Starting a Freelance Bookkeeping Venture: Seeking Advice from Seasoned Professionals

Transitioning from employment to entrepreneurship is a bold and exciting step, and my wife is gearing up to take this leap in the world of freelance Bookkeeping. With nearly two decades of experience in various Accounting roles, she is well-prepared to offer her skills to clients who need reliable and cost-effective Bookkeeping solutions.

Throughout her career, she has held positions such as staff accountant and supervisor of Accounting, overseeing payroll for over 800 employees at a cable company, as well as working as an office manager and bookkeeper for several industries including real estate development, construction, auto repair, and painting. This diverse background has afforded her a strong command of the field.

Currently, she is enhancing her expertise by completing the final QuickBooks certifications and finalizing her professional website. Her engagement letter is ready, and her resume is polished—she is almost at the finish line to start attracting clients.

It’s important to note that she will not be offering tax preparation services since she is not a CPA or EA. Her ideal clientele includes small to mid-sized businesses and newer entrepreneurs looking for affordable, reliable bookkeeping. Her strengths lie in cleaning up disorganized financial records, generating profit and loss statements, balancing sheets, and providing strategic cost-cutting advice. In addition, she places a significant emphasis on automation to streamline bookkeeping processes.

Our strategy for acquiring clients begins with outreach to local CPA firms. We’re contemplating different methods for the initial approach, such as email outreach, phone calls, or even in-person visits. I would love to hear from experienced professionals on how best to initiate this contact. What method has worked best for you in making a strong first impression?

Additionally, we would appreciate any general tips for attracting clients and making a memorable entrance into the freelance bookkeeping market, especially regarding hourly billing strategies.

Your insights would be invaluable as we embark on this journey. Thank you in advance for your guidance!