Launching a Freelance Bookkeeping Business: Seeking Guidance from Industry Experts

As my wife prepares to transition into freelance Bookkeeping, we are eager to gather insights from seasoned professionals in the field. After dedicating 15-20 years to various Accounting roles, including staff accountant and office manager, she is ready to embark on her entrepreneurial journey.

Her extensive experience spans multiple industries, including managing payroll for over 800 employees at a cable company and overseeing Bookkeeping for a real estate developer and a construction firm. This rich background equips her with the skills necessary to tackle a broad range of financial tasks efficiently.

Currently, she is honing her expertise in QuickBooks and completing various certifications, while her website and engagement letter are nearly finalized. With an updated resume in hand, she is on the brink of launching her marketing efforts to attract new clients.

It’s important to note that she will not be providing tax services, as she is not a CPA or EA. Instead, she aims to serve smaller, mid-sized, and emerging businesses by offering them a cost-effective bookkeeping solution. Her strengths include cleaning up disorganized financial records, generating profit and loss statements, preparing balance sheets, and advising clients on cost-cutting measures—all while prioritizing automation in her processes.

As we plan our initial outreach, we are particularly interested in connecting with local CPA firms. I would love to hear your thoughts on the most effective approach. Should we utilize email, initiate a phone call, or consider an in-person visit? Additionally, any strategies for making a strong first impression would be greatly appreciated.

We are also exploring options for hourly billing and are open to any further suggestions on client acquisition or general best practices.

Thank you for your insights and support as we take this exciting step into the world of freelance bookkeeping!