Starting a Freelance Bookkeeping Business: Seeking Insights from Experienced Professionals

My wife is on the brink of launching her freelance Bookkeeping venture, and we’re excited to share her journey as she transitions from traditional employment to entrepreneurship. With an impressive 15-20 years of experience in Accounting and Bookkeeping, she brings a wealth of knowledge from her previous roles. Her background includes supervising payroll for over 800 employees at a cable company, managing finances for a real estate developer, and working with various businesses such as construction and auto repair.

Equipped with extensive experience in QuickBooks, she is currently completing all available certifications and putting the finishing touches on her website. Her engagement letter has been finalized, and her resume is updated, positioning her to enter the market confidently.

One key aspect of her business model is that she will not be providing tax services, as she is not a CPA or EA. Instead, she aims to support small to mid-sized businesses and newer entrepreneurs by offering cost-effective bookkeeping solutions. Her skills include cleaning up disorganized financial records, generating profit and loss statements, preparing balance sheets, and identifying cost-saving opportunities. She also prioritizes automation, streamlining processes for greater efficiency.

As part of her strategy, she plans to reach out to local CPA firms for potential collaborations. However, we’d love to gather insights from seasoned professionals on the best way to initiate these connections. What would be the most effective approach: an introductory email, a phone call, or perhaps a walk-in visit? Additionally, any tips on making a lasting impression during these initial interactions would be greatly appreciated.

We are looking to establish an hourly billing model, and we are also open to any other suggestions for attracting clients or general business advice.

Thank you for your help as we embark on this exciting new chapter!