Launching a Freelance Bookkeeping Business: Seeking Insights from Seasoned Professionals

As my wife prepares to embark on her journey as a freelance bookkeeper, she is eager to leverage her extensive experience and is looking for guidance from those who have successfully navigated similar paths. After dedicating nearly two decades to the Accounting and Bookkeeping field, she is ready to transition from traditional employment to entrepreneurship.

Her impressive background includes roles such as a staff accountant and supervisor of Accounting for a large cable company, where she managed payroll for over 800 employees. She has also served as an office manager/bookkeeper for various sectors, including real estate development, construction, and automotive repair. This diverse experience has equipped her with a comprehensive skill set that makes her adept in many areas of Bookkeeping.

Currently, she is finalizing her suite of certifications in QuickBooks and is putting the finishing touches on her professional website. With an updated resume and a well-crafted engagement letter in hand, she is set to begin her marketing efforts aimed at attracting clients.

It’s important to note that she will not be providing tax services, as she is neither a CPA nor an EA. Instead, her focus will be on supporting smaller, mid-sized, and newer businesses, offering them a cost-effective bookkeeping solution. She excels in organizing messy records, preparing profit and loss statements, balancing sheets, and providing strategic advice on cost reduction. Additionally, she is keen on integrating automation to enhance efficiency.

As part of her strategy, she plans to connect with local CPA firms to form potential partnerships or referral relationships. In this regard, I seek your advice: What’s the best way to approach these firms? Should she reach out via email, a phone call, or perhaps a direct visit? Furthermore, any tips on making a strong initial impression would be highly valued.

We are contemplating an hourly billing model, but we are also open to additional suggestions regarding client acquisition strategies. Any insights would be appreciated as we embark on this exciting new chapter.

Thank you for your assistance!