Launching a Freelance Bookkeeping Business: Seeking Advice from Seasoned Professionals

Embarking on a new entrepreneurial journey is an exhilarating experience, and my wife is about to take her first steps as a freelance bookkeeper. After a fulfilling career in Accounting and Bookkeeping spanning 15 to 20 years, she has decided to transition from employment to self-employment, carving out her own path in this vibrant field.

Her extensive background includes significant roles such as a staff accountant and Accounting supervisor at a cable company, where she managed payroll for over 800 employees. She has also contributed her expertise as an office manager and bookkeeper for various industry players including a real estate developer, a construction firm, a painting company, and an auto repair shop. This diverse experience has equipped her with a deep understanding of Bookkeeping practices and client needs.

Currently, she is honing her skills further by completing certifications with QuickBooks, alongside finalizing her website and a comprehensive engagement letter. With a polished resume in hand, she is gearing up to market her services.

Her focus will be on providing bookkeeping assistance rather than tax services, as she is neither a CPA nor an EA. Instead, she hopes to serve small to mid-sized businesses and startups, offering them a more cost-effective bookkeeping solution. Her proficiency lies in tidying up disorganized financial records, generating profit and loss statements, balancing sheets, and providing cost-cutting recommendations—all tasks she handles with ease and efficiency. Emphasizing automation will also be a key aspect of her service offering.

To initiate her client acquisition strategy, one of her primary targets is local CPA firms. We are contemplating the best approach to introduce her services: Should we reach out via email, make a phone call, or even consider a walk-in visit? Any insights into effective first-contact strategies would be invaluable.

Moreover, if you have additional advice on securing clients and establishing a strong presence in the market, we would greatly appreciate your input. Our plan is to bill hourly, and we want to ensure we make a noteworthy impression from the beginning.

Thank you in advance for your guidance and support as we embark on this new venture!