Launching a Freelance Bookkeeping Venture: Seeking Professional Insights

As my wife prepares to embark on her new journey as a freelance bookkeeper, she is eager to gather insights from seasoned professionals in the field. After dedicating 15-20 years to Accounting and Bookkeeping roles, she is ready to leave the corporate world behind and establish her own client base.

With a wealth of experience under her belt, she has previously held crucial positions, such as a staff accountant and an Accounting supervisor overseeing payroll for over 800 employees at a prominent cable company. Additionally, her diverse background includes stints as an office manager/bookkeeper for a real estate developer, a construction business, a painting company, and an auto mechanic. Her extensive knowledge and hands-on expertise make her well-equipped to handle a variety of Bookkeeping challenges.

Currently, she is refining her skill set, completing various certifications through QuickBooks, and putting the finishing touches on her website. With her engagement letter finalized and her resume polished, she is nearly ready to start attracting clients. Importantly, she does not intend to offer tax services and is not a CPA or EA. Instead, her focus will be on delivering affordable bookkeeping solutions to small to mid-sized businesses and entrepreneurs, excelling at streamlining their financial processes. Her proficiency in cleaning up disorganized accounts, preparing profit and loss statements, and crafting balance sheets comes naturally to her. Plus, she prioritizes automation to improve efficiency in her work.

Our initial strategy involves reaching out to local CPA firms to explore potential collaborations. We are considering a variety of approaches to make these connections, such as email outreach, phone calls, or in-person visits. Consequently, I would appreciate any seasoned advice on the best ways to approach these firms to leave a lasting impression.

Additionally, we are interested in exploring billing practices, particularly an hourly rate, and would love any other suggestions on how to effectively land clients and navigate the freelance bookkeeping landscape.

Thank you for any insights you may have to share!