Here’s a short quiz I don�t think you�ll have difficulty completing:

1. All things being equal, would you rather earn $45/hour or $55/hour doing accounting for a business?
2. All things being equal, would you rather have a $250/month clients or a $400/month client?

These questions may appear to take the record for the all-time dumbest questions ever asked. But, when you are working for yourself, sometimes these are questions that beg asking � It’s a question of economics.

You might recall from your high school economics class that supply and demand drive the pricing structure of the free world. The most obvious contemporary example is the computer industry where competition has been driving the prices of computer hardware down every year. As more computer manufacturers have entered the playing field the supply has increased beyond demand, and prices have fallen, and fallen, and fallen even further.

This principle can work for or against any business — even accountants. When we specialize in providing accounting for industries where there’s high demand, but limited competition, we can find clients more readily and charge a higher fee for our services. This is putting the law of supply and demand in our favor.

Why will some businesses pay more for bookkeeping than others?

The business world is “information hungry.” Managers/Owners want the latest information on the economy, their industry, and most particularly their business — and they want it now.

Fifty years ago a business owner might have been the only ‘game’ in town. They might have been the only hospital, car dealer, or dentist. Not anymore. With competition being what it is, business management needs to keep on top of their business more so now than ever before. If they’re not watching their business, they may not have a business to watch.

That’s certainly where the accountant comes in. Through a well-designed information system, uniquely fit to their business, the accountant can give management the information they want and need when they want it.

THE KEY IS TO FIT THE SYSTEM TO THE BUSINESS. To meet their needs we must understand their business and fit the accounting system accordingly. A contractor, for instance, driving a pickup truck with papers stashed and stuck everywhere imaginable, needs to have a different system in place, than does the local hairdresser. An automobile dealership needs to have a system that will track each car separately for both control and flooring (inventory finance) purposes.

Now, I know what you�re thinking: “Don’t all businesses use debits and credits alike?” The answer is “yes” and “no.” It’s true that debits are on the left, and credits on the right. But each business has different types of transactions and different accounts to follow. For instance, the automotive business has three accounts that are somewhat unique to that industry. Namely, Flooring Payable, Contracts in Transit, and Bank Reserve accounts.

The construction industry, particularly builders and developers, work with Jobs in Progress and Progress Billings. Manufacturing businesses must have a system in place that will track progress of raw materials and labor through to the finished product so that the owners can establish their cost per unit.

Since the universities and colleges don�t teach these small business concepts, the opportunities are great for the accountant knowledgeable about these areas . To confirm this, next time you talk with an accounting graduate ask them how ‘Flooring Payable,’ ‘Contracts in Transit,’ and ‘Bank Reserve Account’ are used. Chances are very good that they won’t have a clue.

Now, before you get critical of their training or capability remember that the colleges are grooming them for the Fortune 500 companies, not the used car dealer. All these concepts I’ve mentioned in this article are small business issues for businesses typically employing less than 100 employees.

We recognized the value of these concepts years ago, so our course, covers all types of businesses including those that I’ve mentioned above. And the course is suitable for the beginning accountant and for the college graduate. You will even have an opportunity to do the books for these businesses and practice them for yourself before working on the real thing. You’ll find more information on our complete accounting course under Accounting Made Easy.

Well, should you specialize in a higher demand industry?

That depends on your answer to these two questions. Do you want to make more money? Do you have the knowledge to work with these businesses? If your answer to both these last two questions is “yes” then you might want to consider answering “yes” to the first question, as well.

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.

Keep Your Profits “All in the Family”

Make Your Bookkeeping and Accounting Business a Family Affair

I started in the warehouse and drove the delivery truck. I learned to work at the feet of my father. It wasn’t always easy, but he taught me to value customers and take pride in my work.

As my father and I swept the warehouse floor together I learned how important it is to do the job right, even if it was just sweeping the floor. And by washing the delivery truck every week, I learned to take pride in my appearance and how I presented myself. My father made sure I learned these important lessons when I was young.

Dad always said, “Son, there are givers and there are takers. Make sure you don’t become a taker.” I learned some important lessons sweeping that warehouse floor. Not the least of which was the requirement to “give” your best everyday. He was a tough task-master sometimes, but it was a valuable education that I couldn’t have found anyplace else.

I don’t work with him anymore, but the lessons I learned from him are with me everyday.

Universal Accounting Started as a Family Business

Alf Bostrom started Universal Accounting over 25 years ago as a means to help small businesses. He was widely known for helping ailing businesses get back on their feet financially by implementing sound accounting principles. His son, Allen Bostrom, President of Universal Accounting credits his father Alf, with teaching him the basics of sound financial management as a young man. He says, “I watched him, learned from him, and enjoyed how much business owners respected his advice. His example acted as a spring board for me as I have been able to learn from him and experience even more.”

Teach Your Children The Important Life Lessons as They Work With You

Whether or not your children stay in the accounting field, they will learn skills that will help them throughout their life. Understanding the accounting process is a valuable skill that anyone in business should know, but most people never learn.

Allen’s early exposure to bookkeeping consisted of inputting accounts receivables and payables into the ledgers for his Dad. This experience with bookkeeping didn’t involve a computer, and allowed him to learn the nuts-and-bolts of the accounting process. This provided a valuable education that most teenagers never get.

Hands-On Learning is Hands-Down the Best

The way Allen’s Dad taught him is the way we’ll teach you. The Professional Bookkeeper Program is unique in its hands-on teaching method. You’ll actually complete the full set of books for several different small businesses. You’ll do the books for a bakery, a motorcycle shop, a frame shop and a convenience store, just to name a few.

With the confidence you’ll gain from this unique method of hands-on learning, you’ll be able to approach any small business and be comfortable with your ability to provide a valuable service. And you’ll be able to earn a very profitable income too. I’ve not found another course that uses this method of instruction like Universal’s Professional Bookkeeper Program.

We’ve been teaching small business bookkeeping and accounting since 1979, that’s over 25 years. There’s not a more complete course on the nuts-and-bolts of small business bookkeeping anywhere. No wonder we’re called the small business accounting experts.

A Great Deal On the Most Complete Training Available Anywhere!

Having a solid understanding of Accounting and Bookkeeping methods and procedures is a great first step. You will learn to do books for small to mid-sized companies and how to analyze the books to prepare reports. You will learn to interpret reports so that you can advise your clients how to reduce costs. You’ll show them how to better understand their financial standing and profitability. Your clients will look to you as an invaluable source of information about the financial health of their organization. You’ll likely save them more than they pay you, so selling your services to them is easy.

The first step to one of the most rewarding and satisfying businesses available is only a few mouse clicks away. There has never been a better time to start your own professional accounting and tax business than right now.

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

What’s The Cost of NOT Starting Your Own Accounting Business?

We have been in the Accounting and Bookkeeping business since 1979 and have seen, and been a part of many successful businesses that provide write-up and daily bookkeeping services for small businesses. We have seen and put into practice the highly effective strategies, tactics and methods of Accounting and business and experienced many times over the exhilaration of dreams realized and company goals met by following what is taught in our courses.

One constant that has run over the course of the last 25+ years in the role of the accounting employee, and the inability to be paid equal to who they work for. The constraints that naturally come with such a position do not allow, in our day and age of business, to remain an accounting underling, and pay for the best in life.

Perhaps you’ve experienced these limitations yourself. The following are just some of the things we have observed about that type of a position.

• Strapped down by what someone else thinks you need to be paid – Entry level pay aside, for those who have been conducting accounting duties for years have found that their pay is determined by what someone else (usually their boss) thinks they need to be paid. Sometimes the driving factor is what the company can afford, regardless, someone else is making the decision what your time is worth.
• Kept to the 3% cost-of-living pay increase – Pay increases are limited to usually the 3% cost-of living increase that companies dole out each year. This is designed only to keep the employee on pace with inflation. Not a way to increase their bottom line and take home pay. It’s been said that when you’re just treading water you’re only one arm stroke from drowning.
• Control of your position out of your hands – How much you are paid is completely dependant on the fancy, whim or circumstance of the:
  • Economy – Businesses are smart to expand and shrink as the market demands, but most times this tactic leaves their employees high and dry. Accounting and Bookkeeping services are as recession-proof as you can get.
  • Bosses – We’ve all experienced that type of boss that doesn’t have our best interest in mind. Whether conflicts of personality, or purpose or even professional knowledge come into play, who usually wins… The boss.
  • Corporate Culture – Corporate culture with some companies can be cutthroat and demeaning. Even if it makes no difference either way it isn’t set up with your welfare in mind, but the welfare of the company. Many employees can get lost in the welfare of the Corporation.
• No matter how well you do, usually pay remains the same until your yearly review – All of us like to be rewarded in a position in what we do and when we do exceptionally well we would like that reflected in our take home pay. Most of the time this is not possible to do until HR schedules out your yearly reviews. By the time that can roll around, the momentum of that wonderful result would have lost its luster and the realized impact on the company would have waned.

So How Can All This Benefit Me?

You may be thinking, “I’m looking for work, not to go out on my own, why am I still reading this?” Frankly, for some people to be their own bosses is not in their make-up. It’s just not something that they have the discipline to do. However for those types of people like you and me, it’s time to consider and weigh the immediate pain and work for the overall results and rewards. First let me ask you this question, can you afford NOT to go out on your own with the help of the Professional Bookkeeping Course? Let’s run some numbers.

Let’s take the entry level pay for an average accountant and boost it a bit. Let’s say you are making around $20 an hour currently and you are a healthy 30-35 year old person working the normal 40 hours a week, 50 weeks out of the year. (2 weeks off for vacation of course, don’t want to work you into the ground do we?) Before taxes that’s $3200 a month or $38,400 a year, not too shabby. Not taking into consideration the taxes, health benefits and 401K situations most companies have, over the course of the next fifteen years ( and taking into the equation of the 3% yearly living expense increase each year) your earning potential only reaches $59,826 a year for a 15-year gross total of $774,025.

You’re probably thinking, “Ok, what’s wrong with making $59K by the time I’m 45 years old, three-fourth of a million dollars is a lot of money”… Yeah, look where you can be if instead of $20 an hour you were making $45 an hour on your own (taking the same formula above).

• Your starting gross yearly pay would be $86,400 (a $48,000 difference to START).
• Adjusting the 3% increase of living each year by the end of that 15 years your yearly gross income would come to a mere $134,608.
• A whopping difference of $74,782 a year between the two!
• Over the course of those 15 years you loose out on potential earning of nearly $970,000 dollars.

And this is not considering if you grow your Accounting practice to require employees and dozens of clients. This is only taking into account what you can do! So I ask again, can you afford NOT to get this program?

Nut and Bolts of the Universal Offer

All that aside and based on the program’s merits this is the best decision, and the easiest decision you can make. While developing the most comprehensive training course found in the market - chock full of 25-years worth of experience and up-to-date proven strategies, methodologies, and tactics. Crafted to the student, and taught in such a way to have everything for the beginners to the most advanced in the profession - we have given to those who have come before you this Iron-Clad Guarantee.

Getting the program is as Risk-Free and “Benefit-Full” as we could make it. A better offer is hard to find.

And we extend this Universal Iron-Clad Guarantee to you! Purchase your copy of the course today and you will have not only the Knowledge-packed course, the Iron-Clad Money-Back Guarantee but we’ll give you an additional two practice sets ($198 value). Business types that you can practice doing books on, so you can completely familiar with all the methods of the accounting process.

Practice Makes Perfect.

The three modules already contain practice sets for nine different types of businesses. Purchase the Professional Bookkeeper today and you’ll receive two more practice sets, giving you eleven in all. This will give you even more confidence and experience in various industries and the opportunity to work with additional types of clients.

In addition to the practice sets we recognize that you will need the support from Universal to help you through your coursework and answer questions that arise from all that is involved in the program. We won’t just leave you high and dry! We’ll add into this offer 6 months of Universal Coaching Support, a $585 value for FREE. You’ll have access to our Academic Coaches to be able to get your questions about the course work, but you’ll also have 6 months access to our CPA Coach to be able to answer the questions that arise when you are applying what you learn to your position. By phone or email both of these coaches are here to answer what questions may come along. This also includes the cost of $485 for the final exam for the Professional Bookkeeper’s designation. Certification to your employers that you have gone through the best possible training and have mastered everything there is to know in the program.

What’s Next For Me?

There you have it. If in the end you feel this course wasn’t worth its cost, you can get your money back! Very few opportunities like this come with a risk-free guarantee. Just add in the rest of what Universal can get to you, for FREE and this sounds like a sweet deal.

But WAIT! Hold On A Moment

We want you to be sure, we want you to be absolutely positive that this is something that you want to do. We don’t want you to have that moment in the middle of training where you could get off-track and second guess yourself. Your peace of mind, as well as our training and the effort put into the program by our instructors is too valuable to waste, even on the slightest doubt.

So, instead of giving you what enrolling into the course will run you, Universal Accounting encourages you to simply order your FREE copy of the “Introduction to The Professional Bookkeeper Program ” DVD. All we ask you to do is pay for shipping it to you, a mere $4.95. Take this opportunity by clicking here to order your copy today. You’ll be able to see after the mailing information is given for the FREE DVD, the details of what’s in each Module and the low pricing of the program.

Read it, digest it, bookmark the page and then wait for your copy of the DVD. Take a good long look at Universal and all that you can expect from such a comprehensive training course, you can’t go wrong.

Click Here to Order your FREE Copy of the “Introduction to The Professional Bookkeeper Program”

Ask Yourself: Do You Enjoy What You Do?

For way too many of us, the answer is no. Work can be hectic and stressful. Often, our careers just are not going anywhere. We need something to get them going again. The Professional Bookkeeper program gives you hands-on training in the full range of Accounting and Bookkeeping skills needed to succeed.

Learn How the Professional Bookkeeper Program Can Get Your Career Back On Track

Growing a Self-Sustaining Accounting Practice

Are you running the business or is the business running you? Imagine leaving your practice to go on vacation for a couple weeks. Does the thought make you shudder? How would your business function without you? Would it function at all? While you may believe that having full control of your business is the best management approach, it doesn’t leave you with much freedom. Growing your business to become a self-sustaining accounting practice is an option worth considering. This requires you to start working “on” your business rather than “in” your business. It’s definitely a shift in perspective, but with it comes greater profitability and freedom.

This shift, however, also requires a major transition for your business, a transition Doug Tatum calls no man’s land. And Tatum should know after releasing a book of that same name: No Man’s Land: What to Do When Your Company is Too Big to Be Small but Too Small to Be Big. If you’ve considered growing your business beyond its current size and capacity, the following tips will help you better prepare for this tricky transition.

1. Realistically consider your business’s growth potential

Not all businesses must go global in order to achieve success. There’s value in running a small business out of your home and earning a comfortable living for you and your family. But if you’ve considered growing your practice to include a handful of partners and a considerable support staff, then you must stop and realistically consider your business’s growth potential. Tatum uses the example of a great chef attracting a large clientele to a fairly small restaurant. Will that chef’s value be diluted if the same restaurant were to open in three other cities? Does that restaurant truly have the ability to grow beyond that chef’s reach? The same applies to your practice. Does your business revolve around your unique abilities, or could you bring in partners and employees who could continue to offer those same valuable services to a larger client base? Before you consider crossing no man’s land you must have answered this important question.

2. Recognize signs you’ve entered no man’s land

If you’ve decided to move forward and take your business to the next level you must be able to recognize the signs that you’ve entered no man’s land. The biggest indicator is a reduction in revenue and a slowing of business. This means your business has grown beyond current capacity and changes must be made, and quickly, in order to see the business through this often difficult transition. Tatum also says businesses in transition encounter a capital gap where many must enter capital markets but are unsure how to proceed.

3. Appreciate your changing role

You can’t micromanage a self-sustaining business. Eventually you’ll be required to stop performing certain tasks in order to let the business become more independent. Stepping back a bit to let the company take care of itself may be difficult at first, but is necessary for those who want to enjoy the fruits and freedom a growing business provides.

4. Brace yourself for a change in the game plan

You can’t manage a big business the same way you manage a small business; the result would be a failing business. In order to successfully cross no man’s land you must change your game plan and consider infrastructure changes, new management, and the addition of employees with more specialized skills.

While crossing no man’s land may be difficult, it isn’t impossible. If you determine that is where you want to take your business, you’re certain to get there as long as you’re prepared.

If you would like to learn more about starting your own accounting practice, our Professional Bookkeeper Program is the perfect place to start in order to launch a successful business offering valuable services that are marketed effectively. To learn more, order our DVD “Intro to the Professional Bookkeeper Program.” It just may be the beginning of a lucrative future as your own boss.

Reference

Perman, Stacy. “No Man’s Land.” 1 August 2007 BusinessWeek.com

How to Go Solo and Still Keep Your Job

Full-time or part-time? Many graduates of our course have started incredibly successful businesses. But for many of our graduates, a bookkeeping and accounting business makes the perfect part-time job. How much extra income do you want to make? You can do it with a part-time bookkeeping and accounting practice.

If you want to leave your present career, but don’t feel quite ready yet, you can do that too. Ellen McGirt, Janet Pasking and Donna Rosato on CNN.money.com offer 7 steps to going solo and still keeping your current job. Let’s look at their list.

1. Scour Your Finances: As you consider going out on your own; while you still have your present job, pay down your credit cards. Set-up a line of credit that you can use before you are completely self-employed. Your first year or two in business it’s often harder to establish credit.
2. Make the Most Out of Your Current Employer: Take advantage of every opportunity to attend workshops, training, networking forums and receive tuition reimbursement. Not only will these opportunities help you prepare for your own business, but you may find yourself advancing enough in your present job that you will not need to go out on your own.
3. Hitch Your Wagon to Another Star: For many, finding a mentor helps as you prepare to start your own business. You may find that a great mentor won’t just appear and offer his/her services to you, most of the time you’ll need to ask.You may also find more than one mentor. I haven’t found a rule saying that you can only have one mentor. Surrounding yourself with a number of people who are motivated to help you advance your career is a good thing. You can often find a mentor by participating in the local chamber of commerce, other community groups or professional organizations. You can also visit web sites like score.org. (Service Corps of Retired Executives.)
4. Go Out With Style: Stay committed to your present job until you leave. Don’t short-change the employer that pays your bills now. As long as you stay, be true to the company you work for.You may also find that some of your first customers will come from within the contacts that you already have and burning bridges isn’t a very good idea. We’ve had more than one graduate who has ended up doing contract work for their former employers. Treat your soon-to-be former employer the same way you would like to be treated if you were them.
5. Line Up a Support Team: Starting your own business is often a one-man-show. This often proves a little overwhelming for the owner of a start-up. By lining up the people to offer help and advice before you’re on your own, you’ll find the stresses of starting your new business easier to take.
6. Give Yourself Away: Offering freebies, discounts and barter to pad your portfolio is often a great way to start, just remember that you can’t do it for long or you run the risk of going out of business before you start. Although it might appear tempting to try to undercut your competition, don’t. (See #7)
7. Get Paid What Your Worth: Learn to value your place in the market. If you don’t charge what you’re worth, you will eventually find yourself looking for another job. The cheapest competitor in the market is not always the best place to be. I know of many industries who automatically label the lowest bid as the unqualified bid. Get paid what your worth.

Much of this isn’t new. Some of this advice my mother gave me as a kid. Starting your own business doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. With a little planning and consideration for your present employer, you can make a smooth transition from employee to business owner.

Bookkeeping and Tax Preparation Supply an Easy Transition to Self Employment

There may be others, but I consider a bookkeeping and accounting practice the perfect opportunity to transition from employment to business ownership. The nature of this business allows thousands of people to operate a part-time business out of their home while maintaining their full-time job. You can do it too.

To learn more about how you can start a rewarding and profitable bookkeeping and accounting practice simply click on the link below. Full-time or part-time, a bookkeeping and accounting practice is the perfect transition to business ownership.

Click Here to Learn More About the Perfect Business

Squeeze the most out of every moment to find time for what’s really important!

No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave. Calvin Coolidge 1872-1933

I must admit, I am very lucky. I really like what I do. I get to sit down at my little computer, think good thoughts, and talk to you. Fortunately, it doesn’t stop at thinking good thoughts. I actually have to put words on the page that help you, or we don’t get to talk to each other today.

Every morning starts with a plan.

One of the first things I do when I sit down at my desk in the morning, is look at the day, what I need to accomplish, and map out a plan for what I’d like to get done that day. I know this sounds pretty basic. Not much to it. And, I have to admit, there isn’t much to it. It’s pretty simple, but the time I save more than makes up for the time I spend organizing my day. It gives me the mandate to focus on what’s really important.

If I don’t go through this ritual every day, I find that before the day is over, I lose steam. Have you ever noticed that most people start the morning all fired up and ready to take on the day, however, as the day wears on and they start to get tired; sometimes, their get-up-and-go, does just exactly that. Stephen Covey said, “The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”

Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so? Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out.”

In other words, we can’t afford to wait for opportunity to come to us, we need to create our own opportunities. Today, more than ever, it’s important to look ahead with an easy-to-follow plan; follow the plan and discover how truly simple it really is to find the success we’re looking for.

I’m glad I don’t have to wear the Speedo anymore.

When I was in High School I was on the swim team. Swim work-outs started every morning at 5:30am. I used to dream about my first length in the pool swinging an ice pick and chopping up the ice that was in my way so I could swim my workout. It was tough, but when I look back, I kind of miss those workouts.

I know this will kind of date me, but in 1976, Olympic backstroker, John Naber was one of my heroes. In the Montreal Olympics he set two world records, won two gold medals and was the first man in history to swim the 200 meter backstroke in under two minutes.

Like most hero worshipers, I was really excited to hear him speak in person the following year. He talked about how he knew how fast he would have to go to beat the East Germans. He put down a definitive, concise, and quantifiable, time in seconds and tenths of seconds, as his goal.

With only two years to get ready, John knew how much faster he had to be every year. He also knew how that would effect every month, every week, and every day. He went so far as to determine how much faster he had to be on every set within every workout. I think it was something like 1/100 th of a second and he said, “I can do that.”

The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. -Lao Tzu

Let’s take a minute and look at the big picture. What do you want to accomplish with your life? Believe it or not, working 30 hours per week at $30.00 per hour, you’ll be earning over $40,000.00 per year! (By the way, $30 per hour is a very reasonable goal. Many of our graduates us the billing techniques taught in the Professional Bookkeeper Program to bill as much as double that!)

Ask yourself, what can I do this month, this week, today, even this morning, to make my dream a reality?

Focus on your “big picture” goals. Put them into smaller, easier-to-accomplish pieces, just like John and you’ll be able to say, “I can do that.” Best of all, you’ll be able to end the day the same way you started it. Excited about what you do. Excited about where you’re going. And excited about your future.

At Universal Accounting, we’re excited about your future. Today, more than ever, owning your own Accounting and Tax Preparation business may be just the ticket to help you accomplish your financial goals. With the finest course material anywhere and a terrific value, the Professional Bookkeeper and Accounting Program will be the perfect, “first step” to your journey of a thousand miles.

Make this moment count… order your Bookkeeping and Accounting program now!

Get Started By Learning the Accounting and Bookkeeping Portion of a Financial Services Business

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

If you are considering adding Tax Preparation/ Planning services to your Financial Services business at some point, you get a great price by purchasing both programs as a bundle.

Get the Financing You Need to Launch Your Business Right

Get the Professional Bookkeeper training course at the normal price and we will throw in our Financing a Small Business manual at no additional charge!

This pricing is only available by clicking on one of the links below.

Click HERE to order the Professional Bookkeeper Program and the Financing a Small Business manual at no additional charge (see option 2 for financing).
Click HERE to finance the Professional Bookkeeper Program and the Financing a Small Business manual, charged to all major credit or debit cards. Financing is only available in the United States and Canada.

If you have already purchased our Professional Bookkeeper program in the past, you can purchase just the Financing a Small Business manual at a discounted price by clicking HERE.

Universal Accounting’s Financing a Small Business Course

This 126-page manual is packed with clear-cut instructions and terrific resource materials that will make creating a loan application package easy. It even includes a sample loan package that you can model.

In addition, you will learn the inside scoop on how the financing industry evaluates loan applications, including tips that will put your application on top.

The book comes with a CD containing helpful forms in developing a loan application package. Just load the file into any word processing program and you are ready to go.

This book is a must-read for business owners interested in financing options or accountants in a position to give financial advice.

We also include instructions on how you can even promote your service and earn $50 to $75 per hour on a part-time basis.

The Table of Contents includes the following chapters:

1. Introduction
2. Common Considerations to Business Success
3. Borrowing Money
4. Good Credit: a Necessity (and how to turn poor credit around)
5. Choosing the Right Type of Financing
6. Your Business Plan and Organizational Structure
7. Information Regarding Federal and State Taxes
8. SBA Financing
9. Preparing for the Loan
10. Sample Statements for Information Gathering

Appendix

A Sample Completed Loan Application
B Becoming a Financing Entrepreneur
C Creating a Corporation

Earn $30 to $60 per hour with your own accounting and bookkeeping service

Are you tired of working for what seems like an eternity, without ever getting ahead? Do you dream of becoming your own boss, making more money and being able to enjoy it? Do you wish you had more free time to spend with your family, or pursue your favorite hobby?

There is a huge demand for accountants who understand the specific needs of small businesses, because the most common problem plaguing small business owners is their inability to understand their finances.

Here’s something every small business owner should know, but generally doesn’t:

Every business has three areas of concern: Production; Marketing; and Accounting. Individuals may start a business because they have talents and skills that will help others. This is the “production” end of the business. As time passes, business owners learn to “market” their skills in order to secure more business. But many have little understanding of how to do the accounting and bookkeeping required to operate and manage a successful small business.

Just like a three-legged stool needs all three legs to be functional, lack of adequate accounting and financial knowledge will eventually sink a business.

At Universal Accounting Center, we have worked with many people in accounting, from new graduates entering the workplace to those with various types of experience. While working with these graduates, we have discovered a very important fact:

It only takes 60 classroom hours to master the complete accounting process!

When college students study Accounting, their ultimate goal is to work for one of the major accounting firms or a Fortune 500 business, not the corner gas station. The universities know this, and they gear their curriculum toward those goals.

Universities and Colleges DO NOT teach Small Business Accounting and Bookkeeping

That’s what makes a home-based accounting service specializing in small business such a great opportunity. Only 2% of businesses have more than 100 employees. In fact, 85% of all businesses have fewer than 20 employees which means that universities are training students to work in 2% of the accounting market, while 85% of all businesses still need our help.

Click HERE to order the Professional Bookkeeper Program and the Financing a Small Business manual at no additional charge (see option 2 for financing).
Click HERE to finance the Professional Bookkeeper Program and the Financing a Small Business manual, charged to all major credit or debit cards. Financing is only available in the United States and Canada.

Universal makes starting a bookkeeping business easy!

In 1979, Universal Accounting Center was created to provide training in real world situations. We devised a method of teaching small business accounting unlike anything else available. We have taught thousands of students how to work with small business management, how to create systems of accounting for different types of businesses, and how to develop and market their own accounting service. We have also added a few basic concepts that can instruct anyone, with little or NO experience, in the complete methods of accounting and bookkeeping.

Universal Accounting Center is here to help you start TODAY and build your business successfully, in weeks rather than months. To do this, we have a program specifically designed to help you in three ways:

1. Start your business quickly and easily.
2. Quickly find clients quickly with our proven marketing strategies.
3. Better service your clients.

After many years of teaching this course in classrooms across the country, we have also created a home study course, in VHS or DVD formats, complete with the necessary lectures and classroom study that enables our students to work at their own learning pace.

Now you too can learn the secrets of successfully starting and operating your own bookkeeping service!

Universal Accounting Center will show you everything that you need to know to get started and quickly become succesful.

You will also learn techniques and ideas that will bring you one new client each week, plus you will learn how to calculate your fees, and what equipment works best.

You will be amazed at what you master in just 60 hours. You will learn to open your own accounting service with the skills and confidence necessary to succeed.

Universal Accounting can teach you!

The home-study Professional Bookkeeper course is divided into four learning modules. Each is available in your choice of DVD or VHS:

Module I
Accounting Made Easy

Module II
Practical Small Business Application

Module III
Advancing Your “Account-Ability”

Module IV
Building a Successful Accounting Service

Six Features that make our Professional Bookkeeper program so outstanding:

Our courses are written especially for small businesses. Approximately one-third of our students have an accounting degree but still use the program to master the accounting issues and processes associated with small businesses. Here’s what one accounting graduate says about our course:

“I can honestly say that the hands-on training from Universal Accounting Center was far more helpful than that of my degree program.” — Scott Ivins (25 clients.)

Since universities focus on teaching accounting and tax “theory,” as well as general education classes, very little time is spent teaching practical applications and real world techniques. Universal Accounting walks you through several existing companies from beginning to end, and you gain practical knowledge and experience as you learn.

“I feel like I have learned more in 4 weeks [about the practical side of running an accounting business] than I learned in 2 years of business education. While much of my MBA curriculum was theoretical, it did not teach the very important details of doing accounting on a day-to-day basis.” –Nathan Lee

The course’s workbooks will become an invaluable addition to your resource library. These reference books include tables and charts not available from any other source. You can refer to them often, saving you hours of research looking for the right information. The workbooks alone are a wise and valuable investment.

“Very well put together.” –Barbara Milano

The course is based on real-world experience. In the second module, you will complete the accounting books for four companies that cover 10 different industries. The other three modules also include book applications, and once you finish all four modules, you will have completed nine full sets of accounting books. Each work set included in the modules was based upon existing businesses, giving you the experience as though you were really doing their accounting operations. You will gain the confidence you need to successfully perform in the real world.

“I learned so much more than the accounting classes I took in college. This gives you a lot of practical experience.”–Vikki Chmelka

This program focuses on practical and efficient methods of doing the job. It’s full of tips and shortcuts that enable you to do more for your clients in less time.

“My current clients have recognized the changes and appreciate them greatly.” –Scott Christensen

The course will instruct you in everything you need to know to open, market and build your own accounting service. You will learn to set up accounting books from scratch, maintain records, and consult with your clients.

Finally, upon successful competition of the course with a final grade greater than 90%, you will receive certification as a Professional Bookkeeper with an emphasis in small business accounting, allowing you to then use the PB designation following your name ( i.e.: John Smith, P.B.)

Regardless of your background,IT WORKS!

“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.” –Adam Moody

How much can I make?

We will teach you how to calculate a fair, but lucrative fee. You can choose to operate your business on a part or full-time basis. Your average client will earn you $300 per month, for only six to eight hours of work. As you can see, 3 clients can mean almost $1000 of supplemental income for you, working only 20 hours each month. Of course, there are many small businesses that need your type of expertise, making full-time bookkeeping a profitable venture. If you acquire just one new client per month, your second-year earnings will be more than $40,000 per year. Is it possible? You bet!

One Universal Accounting graduate found all the clients she could handle in a mere 60 days!

What’s the cost for the course? A course of this magnitude can run hundreds of thousands of dollars to produce, with the costs passed down to the students. And we all know how expensive the universities are. But we offer this education to you at a very affordable price, saving you thousands in the process.