Launching a New Freelance Bookkeeping Business: Seeking Guidance from Experienced Professionals

After years of dedicated service in the Accounting field, my wife has made the exciting decision to establish her own freelance Bookkeeping business. With nearly two decades of experience under her belt, she is well-prepared to take this significant step. Her extensive background includes positions as a staff accountant and supervisor for a large payroll operation, as well as roles that ranged from office manager for a real estate developer to Bookkeeping for a construction firm and auto repair shop.

Equipped with robust knowledge in QuickBooks, she is currently finalizing her certifications while her website is nearing completion. With an engagement letter drafted and her resume polished, she is ready to begin promoting her services.

It’s important to note that she will not be providing tax preparation services, nor is she a CPA or EA. Instead, her focus will be on assisting smaller, mid-sized, and up-and-coming businesses looking for an affordable bookkeeping solution. Her skills include not just managing and cleaning up messy financial records, but also generating profit and loss statements and balance sheets, all while identifying cost-cutting opportunities. A commitment to automation is central to her business philosophy, allowing her to streamline processes for her clients.

Our initial strategy involves reaching out to local CPA firms to explore possible collaborations. We’re considering various methods for this first contact—should we opt for email, a phone call, or perhaps a face-to-face visit? Additionally, we would appreciate any advice on how to create a lasting impression during this initial interaction.

We plan to structure her billing on an hourly basis, and we are open to any further suggestions on acquiring clients or general insights into successfully launching her freelance bookkeeping venture.

Thank you for your valuable input!