A paperclip could be your blueprint for financial success!

Last time we talked about becoming a success-practices investigator. We discussed the need to create: 1) a notebook for keeping track of the marketing techniques that appealed to us, 2) clipping and saving the ads that impressed us, 3) keeping the direct mail that comes to our home and reading it for ideas, and 4) watching and listening to headlines.

The first part of the secret of never-ending success was to not limit ourselves. Now it’s time to talk about the next part of the secret.

I remember the first time I saw a Vespa Scooter. I knew they were Italian. But I didn’t know much more about them than that. They were first imported into the United States back in 1953, but other than a brief appearance in American Graffiti, I didn’t really notice them until about 2 or 3 years ago. (I guess I was too busy noticing other things.)

I have to admit though, once I did, I started seeing them everywhere. Have you ever noticed that when you purchase a new car, for example; after you drive it home, you start seeing that same make and model of car everywhere? The same is true of our secret.

What do a paperclip and a Vespa Scooter have to do with never-ending success?

The second part of our secret is, see your hidden assets.

In his book, Getting Everything You Can Out of What You’ve Got, Jay Abraham, a world renowned marketer, speaker and writer, tells a story about a friend of his that might help shed some light on this.

His friend was a catalogue manager for a large computer mail-order company. Over the years he’d risen to the highest level within the company that he possibly could. He had also trained a number of younger people who, over the years, had quit and gone to more prestigious, high-profile jobs.

As time went on his one-and-a-half hour commute and all the bureaucratic corporate nonsense became too much. He was burned out. He hated going to work. He saw nothing fulfilling in his job. And, to make matters worse, whenever he came up with a truly innovative idea, management rejected it. He wanted out.

One day, without any other job prospects, he quit. He decided that he never wanted to work for anyone else ever again. He would be master of his own destiny.

Unfortunately, he had no plan. He’d just walked away from an almost 6-figure income and had to support the Northern California lifestyle that went along with it. He struggled for a couple of months with no success.

Here are three questions that have the power to change your life.

After talking with him, Mr. Abraham asked three questions. I’d like to ask you the same three questions.

1. Have you identified and valued your true expertise and inventoried your negotiable personal assets? (Do you know what your personal assets are and do you know how valuable they might be?)
2. What performance skills have you demonstrated in the past that not only have abstract, but intrinsic, value and importance to a business—or specific type of business? (What are your special skills that have real value?)
3. What have you accomplished that people would not only respect, but also desire to learn and utilize to gain the same benefits for their companies?

At first, he drew a blank. So Jay had him analyze and reconstruct all the monumental things he’d experienced, contributed to, and been a part of since he started working. Not only at his current job, but in every previous position he’d ever had over the course of his entire career.

To his surprise, he’d realized that under his direction, the greatest mail-order catalog success in the entire industry had occurred. The owners of the company had become multi-millionaires. He was on the cutting-edge of dozens of product-introduction breakthroughs that became massive successes. Further, the heads of critical departments at five of the industry’s top catalog companies had been trained personally by him.

He began to finally realize and appreciate the second part of our secret. His previous successes and skills created a wonderful opportunity for creating greater success for his clients. As well as financial independence for himself.

Now, instead of being in a dead-end, lower-rung, middle-management position in a large corporation, he deals with owners and presidents of fast-growing and exciting entrepreneurial enterprises. But what’s more, he’s successful and extraordinarily happy.

You still haven’t told me how a paperclip and a Vespa Scooter are part of a secret to never-ending success!

Once you sit down and answer those three questions, and you quantify and value your hidden assets, life will never be the same for you again. Mr. Abraham says, “What you know, do, or have successfully done is probably worth considerable money and value to other non-competitors in your business or line of endeavor—or outside it.”

Now for the paperclip. A simple office tool. Used by millions. Was invented in 1899 and underappreciated since then. I never give my paperclips a second thought, until they’re not there. Would your employer only miss your contribution to their company after you’re gone? Your hidden talents, just like the paperclip are probably underappreciated… not only by others… but by you, too.

And the Vespa… Once you start looking for your hidden skills and assets, and start recognizing them for how valuable they are, you’re going to see them all over the place.

A secret to never-ending success.

1. Don’t limit yourself.
2. Recognize your hidden assets.

How can this secret create success in an Accounting and Tax Preparation career?

That’s easy. And you don’t have to take my word for it. There are thousands of people all over the country that have made the decision to begin a wonderful career in Accounting and Tax Preparation. Click here to hear a few of them tell how Universal Accounting training changed their lives for the better.

The Professional Bookkeeper Program has everything you’ll need to know to help your hidden assets provide the income and lifestyle that you might be looking for. But that’s not all, with access to some of the most innovative and effective marketing methods found anywhere, methods that have been proven successful time after time, you will be one of the extraordinarily happy. Simply follow the link below for more information on the Professional Bookkeeper Program.

Click here to learn how to take the first step towards a successful career in Bookkeeping and Accounting.

A Great Deal On the Most Complete Small-Business Accounting Training Available Anywhere!

Having a solid understanding of the Accounting and Bookkeeping methods and procedures is a great first step in learning the concepts behind Financial Business Analysis. You will learn to do books for small to mid-sized companies and how to analyze the books to prepare reports. You will learn to interpret reports so that you can advise your clients how to reduce costs and to better understand their financial standing and profitability. Your clients will look to you as an invaluable source of information about the financial health of their organization.

Expand Your Business by Becoming a Full-Service Financial Provider

You can always amend a big plan, but you can never expand a little one. I don’t believe in little plans. I believe in plans big enough to meet a situation which we can’t possibly foresee now. —Harry S. Truman

To educate the intelligence is to expand the horizon of its wants and desires. —James Russell Lowell

You may work on the side as an accountant or bookkeeper. Perhaps you work in a full-time job performing accounting functions. If you’ve ever thought about either starting your own business as a financial provider, or if you’re already in business for yourself but wonder how to expand your services, then you’ve come to the right place.

Universal Accounting Center (UAC) is in the business of seeing that accountants, bookkeepers and tax preparers succeed. And we have to admit, you’ll probably find the most success if you become a full-service financial provider, the one-stop shop for your clients’ financial needs. You can do that by earning two valuable designations and mastering one software program: the Professional Bookkeeper (PB) designation, the Professional Tax Preparer (PTP) designation, and the Professional Bookkeepers Guide to QuickBooks.

The Value of the Professional Bookkeeper Designation

Over 85% of the opportunities in the accounting field are within small businesses. Universities prepare their students for corporate accounting which doesn’t address small business needs. More than 50% of small businesses fail, and much of that failure can be attributed to lack of accounting expertise. Imagine contributing to the success of small business, which will build your own community while providing you with job satisfaction and security.

At Universal Accounting, we understand the needs of the small business like nobody else. UAC has designed a curriculum specific to the needs of small businesses, and Universal Accounting offers the most complete small business accounting course anywhere. The Professional Bookkeeper Designation assures clients that you have been properly trained in small business accounting and will help you know what those clients need most from you.

The Value of the Professional Tax Preparer Designation

Perhaps your accounting and bookkeeping practice is thriving. But whether or not you could use more clients, adding tax services to your menu could increase your income. How? Tax professionals charge $100+ per hour preparing individual and business tax returns. Many tax preparers make more money in the months leading up to the tax deadline than other professionals make all year long! Since all individuals and businesses, small or large, are required to file taxes, tax preparation is a respected skill that will always be in demand. And many of your current clients would probably be happy to have you file their taxes as well as perform the standard accounting services you currently provide.

Also consider who your clients will trust to file their taxes. Countless individuals are scammed each year by people who claim to know what they’re doing. More and more are becoming leery of tax preparers without credentials. The Professional Tax Preparer Designation will put many of those individuals at ease, assuring them that you have been properly trained in tax preparation.

The Professional Bookkeepers Guide to Quickbooks

Nearly 80% of small businesses use Intuit’s Quickbooks software. While other programs may be useful, QuickBooks has definitely captured the small business market. Learning QuickBooks will not only help you keep more efficient records, but it enables you to teach your clients how to use the software so that you can get the information you need, making your job much easier. Add to that your ability to introduce QuickBooks services to your menu (QuickBooks consultation and set-up services) and you’ve got a well-rounded business with loads of earning potential.

UAC’s Professional Bookkeepers Guide to Quickbooks Pro will teach you teach you how to do the basic transactions, how to reconcile accounts, what the program does with its data, and a basic understanding of fundamental accounting principles. We have also included about 18 hours of bookkeeping instruction and a complete detailed presentation of QuickBooks fundamentals.

Become a Full Financial Service Provider

In combining the PB designation, the PTP designation, and your mastery of QuickBooks software, you will earn a remarkable income all year long. It is easy to cross-sell from one service to another, making it easier to find clients, since you often will service the same client for multiple tasks.

Special Bundle Pricing for Tax Preparation, Accounting/Bookkeeping, and QuickBooks Training

When you purchase these three programs together, Universal Accounting Center will give you a significant discount. For the next two weeks Universal is offering this powerful package for one low price! Imagine, getting everything you need to start or expand your own business in weeks. Don’t delay your future. Order now!

What Are You Waiting for?

The Future is Wide, Your Potential is Limitless: Change Your Life Today

Your past is not your potential. In any hour you can choose to liberate the future. - Marilyn Ferguson

You were born with the ability to probe the world in unique ways, and your challenge is to realize this potential. - Roger von Oech

Success is living up to your potential. That’s all. Wake up with a smile and go after life . . . Live it, enjoy it, taste it, smell it, feel it. - Joe Kapp

You know how your mother used to tell you that you could do anything you put your mind to? How she said you had limitless potential if you only learned how to unearth it? So, have you done her proud? More importantly, have you done yourself proud?

The truth is you can accomplish more than you now imagine. But if you’re not working to accomplish what you can imagine, the unimaginable is unreachable. Your challenge, as Roger von Oech said, is to realize this potential. How better could you spend your life?

Grow Your Business

You took a great leap in starting your own accounting practice. Be it modest or majestic, it’s still possible to grow your business beyond your current clientele, becoming a thriving firm with a far-reaching reputation. Why settle for less than your business’s full potential? Would you really want less than that?

Universal Accounting Center has created a new program with your potential in mind. For years we’ve been offering the Universal Practice Builder Workshop, designed to train you how to market your practice in order to experience significant growth and profitability. You had to attend a two-day workshop in order to glean all the amazing information offered. Now, to accommodate students and make this information more convenient, we have turned this workshop into a DVD program. Imagine all that you could learn from our experience training over 30,000 professionals like yourself.

This new program offers the following:

• Guaranteed $30,000 in new annualized billings in only 12 months
• Tactical goal planning and setting
• The generation of 15 to 25 qualified leads per month
• Phone marketing instruction and training
• Training in the benefits of newsletters and web sites
• 12 proven marketing strategies.
• Financing options

With this new and convenient DVD format you can watch and re-watch portions of the program that resonate with you. You won’t have to miss one profit-building tip; they’re all yours and they will stay in your library where you can return to them again and again and again.

Receive a Free Gift

We want you to take advantage of this offer so you can realize your potential. And what better way to help you accomplish that than by combining this new and amazing program with another profit-building program, QuickBooks Made Profitable, for FREE!

And if you don’t recognize what a valuable offer this is, let us tell you! Over 80% of the small businesses that use accounting software have chosen QuickBooks. But knowing that is not enough to build a bigger client base. UAC has created this program to teach you how to use QuickBooks to generate more clients. You’ll be trained in a proven system of how you can use QuickBooks to a attract larger number of clients offering expert QuickBooks services. Learn how to leverage your time, meet potential clients and offer them services that will help them reduce taxes, increase profits and put money in the bank in such a way that you will be asked the question that we are all longing to hear: “How much do you charge for your services?”

With this one investment you’ll not only achieve your potential but you’ll surpass it! Your practice will grow and become more profitable than you could have imagined. Take advantage of this special package quickly, before we run out of inventory. We expect them to go fast, so order now!

Group Interviews are More and More Popular-Make the Most of Your Group Interview

Get you the job you want. A well-rounded skill set and the ability to work well within a team environment will make you shine in a group interview.

Group Interviews or “Cattle-Calls” give a prepared job-seeker a real opportunity to demonstrate his or her ability to work well within a group to problem solve. In fact, many hiring officers use group interviews to determine who is the most qualified with that particular skill set.

Before he retired, Curtis Hanson, former chief deputy of the enforcement division of the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office in Portland, Ore., utilized group exercises, testing up to eight candidates at a time. He found it very effective for demonstrating who worked best in a group.

‘‘We wanted to determine how the candidates performed in group settings … and the most important … was the ability to respond appropriately, contribute to the growth or forward movement of the discussion and to seek consensus,” Hanson said.

Candidates who tried to impress the assessors by interrupting others revealed they were not team players, Hanson said. ”I’m also an actor and have endured numerous ‘cattle call auditions.’ Believe me,” he said, ”there is no comparison between them and a group evaluation exercise!”

Being a Part of the Group Interview is a Good Sign

Many employers use a group interview to pick the best two or three candidates from the hundreds of applicants and resumes they receive. Director of admissions at Westwood College, Bruce Jones typically schedules two group interviews for about 15 applicants for jobs.

”I let them know they’ve made the cut from over 100 candidates,” said Jones. The group sessions are ”mutually beneficial” because they save everyone time, the applicants get important information about the job and the institution — and each job seeker ”gets a chance to stand up individually and give a two-minute verbal resume.”

Jones likes this method because he gets to meet in person more applicants than he otherwise would have time to interview. ”I’ve had resistance to the format up front because of the ‘cattle call’ connotation,” he said. ”But afterwards, almost every applicant genuinely thanks me for the opportunity …”

Accounting Professionals Play a Critical Role and Are in Demand

According to *Robert Half International, the worlds leader in staffing for accounting professionals, “As companies strive to enhance corporate governance and meet escalating customer demands, they are expanding their accounting teams. Hiring activity has accelerated nationwide, leading to increased competition for skilled accountants at all levels.”

“Small companies are hiring bookkeepers to handle their basic accounting requirements, including processing payroll, managing general-ledger reconciliation’s and overseeing accounts payable and receivable.”
-Robert Half International

According to Robert Half International, “Businesses seek applicants who take proactive steps to build their skills and knowledge through classes, seminars and membership in professional organizations.” 86% of hiring managers surveyed described this type of preparation beneficial to an employee’s career.

If you want to advance within the accounting department in your present job, this is valuable information. There isn’t a better and more complete program to build your small business accounting skills.

The Professional Bookkeeper Program Will Prepare You for Working in Small Business

Since 1979, for over 25 years, Universal Accounting has been teaching the ins-and-outs of small business bookkeeping and tax preparation. We’ve been called the small business accounting experts. The Professional Bookkeeper Program has been used by thousands of very successful accounting professionals to learn the nuts-and-bolts of small business accounting.

Whether you want to advance your career or start your own bookkeeping and accounting practice, the Professional Bookkeeper Program is the most complete education in small business accounting anywhere.

The Professional Bookkeeper Program Creates Successful Careers

Earlier this year, Universal Accounting Center informally surveyed 100 graduates a year after they had completed the Professional Bookkeeper Course. 74% were working in the accounting field, had been promoted in their current job or had started their own bookkeeping and accounting practice.

You don’t have to take my word for it. Click HERE and find out what some of our graduates are saying about Universal Accounting and the Professional Bookkeeper Program.

Advance Your Career with the Professional Bookkeeper Program

Accounting is an important part of any business. In fact, businesses must do accounting: it’s required by law. Follow the link below and find out how the Professional Bookkeeper Program can help you advance your career.

Learn How To Advance Your Career with the Professional Bookkeeper Program

*2006 Salary Guide
Founded in 1948, Robert Half International Inc. is the world’s leader in specialized consulting and staffing services.

Change Offers Opportunity

Change is frightening to most people. But sometimes it’s the best medicine for us.

For over a dozen years I worked in a large corporation with great benefits. Raises were an annual tradition, and I was making over four times the salary I started with. In most respects I was happy. But my job was getting old and becoming a drudgery.

The thought of leaving my comfortable environment was, to say the least, frightening. So, I decided to take it in stages. I began by starting a bookkeeping service from my home.

Challenges Faced and Overcome Together

Since I worked during normal business hours I faced two challenges: How to meet prospective clients, and how to get the work done during the few free hours I had in the evening. The first challenge was easily solved by prospecting among friends and relatives. These are people I already had a relationship with and that I saw after business hours anyway. My first four clients came through these associations.

The second challenge was also easily solved. My wife, Sheri, was a homemaker and three of our four children were in school. With just a few simple instructions I was able to train her to do the data entry which she enjoyed doing. In the morning, before I left for work, I would set out the client’s material, and when I arrived home, the data would be entered flawlessly. I would spend a couple hours reviewing the results, making any needed adjustments, and printing out the reports.

After a short time of building my practice the decision to leave my full-time employer was a natural and lucrative one. It was just what “the doctor ordered.”

-Allen Bostrom
President of Universal Accounting

Improve YOUR Future

This is just one of thousands of testimonials that we receive from our graduates (in this case also the President of the company), confirming the principles taught in the Professional Bookkeeper program. The marketing techniques that you will learn in the Professional Bookkeeper program are not lofty theory or stuffy book learning. You will learn the “down in the trenches” practical guidance that you need to succeed with you own successful Accounting service.

Learn How To Start Your Profitable Business and Achieve Your Dreams!

Create an Elevator Speech and Sell Yourself in 60 Seconds or Less

“So what do you do, anyway? “… Has anyone ever asked you that question before? It’s usually in a setting you aren’t expecting that from, and from someone that you didn’t think would ask. If you’ve ever stuttered through your answer, then the best thing you can do is to create a striking, clear, and succinct “elevator speech.” “Elevator speech, what the heck is that?” It’s a brief description, of you, your business and the services or products you provide, like a quick infomercial, that can be delivered in the usual time it takes an elevator to carry its occupants to their floor. It is an essential tool in the marketing of your accounting or bookkeeping business. And if honed and practiced, can be used to grow your business the way you want to. Like your business card, your elevator speech is a calling card of your business, and if you word it right, you can get the person who asks about your business interested in doing business with you. so that at opportune moments you can network effectively, explaining what you do and why you do it so well that everyone deserves to hear about it.

The Hook

So you can capture at the opportune moments, network with other business people effectively, while giving an interesting tidbit about your services you should begin your elevator speech with a hook that piques the listener’s interest and makes them want to hear more. Tactics on this vary as widely as there are people and different personalities. One way I heard used was, “Well, it’s not brain surgery, but can be a critical tool that will help keep your business alive and ticking…” Another hook I’ve heard, “What I do is not as complicated as rocket science, but to the average business owner it might as well be…” You can consider using a quote, sharing a quick anecdote, or asking a question. it’s something said “in the moment” (every moment someone asks) that is quick and not burdensome, and captures the attention of the listener right away.

The Conversational Tone

Your elevator speech should not be perceived as a sales pitch. Occupants would opt to walk up flights of stairs rather than be stuck in an elevator with a relentless salesperson. Think of your brief description as the introduction your business would give where it able to talk. It shouldn’t sound canned or monotonous.It should be exciting and engaging, communicating your passion for what you do and how well you do it. You should practice the speech so that it sounds natural and conversational. That it rolls off your tongue at a moments notice and in such a tone that is friendly and inviting. And it’s important that you not drone on and on. That’s why it should be no longer than 60 seconds. In fact, you may consider having two versions of your elevator speech: the 30-second version and the minute version. The elevator speech you deliver would depend on the given situation.

The Details

There’s nothing worse than asking a question and getting a vague answer is there? That is the same thing with your elevator speech. Without significant details, your elevator speech is generic and uninformative. More importantly it will turn people off to you and your services and products quicker than you can say “Shazaam!”. The main question you need to ask yourself is, “What do I do, that would be a great benefit to my potential customers?” If you have current customers, ask youself the same question, “What do I do that brings them back to me every week or month?” How do I make their business life better? Easier? More profitable? Other questions you can ask yourself is: What do you do that’s unique? What sets your services apart from others? Who are your clients and what problems do you solve for them? What could you do for the listener to make their lives better? When you have brainstormed on what you do and identified what it is that makes you the “bomb’ to your clientele, write it down, if it’s too long simplify it. If it’s like everyone else’s, use different verbs or adjectives to describe your business. Remember, this could be the only time you get a chance to peak the interest of that one person who could make all the difference to your business. Be ready for it.

The Request

You should always end your speech with a request. Will you ask for the listener’s business card? Will you ask them to take your card and give you a call if they’d like to learn more? Do you want them to refer their family and friends to you? You bet you do! So be in the moment and take care of it. You may decide to have optional requests in mind so you can end your speech with a request that responds best to that particular situation.

One tactic that has been found effective is right after you have given your elevator speech to ask them about what they do. Then once they have given you their “speech” ask them one or two additional questions about their business. Such as, “That’s an interesting industry, how many employees do you have? Or “How did you get into that interesting business?”. Better yet ask them a question that arises from their own elevator speech. Don’t make it to laborous, or take too much of their time with this, but after asking these questions, don’t hesitate in asking for their business card. By so doing, you become notched in their memory of someone that was interested in what they do. That could be all you would need for them to take your call or the appointment the next time you call on them.

A Final Note

While you can always give your speech in an elevator, the elevator speech is designed for any networking situation, places where you can introduce yourself and your business to potential clients. This may be at a convention, a conference, the grocery store, or the dentist’s office. Remember that anyone can be a potential client or can refer you to a potential client. And with your elevator speech on the tip of your tongue, you’re ready to sell yourself in any given situation with comfort and ease.

Marketing Is Only One Tool Of The Many You Need To Be Successful

Marketing your business is essential to keeping your business healthy and growing. You can do the right kind of marketing, with cost effective strategies and actions that will allow you to achieve the type of accounting / bookkeeping business you imagine for yourself. Building a Successful Accounting Business is only one of the modules you get when you purchase Universal Accounting’s Professional Bookkeeping Program.

Having a solid understanding of the Accounting and Bookkeeping methods and procedures is also essential to the successful business. Don’t hesitate any longer, take the steps needed to bring those dreams about your business into reality. Here’s what you will get along with Universal’s business marketing knowledge.

For the small business owner it is always a question of when to get something or when not to get something for the business. As an Accounting Business we may be more keenly aware on how our business is doing and if we can or cannot afford to move on a piece of equipment or some additional help around the office. When it comes to getting additional help you must be sure that the business is ready for it, so that you can make the new position pay for itself.

Planning is Key

As a business owner, on a limited budget and little or no access to working capital (especially in the first stages of your business) you need to be able to plan out how you would like to grow your business. By setting the goals, milestones, and criteria that is needed that would signify the achieving of the milestones and goals is an essential way you can avoid many of the growing pains you hear from other business owners. With proper planning you can go around the pitfalls, or missteps that plague those who fail to plan and move on someone or something before their business is ready for it. When you plan and work to accomplishing that plan, you can then clearly see the overall situation, and act accordingly. And when it comes to hiring and personnel this is invaluable in keeping your business profitable.

Pain & Necessity vs. Comfort & Luxury

There’s no doubt about it, having another hand around to be able to lighten your work load would be nice. Perhaps the fantasies and wishful thinking of that type of an expansion could get the best of us, who are in business for ourselves, and if we don’t plan out what / who we need when we need them. It can be very easy to get ahead of ourselves. I have seen it with many businesses that because they have landed a new account or “feel” like it’s time to move forward on acquiring personnel and equipment they over extend themselves and have to turn around and make the harder decisions later. The pain and necessity you feel now when you are diligently working to increase your business billable hours, clients and accounts and the hours you are spending to bring in the “bacon” needs to be measured against the comfort you would feel building your business with someone else helping to bear the work load and the luxury of being in that position. You have to gauge this Need vs. Luxury closely according to the plan you created before the need arose. Is it worth going another month, 3 months, 6 months etc. going full boar by yourself to build profits and capital? Or would you be able to better accomplish your goals and milestones for growth when you are freed to bring in the accounts and share in the write up duties?

A Side Note: Inaction on this is also a decision, when you fail to act on the need and do nothing about it you risk peaking out the business, the quality customer service you are providing and burn out becomes a real concern for both you and those clients you have. No matter how you do things, the day will come when you have to ask, “Am I at that point where the decision to bring someone on board needs to be made?” When you are able to follow the plan you set out, then those decisions will become easier to make.

So You’ve Decided to Hire

You have weighed the options, looked at your criteria and found that you’re ready to hire someone to help you. What else do you need to consider? best way of doing this is to take it from the perspective of the person you’ll hire. First of all, what is the job description? What am I expected to do? What do they need to perform the job? Questions like these will help you to transition smoothly the person you hire into the work flow you’ve already established. Consider and plan for the equipment this person will need to perform his/her duties. Will they need a computer? Will they need a printer? What else would they need?

What training are you going to need to perform with the new hire? Is it the case you hire someone just starting out and has a “clean slate” on how to do accounting and bookkeeping or do you hire someone with previous years of experience? (More on this later in the article.)

The support you will need to provide to your new employee. Not speaking about the health insurance, or 401K benefits - for most of us those things may be further down your Growth Road. What I’m talking about is the communication with the new hire on the accounts, the clientele, the procedures, and the issues of quality assurance so that the customers you have now will not feel the bumps of change within your company.

The Bootstrap Hire Process

More likely than not, when you put out the “For Hire” sign you won’t get former CFO’s and CPA’s knocking down your door for an interview. And frankly, you don’t want someone that demands more money than you to do the job. Because you don’t have many of the fringe benefits more established companies may have to offer, you need to get creative in the hiring process.

For instance, determine the level of experience you need for the position. Can you hire someone brand new to the industry and spend the time in training? Is it a question of getting someone experienced but only on a part time basis to start? When you are creative in the hiring process you’ll be able to find those people, the gems in the rough, that will make the positive effect on your accounting business.

Consider the aging population among us. Many who have done this type of work and have “retired” may be looking for a way to be able to gain that extra money they lost during the busts in their retirement plans. Or perhaps they can fill some time from the front porch rocker in assisting with the duties called for in the accounts you have. Truly, what we are doing is not digging ditches or running marathons, the older among us are a wonderful well-spring to tap for our open position.

Consider the student or the intern. Many universities and colleges are requiring their accounting students to do internships. They are an excellent way to be able to get those tasks done that may fall in the category of minutae, while giving them a worthwhile experience and improving the company’s bottom line. Those who are eager to learn can be the best for a business, so you can train them the right way of doing things in small business accounting.

Consider the disabled, military and their families, stay-at-home-moms, and your own teenagers. With the proper training anyone can be a good bookkeeper. And especially when you consider how much you are able to pay and the time it takes to do the books for each account, maybe a stay-at-home-mom who can dedicate 4 hours a day is the right solution for you.

When you are on a budget, creativity gets the extra “gold star on the forehead”. You need to consider the options of the hiring process and your readiness to bring another person on board. When you have, and its truly time to hire, don’t think the box is rectangular by any means, you can find the solution that best suits you, your accounting business, and the goals and growth you have set for it.

To get more principles on the Accounting business and to get you business set up right, click here to find out more of what’s involved in the Professional Bookkeeper’s Program.

Have You Ever Wondered: What’s All This Going To Do For Me?

(How you can get from point A to point Z in your career?)

There comes times in your life when you feel the need to sit back from what you are doing and ask yourself: What’s all this going to do for me? You have been plugging along in this wonderful world of accounting and bookkeeping. Perhaps you just fell into this line of work, or the opportunity arose for you to step up and help out in your company where there was a need and this fed your inclination to work with the numbers. Whatever the circumstance it was you find yourself at your desk, asking that important question.

With most in our profession and this includes those of us who received our college degree in accounting, that there comes a time when you realize that there is a next step to be taken, that, “What I’m doing now needs to go to the next level, but how?”

For those individuals we come in contact with at UAC it’s usually a question of, is where I am now going to get me where I want to be then? The drive to be better at what we do, to achieve more of what we have, and to gain more knowledge of what we deal with each day guides us to search out those additional helps and sources.

Here’s a laundry list of positions that are available for those of us who have chosen to pursue the world of accounting:

PRIVATE INDUSTRY

• Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
• Treasurer
• Controller
• Assistant Controller and Assistant Treasurer
• Tax Manager
• Accounting Manager
• Senior Accountant
• Accountant (General, Cost)
• Internal/EDP Audit
• Manager, Financial Analysis
• Senior Analyst
• Analyst (Financial, Budget, Cost)
• Credit Manager
• Assistant Credit Manager
• Collections Specialist
• Full Charge Bookkeeper
• Bookkeeper
• A/P Supervisor
• A/P Clerk
• A/R Supervisor
• A/R Clerk
• Assistant Bookkeeper
• Accounting Clerk

Maybe you see your current position on there, more than likely you see the position you wish to have listed there. That next level is there for you and you need to find out how to get to it by gaining what you need to achieve (by way of experience and knowledge) to excel at the desired position. That is where Universal Accounting comes in!

Our programs are specifically designed with that next step in mind:

• We have filled the training materials with timely and pertinent information you can use on the job the very next day.
• Training courses that walk you through the tried-and-true processes, strategies, methods and tactics you can use in your accounting career.
• You will have the hands-on experience it takes to bring what you’re learning to life through practice sets based on real-life businesses.
• You will have the support of an Academic Coach as well as our resident CPA/Accountant Coach that can guide you through the steps you need to take to get to your next level, whatever that may be.
• We back this all up with Universal’s Iron-Clad Guarantee

What’s all this going to do for me? You might ask? First of all it’s going to make your decision the easiest one you have ever had to make when it comes to your professional career and the direction it is taking. It will also allow you the assurance that you can gain that experience that has always kept you from reaching those goals you have set for your career. It will also bring into focus how you can achieve that dream you see yourself in, when you imagine what you will be doing in 10, 15, 20 years from now.

What all this experience and knowledge-filled training is going to accomplish IS UP TO YOU. You are the deciding factor in all of this. You decide whether you want to go with the most comprehensive accounting training available on the market, or not. You decide whether or not you can say with confidence that you can fulfill the duties asked of you by your employer, by your clients and by yourself. You decide how quickly you can rise above the rank and file and place your career on the fast track to that next level.

Look inside yourself and decide where you want to be and then come and enroll at The Universal Accounting Center for the training that will change how you look at your career and the heights you dare to reach for.

You can do it! You’ve waited long enough to make the move to getting for your future the difference between success and mediocrity. The easiest decision you can make is enrolling in The Professional Bookkeeper’s Course. Make the difference in success, The PB designation, work for you. Don’t delay!

Grow Your Business by Becoming a Full-Service Financial Provider

You may work on the side as an accountant or bookkeeper. Maybe you work in a full-time job performing accounting functions. Or perhaps you run your own accounting firm full-time. But regardless of what you currently do, if you’ve ever thought about either starting your own business as a full-service financial provider, then you’ve come to the right place.

Universal Accounting Center is in the business of seeing that accountants, bookkeepers, and tax preparers succeed. And we have to admit, we’re pretty good at what we do. And after 25 years of experience we know you’ll find the most success if you become a full-service financial provider, the one-stop shop for your clients’ financial needs. You can do that by earning two valuable designations and mastering one software program: the Professional Bookkeeper (PB) designation, the Professional Tax Preparer (PTP) designation, and QuickBooks Made Profitable (QBMP).

The Value of the Professional Bookkeeper Designation

Over 85% of the opportunities in the accounting field are within small businesses. Universities prepare their students for corporate accounting processes, leaving a huge gap in the small business arena. Those who recognize this need and receive the proper training can take advantage of this fantastic opportunity by becoming small business accountants. More than 50% of these small businesses fail, and much of that failure can be attributed to lack of accounting expertise. Imagine contributing to the success of local small businesses, which will build your own community while providing you with job satisfaction and security. Now imagine doing this for 3 or 4, or perhaps 13 or 14 small businesses.

At Universal Accounting, we understand the needs of the small business like nobody else. UAC has designed a curriculum specific to the needs of small businesses, and Universal Accounting offers the most complete small business accounting course anywhere. The Professional Bookkeeper Designation assures clients that you have the skills necessary to fulfill their small business accounting needs. For you, the training designation assures you have had the applicable experience to provide the quality service to your small business clients.

The Value of the Professional Tax Preparer Designation

Perhaps your accounting and bookkeeping practice is thriving. Maybe you are losing one or two clients to those who offer tax services in addition to accounting and bookkeeping. But whether or not you could use more clients, adding tax services to your menu of services could increase your income. How? Tax professionals charge $100+ per hour preparing individual and business tax returns. Many tax preparers make more money in the months leading up to the April 15 tax deadline than others make all year long! Since all individuals and businesses, small or large, are required to file taxes, tax preparation is a respected skill that will always be in demand. And many of your current clients would probably by happy to have you file their taxes as well as perform the standard accounting services you currently provide.

Also consider who your clients will trust to file their taxes. Countless individuals are scammed each year by people who claim to know what they’re doing. More and more are becoming leery of alleged tax preparers who lack credentials. The Professional Tax Preparer Designation will put many of those individuals at ease, assuring them that you have been properly trained in tax preparation.

Become a Full Financial Service Provider

By combining the PB designation with the PTP designation, you will earn a terrific income all year long. It is easy to cross-sell from one service to another, making it easier to find clients, since you often service the same client for both tasks. Increase your income, increase the value of your business, increase your success. Order these two programs today!

QuickBooks Made Profitable-Our Free Gift to You!

Now is the perfect time of year to take advantage of this special offer. If you enroll now, come the New Year you’ll be ready to grow your business and experience the success and profitability of which you’ve always dreamed. And when you take advantage of this special package offer, you’ll receive a free gift: QuickBooks Made Profitable.

Nearly 80% of small businesses use Intuit’s Quickbooks software. While other programs may be useful, Quickbooks has definitely captured the small business market. Learning Quickbooks will not only help you keep more efficient records, but it enables you to teach your clients how to use the software so that you can get the information you need, making your job much easier. Add to that the ability to represent yourself as a QuickBooks expert and you’ll be able to attract larger numbers of potential clients. This program will teach you how to leverage your time while saving clients money in taxes and helping them increase their profits. What client wouldn’t be interested in that? We’ll teach you how to use this valuable software package to generate even more clients!

Don’t wait to grow your business and experience the success you’ve already imagined yourself achieving. There are countless potential clients out there in need of these specific services. You can be the one to provide them. Take advantage of this special package deal and order now!