Launching a Freelance Bookkeeping Career: Seeking Insights from Industry Experts

My wife is on the cusp of an exciting new chapter as she prepares to transition from traditional employment to a thriving freelance Bookkeeping practice. After dedicating 15 to 20 years to the Accounting and Bookkeeping field, she has honed her skills in various roles, including supervising payroll for over 800 employees at a major cable company, managing bookkeeping for a real estate developer, and overseeing financial operations in the construction, painting, and auto repair industries. Her extensive experience makes her well-equipped for this venture.

Currently, she is finalizing her QuickBooks certifications and wrapping up the details of her professional website. With her engagement letter prepared and resume refined, she is ready to start actively seeking clients.

It’s important to note that she will not be offering tax services and does not hold a CPA or EA designation. Instead, her target market includes small to mid-sized businesses and startups looking for cost-effective bookkeeping solutions. She’s particularly skilled at streamlining disorganized financial records, producing profit and loss statements, balancing sheets, and providing actionable cost-reduction insights—all while prioritizing automation in her processes.

Our initial outreach strategy involves connecting with local Certified Public Accounting (CPA) firms. However, I’m curious to hear from seasoned freelance bookkeepers on the most effective ways to initiate these connections. Should she reach out via email, make phone calls, or simply walk in to introduce herself? Additionally, any tips on how to create a lasting first impression would be greatly appreciated.

As we plan to bill hourly for her services, we are also open to creative ideas for securing clients and general advice to ensure a successful launch.

Thank you in advance for your valuable insights!