Taking the Leap: A Journey into Freelance Bookkeeping

Starting a business is an exciting, yet daunting, venture, especially when transitioning from employee to entrepreneur. My wife is on the brink of launching her freelance Bookkeeping practice, and I’m reaching out to gather insights from seasoned professionals in the field.

With nearly 20 years of experience in Accounting and Bookkeeping, she is well-prepared for this transition. Her background includes diverse roles such as staff accountant and Accounting supervisor in a sizable cable company, office manager and bookkeeper for a real estate developer, as well as experience in various trades like construction and auto repair. This wide-ranging expertise has equipped her with a comprehensive understanding of financial systems and operational needs.

Currently, she is finalizing her certifications with QuickBooks, and her website is just about ready to go live. With an updated resume and a completed engagement letter in hand, she is set to begin her marketing efforts to attract clients.

It’s worth noting that she will not be offering tax services and does not hold a CPA or EA designation. Instead, her focus will be on providing cost-effective Bookkeeping solutions to small and mid-sized businesses, particularly startups. She excels at cleaning up disorganized books, generating profit and loss statements, balancing sheets, and identifying areas for cost reduction. Moreover, she is committed to leveraging automation to increase efficiency in bookkeeping tasks.

Our initial strategy for acquiring clients involves reaching out to local CPA firms. We’re contemplating the best approach for initiating these connections—should we start with emails, phone calls, or perhaps even personal visits? Any advice on making a positive first impression would be highly valued.

Additionally, we are open to suggestions on successful client acquisition strategies or any general tips for navigating the freelance landscape. We’re aiming to establish an hourly billing structure that is both fair and competitive.

Thank you for your support as we embark on this exciting journey! Your insights could make a world of difference as we transition into this new chapter.