Embarking on a Freelance Bookkeeping Journey: Seeking Advice from Fellow Professionals

As my wife prepares to launch her freelance Bookkeeping business, 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 embrace an independent career path, and we couldn’t be more excited about this venture.

Throughout her career, my wife has amassed a wealth of experience, having served in various positions such as a staff accountant and Accounting supervisor at a cable company, as well as an office manager and bookkeeper for a real estate developer, construction firm, painting company, and auto mechanic shop. This diverse background has equipped her with extensive bookkeeping expertise and an in-depth understanding of numerous industries.

She is well-versed in QuickBooks and is currently completing the remaining certifications to further enhance her knowledge. Her professional website is nearing completion, and she has finalized her engagement letter and updated her resume. Armed with these tools, she is on the cusp of marketing her services.

It’s important to note that her practice will exclude tax services, as she is neither a CPA nor an EA. Instead, she aims to cater to small to mid-sized businesses and startups, providing a cost-effective solution for their bookkeeping needs. My wife excels at organizing messy financial records, generating profit and loss statements, balancing sheets, and offering cost-cutting suggestions with ease. Additionally, she prioritizes implementing automation in her processes to streamline operations.

Our initial strategy involves reaching out to local CPA firms. We are contemplating the best method for this outreach, whether it be through email, phone calls, or in-person visits. We would greatly appreciate any advice on how to create a positive first impression in these communications.

Furthermore, we are open to any general advice on acquiring clients and navigating the freelance bookkeeping landscape. One of our intended billing strategies is to charge on an hourly basis, and insights into effective practices would be invaluable.

Thank you for any tips or suggestions you can provide as we embark on this exciting new chapter!