Embarking on a Freelance Bookkeeping Journey: Seeking Insights from Experienced Professionals

As my wife prepares to step into the world of freelancing, she’s eager to gather advice from seasoned bookkeepers who have successfully navigated this transition. After dedicating 15 to 20 years in various Accounting and Bookkeeping roles, she is ready to take the plunge into entrepreneurship.

Her impressive background includes positions as a staff accountant and Accounting supervisor, where she managed payroll for over 800 employees in a cable company, as well as serving as an office manager and bookkeeper for a real estate developer, construction firm, painting business, and auto repair shop. With such a diverse portfolio, she possesses extensive knowledge and practical experience that will surely benefit her future clients.

Currently, she is fine-tuning her skills with QuickBooks and wrapping up her certifications to become a more valuable resource for businesses. Her website is in the final stages of development, the engagement letter is drafted, and her resume has been polished and updated. With all the foundational elements in place, she is now on the brink of launching her marketing efforts to attract clients.

It’s important to note that she will not be providing tax services, as she is neither a CPA nor an EA. Her target audience consists of small to mid-sized businesses, especially newer operations that may benefit from her cost-effective Bookkeeping solutions. She excels at cleaning up disorganized financial records, preparing profit and loss statements, balancing sheets, and identifying cost-cutting opportunities—all tasks she can perform with ease. Furthermore, automating processes is a significant focus for her as she aims to optimize efficiency for her clients.

Our primary strategy is to connect with local CPA firms to explore potential collaborations. However, we seek guidance on the best way to initiate these conversations. Would you recommend reaching out via email, making phone calls, or perhaps visiting in person? Additionally, we would appreciate any tips for making a memorable first impression.

We are also open to any suggestions on how to attract clients more broadly or general advice for a successful freelancing endeavor.

Thank you for your insights as we embark on this exciting new journey!