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

Universal Accounting Center deals directly with this on a daily basis. We are in the business of seeing that accountants, bookkeepers, and tax preparers succeed. And we have to admit, we’re pretty good at what we do. Someone like yourself may find your most successful when you provide to all your clients what they need in their companies’ financial lives (except the bank loans and bottom line sales of course, they have to do that on their own) By being able to offer services, of keeping track of their bank loans and sales figures for example, you can be their “One-Stop Shop”. This is accomplished by earning two valuable designations: The Professional Bookkeeper (PB) designation and the Professional Tax Preparer (PTP) designation.

The Value of the Professional Bookkeeper Designation

Over 85% of the opportunities in the accounting field are within small businesses. Universities prepare their students for the corporate accounting processes which leaves a huge gap to fill and a great opportunity for those who have the practical knowledge that addresses the needs of small businesses. For those who recognize this and gain the training to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity have come to realize the training pay-off themselves. More than 50% of small businesses fail, and much of that failure can be attributed to lack of accounting expertise. Small business owners are busy with the dozens of other hats to keep the business growing, often it is the tracking of their financial health that gets neglected. Imagine contributing to the success of small business, which will build your own community while providing you with job satisfaction and security. Imagine doing this for 3 or 4, perhaps 13 or 14 small businesses?

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

The Value of the Professional Tax Preparer Designation

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

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

Become a Full Financial Service Provider

By combining the Professional Bookkeeper designation with the Professional Tax Preparer designation, you will earn a terrific income all year long. It is easy to cross-sell from one service to the other, making it easier to find clients, raise your billable hours, and give you a raise to boot! The benefits you can offer to those clients you are currently servicing on a yearly basis with the tax preparation services you will be able to develop the account to the maximum potential profit, but more importantly you will be able to build the trust with the quality businesses you serve.

Special Bundle Pricing for Tax Preparation and Accounting/ Bookkeeping Training

Here’s a rundown on what’s all included:

Add Up the Value! Save $$$ Today!

Gear up to being able to offer the full services you can by gaining the Professional Bookkeeper Designation as well as the Professional Tax Preparers Designation. Don’t wait another day to enhance your business and change your life. Be the Full Service Financial Provider.

Your Office and Accounting Business:

How To Find the Right Office Space for Your Business

So you’ve finally decided that you’re ready to move away from home, at least, your business is. But now the question is, where do you look for the right commercial office space, and what, exactly, do you look for? Finding the place to move your business is important, and as they say in real estate a crucial element of the space you choose is location, location, location. Here are six things to remember as you look.

1. Don’t compromise accessibility for a lower rent
While it’s important to find a place that doesn’t drain your budget, a cheap office will do you no good if people can’t find it. When you look for a good location, accessibility is crucial. You also want to place yourself in an appealing environment around other businesses that draw your target market. When you find a potential space, look at the tenants you’ll be sharing it with, and look at neighboring businesses. Are they the types of establishments you’d like to rub shoulders with? Regardless of how wonderful your business might be potential clients will be weary of walking through your front door if it’s sandwiched between a comic book store and a pawn shop.

2. Consider all your options
There are countless options to consider when looking for a commercial office space. Do you want to rent, lease, or buy the office? Remember that owning real estate offers certain tax benefits that might save you money in the end. But if you’re not ready to commit to a particular space quite yet, renting might be the best option. And if you’re the only one who will use the space initially, consider sharing a suite with other businesses. Sometimes these fully equipped business suites provide occupants with access to copy machines, internet, fax and phone services, which may lighten the blow of various startup cost. Or you can sublet an office from a business which has extra, unused space.

3. Plan for your future
Sometimes it’s difficult to plan for business growth. But before you sign any paperwork, you need to anticipate how much you expect your business to expand. If you lease an office space for 5 years and your business booms in just two, you’re stuck for three years in a space that’s too small for your needs. Or the opposite could occur; you could anticipate great growth only to find yourself alone in a large and expensive office space. So while you need to look for an office that suits your current needs, you should also anticipate future success and how to accommodate it.

4. Pay attention to the store front and the office layout
The saying goes, “Never judge a book by its cover.” And while that’s a valuable adage to live by, the truth is that most people make snap judgments based on appearances all the time. A dumpy storefront will cause many individuals to think twice before walking through your door and enlisting your services. Look at what the storefront will communicate.

Also be sure the office layout suits your needs. Do you need space for a receptionist or other employees? How will the furniture be arranged? Will the space create the type of mood you want clients and potential clients to enjoy? Are you interested in an open space or do you want a structured environment with cubicles? Know what you want before you start looking. And remember that while it’s good to anticipate future growth, you don’t want to pay for more space than you actually need. You should plan for 200 square feet of space per employee.

5. Consider your commute
When looking for a traditional full-time job, the commute is an important element to consider, just as it should be when looking for a new office space. Because you’ll be spending a lot of time in your office, it’s important to consider how long it will take you to get there. You don’t want to spend any more time on the road than necessary. How much time are you willing to spend commuting in order to get the office space you want?

6. Calculate additional costs
Rent isn’t the only cost to consider when renting, leasing, or buying an office space. Do a little research to determine how much utilities will cost. Ask your neighbors about any hidden costs they may be aware of. Budgeting for your new office space will be much easier if you’re aware of all the costs.

But what is the most important thing to do as you look for an office space? Enjoy this exciting time in your business! Knowing what to look for can make the process much easier, and more fun.

“Take What You Have and Make It Better” is just one of 9 principles that will make your business more profitable. Allen Bostrom, president of Universal Accounting Center , has written the book In the Black: 9 Principles to Make Your Business Profitable to help small business owners like you succeed. If this one principle has helped you, order the book to read 8 more tried and true principles that you can apply immediately! For less than $20, you can take the necessary steps to build a more lucrative business today.

What Many Freelance Accountants and Bookkeepers are Finding Out

Remember the good old days when you weren’t quite sure what career to choose? Picking the right career path is more taxing than many people expect. Even after getting a good education or launching a profitable business there are potholes and detours along the way that can derail a promising career. That’s one of the reasons why on any given night everyone from small business operators and CPAs to homemakers and college students can be found in one of the classrooms at Universal Accounting Center.

Luckily, you decided on a promising career: accounting. A report from the U.S. Department of Labor stated that the freelance accounting field is expected to grow 20% by 2008, and the profession ranks in the department’s top 25 occupations for the number of jobs and job openings.

The bottom-line is that every business needs someone with accounting skills. And that someone could be you. Universal can help you get just the training you need to further develop your freelance accounting and bookkeeping skills while learning how to market those skills effectively, enabling you to find the businesses in need of a Profit Center Expert. Not only that, but you earn a professional designation while learning everything you need to know to launch a profitable accounting business.

Since 1979, Universal Accounting Center (UAC) has been dedicated to training accountants. UAC trains its students to manage the day-to-day accounting of businesses, teaching them the skills needed to become successful bookkeepers and accountants.

Allen Bostrom, CPA President of UAC, describes the institute’s accounting and bookkeeping curriculum as vastly different than what’s taught at universities. “Universities emphasize professional positions in Fortune 500-type companies or the Big 4 accounting firms,” Bostrom says. “By comparison, Universal trains its students to be confident in the practical day-to-day processes of freelance accounting.”

“For example, universities all but ignore teaching payroll accounting and the accounts receivables collection processes, while Universal recognizes these functions as being critical to the success of any small business,” he says.

Universal’s short-term intensive training curriculum is catered toward the working student, offering independent or home-study classes. Students taking the course usually break down into three categories: small-business owners who want stronger bookkeeping skills, accountants looking to expand their skills, and novices looking for new career skills.

Professional Freelance Bookkeeper graduate Philip Lufkin 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.”

Upon completing the course, Universal graduates receive continued support working with the center’s staff to answer accounting questions, getting help with UAC’s Job Placement Assistance Program or receive help starting or building a successful accounting and bookkeeping practice.

“For hundreds of years accounting has been done as a freelance industry. It’s a real-life home business,” Bostrom explains. “There are tons of businesses out there that need bookkeepers and Universal has a course for setting up a home business.”

If you have your own freelance accounting firm and would like the Professional Bookkeeper designation as evidence of your expertise, or if you’re thinking about starting your own firm and would like some help, enroll in the Professional Bookkeeper course. And if you enroll within the next two weeks, you can take advantage of this special offer. You’ll get the Professional Bookkeeper course and Financing a Small Business, a manual and CD with everything you need to know about funding your new venture, for one low price! Don’t wait another minute to learn what other accountants are finding invaluable: “If it’s about accounting, it’s Universal.”

Expand Your Business by Becoming a Full-Service Financial Provider

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

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

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

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

The Value of the Professional Bookkeeper Designation

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

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

The Value of the Professional Tax Preparer Designation

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

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

The Professional Bookkeepers Guide to Quickbooks

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

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

Become a Full Financial Service Provider

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

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

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

Get the right tools for the job

When setting up an accounting or bookkeeping service, one of your first concerns is having the right equipment and office configuration. Here are some tips to help you quickly get started on the right track. One of the benefits of a home-based accounting business is that the start-up costs can be relatively low.

What do I need for my office?

Your first rule of success for any home-based business is to stake out your territory . You need to locate a place in your home that is away from the main traffic path of the home, and has as much solitude as you can find. If nothing else, find a corner of a room as far from the door as practical. Or, if circumstances allow, it is best to use a separate room.

Stay away from the kitchen table. That�s the worst place in the home. The kitchen is, for most families, the busiest room in the house. Beside all the distractions, you are constantly having to interrupt your work and set your papers aside for a meal. Then, when you want to get back into it, you will need to make sure all the milk, ketchup, and whatever else has been thoroughly cleaned, or you might be doing work over again.

You will need something to work on. A folding table works well for some. Others want the prestige of having a beautiful cherry wood, executive desk. Since most clients will never see your working environment, the choice is simply one of your personal preference, and how much you want to spend on your surroundings. If money is an issue, pick up a six-foot folding table at your local discount store. If you like the smooth feel and attractive look of a big solid wood desk, keep in mind it won�t make a difference in how many clients you get, but it might make a difference in your pocket book.

Business Cards and Letterhead are important to all business professionals. To many, your business card might be the only thing with which they have to judge you. For that reason, it�s a good idea to spend a little bit more and get something that favorably represents you . On the other hand, the costly, foiled, raised print might be all right for the lawyer and real estate agent, but it isn�t necessary for the accountant. Something in the middle will be suitable.

Today, you can purchase business cards from the corner copy store, or from professional print shops. Or, if you have the right equipment you could even make them with a computer and printer.

At the copy store, you can view books of card samples. Most cards start at $15 for five hundred cards, and go up. Again the cheapest isn�t necessarily the best. Pick out the best sample that fits you. The printer will then help you place your information into the format of the card.

If you want to be more creative, a print shop will help you design the card. They also have samples.

One more thing: Don�t clutter your cards with too much information or gimmicky graphics. Put the most critical items on the face of the card. If you feel there is still more you would like to say on the card, then have it printed on the backside.

Letterhead and envelopes should be attractive and professional. Use a high-quality bond paper, not standard weight copy paper. Again, a few extra dollars can usually go a long way in impressing your clients.

If money isn�t an issue, and you don�t mind spending a few extra hundred dollars for just the right image, you can contract a graphics artist to design a unique card and letterhead just for you. Most people don�t take this step, nor do they need to.

What kind of computer software do I need?

If you have already purchased a computer you have made the largest investment already. The second largest investment could be the software, so here�s some information you need to know about accounting software.

First of all, accounting programs are divided into three general categories:

1. Trial Balance Systems
2. Complete Data Entry Systems
3. Write Up Systems

Software in the first category, Trial Balance Systems, is used primarily by auditors to prepare adjusted, fully disclosed, financial statements. That�s a step you won�t need to worry about unless you are a CPA performing an independent audit on a large company. So, no further discussion is warranted.

The Complete Data Entry Systems are the most commonly used software programs by small businesses. These are the software programs you can find on the shelves of software stores. Their intention is to provide all accounting functions inside the business. They are typically designed to write checks, prepare invoices, reconcile bank statements, etc…. Because these are most often designed for the non-accountant, they require rigid steps and are intended to be used inside the business, or �in-house.� They don�t lend themselves well to freelance, after-the-fact work that you will be performing for small businesses.

That brings us to the third type of software called “write-up systems“. These software names are not as commonly known, unless you are an accountant for multiple companies. Write-up software programs are designed for use by accountants. They provide for versatility and flexibility, which are both key components to an efficient accounting business.

Universal Accounting Systems has surveyed many of the write-up systems available today. We ranked them on features, cost, ease of use, ability to learn, adaptability, speed of entry, and versatility.

If you have yet to purchase a computer then you will want to know this. For most write-up packages you don�t need to have the latest and the greatest. In fact, you can purchase a used computer, for a fraction of the cost of a new one, that will probably work very well.

We have found, for most start up businesses on a budget, that although QuickBooks was written as a complete data entry system, it has great flexibility and, with a little understanding, can be adjusted quite easily to be used effectively for write-up work.

A printer is an important part of your computer. If you have an old dot-matrix printer that works well, don�t toss it. It will work fine, as long as you keep a new ribbon handy for the reports that will be seen by the client.

Probably the best value for the money today is a printer that sprays the ink on the page. There are several different manufacturers for these and they will run usually between $100-$200.

If you want the best, and money isn�t a big concern, you may want to consider a laser printer. For the higher cost, you will get a more permanent image (the ink could run on the spray type printer), at a higher speed. They also provide a slightly more pristine image. If you prefer the laser printer, it�s probably a good idea to look at the mid-priced models. You will most likely regret the purchase if you buy one because it was the cheapest brand.

Whether you have a computer or not, you ought to have a working electric typewriter, but nothing fancy. If you don�t have one right now, don�t despair. This Saturday, go to a garage sale or two, and you will surely find one for very little money. Make sure it works before you hand over the cash.

Why do you need a typewriter if you have a computer? Occasionally, you might be asked to fill out a pre-printed form. Have you ever tried to fill out a form with a computer printer? It�s not that easy — so a typewriter will save you time.

We recommend you apply for a business telephone line. In most states it�s no longer required that you have a separate business line, but it is still advisable. There are two good reasons for a separate business number:

1. Your company�s name will be placed in the yellow pages.
   This will provide you with credibility, and enable your clients to find you if they need to. By the way, this does not mean you should buy an ad in the yellow pages — that would be a waste of money. You�ll read more about advertising in another article.
2. You�ll preserve your personal life.
   A separate number will allow you to screen your calls. For example, if you are just sitting down for dinner and the business line rings, let it transfer to the answering machine. On the other hand, if it is during business hours, and you are performing work for a client and a private call comes in, let the answering machine take the message. Also, if you have children at home, it�s a good idea to instruct them not to pick up the business line. You want to appear professional, and most businesses don�t have children answering their phones.

A fax machine can be very helpful to communicate with clients, as well as getting information to and from prospective clients. Just an inexpensive model will probably handle your needs. They can also often be used in a pinch as a copier.

As for copy machines, you can probably do without this for now. Most of us have a copy store within a mile of our home, where we can get these services when we need them. When you consider the cost of purchasing and maintaining these machines, the copy stores become a bargain.

For more information on creating your own accounting and bookkeeping service take a look at our home-study course.

Make $30 to $60 per hour… and you don’t need a college degree.

Become a Professional and Get Paid What Your Worth!

You can bill $30 to $60 per hour or more as a professional freelance bookkeeper. I say this because there are thousands of people, just like you and me, who are doing it right now. Highly respected professionals, without a college or university education, are providing a specialized and technical service to their clients. And you can do it too.

Over 500,000 new businesses start every year. Each and every one of them is required by law to do accounting. This presents a tremendous opportunity for anyone willing to learn the skills to be a professional small business bookkeeper. You don’t need a college education to provide this valuable service to small businesses. You do need a specialized education and skill set.

Over the next five weeks I’d like to give you an overview of the exciting and rewarding business of professional bookkeeping and accounting. If you are in search of a recession-proof business that will help you create the lifestyle that you and your family deserve and make it possible to get paid what your worth. It won’t take very long before I think you’ll agree, this is the business and now is the time.

Okay… what can I expect over the next five weeks?

• Week #1. The Proper Small Business Bookkeeping Education. We’ll discuss what you should be looking for in a bookkeeping and accounting education. We’ll outline some of the different types of education that is available and the pros & cons of each.With an overview of what’s available and the kind of education that you’ll need to succeed in your bookkeeping business, you’ll be prepared to make the next move and arm yourself with the education that best suits your goals.
• Week #2 How to Market Your Bookkeeping Business. (Part 1) Allen Bostrom, President of Universal Accounting and author says, “Nothing happens until you make a sale.” We’ll talk about what it takes to make everything happen!If you’re like most of us, the idea of being a salesman might not be your favorite thing. Don’t be concerned, there are a number of easy-to-implement methods that will make the entire sales and marketing process something easy and systematic. Anyone can do this!

  In Week #2 we’ll talk about creating what I call the “Automatic Referral System”. In other words, referrals without begging.

• Week #3 How to Market Your Bookkeeping Business. (Part 2) We’ll continue our discussion of easy and “doable” marketing methods that extend beyond referrals. We’ll talk about Tag-Team marketing and networking just to mention a couple.
• Week #4 Universal Accounting: The Perfect Small Business Bookkeeping Education. We’ll discuss why Universal Accounting Center is the perfect place to obtain the most complete and comprehensive small business bookkeeping education found anywhere.
• Week #5 A Bookkeeping Practice and a Professional Tax Preparation Business are the Perfect Match for Maximum Profits. The advantages of combining a Tax Preparation Business with a Bookkeeping service are many. Our final discussion in this series will demonstrate how they might be the perfect combination for you and your future professional bookkeeping and accounting practice.

What can I expect from here?

Welcome aboard. I’m looking forward to showing you why I think a professional bookkeeping and accounting business is such a wonderful opportunity and for the chance to give you the information that you’ll need to determine if it’s a “right fit” for you.

Information on starting your own professional bookkeeping business is only a click or two away. Follow the link below and find out for yourself what an incredible business opportunity this really is.

I Want to Know More About Starting a Professional Bookkeeping Business

How to See Failure as Opportunity and Turn Hardship into Success

Every failure, obstacle or hardship is an opportunity in disguise. Success in many cases is failure turned inside out. The greatest pollution problem we face today is negativity. Eliminate the negative attitude and believe you can do anything. Replace ‘if I can, I hope, maybe’ with ‘I can, I will, I must.’ —Mary Kay Ash

To begin to think with purpose, is to enter the ranks of those strong ones who only recognize failure as one of the pathways to attainment. -James Allen

It is lemonade season-the time of year when thousands of kids take lemons, turn them into lemonade, and sell them on street corners for profit. We could learn a thing or two from these budding entrepreneurs.

So what do you do when life hands you a basket of lemons? When failure makes an appearance in your business? You turn it into lemonade, or see it as a stepping stone to success. Here are 5 steps that will show you how.

1. Redefine it

You’ve got to redefine failure. It shouldn’t be seen as a bad omen, but an opportunity to learn and grow. And do you really think you can become insanely successful without learning more than you know right this instant? The best learning experiences often come in the form of failures and mistakes. Don’t fear them; embrace them. While some view failure as an obstacle, it is often the stepping stone that will take you higher and farther, enabling you to achieve true success.

2. Analyze it

You can’t learn from a mistake or failure without taking the time to dissect it and determine what, exactly, went wrong. Some would rather walk away from the failure and never look back, but that would be the worst mistake you could make. In looking closely at what happened you will learn how to improve, repair, change, and excel. But don’t overanalyze. Once you’ve learned what you need to learn, move to the next step! Otherwise you become subject to that age-old deterrent: paralysis by analysis.

3. Apply lessons learned

Once you’ve discovered what caused, prompted, or encouraged the failure, apply the lessons you’ve learned so it won’t happen again. Often we engage in destructive actions again and again because it’s all we know. Unfortunately, that will not help you achieve success. Success requires you to continually evaluate your actions and determine how they can be improved. This is what you must do with failure. Once you realize why something didn’t work, you can change your behavior, and in turn, change the outcome.

4. Move on

” . . . our doubts are traitors; And make us lose the good we oft might win; By fearing to attempt.” —William Shakespeare

You’ve learned, you’ve applied, now move on. Do not let fear of failure paralyze you. Katherine Mansfield once wrote, “Risk! Risk anything! Care no more for the opinion of others, for those voices. Do the hardest thing on earth for you. Act for yourself.” Do not be afraid to move into the unknown in order to move forward. You wouldn’t tell your child to put her two-wheeler away simply because she fell and skinned her knee. You would encourage her to get back on that bike as soon as possible and continue to ride. Take your own advice: continue to ride!

5. Expect greatness

Just because you experienced failure doesn’t mean you should expect it to continually litter your journey. Be positive and expect great things to happen. When you do, not only will great things happen but you’ll be in the right mindset to take future failure and see it for what it really is: opportunity in work clothes.

References
“Turn a Failure into a Success,” by Rhonda Abrams

Be Prepared If Prospective Clients Ask About the Competition

Don’t Advertise For Your Competitors

“Never mention the competition during your sales presentation” is a long-standing selling rule that has merit. Talking about other accounting services can shift the prospect’s attention away from your company to your competitors’ offerings. But what do you do if a prospect brings up the competition?

1. Get your facts straight. Respond to direct questions about other accounting services, but make sure you have accurate information. Otherwise, you’ll hurt your credibility. If you don’t know the answer to a specific question about a competitor, say so. Besides, as you learn about your competition, you might identify additional markets and methods that will bolster your own profitability.

2. Don’t criticize the competition. Prospects tend to become suspicious of professionals who are overly critical of their competitors.

3. When prospects ask you to compare your accounting services to the competition, they may actually be doing you a favor. Prospects want to be assured that they are making the best decision, and it’s your job to convince them that you can provide them with the solution they’ve been looking for. By asking about other accounting providers, they give you another chance to show how well you stack up against the competition (price, personal service, location, availability, accuracy, etc.)

4. Anticipate sensitive questions about why your services are better–or worse–than a competitor’s and you’ll be prepared to answer them thoroughly and accurately.

More Help With Running Your Accounting and Bookkeeping Service

Especially when you are first getting your Accounting and Bookkeeping business going, there are secrets to knowing how to run your service smoothly. We have compiled many useful resources to help you to keep your business running at top efficiency and profitability.

Learn the Secrets to Running Your Business Smoothly and Profitably

What Are You Waiting for?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Grow Your Business

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

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

This new program offers the following:

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

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

Receive a Free Gift

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

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

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

Change Offers Opportunity

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

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

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

Challenges Faced and Overcome Together

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

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

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

-Allen Bostrom
President of Universal Accounting

Improve YOUR Future

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

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