Turn 12 Minutes into $100 per Hour

Read How Tax Preparation Can Change Your Future

That’s right; you can upgrade your income and your lifestyle. That’s a pretty outrageous statement, but I’ve seen it happen for hundreds of people just like you.

Perhaps you have a healthy accounting practice or have considered starting one. Now’s the perfect time, and when you add tax preparation and planning services to your menu, you become a full-service financial provider, attracting more clients and increasing your profitability. Not only that, but your potential client base is tremendous. Every individual and business must file taxes; it’s required by law. And with tax law becoming more complex, people feel more comfortable having a tax professional manage their taxes for them. That tax professional could be YOU!

Learn more today by ordering your own copy of this career-altering video!

We Will Introduce You to UAC’s Professional Tax Preparer Certification

Since 1979, Universal Accounting Center (UAC) has been teaching the ins-and-outs of small business accounting and tax preparation. That’s over 25 years of training people just like you how to help individuals and businesses with their income tax planning and preparation. (And making a really good living at the same time.)

Most professional tax preparers charge $100 per hour or more to file an individual’s tax return and even more for business returns. Spending a few minutes watching this video will answer many of your questions regarding starting your own professional tax preparation service.

Can a 12 Minute Video Really Change My Life?

It really can. Spend a few minutes and see for yourself what a great opportunity starting a professional tax preparation business can be. You’ll hear skilled and qualified tax preparers tell you how the Professional Tax Preparer Certification enabled them to find the personal and professional success they were seeking.

Request this information Now!

Take this first step towards becoming a full-service financial provider. Don’t delay. Request it now

Attention: Outsourcing of Tax Returns is on the Decline… Opportunities for Local Professional Tax Preparers on the Rise

Wanted -More Professional Tax Preparers. Over the last few years, many large accounting firms are sending tax returns overseas. They thought the cost savings of sending tax returns to chartered accountants in India and the ability to have returns prepared overnight there would make the outsourcing of tax returns a financial boon.

However, concerns over privacy and data security have made outsourcing less popular this year. Read on, and I’ll show you how this helps your tax preparation practice.

Legislation in California Makes it Harder to Outsource Tax Preparation

In California, if accounting firms have anyone other than an employee prepare a return, they must inform their clients in writing that their data is sent outside the firm. David Wyle, [An Outsourcer] SurePrep’s founder, quoted in an article found in the September 2005 issue of Accounting Technology Magazine, said:

“In California, anyone not an employee of your firm is considered an outsider. So if you have per diem contractors work in your office during tax season, technically you need your clients written permission.” He goes on to say, “Between last tax season and this year, we lost over 130 customers. It’s not that they went to other outsourcers, they just stopped outsourcing.”

Business School Graduates are More Interested in Consulting, Mergers and Acquisitions than Accounting and Tax Preparation

Kishore Mirchandani, President and CEO of Outsource Partners International, [Another Outsourcer] says that enrollment is high in business schools, but students are more focused on economics and finance, not accounting. He says they are more interested in disciplines such as consulting and mergers and acquisitions.

This Trend Contributes to a Great Opportunity for a Professional Tax Preparer

At Universal Accounting we’ve learned over the years that universities weren’t providing the number of professionals needed to meet the tax preparation needs of both individuals and small businesses. That leaves the larger accounting firms with a limited amount of options. They can either outsource, and send your private and personal data overseas to a chartered accountant in India, or turn people away.

Neither of these options sounds that appealing to most people.

As quoted in Accounting Technology Magazine, CEO of Creative Solutions Jon Barons says, “I believe that outsourcing of tax returns is the wrong solution to the problem.”

The Right Education Will Allow You to Take Advantage of this Trend

Although professional tax preparation does require a specialized skill set, it doesn’t require a college education. In fact, according to Mr. Mirchandani, students at business school are more interested in other aspects of business and aren’t even interested in tax preparation or accounting.

At Universal Accounting, we understand that the needs of small businesses aren’t even seriously addressed in most colleges and universities. A need exists for small business specialists to help those businesses and individuals with both their tax and accounting needs. That’s why we’ve been teaching small business accounting since 1979.

With literally thousands of our graduates successfully providing tax preparation and accounting services to businesses all over the United States, I think it’s safe to say that Universal Accounting trains hundreds of small business experts every year. And if you are considering becoming a professional tax preparer or bookkeeper, Universal will help you become a small business expert yourself.

The Professional Tax Preparer Course is the “Perfect Education”

Click Here and Learn What Many Tax Professionals Consider the “Perfect Education”

At Universal Accounting Center, our commitment encludes providing our graduates with the most complete and comprehensive education in tax preparation anywhere. You won’t find a more complete curriculum for working with small business and individuals, period. And that includes the universities.

To further demonstrate our commitment to you and your education, we even offer a 100% money back guarantee. I am unaware of any guarantee from any college or university program.

Universal Accounting’s Ironclad 100% Money Back Guarantee

Purchase and complete the course, and if you don’t feel that you’ve received your money’s worth, you can return the materials and get a fair refund. All of us here at Universal Accounting are confident that you will find this training to be of value that we all stand behind it, 100%.

Become a Full Financial Services Provider

The Universal Accounting Financial Services program teaches you both Tax Preparation for individuals and businesses as well as how to service the Accounting and Bookkeeping needs of your clients. Combine the two services and greatly increase your profits and make marketing your service to businesses with varied needs much easier.

Welcome and Thank-you

You’ve just taken the first step. Thousands of people just like you are creating strong and profitable bookkeeping and accounting businesses all over the country. Like you, they see the value of advancing their education to help them create the income and lifestyle that they and their families deserve.

For over 25 years Universal Accounting has been teaching people like you and me the ins-and-outs of small business accounting and bookkeeping. We’re not called the “Small Business Experts” for nothing. Over the next few weeks, you’ll learn the nuts-and-bolts of what it takes to provide a valuable service to small businesses.

It doesn’t matter if it’s the bike shop around the corner or the dry cleaner down the street, they need what you have to offer and Universal Accounting will help you each and every step of the way.

Jump Start Your Business Profitability

The first step is only the beginning. By offering a complete financial service package to your clients, you’ll be able to provide better service and increase your bottom line.

By starting with the Professional Bookkeeper Program, you are well on your way to personal and professional success. Every business must do accounting. It’s the law. And as you become the “profit expert” for your clients, you will find more and more opportunities to impact the profitability and health of their businesses too.

Act Now and Save $500

Nothing will complement your Bookkeeping and Accounting Practice more than a Professional Tax Preparation Services. Whether or not you choose to order the Professional Tax Preparer Certification now, the next step for your business should be the addition of tax preparation. ( I’d like to give you some compelling reasons to order right now… 500 of them in fact.)

Unlike other tax programs available, you’ll learn everything you’ll need to know about filing personal as well as business tax returns. Many tax preparation programs will only teach you individual tax preparation, neglecting the most profitable tax services, business tax.

If you act now, you can add the Professional Tax Preparer Certification to your order for only $985. That’s $500 off the regular price. If you call tomorrow, I’m sorry, but I can’t honor this offer. You must act now.

Click Here to Order Now!

What Makes a Professional Bookkeeping Bussiness Even Better?

Why is adding tax preparation to your bookkeeping and accounting service such a good idea? By increasing the number of products that you can offer, you’ll not only be able to provide your clients with a complete financial service package, but will be able to create a better income for you and your family as well.

What Does Adding Tax Preparation Do to My Bookkeeping and Accounting Business?

As you can see on the graph at the left, income from a tax preparation business will peak during the first four months of the year. Many professional tax preparers are able to bill at rates that are $100 per hour or more, enabling them to work for 4 to 6 months per year and semi-retire the rest of the year.

At Universal Accounting, we’ve discovered over the years that the average small business bookkeeping account will generate an income of approximately $300 per month. By billing your tax clients on a monthly basis and offering tax planning services along with year-end tax preparation services, you can feel confident billing $100 per month for tax preparation services, creating a gross billing of $400 per month to clients who receive complete financial services.

The graph below shows the impact that adding tax planning and preparation to your bookkeeping services can produce for your business.

Who is better able to assist a small business with tax planning and preparation than the person who’s doing the day to day business books all year long? In fact, it wasn’t too many years ago that most small business bookkeepers did all the tax preparation and filing.

Starting a Tax Preparation Business Makes Sense

Most of the college and university programs out there don’t prepare their graduates for a career in small business accounting and tax preparation. Unfortunately, neither do the franchise programs.

Unlike franchises, with an education from Universal Accounting you can begin your accounting and tax practice by operating out of your home. In fact, that’s what we’d recommend. You don’t need to run an accounting or tax service out of an expensive office space. The only people who will find you in an office will be the people trying to sell you something.

When you look at starting any business, the right training and support is critical. Similar to the Professional Bookkeeper Program, the Professional Tax Preparer Certification offers:

• The Most Complete Training Anywhere
• Support for 12 Months After You Complete the Course
• Marketing Support for 12 Months After You Complete the Course
• Continuing Tax and Marketing Support After Your First Year Available

I haven’t found a more comprehensive program to help you succeed anywhere. But that’s not all. At Universal Accounting we back it up 100%.

Universal Accounting’s Ironclad
100% Money Back Guarantee

Become a Full Financial Services Provider and Increase Your Profits

The Universal Accounting Financial Services program teaches you both Small business Accounting and Tax Preparation for individuals and businesses. Combine the two services and greatly increase your profits and make marketing your service to businesses with varied needs much easier.

Act Now and Save

Just a few decades ago, accountants were tracking transactions on paper. Thankfully that’s no longer necessary. With advances in technology, not only can you manage books on the computer but you have a wide variety of software programs with which to do it. As you try to keep your business current and advance with technology instead of getting trampled by it, you should have a technology plan. Like business and marketing plans, a technology plan will align with your business goals and anticipate how technology can make your business more efficient and profitable. As you create a technology plan, consider the following:

Include technology in your budget

You should plan for technology costs by including them in your yearly budget. This makes the process of purchasing technology much easier; you can take your time to purchase the product that best meets your needs rather than searching for the least expensive gadget to get the job done.

Ensure your technology plan supports your business goals

You shouldn’t purchase technology willy-nilly. Take the time to ensure your technology dovetails with your professional goals, enabling you to use technology to accomplish your business objectives.

Remember that technology is an investment, not an expense

Technology is expensive. It can be difficult to sign the dotted line when making those purchases. That’s why it helps to remember that technology is an investment; your ability to use technology to perform key accounting functions enables you to work more efficiently, and in the end, make more money.

Brainstorm ways technology can enhance your business and fulfill key needs

You should use technology to improve your business, enabling you to accomplish more in less time. You may be surprised at the technology that exists to enhance your business and its operations. First, it might be a good idea to list functions you need help performing more efficiently. Then you might need to research products that could help you better perform those functions. Consult with colleagues as well.

Consult the experts

As you look for technology that will fulfill your business’s needs while aligning with your goals and objectives, it’s important that you consult with professionals who know technology well enough to recommend specific products while sharing the pros and cons of each.

Master QuickBooks, the Most Popular Accounting Software on the Market

When looking for computer software you want to find products that enable you to work more efficiently while increasing your income. QuickBooks Pro is one of those programs. Over 80% of small businesses use Intuit’s QuickBooks software to manage their accounting. While other programs may be useful, Quickbooks has definitely captured the small business market. Mastering this program and becoming a Quickbooks Specialist will enable you numerous ways to bring in more business, increase your income, and make your job easier.

Our new and improved Professional Bookkeeper’s Guide to QuickBooks includes the following:

• Training for all user types
• The ability to work more efficiently
• The ability to offer QuickBooks consulting services
• 6 months of follow-up support
• The ability to earn a QuickBooks Specialist (QS) designation
• 16 CDs with 15 hours of training
• 4 books with over 800 pages of instruction

This is one piece of technology your business cannot do without! Once you master QuickBooks you will be able to manage your own accounting more efficiently as well as that of your clients. Increase your business appeal, attract more clients and make more money. Take advantage of this program now!

Click to enroll.

Resources

Banning, Christine. “5 Tips on Technology Planning.” SCORE. 10 June 2008 http://www.score.org/5_tips_bp_9.html

6 Tips for Enjoying a More Lucrative Business

As a small business owner yourself and as an accountant who continually interacts with small business owners, you should always be on the lookout for ways to increase profits: your own and that of your clients. Doing so makes you a much more valuable accountant, not to mention, a much more profitable small business owner. What are some simple things you can do to accomplish that?

1. Remember the 80/20 rule

Also known as Pareto’s Law, this rule states that 80% of your business comes from 20% of your customers. Do you know which of your customers comprise that 20%? If not, it’s time you found out. You can then target them for special promotions and service offerings.

2. Getting that 20% to retain more services more frequently

Now that you know which clients comprised that valuable 20%, you must try to get them to use more of your services more frequently. In these newsletters we often return to the concept of geometric growth which means you expand your service offerings so that you are billing current clients more often. Geometric growth also enables you to attract new clients who might be interested in more than just your new services. This tip may require you to add complementary services to your menu, like QuickBooks consultations or tax preparation. But the effort would pay off in increased profits.

3. Determine what motivates the 80%

By focusing on the 20%, don’t forget there is still value in the 80%. Studies show that it’s better to spend your time retaining current clients than it is trying to find new ones. That 80% represents a client base that is familiar with your services and value as an accountant. Now you need to determine what motivates them and how you might be able to get them to join the 20% by retaining more of your services more frequently.

4. Ask clients what they want

No one can tell you how to best serve your clients than your clients themselves. What do they need? Are there other services they wish you offered? What might get them to more readily refer your services to friends and family? You may discover things that are difficult to hear. You may also get the most valuable business advice yet! These clients will definitely offer more personal and specific information than you could get from any other source.

5. Demonstrate gratitude

Nothing makes a client feel more valuable than by a genuine show of gratitude. This is also a good way to increase client retention and inspire loyalty in your clients. Whether you do this by giving them a modest gift (movie tickets, a gift certificate, or free lunch) or by thanking them personally for their business, it will be a gesture well remembered.

6. Show your face

You just can’t put a price tag on becoming a familiar face in the community. The more exposure you get the more free exposure your business gets. Ensure you’re aware of all the community events and, when possible, become a permanent fixture. Be especially aware of those that would afford you the opportunity to have a little booth from which you can distribute business cards and brochures about your services. Remember that everyone you meet is a potential client and may associate with hundreds of other potential clients. In this it becomes a numbers game. The more people you meet, the greater your potential for increasing your client base.

These six simple tips can help you take the necessary measures to increase your business’s profitability as well as the profitability of those small businesses you work for. Allen Bostrom, President and CEO of Universal Accounting Center, has a lot of experience helping small businesses do just that, and he’s written a book about it called In the Black: Nine Principles to Make Your Business Profitable. Practical and easy-to-apply, you can finish this book one day and begin implementing those principles the next. To learn more about this book and some of the principles he shares, visit his website today!

How Making a List Could Score You Countless Clients

In order for you to effectively market your accounting services you must determine your competitive advantage. A competitive advantage is gained when you offer your target market something a competitor cannot.

When you market using that competitive advantage, you are able to edge out the competition. In order to become the premier freelance accountant in your area, you must determine your competitive advantage and incorporate it into your marketing strategy. Today we’ll talk about the competitive advantage you have through all your contacts. How does that work?

Create a List

First, we suggest you list the following, collecting approximately 250 names:

1. Friends
2. Family
3. Neighbors
4. Neighboring businesses
5. Businesses you frequent

This list represents the competitive advantage you offer simply because you know someone, either personally or through business. Your proximity and character speak for you here, and will determine how comfortable these individuals feel talking with you about their accounting needs. Now that you have your list, follow these steps:

Write a Letter

It’s time for you to spread the word about your business. Put that competitive advantage to good use and write a letter to these contacts, telling them about your accounting services so they can retain them and/or refer their own friends and family your way. Include 3-4 business cards with each letter.

It’s important that you not send these letters out to all 250 contacts at the same time. This will afford you no time to follow-up with each of them. We suggest sending 5-10 a week, taking the time to call or email these individuals later to see if you can answer any questions they may have.

Have a Chat

It will make more sense to talk with some of those contacts face-to-face. For example, your competitive advantage with neighboring businesses is the fact that your business is close to theirs. Making this competitive advantage known requires a personal introduction in which you can talk about what you do and build a relationship in which you could ask who does their accounting and whether or not they’re happy with those services.

This may require more than one discussion as you ease your way into a professional relationship with these businesses. The same applies with businesses you frequent. Take the time to get to know the owners to see if you might be able to help them with their accounting.

Offer a Free Consultation

In order to demonstrate the value of your services, offer a free consultation. This can be as casual as suggesting, “Could I take a look at your books to see how I might help?” When you do so you will notice key indicators that will let you know how their business is faring and what might be done to make it more successful. Offer some suggestions on what they can do to increase their profitability. Also let them know that you would be happy to manage their accounting on a regular basis for a reasonable retainer.

You’ll be surprised at how this free consult enables you to secure clients with ease. Not to mention, as soon as these individuals become satisfied with your services, they’ll begin referring them to friends and family of their own. In this, you will eventually take advantage of word-of-mouth marketing.

Learn All This and More with Universal Accounting Center

It really is that easy to build your client base. And you can learn all this and more by enrolling in Universal Accounting Center’s Professional Bookkeeper Program. Not only will we train you in the practical application of small business accounting, but we’ll help you market those new skills, acquiring the clients you need in order to make your business successful. And you can see by this article just how simple marketing can be.

Really, could it be any easier than making a list, sending out letters, and chatting with your neighbors? For over 25 years Universal Accounting Center has been training professionals just like you in small business accounting and marketing. We know what works. And we know what doesn’t.

Let us share all that information with you so avoid wasting time trying to figure it out yourself. Do you have 25 years to spare? We didn’t think so.

Combine Small Business Accounting Services with QuickBooks Expertise

In working with small business owners you’ll quickly realize just how popular QuickBooks is. And when you master QuickBooks you can offer QuickBooks setup, consultation, and help services as well.

Not only that but you can teach your clients how to use it properly and get you the information you need in the format you need it in. QuickBooks could make you a more efficient and profitable accountant! The combination of these two products is a professional investment that will provide you with a substantial return.

Don’t wait to improve the success of your practice while enhancing your lifestyle. Click HERE to pay in full or HERE to finance both programs.

It’s amazing how much mileage you can get from a little confidence. As an accountant you’ve probably spent a lot of time determining your most valuable business assets and how to preserve them. But have you considered how to secure and improve the one asset around which everything else revolves? YOU. Without you, there would be no accounting practice. There would be no clients. There would be no income. It’s time you acknowledged your value in order to advance your business to the next level.

Trust your instincts

While your impressions may seem somewhat whimsical, remember that you have experience and training which informs your instincts, giving them great value. You need to learn how to trust them as you move forward and advance your business. This means attending to those impressions as you interact with clients, peers, and other professionals within your community. Start with the small impressions first. Once you gain confidence in your instincts you’ll be able to move on to bigger and better things.

Be yourself

Accountants are known for being reclusive and somewhat introverted. If this describes you, we’re guessing you may feel somewhat uncomfortable when interacting with clients and other professionals. But it’s important that you be yourself. Doing so may make you feel self-conscious, but you’ll come across as genuine and trustworthy, two traits greatly admired in business-more so than a good sense of humor and witty dialogue.

Value your own services

If you’re not charging what you are worth, you don’t value your own services. Without saying a word your clients will sense a lack of confidence and will devalue your work as a result. When you come to recognize just how much you’re worth, you will exude self-assurance and promote your practice with ease. You’ll find you don’t have to negotiate your fees as often and you will begin to attract clients willing to pay for quality work.

Talk yourself up

Don’t apologize for what you do or how much you charge to do it. Once you come to value your own services you’ll find this step becomes much easier. You’ll welcome opportunities to talk about what you do and how well you do it. You’ll recognize that you’re only providing potential clients with the opportunity to benefit from your services.

Invest in yourself

YOU are your most valuable asset. It makes sense that you would invest in yourself. Consider ways you can improve your skills and become even more valuable to clients. This may require that you receive additional training, earn credentials, and learn new skills.

Universal has a DVD 4-Pack designed to introduce you to all the valuable services we offer, each and every one of them intended to enhance your accounting career. This power pack includes:

Introduction to the Professional Bookkeeper Program. Learn how becoming a Professional Bookkeeper will improve your accounting skills, enabling you to expand your business and become a full-service financial provider.

Yes Sample Marketing CD. Learn how to introduce your services to a potential client. Use this either for role playing, watching it while meeting with your client or passing them out.

Start Today and Have Your Own Bookkeeping Service. Learn how to make over $80,000 per year working from home while getting more clients than you can handle. Know how to charge your client so you can afford to take that next vacation while they get such a great deal they will be telling all their friends about you.

The Art and Science of Getting Clients. Learn how to get more clients by using our proven methods.

Purchase the DVD 4-pack and add to your reference library while learning how you can enhance your best asset. Order now!

How To Develop Your Child’s Financial Skills

As a financial professional you understand, more than others, how important it is to train a child early to understand the value of money so that he or she will grow up to make good financial decisions. Try the following strategies to develop young people’s financial skills:

* Encourage family discussions on finance. At some point each day, discuss finance with your child. For example, have a conversation about whether an item’s value is worth its price.

* Play savings games. For example, if your child is going to the movies, agree to match the money he or she brings back home. This trains your child not to spend everything in his or her pocket at a given time. You can also encourage your child to come up with game ideas.

* Emphasize the benefits of savings accounts. Let children know that it’s good to save money in a piggy bank at home but better to have their money in a savings account. Explain that they will get more for their dollar. When discussing interest, always use language that children will understand.

* Relate stocks to companies that young people recognize. Talk about companies like McDonald’s and Disney. Tell your child that “if you owned stock in McDonald’s, every time you see cars in the parking lot, you’re getting some of that money.”

* Discuss security issues. Explain that if someone steals your child’s piggy bank, nobody replaces that money. If your house should burn down, his or her money will probably be gone. But if something happens at the bank, he or she has insurance.

* Encourage goal-setting. If your child wants to save for a bicycle, suggest that he or she price the bicycle and divide that by the amount he or she is saving per week. Then your child will know how long it will take to save the money.

Learn How to Make $80,000 per year with your own Accounting and Bookkeeping Business.