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Business Builder: How To Start A Bookkeeping (or Accounting) Business

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About a month ago, I set out to write an e-book about something I know. So I started with the obvious, starting a bookkeeping or accounting business.

Freebie Alert… but you have to give to receive (read post to the end)

Right now it’s rough for pretty much everyone. So many people have decided to start businesses… so why not you?

Starting a bookkeeping business, or any business for that matter, is not rocket science but it does take some planning and it helps a little bit if you have some guidance from someone that has been there and done that. There will be days when you simply don’t feel like it, when you feel like you can’t do it, when you feel like this hair-brained idea that you had won’t work but I’m here to tell you that with perseverance, it can and will work… you just have to stick with it.

Remember, do what you love and everything will naturally fall into place. You will make tons of mistakes along the way but the more you fail, the closer you will be to success so don’t be afraid to fail. Dispel your fears because they aren’t real after all. FEAR is just False Evidence Appear Real.

For the next week, I’m offering a FREE Preview Chapter, my chapter on Marketing.
Want more info about the ebook?  Click Here!
Want the entire ebook ~ How To Start A Bookkeeping Business?  Click Here!

 

Q&A: Need Help With Client Engagement

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Q: I have a client who has asked me to help him prepare financial statements. In looking at his books, they are completely a shambles. He has 7 (!) checking accounts, and not one of them can I reconcile in Quickbooks because it appears deposits were randomly recorded, or not recorded, checks were recorded with incorrect check numbers or not recorded, transfers were not recorded, etc. Soooo….. my thought, since they’ve been in QB for only 7 months, I might start from scratch and just record everything fresh. My question is, is there any way I can do this while they’re still working in QB? This job will take me a few weeks to complete, and I don’t want to tie their hands while I’m working on straightening out their financials.

A: Before I respond, I have a question for you: will this be an ongoing client where you will review their file and prepare financial statements on a monthly or quarterly basis going forward? The answer to this seemingly benign question will dictate part of how you move forward and the type of engagement you have.

In my opinion a few things need to happen.

First: train whomever is doing their data entry so that it is done correctly going forward. If they are not trained adequately, you will find yourself in the same boat in a few months. The only difference is you will have the added pressure of getting it done quickly because the client will need the year-end statements done for tax time.

Second: decide if anything in their file is salvageable. Was anything set up correctly (vendors, clients, COA)? Can you make heads or tails of any of the transactions? If not, you may need to throw in the towel and start afresh.

Third: the client can work in the file while you review historic information. If you are setting up the new file, set it up, create an accountant’s copy for yourself and send them a copy, make sure the dividing date is one where they can still work and input transactions. Keep in mind there are a few limitations for you (mostly payroll related). I’m not sure if that will create a real problem for you or not since you didnt’ mention if he had payroll transactions for you to reconcile.

Fourth: is there any reason they have SEVEN bank accounts??? If they don’t have a ready explanation, you may want to advise them to cut back on that. Even if they are all free business checking accounts, it’s costing them time & money in the long run. Trying to keep them all straight is obviously creating a problem for their staff person handling the input of deposits and processing checks and may be the source of a lot of the reconciliation/messiness of the client file.

Hope this helps,

Joyce

Post asked & answered on Quickbooks Forum

 

 

Choosing An Outsourcing Provider

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So you’ve decided to outsource your bookkeeping, accounting and payroll functions. What now? How do you choose?
Before you make any phone calls, take some time to do some self-reflection. Reflect on your business and how it currently functions, what you do well and what you can do better. Then ask yourself, what functions do you want to outsource? can outsourcing help you perform some things better? and what is your budget?
Interview a few outsourcing providers just like you would if you were hiring an in-house staff person. Like choosing an in-house bookkeeper, accountant or payroll processor, ask “interview” questions. Here are 10 Questions you should ask. In addition, ask yourself if the provider’s style and available services coincide with your business’ philosophy and style. If not, you may be attempting to force a square peg into a round hole and what may have been a less expensive alternative in the beginning, may end up being a costly experiment. So choose wisely.
Quick Recap: decide to outsource; do some self-reflection on your business needs; interview a few providers (at least 2) and make a decision who your provider will be. Remember cheaper doesn’t always equal better.
Congratulations on deciding to outsource. That decision in and of itself is HUGE so give you’re some kudos for admitting that although you are a small business/solo practitioner, you can’t do it all. Believe me, as a small business owner, I can relate…
Hope this helps!
Joyce
PS. Please, keep in mind that just because you are outsourcing, you should never abdicate management…you should always keep “an eye on the store.” Your provider has a responsibility to you as a client and should take that responsibility seriously.

 

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