Starting a Freelance Bookkeeping Journey: Seeking Insights from Experienced Professionals

As my wife prepares to embark on her new adventure in freelance Bookkeeping, we find ourselves eager for advice from seasoned professionals in the field. After dedicating 15 to 20 years to various Accounting and Bookkeeping roles, she has made the decision to leave the corporate world behind and embrace independent work.

Her background is extensive; she has served as a staff accountant and supervisor for a large cable company, managing payroll for over 800 employees. Additionally, she has worked as an office manager and bookkeeper for a real estate developer, a construction firm, a painting company, and an auto mechanic. With such rich experience under her belt, she is well-prepared to take on her own clients.

Currently, she is completing her QuickBooks certifications and finalizing her website. With the creation of her engagement letter and an updated resume, she is on the brink of launching her client outreach. It’s important to note that she will not offer tax services, as she is not a CPA or EA, but rather aims to support smaller, mid-sized, and newer businesses with a cost-effective bookkeeping solution. Her expertise in organizing chaotic financial records, generating profit and loss statements, balancing sheets, and identifying cost-saving opportunities is second nature to her. Prioritizing automation will also play a pivotal role in her approach.

Our initial strategy involves reaching out to local CPA firms, and this is where I seek your guidance. What would be the most effective way to introduce her services? Would an email, phone call, or in-person visit be preferable? Any tips on creating a lasting first impression would be immensely valuable.

Additionally, we are considering hourly billing and are open to any insights on attracting clients or general best practices for launching a successful freelance bookkeeping business.

Thank you in advance for your assistance and expertise! Your feedback will be instrumental in helping her establish a solid foundation for her new venture.