Launching a Freelance Bookkeeping Business: Seeking Advice from Experts

As my wife prepares to embark on her journey as a freelance bookkeeper, we find ourselves excited yet curious about the best strategies for success. After nearly two decades of experience in various Accounting and Bookkeeping roles, she is ready to step away from traditional employment and fully embrace her entrepreneurial spirit.

Her impressive background includes significant positions, such as overseeing payroll for over 800 employees at a cable company and managing finances for diverse industries such as real estate development, construction, and automotive services. This wealth of experience has equipped her with a comprehensive skill set in Bookkeeping and financial management.

Currently, she is enhancing her expertise by completing her certifications in QuickBooks and finalizing her professional website. We’ve made great strides, including preparing an engagement letter and updating her resume, and she is eager to start attracting clients.

It’s important to note that she will not provide tax services, as she is neither a CPA nor an EA. Instead, she aims to become a trusted resource for small to mid-sized businesses and new entrepreneurs seeking cost-effective solutions. Her strengths lie in tidying up disorganized financial records, running profit and loss statements, balancing sheets, and identifying opportunities for cost reduction—tasks she can execute with ease. Moreover, she is highly focused on leveraging automation to streamline processes for her clients.

Our initial strategy involves reaching out to local CPA firms, which leads me to my inquiry: What is the most effective way to approach these firms? Should we consider emailing, making phone calls, or visiting in person? Additionally, any insights on crafting a strong first impression would be greatly appreciated.

We anticipate charging hourly rates for her services and are eager to learn about other strategies for acquiring clients or general advice that could contribute to her success.

Thank you for your thoughts and guidance as we take this exciting next step!