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.

In December 2007, Entrepreneur.com published an article entitled “Test Run” which shared ways to perform quick feasibility testing on a business idea. Jake Rockwell, owner of Rockwell Products LLC in Medford, Oregon has his own approach in determining whether or not a business venture will be successful. He takes the following three steps:

1. Check for limited competition. You want to ensure that the market isn’t already saturated with accounting practices. Take a look in your local phone book to see how many accountants are listed. Also consider whether they offer any specialized services, like small-business accounting or financial consulting, that you hope to offer. The more unique and valuable your services, the more feasible your business.

2. Consider the likelihood of returning customers. Accounting services are great because all businesses are required by law to perform various accounting tasks, and the need for this service is long-lasting. Businesses need payroll services performed on a monthly and even semimonthly basis. Most accounting tasks as like this, which means most of your clients will be regular clients.

3. Consider how management-intense the venture will be. You must consider how much of your time will be dedicated to managing the business as opposed to performing billable hours. If the venture requires enough managerial oversight you will have to hire staff to which you must delegate various tasks. Luckily, when first starting an accounting practice, you can work from your home and manage your business without much effort. However, depending on your visions for growth, you may eventually need to expand your efforts to include a rented office space, partners and a support staff.

In addition to Rockwell’s three feasibility steps, Entrepreneur.com recommends that entrepreneurs get feedback from prospective clients. As you ask these individuals what they want from their accountants, whether or not they’re satisfied with their current accountant, and how much they’re willing to pay to get the services they need, you will have a better idea of how sustainable your business idea is and how you might tweak your services in order to achieve your profitability goals.

The Social Enterprise Reporter, in an article entitled “The Quick Feasibility Test,” shares Rolfe Larson and Andy Horsnell’s four criteria used to test for feasibility:

• Strategic alignment-Do you want to do it?
• Operational-Can you do it?
• Marketing-Will customers buy from you?
• Financial-Will you achieve your profitability goals?

They also suggest a graduated series of feasibility tests that take you from self-assessment to a more researched-based, data-driven process of determining whether your business is earmarked for success.

Whether you plan on starting a business from scratch or hope to add new services to a current business, feasibility testing can help you determine whether or not the venture is worth the effort, and if so, how to best approach it.

Financing a Small Business

If, after performing feasibility testing, you feel it’s time to start your own practice but would like to take out a small business loan first, you can order Universal’s valuable manual Financing a Small Business which will walk you through the process of preparing a loan package. This 126-page manual includes clear-cut instructions, valuable resources, and sample loans that provide valuable models which will make the process of applying for your own loan much easier. Order now! This manual will help you start your own business today while enabling you to consult countless clients on the same process in the future.

References

Hendricks, Mark. “Test Run.” Dec. 2007 Entrepreneur.com

Larson, Rolfe and Andy Horsnell. “The Quick Feasibility Test.” 13 Feb. 2005 Social Enterprise Reporter

Larson, Rolfe and Andy Horsnell. “Quick Feasibility Screen.” www.rolfelarson.com

Larson, Rolfe and Andy Horsnell. “RLA Quick Feasibility Test.” www.rolfelarson.com

Discover How Cracking a Book May Increase Your Bank Account

Steven Covey’s seventh habit for highly successful people is better known as “sharpening the saw” and refers to a number of ways in which you can renew yourself to become a better professional. In Japan they call this “kaizen,” a term that refers to the constant improvement of oneself.

Even the most dedicated accountant can get a little burned out working day in and day out for their practice. In order to rejuvenate and rededicate yourself, you must look for ways to sharpen the saw. In Steven Covey’s example, he explains that the long-term use of a saw, let’s say nine to five every weekday, can dull the edges, making it more difficult to be productive. In order to sharpen the saw you must sit back and take out your whetstone, attending to your craft without necessarily performing your craft.

The Value of Reading

Reading is a great way to sharpen the saw. It exposes you to countless new ideas and enables you to become a better, more thoughtful professional. In fact, the more books you read the sharper your saw becomes and the better you perform your accounting functions. And not only that, but the better business owner you’ll be.

In one job I held employees were required to spend 30 minutes a day reading the latest news on our discipline in order to be informed of current and even cutting-edge techniques. Not only did it keep me abreast of current events, but it helped me learn new approaches that I could incorporate into my day-to-day work activities. I became more efficient and more informed as I performed my duties. It also enabled me to sound intelligent when talking to peers about my profession.

We suggest that you try to do the same. Schedule 20 to 30 minutes a day, during which you will search books and magazines that will enable you to become a better financial professional. Perform searches on Amazon, ask colleagues and peers for recommendations, and research the literature getting the most buzz. The more you read the longer your reading list will become. Don’t get discouraged; just start at the top and work your way down.

Our Recommendation

The best books for you may be those focusing on running a successful small business of your own. Not only will it help you better manage your practice, but it will also help you consult your clients in doing the same.

Allen Bostrom, president and CEO of Universal Accounting Center has written a book designed to help any and every small business become more profitable, and it’s called In the Black: Nine Principles to Make Your Business More Profitable.

Allen’s father, Alf, made a living turning small businesses around. In fact, he was called the Turnaround King. For a small percentage of a business’s future profits, Alf would their business around, often yanking them from the brink of bankruptcy. In doing so, Alf learned many key principles about ensuring a business’s success. He passed those on to his son, Allen, who also has extensive experience helping small businesses thrive. Using his father’s principles and those he developed himself, Allen wrote In the Black.

In the Black presents 9 practical principles that you can begin applying to your practice, or your clients’ businesses, immediately. It’s a quick read that will enable you to see how, exactly, you can increase a business’s profitability. And as an accountant, you can use this information to enhance your practice, becoming your clients’ Profit Expert.

If you would like to enhance your business, and your bank account, by reading books that will sharpen your saw, start here. Order In the Black today and have 9 principles, at-the-ready, that you can use to enhance your accounting practice. This small investment will make a big impact on your future.

Universal Press Release

For Immediate Release (800)343-4827

Universal Accounting Initiates New Interactive Testing Center

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH (March 1, 2007) – Universal Accounting Center (UAC), an Inc. 500 company, has launched an upgraded testing center for students completing the Professional Bookkeeper program, Professional Tax Preparer program and Professional Bookkeepers guide to QuickBooks Pro. The testing center provides a reliable solution for students participating in UAC’s distance programs.

The upgraded Web testing center includes the following features:

• An advanced database accelerating student movement to each question.
• Students can navigate to any question regardless of where they are in the test.
• A virtual “time attendant” following students throughout the test monitoring remaining test time.

Universal Accounting Center is the worlds only accounting specific trade school offering accounting, bookkeeping and marketing training to students throughout the world. Skills are taught through classroom trainings or through a patented home-study course, allowing students to learn at their own pace. In August, 2006, Universal Accounting debuted on the Inc. 500 list of fastest growing private companies in the United States. More information about Universal Accounting Center can be found by calling 1-800-343-4827 or visiting www.universalaccountingcenter.com.

Smaller is better. At least two surveys over the past two years show that the Big Four accounting firms are losing clients. Some of them are dropping clients by choice, but many of their clients are leaving the big firms in search of a more personalized service and lower prices.

This is great news for you. Although the Big Four accounting firms aren’t servicing the small businesses that you and I talk about, smaller and mid-sized CPA firms service both corporate and small business clients. As large corporations do more and more business with smaller CPA firms, this provides an excellent opportunity for Small Business Bookkeepers and Accountants to service the businesses that the CPA firms are leaving in favor of doing larger corporate accounting.

Small Business Accounting is Where it’s At

85% of the opportunities that exist in bookkeeping and accounting exist in small businesses. A few weeks ago, we talked about the 550,000 new small businesses that open each month in the United States.

Not only is the opportunity great, but small business accounting is the most exciting.

As a small business bookkeeper/accountant you’ll be a big part of the profitability of the small businesses that you work with. From payables to receivables, even payroll, the small business bookkeeper/accountant is a business owner’s profit expert.

Small Business Accounting Expertise - It’s Achievable, Profitable and Easy

Universal Accounting Center has been teaching small business accounting since 1979. That’s over 25 years.

Universal does what others can’t. College and university accounting graduates are more interested in finance, analysis and corporate accounting… and most university programs don’t spend any time teaching the intricacies of small business accounting.

It takes a small business expert to teach small business accounting. As a small business accountant, you’ll need to know about many different kinds of businesses. From flower shops to bicycle shops. Bakeries to Construction companies. Universal Accounting understands the needs of small businesses.

Businesses Need What You Have to Offer

Most accounting software packages are sold as if the business owner doesn’t need to know anything about accounting to do the books. While this may be true of data input, it’s not true for understanding what the accounting system is telling him or her via the numbers. It takes a skilled bookkeeper/accountant to do that.

The accounting process is critical to the success of any small business. The small business bookkeeper/accountant provides the important interpretation of the numbers that allows the business owner to make informed decisions concerning the financial health of his or her business.

Become the Small Business Profit Expert and Be Well Paid

Most freelance small business bookkeepers earn an average of $300 per month per client. When you first start working with a new business, it might take you 8-10 hours per client week to do the books each month. But over time that hourly commitment will drop. Even at 8-10 hours a week for each client, at the end of the month you’ve just grossed $6000. That’s a minimum of $30 per hour.

Of course some clients will bill more… some less. Part of what you’ll learn with Universal Accounting is an easy and practical way to know what to bill for your services. You’ll learn how to set-up your business. You’ll learn how to find and keep clients. You’ll become a profit expert.

Now is the Time

I know you’ve heard this before. There are many out there telling you the same thing. Let me show you why the Professional Bookkeeper Program is different. As the regulations that face small businesses continue to become more and more complicated and the number of new businesses each month continues to grow, the need for qualified small business accounting experts has never been greater. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics says that this trend will continue for the foreseeable future.

If you want to earn what you’re worth and create the lifestyle that you and your family deserve, owning a small business bookkeeping and accounting practice is the perfect solution. Discovering for yourself how profitable and attainable this will be for you is only a couple more mouse clicks away. Click on the link below and find out why so many people just like you and me are starting their own small business bookkeeping and accounting practice.

Click Here and Discover How Achievable, Profitable and Easy Starting a Small Business Bookkeeping and Accounting Practice Will Be

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

Serving You with Our Free Newsletters

We enjoy sending you information that we hope improves your work as a freelance bookkeeper or accountant. Our three newsletters, AB Tips, Tax Tips, and Career Tips, are intended to help professionals like you advance in whatever their current position in the financial field. The AB Tips Newsletter is designed to share accounting and bookkeeping tips with subscribers. Intended for individuals with their own accounting practice or for those who would like to start their own practice, we specifically include tips on how to market your services, how to streamline tasks, how to organize your office space, etc. Our Tax Tips Newsletter is for tax preparers or those interested in tax preparation. We provide tax news, information on starting your own business, tips on building your clientele, etc. And finally, we have our Career Tips newsletter, for those who work or would like to work in the accounting field. In this newsletter we include information on getting the right job, advancing in your field, moving into management positions, etc.

As we learn more about your needs, we alter our approach in order to better serve you. We’re adding a few things to the newsletter that we hope you enjoy. Here’s a breakdown of what’s included and how we hope it helps you.

Two articles

Since we began running our free ezines over two years ago, we have included two articles every issue that offer accounting and tax information, tips on running and marketing a small business, career guidelines and promotional pieces. The newsletters provide us with the opportunity to share our products and services with those we believe they best serve. Universal’s programs are top of the line and life-changing; we promote them because we know they help people like you achieve career goals and realize your business dreams.

We also use the newsletter as an opportunity to expose you to our many free resources, including personalized information from our President and CEO, Allen Bostrom in Allen’s Blog, UAC’s accounting and tax forums, the newsletters, and the Universal video tour.

Recently we’ve responded to requests for purely informational pieces as well. Last summer we asked newsletter subscribers to tell us what you wanted to read about. For the past six months we’ve tried to include articles on all suggested topics. Each newsletter contains one, if not two, informational pieces. We continue to welcome your feedback as we write articles intended to help you improve your financial services. Please visit our forums for a chance to give us feedback on past articles and suggestions for future articles.

Press Releases and New Products

We want you to be in-the-know about everything Universal, so we include all press releases, enrollment offers, and information about new products in our newsletters. From our new interactive testing center to our customized Professional Bookkeeper Program for Canadian residents, we want you to be the first to know what’s happening at Universal Accounting Center.

Quotable Quote

Everyone could use a little inspiration now and then, so we like to include a quotable quote in each issue of our newsletters. Funny quotes, somber quotes, quotes that make you want to get up and accomplish something, we try to include a variety that inspire and uplift.

“The Bottom Line”

And last but certainly not least is a new addition to our newsletters: a video clip we call “The Bottom Line.” In the serious world of financial statements, taxes, and projected profits, the bottom line is that we like what we do and can enjoy a good laugh now and then. The humorous clip is intended to help lighten your load and improve your day. We hope you look forward to this new feature and share it frequently with coworkers, family, and friends.

We want our newsletter to help you move forward in your goals as a financial professional. So stay tuned as we continue to improve our newsletters so that they can better serve your needs. We appreciate your support.

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!

The Real Scoop on Being Awarded Money to Start or Expand Your Business

You’ve probably heard the commercials promising big bucks for entrepreneurial-minded individuals looking to start their own businesses. Grants are a great source of income because you are not required to pay them back; it is money awarded to you, free of charge. But how easy is it, really, to secure a small business grant? Unfortunately, not as easy as those commercials suggest. But it is possible.

While the federal government doesn’t award grants there are state agencies that do. Check out our resources below to discover the local opportunities that exist for your business.

What might you do to make your application more appealing? The following four tips should help:

Recognize the process may be long and exhausting

It’s important that you be prepared to spend a significant amount of time and energy researching potential grants and their requirements. It may help to assign someone on your staff the responsibility of laying the ground work. You can visit the links below to get started.

Create a thorough Business Plan to evidence your preparedness

This may help you stand out from the competition. A thorough Business Plan demonstrates your attention to detail and the fact that you have thought about your business enough to devise a plan from startup to exit strategies.

Submit a complete and thoughtful application

The grant approval process is long enough as it is; you don’t want to delay the process further by submitting an unacceptable application. This also projects a poor image of your business and implies that your products and services just might be as sloppy as your grant application.

Maintain contact with the organization awarding the grant

Just as you would maintain contact with a potential employer that had interviewed you, so should you maintain contact with the organization awarding the grant. While you should avoid being intrusive and annoying, you can check on the review status and determine how long it might be until you are notified. It’s also a good time to see if they need anything else in order to decide whether or not you are the right candidate for their grant.

While it is possible to receive grant money to fund your business startup, it’s not always an easy process. You must pay close attention to the requirements and ensure that your business is eligible. You must also be willing to spend considerable time and energy preparing the necessary application. However, it’s not impossible and if you believe your business is suitable for a grant; it could be well worth it to go through the process.

A Business with Little Startup Costs

While every owner of a fledgling business would like some free cash to get going, starting an accounting practice requires little in startup costs. With no expensive equipment to purchase, the ability to work from home with as little a computer and internet connection, and the flexibility to work from the spare bedroom in your basement, an accounting and bookkeeping practice might just be the best home business yet. In fact, authors of The Best Home Businesses for the 21st Century, Paul and Sarah Edwards, rate a bookkeeping service as the “Best of the Best” home-based businesses. With a little training and professional certification, you could be on your way to a low-cost start-up with big returns.

Currently there are countless students trying to earn their accounting degrees by spending hours at a university, learning accounting theory, but not much practice. Once they graduate and try to get a job they will discover that they have been prepared for less than 20% of accounting opportunities. They have been groomed to act as corporate accountants. Unfortunately for them, more than 85% of opportunities are with small businesses which continue to grow and grow every year. These small businesses have unique needs that are not easily met with corporate accounting practices. They need a specialist-a small business accountant.

The Professional Bookkeeper Program

Since Alf Bostrom opened its doors in 1979, Universal Accounting Center has been training individuals in the practical application of small-business accounting. With more than 25 years experience, we know what the small business needs, and we also know how to effectively train you to master small business accounting. In less than 60 hours you could complete the Professional Bookkeeper Program and start a small business’s books from scratch. You could also become that business’s Profit Expert. With such valuable skills you could manage not one, but multiple small business accounts, becoming the most popular contract accountant in your area.

The Professional Bookkeeper’s Guide (PBG) to QuickBooks

But why stop with just small business accounting? Why not add another valuable complementary service to your practice? Our Professional Bookkeeper’s Guide to QuickBooks will help you master QuickBooks, by far the most popular accounting software used by small businesses. Upon doing so you will not only be able to add QuickBooks services to your menu, but you will begin attracting a new demographic that will bring more business your way. And if you order both the Professional Bookkeeper (PB) Program and the Professional Bookkeeper’s Guide (PBG) to QuickBooks now, you will receive our newly released 2008 version of the PBG. This version beats out other QuickBooks training programs. Its features include the following:

• Training targeted for all user types
• The ability to work more efficiently
• 6 months of follow-up support
• The opportunity to earn a QuickBooks Specialist (QS) designation
• 16 CDs with 15 hours of training
• 4 books with over 800 pages of instruction
• The ability to quickly pay your bills so you never incur late penalties.
• The ability to write checks with one single click!
• Be reminded when bills are due.
• Quickly and effortlessly create invoices so you get paid sooner. It even takes care of sales tax.
• Get organized. QuickBooks streamlines the process of tracking customers and vendors so you can easily look them up in one place.
• Keep on top of incoming and outgoing payments. It’s like having your own accounts receivable and payable clerk you don’t have to pay.
• Access easy-to-read financial reports NOW!

Start your own accounting practice by getting trained in small business accounting and QuickBooks. With minimal to no startup costs and services that will appeal to a wide market, you can be up and running in no time at all. This is as close as you can get to a guaranteed startup. So take a deep breath and imagine yourself working as a thriving contract accountant. Enroll today! Click HERE to pay in full or HERE to finance the programs.

Resources for Finding Grants

• Federal Funds Express
• The Grantsmanship Center’s Local Funding Sources
• The University of Michigan’s list of grant information

Gain the right skills and you will earn a better income. Bookkeepers can anticipate a 6.8% rise in base compensation in 2006. That’s great news provided you have the right skills.

The 2006 Salary Guide is based on an analysis of thousands of job placements managed by Robert Half International Inc., and predicts that heightened competition for accounting and finance professionals will lead to increases in base compensation next year.

Companies are Recruiting Accounting Staff

Max Messmer, Chairman and CEO of Robert Half International says, “Organizations are actively recruiting accounting and finance staff to support business expansion initiatives and corporate governance efforts.”

“To attract and retain skilled financial professionals, firms are reassessing their hiring practices and enhancing compensation packages for current staff.”

Bookkeepers are Doing Better than Average!

Robert Half International forcasts an increase in starting wage for bookkeepers and accountants of 3.1%. An increase of 3.1% is OK, but according to the Salary Guide, bookkeepers can anticipate a 6.8% rise in base compensation in the year ahead. Over twice the average. What a great time to consider a bookkeeping and accounting education.

The opportunities for you have never been better in accounting. Click on the link below and discover the potential for you to earn a great income and enjoy a stable, recession free career.

Show Me a Stable Career With a Great Income

The Accounting Department Has Always Offered Great Opportunities

For hundreds of years accountants have contributed to the profitability of businesses all over the world. And they have been well paid to do it. With the right skills you will not only find the right job or enhance your present career, you’ll also enjoy the benefits of increased competition in the marketplace and can expect a bigger paycheck.

Where Can I Find the Right Skills… I Don’t Have a College Degree?

You don’t need a college degree. You do need a specialized education. And you can find it at Universal Accounting.

For the last 25 years, Universal Accounting has taught thousands of people the profitable and exciting skills of small business bookkeeping and accounting. We’re the small business experts and we can teach you to be too.

You don’t have to take my word for it, let’s look at what some of our graduates have said:

“I was amazed how practical this course was, and surprised how much I learned. Having an accounting degree and over 17 years experience in accounting, I didn’t realize how much I didn’t know. This is well worth the time and money, and you will be benefited from this class for years to come.”
-Philip Lufkin

“This was an excellent course. I have a B. S. in accounting, and this class taught me stuff I never learned in college.”
-Catherine Ferguson

“Universal’s accounting course is a very thorough approach to learning small business accounting. The materials and work sets are presented in a professional learning atmosphere. …I felt this class really helped my confidence and mastery of the accounting principles.”
-Bradley Jensen

You don’t need to be a math wiz to enhance your career. Calculus and algebra aren’t necessary. Basic math skills are the building-blocks to a successful career in bookkeeping and accounting. With your basic math skills and a willingness to learn, you’ll be on your way to an incredibly rewarding and satisfying career.

Businesses Have to Do Accounting… It’s Required By Law

It doesn’t matter what type of business, it has to keep financial records and has to have bookkeepers and accountants. Follow the link below and find out for yourself how an education in bookkeeping and accounting will enhance your present career, increase your paycheck and provide personal and professional satisfaction.

Show Me Why Becoming a Bookkeeper or Accountant is Right For Me