Navigating the Freelance Bookkeeping Journey: Seeking Advice from Industry Experts

As she transitions into a new chapter of her professional life, my wife is gearing up to launch her freelance Bookkeeping business. After dedicating 15 to 20 years to various roles in Accounting and Bookkeeping, she’s ready to offer her expertise at a personal level. Her extensive background includes positions such as a staff accountant and supervisor—managing payroll for over 800 employees at a cable company—as well as serving as an office manager and bookkeeper for real estate developers, construction firms, and auto mechanics. With such a comprehensive skill set, she is well-equipped for this next step.

Currently, she is honing her proficiency with QuickBooks, completing all available certifications, and putting the finishing touches on her website. With the engagement letter finalized and her resume polished, she’s on the brink of marketing her services to potential clients.

It’s important to note that she will not be providing tax services and does not hold CPA or EA credentials. Instead, her target market consists of smaller, mid-sized, and newer business owners who need a cost-effective solution for their bookkeeping challenges. She excels at tidying up disorganized financial records, preparing profit and loss statements, creating balance sheets, and offering strategic cost-cutting suggestions. Her focus on automation will help streamline processes for her clients.

One of her initial strategies involves reaching out to local CPA firms to establish partnerships. We are contemplating the best way to approach these firms and would love to hear from those with experience. Should she initiate contact through email, phone calls, or in-person visits? Additionally, we welcome any insights on how to create a memorable first impression.

We plan to bill clients on an hourly basis and are eager to gather tips for attracting clients and navigating the freelance landscape effectively.

Your thoughts and advice will be greatly appreciated as my wife embarks on this exciting new venture! Thank you in advance for your support.