Accounting and Bookkeeping Articles

7    Tips in Getting Your Business off to a Fresh Start

We know it’s cliché, but true:  If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.  The New Year is a great time to revisit your business plan and assess your current standing.  Current economic turmoil should be reason enough to revamp your business strategies and begin 2009 with a solid list of goals.  As you anticipate difficulty and plan for success, you’ll find your business in better shape than ever.

Consider the following tips:

1. Revisit your business objectives.

Remember that fire within that motivated you to start your business in the first place?  Generally it’s the passion for what you do that helps you move forward, through the good times and the bad.  You should revisit your business objectives regularly, reminding yourself of the vision with which you started your practice.  How close are you to accomplishing those objectives?  What would it take to exceed them?  Is it time to revise them, and consider how to see your business become, as the Olympic motto suggests, faster, higher, stronger?

2.    Contact all previous clients.

Now may be a good time to contact previous clients who no longer retain your services.  Send them a quick note or email asking how they’re doing.  Depending on your relationship, you may also ask if there’s a reason why they no longer come to you for their accounting.  You may receive valuable feedback or regain their business.

3. Take advantage of the recession.

Warren Buffet once said, “Be scared when everyone else is greedy, be greedy when everyone else is scared. “  Right now, everyone else is scared, and you can take advantage of their recession fears in ways you may not have realized.  Last month we ran an article that highlighted action steps you can take to increase your profitability in the midst of a recession.

4. Do first for yourself.

It’s your job to manage your clients’ finances.  If you’re a truly valuable and proactive accountant, you watch key indicators that will tell you whether or not their businesses are profitable and suggest ways to increase their bottom line.  It’s important that you do that for your own business as well.  Become your own profit expert and, using last year’s numbers, project this year’s earnings, looking for ways to increase your own profitability.

5. Set new goals.

Would you like to increase your client base this year, or perhaps, increase your service offerings?  Maybe you’d like to move your business out of your home and into a professional office space.  Whatever it is you’d like to accomplish, it’s important that you set and record these goals.  Then break them down into smaller, more manageable steps that you can take throughout the year.

6.    Schedule the month of January.

Now that you’ve set some new goals you can begin to schedule action items within the first month of the year.  What steps can you take to make your business faster, higher and stronger?

7. Educate yourself.

It’s a good practice to participate in some type of training at least once a year in order to hone your skills and maintain your competitive edge.  The New Year is a good time to consider what you would like to focus on this year.  We suggest Universal’s Professional Bookkeeper’s Guide (PBG) to QuickBooks.

The PBG will enable you to master this software program that over 80% of small businesses use to manage their accounting.  Once you do, you will be able to work more efficiently as you use all the features, functions, and shortcuts QuickBooks offers.  Not only will the PBG enable you to manage your own books more efficiently, but it can increase your bottom line as you add QuickBooks consultation, help and setup services to your menu.  With hands-on training you can earn a professional designation as a QuickBooks Specialist that will give you the creditability you need to convince prospective clients that you are an outstanding bookkeeper!

With one simple click you can enhance your offerings and increase your bottom line. What a great way to start the New Year.  Order now!

This Year Give Yourself the Gift of Profitability

Who wouldn’t want the gift of profitability?  That’s probably even on Santa’s wish list.  A solid investment in yourself and your business would make a great present that may not fit in your stocking, but will definitely fill your bank account!  What’s the investment?

Every successful business thrives on three things: a service that’s in-demand, effective marketing, and complementary offerings.  Wouldn’t it be nice if you could find all these components in one package?  You can, and they’re all right here!

A Service that’s In-Demand

In order to run a successful practice you must offer a necessary and valuable service.  Small-business accounting is such a service.  By law, businesses are required to keep books.  Not only that, but many small businesses are in need of knowledgeable and skilled accountants who will perform that needed function and help them achieve greater profitability.

To appreciate the demand for small-business accountants, consult the US Department of Labor.  For years Universal Accounting Center (UAC) has proudly relayed previous reports that by 2008 accounting jobs would increase by 20%.  That great forecast has been extended to 2014!  They predict “Employment of accountants and auditors is expected to grow faster than average for all occupations through the year 2014. As the economy grows, the number of business establishments will increase, requiring more accountants and auditors to set up books, prepare taxes, and provide management advice.”  The future is bright for freelance accountants!

Universal’s Professional Bookkeeper Program will not only teach you small business accounting with a practical, hands-on approach, but it will enable you to earn a designation that evidences your skill and expertise, putting potential clients at ease.  The program covers four units which each take less than 15 hours to complete, all on your own time and at your own pace.  The units include:

• Accounting Made Easy
• Practical Small Business Application
• Advancing Your “Account-Ability”
• Building a Successful Accounting Service

In less than 60 hours you could complete all four modules and be on your way to a successful accounting practice with a certificate to hang on your office wall.  That’s much more appealing than 4 years on a university campus.

Effective Marketing

Regardless of how unmatched your services may be, you won’t have any clients unless you market effectively.  While accountants are good with numbers, they generally aren’t as comfortable promoting their services.

With over 25 years experience training professional like you, Universal Accounting Center knows how to market accounting services to small businesses!  Our Universal Practice Builder Program will arm you with the ability to accomplish the following:

• Become your area’s Profit and Growth Expert
• Produce 15 to 25 qualified leads per month
• Utilize 12 proven marketing strategies
• Practice effective marketing via phone, newsletter, and professional websites
• Practice tactical goal planning and setting
• Distribute a “Presentation DVD” to potential clients
• Prepare and present seminar training for three different instructional courses
• Use a CRM

In addition, this program is guaranteed to earn you $30,000 of additional annualized billings in just 12 months!  Talk about a risk-free investment!

Complementary Offerings

Successful practices continue to grow and generate profit when they offer complementary offerings their target market finds valuable.  You probably already know that Intuit’s QuickBooks is the accounting software used by more than 80% of small business owners.  Mastering this program will enable you to increase your offerings by providing QuickBooks setup and consultation services.  QuickBooks Made Profitable will teach you just how to use this program to draw and retain more clients to your accounting practice.  You’ll learn how to leverage your time while saving clients money in taxes and helping them increase their profitability as well.  Imagine how much this program alone could increase your bottom line.

So there you have it; a present that will brighter your future and make your practice more profitable.  Give yourself the gift that keeps on giving!  Order this amazing package today!

What You Should Focus on in December

The holiday season can prove stressful for business owners who are just trying to survive until the New Year.  But we suggest you take advantage of this most wonderful time by following 12 key tips intended to help you acquire new clients, secure more business, and create more loyalty with employees.  Last week we covered the following six suggestions:

1.    Wish your clients a Happy Holiday

2.    Send holiday cards

3.    Schedule employee vacation time

4.    Plan company celebrations early

5.    Get in the spirit

6.    Bring your website into the festivities

This week we’ll discuss the final six of our 12 Days of Business:

7. Practice seasonal marketing

We understand that in December you are extremely busy with year-end, but you can target prospective clients at the beginning of the month with seasonal marketing.  Take some time to brainstorm your holiday promotions and then delegate the final project to a trustworthy staff or family member so you can focus on billable hours.

8. Acknowledge your employees

December is the time when many employees receive bonuses.  Small businesses and firms are generally unable to provide significant monetary rewards to their staff; however, you should make the effort to acknowledge your gratitude in some way.  Consider gift certificates, paid time-off, or some other giving gesture.

9. Don’t offend

Remember, not everyone celebrates Christmas, but some other holiday like Kwanza or Hanukkah.  You may consider remaining impartial in your advertising, mailers, well wishes, etc. by simple saying “Happy Holidays.”

10. Schedule your time well

Once you plan all the holiday festivities you should schedule the rest of your time so that you have enough to actual perform the accounting functions for which your clients have retained you.  At some point you must move beyond holiday preparations and attend to the business of billable hours.

11. Balance your personal and business lives

Perhaps these 12 tips have been overwhelming.  In reality, you can only do so much.  Once you’ve determined which of these 12 suggestions are feasible for you to implement, you must then see that your personal and professional lives are in balance this year.  The holidays are also a time of family and you must be sure to enjoy quality time with them this season as well.

12. Develop a New Year strategy

While New Year’s resolutions have become somewhat passé, it’s still good business to develop goals and strategies for the upcoming year.  If you haven’t already, schedule some time to consider what you must focus on in 2009.

Most importantly, take time to enjoy the holidays.  They do come but once a year, and it would be a shame if you didn’t revel in the season for a bit.

Building Your Business is a Great Strategy for the New Year

And Universal Accounting Center can help!  We’re offering a big holiday package intended to enhance any bookkeeping service or individual ready to start one.  You’ll attain the three things all business owners need to achieve true success: professional certification, marketing know-how, and enhanced service offerings.

Professional Certification

Accounting firms fare better when they provide specialized services.  Small-business accounting is a specialized service that will appeal to a large target market.  Most accountants are trained in big business accounting, which doesn’t address the unique needs of small business owners.  When you enroll in the Professional Bookkeeper program, you receive specialized training in the day-to-day accounting tasks required by small businesses.  Not only that, but upon completing the course, you will have the opportunity to earn professional certification, demonstrating to clients your newfound expertise.

Marketing Know-How

Regardless of how good your services are, you won’t secure quality clients without employing effective marketing techniques. And without clients, your business won’t go too far.  The Universal Practice Builder program will train you in 12 marketing strategies designed to help you secure 15 to 25 qualified leads per month!  Additionally, you will be guaranteed a $30,000 increase in annualized billings in just one year.  That is 10 times the cost of this special holiday package!  Talk about a low-risk investment with high returns.

Enhanced Service Offerings

In addition to offering small-business accounting, you will also be able to provide QuickBooks services.  Our QuickBooks Made Profitable program will teach you how to use your QuickBooks skills to attract even more clients!  You’ll learn how to leverage your time, meet more prospective clients and offer services that will enable them to reduce taxes, increase profits and put more money in the bank.

Get a jump start on the new business year by enrolling in these three programs, today!  You’ll be giving lots of gifts this season.  How about giving yourself a gift that continues to give, in profitable returns, year after year?  Enroll now!

Why Now’s the Perfect Time to Shift Gears

In the face of recession the natural tendency is to lay low, to duck and cover.  It’s likely that your competitors are doing that already, which is why this is the best time for you to shift gears and take advantage of the economic downslide.  Here are six things you can to move ahead during the recession:

1. Take advantage of down time

Remember all those times that you bemoaned your crowded schedule and lack of free time?  And remember all those things you had to place on the backburner because you lacked the time to attend to them?  Take advantage of downtime by doing those things you may not have had time for before: networking, de-cluttering your office, researching industry trends, reorganizing your files, following-up with prospective clients, etc.

2. Hire good talent

Now’s the perfect time to hire good talent for less.  The recession has left lots of talented individuals without jobs and without appealing positions to which they can apply.  You will be able to select from a qualified pool of applicants and bolster your staff in order to prepare your business for number three!

3. Prepare your business for an influx of new clients

Think positively and prepare your business for what might result in an influx of new clients for you.  As you market more aggressively (see six below), build your staff, and take advantage of downtime, you’ll find that your client roster will begin to grow.  So use this time to prepare yourself by ensuring that you have the resources necessary and processes in place that will enable you to manage all that business more efficiently.

4. Cut expenses

Of course it’s a good idea!  Take a look at your budget and see if there’s anything you can cut.  While an accounting practice doesn’t have much overhead, you may consider ways you can streamline your workflow, accomplishing more in less time.  Your objective should be to increase billable hours while cutting unnecessary expenses.

5. Diversify your services

The best way to take advantage of this recession is by making it more appealing to prospective clients.  Have you considered adding QuickBooks services to your menu?  Or perhaps you could learn how to prepare a small business’s tax returns as well as manage their books?  You’ll definitely gain an edge over the competition when you are able to provide full financial services for your clients who will be more than happy to take all their financial needs to just one firm.

6. Practice aggressive marketing techniques

Chances are your competitors are currently trying to maintain their rosters rather than grow them.  Big accounting firms are focusing on their A-list clients rather than their smaller ones who are no longer worth the time or energy to maintain.  Your aggressive marketing techniques will enable you to acquire many of those small business accounts that have been overlooked or forgotten.

Not only that, but when you market like there’s no tomorrow, you inspire more confidence in current clients who see your efforts as evidence that your business is thriving despite the recession.

Universal Can Help You Market More Effectively

UAC has been helping professional like you gain the skills necessary to succeed as small business accountants.  With over 25 years experience, we not only know the skills required to succeed but the strategies you need in order to market your skills more effectively.

It’s no secret that accountants are not marketing experts.  In fact, some accountants even get a little nervous when talking about promoting their services.  With UAC’s Universal Practice Builder (UPB) Program you will have everything you need to grow your business and your bottom line.

Here’s a sampling of what you will gain from enrolling in this amazing program:

• A guarantee of $30,000 in new annualized billings in only 12 months
• 12 marketing strategies that you can implement immediately
• A process which can produce 15 to 25 qualified leads per month
• 3 months of coaching via telephone and Internet
• Training on a computerized database tracking program
• A presentation DVD to show potential clients

While your competitors hunker down for a long recession, you need to take advantage of this time to grow your business and become the premier accounting firm in your area.  And when you enroll now you will receive QuickBooks Made Profitable (QBMP) for FREE, a program designed to help you use your QuickBooks expertise to enhance your services and attract even more clients!  You’ll be trained in the following:

• A proven system in using QuickBooks to attract larger numbers of potential clients
• Representing yourself as a QuickBooks expert
• Leveraging your time
• Meeting potential clients
• Offering clients services that will help them reduce taxes, increase profits and put money in the bank

Only ostriches hide their heads in the sand.  Don’t duck and cover simply because the economy is struggling.  You can take advantage of the recession and have a stronger business as a result.  Order this package today and begin a journey to a brighter financial future for you and your business.

5 Tips in “Thriving” an Economic Recession

Many would agree that there’s no question we’re currently experiencing an economic recession.  That has many small business owners panicking as they worry about the longevity of their businesses and livelihoods.  Entrepreneur.com’s networking guru, Ivan Misner, has written a blog series entitled “I Refuse to Participate in a Recession” where he examines how business owners, in changing their perspectives, can thrive, as opposed to survive, an economic recession.  This week we will examine five tips designed to help you change your experience with the current economy.

1. Assess your internal dialogue.

How you experience the economy has more to do with what you’re telling yourself about it than it does the statistics, the news forecasts and the bailout proposals.  If you have determined that things are bad and they’re only going to get worse, for both the nation and your business, then chances are they will-not because that’s what’s destined to happen, but because that’s what you believe will happen.  Your internal dialogue determines whether or not you become a victim in the current economic crisis or a survivor-or should we say, thriver.

2. Focus on what you do want, not what you don’t want.

The Law of Attraction exerts that your life is a reflection of what you think, what you focus on, and what you expect to happen.  You must turn your attention away from worry and fear.  While it is a good idea to develop a plan for the worse-case scenario, once that plan has been laid you must move on to brighter thoughts.  Consider what you do want for your business and keep those ideas in the forefront of your mind.  Those thoughts will continue to attract more positive things into your life and business.

3. Maintain a positive attitude.

Try to remain as positive as possible.  While thinking more positively is a good first step, maintaining a positive attitude has a lot to do with your emotions as well.  Try to do those things that enable you to feel more upbeat and positive.   Exercise, read, maintain your hobbies, watch comedies.  It’s much easier to remain positive when you’re participating in those activities that make you feel good.

4. Become more competitive.

Consumers are now, more than ever, keeping a close eye on their pocketbooks.  This increases the competitive nature of the marketplace.  If you don’t increase your competitive advantage now, you’ll feel the impact on your bottom line later.  Consider adding complementary services or increasing your marketing efforts in order to counteract these effects.

5. Take action.

Entrepreneurs that passively “wait out” the recession will probably find their businesses in need of serious resuscitation when the dust clears.  Take action to improve your business regardless of what the economy is doing.

The Universal Practice Builder Program

Now is as good a time as any to grow your clientele.  Regardless of the economy, small business owners are still required by law to keep accounting records.  However, the market will grow increasingly more competitive as prospective clients look for the best accountant to meet their needs.  You must better market your services in order to generate the most appeal for your particular skill set.

In all our years working with accountants, bookkeepers and tax preparers we’ve come to understand how to best market your services.  Our Universal Practice Builder Program will provide you with 12 marketing strategies that will enable you to secure 15 to 25 qualified leaders per month, a guarantee of $30,000 in new annualized billings in only 12 months, three months of master coaching, and access to a proven plan that will help you retain clients.  Again, you can complete this amazing program on your time and at your own pace.

When you order this program now, you will receive a second valuable program, QuickBooks Made Profitable, for free! Designed to help you attract even more clients using your QuickBooks expertise, this course will enable you to start and maintain an even more lucrative practice.

80% of small businesses use Intuit’s Quickbooks software.  Learning Quickbooks will help you keep more efficient records, enabling you to teach your clients how to use the software so that you can get the information you need which will make your job much easier.  In addition, this program will teach you how to attract more clients using your QuickBooks setup, help, and consulting services.

Take advantage of this marvelous opportunity to stay the course and thrive the current economic recession.  Order now!

References

Misner, Ivan.  “I Refuse to Participate in a Recession (Part 2).” 1 October 2008 Entrepreneur.com Blog Network.

Wise Budgeting Tips

As an accountant you probably think you’ve got your budget under control.  You know numbers and watch your spending to ensure that you are managing your money well.  But unless you’re applying crucial budgeting strategies, you’re not using this valuable tool to its full advantage.  Here are 5 tips that will help:

1. Ensure your budget aligns with your business strategy.

This may seem obvious, but in the day-to-day tasks required in business management, strategy may be forgotten.  There are fires to put out, emergency expenses to pay, and last-minute purchases to make.  So unless you’re vigilantly monitoring your outflow, your strategy may be nickel and dimed into extinction.

If you don’t yet have a strategy, now is the time to develop one.  Does your business require more aggressive marketing techniques?  Are you attempting to grow your firm by hiring a support staff?  Or do you want to focus on retaining current clients?  Whatever your strategy, you should devise a budget that supports and sustains it.

2. Assess your Chart of Accounts.

As an accountant you are very familiar with the Chart of Accounts.  The Chart of Accounts enables you to set up categories that align with your management strategies.  It also enables you to establish a healthy balance between control and responsibility regarding business spending.

3. Establish accountability.

Anyone responsible for spending within your business needs to be accountable for his/her choices.  You may currently be the only person responsible.  However, it’s important that you acknowledge and assess your spending and then make any necessary changes.  You may determine that your budgetary items are best distributed among control areas like marketing, skills development, client retention, management, etc.  This may provide you with more control over outflow.

4. Regularly review your budget.

Establishing a budget and then ensuring that it aligns with your business strategy is only part of this valuable process.  The true benefit of budgeting comes when you regularly review your budget with key players in your business.  In your review you can compare budgeted expenses with actual expenses and discuss discrepancies.  You can also talk with those responsible for various expenses and see how they might revise some of their spending choices.  This is also a good time to implement necessary changes and assess any changes implemented since your last budgetary review.

5. Revise as necessary.

A budget is not set in stone.  As mentioned in the previous tip, as you assess and review your progress it’s important that you make necessary changes.  In fact, that’s the beauty of budgeting.  As you monitor your income and outflow, you can make changes that will influence the future profitability of your business.

As an accountant you may assume that you’ve been using this tool to its full advantage.  But if you haven’t been applying the above tips, you may be missing out on some of the best benefits of budgeting.

QuickBooks Made Profitable

Budgeting isn’t the only tool you can use to increase your business’s profitability.  Our program, QuickBooks Made Profitable, will teach you just how to use QuickBooks accounting software to attract and retain more clients.

Nearly 80% of small businesses use Intuit’s QuickBooks software.  While other programs may be useful, QuickBooks has definitely captured the small business market.  Mastering QuickBooks will not only enable you to better manage your budget and keep more efficient records, but it will also help you teach your clients how to use the software so that you can get the information you need which makes your job much easier.  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 more income!

Don’t wait to grow your business and experience the success your budget will certainly help you achieve.  There are countless potential clients out there in need of these specific services.  You can be the one to provide them.  Order QuickBooks Made Profitable today!

What It Takes to Start Your Own Accounting Practice

Hutzpah, also spelled “chutzpah,” is a Yiddish word defined by the wiktionary as “nearly arrogant courage; utter audacity, effrontery or impudence.”  While that may sound like a negative term, it is a characteristic that many entrepreneurs share.  In fact, many people utter the term with reference and upmost respect.  Wow, he sure has hutzpah.  Or, I wish I had enough hutzpah to do that.

Starting Your Own Business Takes Hutzpah

You’ve got to believe that you will achieve success when you first start your own business.  Without that “arrogant courage,” you will always be second-guessing your decision.  And doubt in an incredible energy drain; it will preoccupy you and, if left unchecked, will turn into self-fulfilling prophesy.

So if you don’t have hutzpah, you need to get some.

Universal Accounting Center (UAC) Makes It Easy

While UAC doesn’t necessarily hand out hutzpah along with professional certification, our graduates leave our programs with the confidence necessary to start their own businesses.  Read what they’re saying about our Professional Bookkeeper Program:

This course has literally changed my life. When I started I hardly knew the difference between a debit and a credit. Now I have the confidence to tackle almost any type of business and do their books.-A. Moody

Great practical course providing you with the skills and self-confidence to go out and build your own bookkeeping/accounting service.-B. Pace

The subject matter covered in your course has been invaluable. I have worked in the accounting field for the past six years; your course gave me the training and confidence I needed to advance in this area.-G. Morton

This course is definitely NOT just an introductory course, although it is wonderful even for beginners. It is a comprehensive accounting and bookkeeping course that truly taught me everything I would need to know to start my own accounting business, and gain clients with confidence.-J. Young

What makes this program so special?  Taught by seasoned professionals who understand the unique demand for small-business accountants, this self-paced program will train you using a hands-on instructional approach designed to give you the experience necessary to start a business’s books from scratch.  Whether you’ve been working in the accounting profession for years or have little experience at all, this course will help you gain the knowledge and hutzpah necessary to start your own accounting practice.

The Professional Bookkeeper Program

This course is comprised of four modules contained on DVD so you can view them again and again.

• • Module 1-Accounting Made Easy
  • Module 2-Practical Small Business Applications
  • Module 3-Advancing your “Account-Ability”
  • Module 4-Building a Successful Accounting Service

Each one comes with its own manual where you are expected to practice the concepts and skills you learn.  Upon completion, you will take an exam through which you can earn professional certification, demonstrating your expertise to prospective clients.

In addition to all that you will also receive two additional months of follow-up support, your own customize business website, and two additional practice sets.

Offer Complementary Services and Increase Your Bottom Line

If you order now, we will increase the value of this package by adding our newly-released 2008 version of the Professional Bookkeeper’s Guide (PBG) to QuickBooks.  More than 80% of small businesses use this accounting software to manage their finances.  By mastering this software, you can begin offering QuickBooks setup, consultation, and help services.  And when these same clients need a little accounting help, who will they turn to?  YOU, of course!

This newly updated program, written by QuickBooks Pro Advisor Brent Peterson, includes step-by-step instructions that will lead you through the accounting process.  Also included:

• • 16 interactive CDs
  • 4 full-color instructional manuals
  • Training designed for all user-types
  • Over 300 thoroughly-covered topics
  • Hands-on training that will enable you to practice all necessary QuickBooks functions
  • The ability to earn the QuickBooks Specialist designation

This training program beats others on the market, hands down.  And when you purchase this in addition to the Professional Bookkeeper Program you are able to offer a handful of valuable services that will attract even more clients and increase your bottom line.

Get the training necessary to develop a little hutzpah-your new accounting practice depends upon it.  Order today!

7 Procrastination Busting Techniques

Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task.- William James

Putting off an easy thing makes it hard. Putting off a hard thing makes it impossible. - George Claude Lorimer

The best way to get something done is to begin.-Anonymous

Last week you took a quiz to determine if you are a chronic procrastinator. But whether or not your procrastination issues are severe, everyone can benefit from a few procrastination busting techniques. In this installment of our two-part series, we provide you with 7 tips on overcoming procrastination:

1. End each day by planning the next.

You will be better prepared, mentally and physically, to tackle difficult tasks head-on when you schedule time to do them. At the end of each workday, review the schedule for the next day so you set aside time to perform those functions you’ve been postponing. Often you can overcome procrastination by giving yourself the time to do those things you’ve been avoiding.

2. Tackle the most formidable task first.

Those tasks you put off are generally the most distasteful. You’ll be doing yourself a huge favor if you tackle those tasks first. You know what they say: swallow a toad in the morning and you will encounter nothing more disgusting the rest of the day. When you complete these tasks first thing, you’ll find yourself recharged and ready to tackle the remainder of your day with ease.

3. Change your vocabulary.

Sometimes a change in perspective will come easily when accompanied by a change in vocabulary. When looking at those tasks you tend to procrastinate you probably feel as if you have to do them.” Change “have to” to “want to” and see if that lightens the load a bit. Also certain projects can appear overwhelming. Rather than tell yourself you must “finish” such projects, tell yourself you will get a good “start” on the project. This may motivate you to tackle it a piece at time.

4. Break large projects into manageable tasks.

Those overwhelming projects are best handled bit by bit. Break those large projects into smaller tasks that can be handled on a daily basis. Schedule these smaller tasks into your day so that you’re able to better inch towards project completion.

5. Practice the Ten-Minute Rule.

For whatever reasons, we are unmotivated by certain tasks. Practice the ten-minute rule with these tasks by dedicating just ten-minutes to them. Often you’ll find that once you get moving, you’re motivated enough to continue long after the ten minutes have ended. And if you’re not, at least you did something that contributed to the completion of that task, and it’s probably more than you would have thought could be accomplished in just 600 seconds.

6. Reward yourself for completed tasks.

When working on especially dreadful tasks, give yourself a small reward for completing the task by a given time. Whether you take a short walk, surf the internet, or read a page from an engaging book, rewarding yourself in small doses may help you work a little harder on those tasks you tend to procrastinate.

7. Feel the fear and do it anyway.

Sometimes we procrastinate certain things because we’re afraid we will fail, we don’t have the skill set, or are uncertain where to begin. In situations like these it is best if you feel the fear and move forward. Generally you’ll find that your fears were unfounded and that you were equal to the challenge.

Allow UAC to Help You Do It Anyway

Whether you want to start your own accounting practice, earn a little money on the side as a bookkeeper, or use the training to advance your career, the flexibility of the Professional Bookkeeper (PB) Program as well as its modest price will help you accomplish your dreams.

You will learn small-business accounting and have the opportunity to earn professional certification that will show clients you have the expertise to manage their books. In addition, we teach you how to market your new skills effectively in order to secure the clientele that will make your practice successful.

Perhaps you fear that you do not have the necessary background to learn accounting, are too old to get started, or are not ready to take the risk. The PB Program is designed for individuals just like you! Some of our graduates did not know a debit from a credit when they started our program while others had years of accounting experience behind them. All found the program to be valuable and worth the time and money spent to complete the Professional Bookkeeper Program.

Increase Your Earning Potential and Enroll Today!

When you enroll in both the Professional Bookkeeper Program and the Professional Bookkeeper’s Guide to QuickBooks, you increase your earning potential significantly. You can offer Quickbooks set-up, help and consultation services for $65-$95 per hour. Not only that, but you’ll learn a valuable software program that will enable you to do the following:

• Quickly pay your bills so you never incur late penalties.
• Be reminded when bills are due.
• Write checks with one single click!
• Quickly and effortlessly create invoices so you get paid sooner.
• Track customers and vendors so you can easily look them up in one place.
• Keep on top of incoming and outgoing payments.
• Access easy-to-read financial reports NOW!

Enroll in these two programs today and be on your way to a brighter and more lucrative future. Stop procrastinating! Enroll now!

My kids have one of those miniature basketball hoops we keep in the house. They don’t like to play with me because making baskets is a “no brainer” when you tower above the hoop. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a “no brainer” career, where you tower over success? Oh, wait, you do!

Every business, whether it be an auto shop, a high-level marketing firm, or an art gallery, must perform accounting functions. Not only is it required by law, but good accounting helps a business assess its progress and take steps to become even more profitable. Because of this, good accountants are a priceless commodity, and when they do their job well they become invaluable to the businesses they work for. The accounting profession can be your “no brainer” career, with guaranteed success just as close as a miniature basketball hoop. Lucky you!

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that employment for accountants will increase more than average by 2014. They also state that, “As the economy grows, the number of business establishments will increase, requiring more accountants and auditors to set up books, prepare taxes, and provide management advice. As these businesses grow, the volume and complexity of information developed by accountants and auditors regarding costs, expenditures, and taxes will increase as well.”

Life is good for the freelance accountant.

Catapult Your Practice to Success

Training is important. Not only to you, but to current and potential employers. The Bureau goes on to say, “Voluntary certification can attest to professional competence in a specialized field of accounting and auditing. It also can certify that a recognized level of professional competence has been achieved by accountants and auditors who have acquired some skills on the job, without the formal education or public accounting work experience needed to meet the rigorous standards required to take the CPA examination.”

It takes four years to get an accounting degree at a standard university. And they only train you in corporate accounting, which represents 2% of accounting opportunities out there. What makes up the 98%? Small business, and Universal Accounting Center knows small business accounting; they can train you in less than 60 hours!

The Professional Bookkeeper(PB) Program

Universal Accounting Center’s Professional Bookkeeper Program was originally created by Alf Bostrom when he became frustrated that no course existed to teach a hands-on process of small business accounting.

The course has evolved over the last 25 years into a comprehensive program in the day-to-day bookkeeping of a small business. And our graduates have found that the principles also apply exceptionally well to larger companies. You not only get the theory taught in college, but you are taught by practical examples of real-world companies. From a bakery to a car lot, you will do books for 9 businesses and see how they are similar and how they differ.

And the best part, you can complete the course in 60 hours; if you start today you could finish the program by the end of summer and focus on building your client base this fall!

Professional Bookkeeper’s Guide (PBG) to QuickBooks

In addition to the PB Program, we’re also offering this exclusive training in QuickBooks, the leading accounting software for small businesses. Universal’s PBG training program will teach you QuickBooks quickly, and painlessly. UAC’s Guide to Quickbooks Pro is a self-paced program that enables you to complete the parts that interest you and skip over the parts that don’t. Even if you have used the program for years, the program teaches you shortcuts and methods you may not have known. You will be impressed by the simple flow and completeness of this program. So why wait? In just a number of hours you could be ready to better manage your own finances while adding new services to your own practice and increasing your bottom line.

Don’t wait another day to take advantage of this incredible time for accountants and ensure that your accounting practice towers above the competition! Order this special package today!

Changes in technology are occurring daily — changes that will make your life easier, and make you a more valuable resource to your client. Today’s clients are more demanding and sophisticated than yesterday’s were. Stay up to date on their ever-changing expectations by taking these steps:

* Be a voracious reader. Read everything you can about your client’s industry, new service techniques, and changes in the marketplace.

* Become ‘techno-savvy’. Spend part of your budget to stay ahead of the technological curve.

* Monitor technological trends. If you don’t receive customer surveys on an ongoing basis, find out what you have to do to get on the routing list.

* Talk to your clients. What’s the best way to find out what your clients want? Ask them. Keep on asking them.

It’s that simple.

Our newsletters will always work to keep you up-to-date on the latest in accounting technology and client relations.

The Software Questions and Comments section of the Forum gives advise on software and other technology questions.
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