsibility stays yours. The Starter plan costs $15 a month excluding tax, and the detail is on the pricing page.
FAQ
Is an accountant allowed to solicit clients on LinkedIn?
In France, yes, within article 152: useful information, accuracy, discretion, no comparison. No text we read deals with LinkedIn specifically.
Can you name clients in a message?
Not without their written agreement, because professional secrecy applies. Describe the type of clients rather than their names.
Can you compare your fees with another firm's?
No: article 152 rules out any comparative element.
How many messages should you send to an owner?
A first message and two follow-ups at most. Our article on LinkedIn follow-ups details the pace.