Launching a Freelance Bookkeeping Journey: Seeking Guidance from Industry Veterans

Embarking on a new professional venture can be both exhilarating and daunting, especially when it involves transitioning from traditional employment to freelancing. My wife is on the verge of making this significant career shift and is eager to enter the world of freelance Bookkeeping. With nearly two decades of experience in Accounting and Bookkeeping, she feels ready to take on her first clients.

Her impressive background includes roles such as a staff accountant and supervisor, where she successfully managed payroll for over 800 employees at a cable company. Additionally, she has served as an office manager and bookkeeper for various businesses, including real estate development, construction, and automotive repair. This extensive experience has equipped her with a well-rounded skill set that is ideal for supporting small to mid-sized businesses.

Currently, she is fine-tuning her offerings. She has developed a user-friendly website and completed her engagement letter, alongside updating her resume. Although she will not be providing tax services, and is not a CPA or EA, her focus lies in helping businesses streamline their bookkeeping. She specializes in cleaning up disorganized financial records, preparing profit and loss statements, managing balance sheets, and identifying cost-saving opportunities. Furthermore, she is keen to incorporate automation into her processes, which will enhance efficiency for her clients.

To kick off her client acquisition efforts, my wife intends to connect with local CPA firms as her initial strategy. We’re particularly interested in the most effective methods for making these connections. Would it be better to reach out via email, make a phone call, or perhaps even visit in person? Also, any insights on how to leave a lasting first impression would be incredibly valuable.

In addition to our outreach strategy, we are open to any advice for securing clients and recommendations for best practices in the industry. As we prepare to charge an hourly rate for her services, any tips on communicating value to potential clients would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your support as we embark on this exciting journey into freelance bookkeeping! Your collective experiences and insights can make a significant difference for us as we navigate this new chapter.