Moving from Traditional Employment to Self-Employment with Ease

Victoria Richardson had just had her second child and knew that her employment situation needed to change in order for her to parent as she desired. She explained, “…my list of wants and needs included: complete flexibility to be able to be with my children when they needed me… I needed to be making at least $60,000 a year. I needed to be able to have a lot of flexibility, and wanted to work an abbreviated work week. And what I found was that there was nothing out there that was willing to give me that package.  I discovered that the only option that was available for me was to be able to start my own business.”

So Victoria began the process of launching her own accounting practice, and her first step ensured a happy solution for her and her current employer.

From Ex-Employer to First Client

Victoria’s strategy proved to be successful.  Instead of giving her boss two-week’s notice, Victoria presented him with a win-win situation.  He would continue to enjoy her accounting expertise as a contract accountant while she would be free to enjoy a flexible work schedule with her ex-employer acting as her first client.

Her confidence makes freelance work a lucrative business for Victoria.  She said, “I know what they want to hear, I know what’s going to make them feel comfortable, and I know what their concerns are. And the Universal Accounting courses taught…a lot of it has to do with…semantics; it’s the language that you present it in. When I talk to them about increasing their profitability, they listen. It makes sense to them. I can feel confident in helping them discover what problem areas they have, and… ways they can work through that, so it’s not a situation where I feel like, you know, anybody else is coming in and giving them that because… that’s what they’re looking for and they’re not finding it anywhere. I can come in and do it, and I can do it and save them money.”

But she’s not the only one who has recognized the value of this transitional strategy.  In today’s market where employers are looking to cut back, many recognize the value in reworking their relationship with an employer so that it benefits both of them.  In changing your position from full-time accountant to contract accountant, you save your previous employer money while enabling yourself to start your own accounting practice with one solid client and the opportunity to have that client refer many more.

David de la Rosa did the same thing with Motorola.  He explained, “I started my business ten years ago. I was doing computer training work for Motorola and found myself caught in a downsize. I approached management about letting me serve as a resource by referring me to their clients. That way, instead of Motorola having to carry me on their payroll, Motorola’s customers could pay me instead. They liked the idea-it was a perfect arrangement that offered a great transition for both of us.”

What Do You Need to Get Started?

Like Victoria you need a plan and the confidence with which to back it.  The Universal Practice Builder program is designed to provide you with a blueprint to success.  Not only will we teach you how to market your valuable skills to the right people, but we’ll also teach you how to act as the Profit Expert Victoria described, by enhancing your clients’ profitability with your analysis of crucial accounting data.

This phenomenal program also includes the following:

• A guarantee of $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 websites
• 12 proven marketing strategies
• Financing options

Take advantage of the recession by redefining yourself as a contract accountant.  You current employer just might welcome the change, and your professional future will be all the brighter as a result.  Learn how to launch your practice today by enrolling in the Universal Practice Builder program.

Resources

De la Rosa, David.  “FastTrac Entrepreneur Stories.” FastTrac.com

True Life Success

Wouldn’t you like to sit down and have a good, long discussion with someone who’s living your dream?  Someone who could offer advice, tell you what to do, what not to do, and prove that what you’ve always wanted is possible?  If you want to build a thriving accounting practice, then we have the motivational conversation for you.

Scott Barhold completed the Universal Practice Builder program last year and he’s currently finishing the Professional Bookkeeper Program.  Learn from his experience and see just how these two Universal programs can change the face of your business, for the better.

Growing His Practice

The UPB program is designed to teach financial professionals how to better market their services; it also guarantees that graduates will increase their annual billings by at least $30,000 in just 12

months.  When asked how the program has benefitted his bottom line Scott replied, “My practice has grown from $36k to $87k in the first 6 months, and this year my current projections are about $127K.  I did this by learning how to market what I do.”  That’s more than an initial $50,000 in increased billings with a projected increase of over $90,000 this year, and Scott has accomplished this in a very tenuous financial market.

Scott explained, “The greatest benefit [of the UPB] for me was the understanding of what I needed to make my practice a success and the ability to achieve it.  [It] taught me how to successfully market my product and say the right thing to the right people in the right way at the right time.”

He goes on to say that “going to Utah for the UPB workshop can be the difference between watching a sporting event and playing in it.  It is truly the dynamics that change.  You will come out with more than you could possibly imagine, and a road map of how to achieve it.”

Growing His Expertise and Experience

The Professional Bookkeeper Program is intended to train individuals in the day-to-day tasks of small-business accounting, enabling graduates to earn valuable professional certification.  While he has yet to finish the PB Program, Scott feels that the PB designation will help set him apart from his competition.

Much of Scott’s success stems from his positive attitude regarding his business and his life.  He realizes that his daily tasks are the building blocks for the future success of his business.

Scott described to us a typical day at the office:  “My day usually starts with a day plan, the tasks and meetings that I need to accomplish, and a look at the work in progress.  Each day has some marketing involved from e-mails, to letters, to advertisements, and networking.  Then it is off to execute the day plan.  All tasks must be checked before I can go home.  No sales day can end on a no; each must end on a positive.  This lays seed today for a better tomorrow.  To let a day end on a failure is to let today finish better than tomorrow will be.  That is not an acceptable direction for my plan, my business, or my life.”

Client Relationships

Scott believes that the true value of his clients is not in the quantity but in the quality.  “For instance,” Scott says, “One of my clients has over 100 gas stations- [the quality] is in what I bring to him and his businesses. I am currently bringing a uniformity in reporting of income and expenses.  This will make his life easier so he can do more of what he wants to do.”

Scott finds that his clients value face-time and communication.  He explains, “I think the service that I sell is peace of mind.  My clients know that they are going to spend time with me, and that they will feel more at-ease about looking at their financial report.  I constantly hear clients say, ‘My old accountant never went over this with me.’”

Challenges and Rewards

The most challenging element of his job is in finding balance.  “There is a delicate balance between marketing and production.  I had to learn how to effectively delegate tasks in order for the practice to grow.  I love what I do, and I have come to learn that it is a valuable skill to business owners, that many do not possess. But without delegation, I am limited to the amount of help I can give.”

“The most rewarding aspect is that I can help so many others get what they want.  Nobody wants a business that is flailing about.  By doing what I know best, many times I can help them see their business in a whole new light.  It is rewarding that my clients realize the value that I bring to their business–the relationship that builds as we set plans in motion to meet their goals and objectives.  I actually enjoy watching as we overcome obstacles as a team and celebrate milestone successes with my clients.”

Scott’s Advice to Those Starting and/or Growing Their Own Bookkeeping Practice

“Know what you are getting into.  Your clients will rely on you for information; spend the time to become an expert in your field so that you can help them… become an expert in theirs.  And to take something that I have learned from UAC - Believe in yourself, decide what you want, plan for success, and execute your plan!”

Learn more about these two programs that have helped Scott achieve the success he’s currently experiencing by visiting Universal Accounting Center today.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Financing a Small Business

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

References

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

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

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

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

Just answer a few questions for us:

• Would you like to make more money?
• Are you interested in being your own boss?
• Would you like to enjoy a flexible work schedule?
• Have you considered spending more time with your family?
• Do you want to improve your standard-of-living?

Not many people would answer “no” to any of those questions. Unfortunately, the majority of people do not know how to accomplish them. Luckily for you, Universal Accounting Center is in the business of helping their students see that all of the above do indeed happen.

What Are You Waiting for?

A more prosperous economy? Your ship to sail in? The perfect time?

When you take a passive approach to life, waiting for something good to happen, you’ll find those good things are forever beyond your reach. Truly successful people don’t wait for anything; instead they choose to make good things happen for themselves.

A little work, a small investment, and some elbow grease are all that’s required to start and build your own accounting practice. That and two power programs.

The Professional Bookkeeper (PB) Program

In order for your accounting practice to be more appealing than the competition, you must offer specialized services. Small business accounting is a specialized service. Consider that your prospective clients will need someone trained to do one or more of the following:

• Master accounting for retail and wholesale businesses
• Establish the accounting method that best fits the business
• Set up an efficient system for a “Ma & Pa” manufacturing company
• Track job costs simply and efficiently for a construction company
• Effectively handle flooring for an inventory financed business
• Consult on key business issues with confidence
• Enter data quickly and accurately
• Prepare payroll like a seasoned pro
• Avoid costly IRS penalties
• Spot and avoid dangerous trends before they become tragedies
• Save a company thousands of dollars in auditing costs
• Prepare a loan application package
• Make positive change happen!

The PB Program will teach you how to do all that and more. In less than 60 hours you can receive professional certification that demonstrates your expertise to potential clients. You will be able to do for them what few other accountants could do. The only thing left for you learn would be maketing.

The Universal Practice Builder Program

Marketing strategies, promotional campaigns, advertising techniques. Those are generally things accountants are unfamiliar and even uncomfortable with. Knowing how to appeal to your particular demographic will enable you to create a marketing approach that is successful, lucrative, and productive.

The Universal Practice Builder Program will help you do that by equipping you with 12-proven marketing strategies that will enable you to secure 15 to 25 qualified leads per month. You’ll also learn how to prepare instructional seminars that will enable you to demonstrate the value of your services to prospective clients. In addition, for three months you’ll have access to a personal coach who will help you apply the things you learn while setting and achieving your business goals. Not to mention, all this comes with a guarantee that you will earn $30,000 more in annualized billings in just 12 months!

Again, what are you waiting for?

It’s time you took action! Pursue your dreams, start that practice and take a bigger piece of the pie. Go on! You deserve it. Enroll now.

Whether or not you realize it, you take risks every day. Driving to the store to get groceries is a risk. Ordering something online is a risk. Deciding to supersize your drive-thru meal can be risky too.

Some are terrified of risk while others live for it. If you’re an entrepreneur you’ve already taken some fairly hefty risks and have lived to tell about it. If you have dreamt about becoming an entrepreneur but are still waiting for the right time, chances are you’re wary of risk.

Often it just takes a little time to examine the risk and determine whether or not it’s worth it.  In his blog on Entrepreneur.com, Brian Tracy discusses the five different types of risk:

1. The risk that’s not yours to take.

Whether the risk belongs to your spouse, your brother or your business partner, this risk is the easiest to deal with because it’s not yours to take. While it may impact you in some way, you are not in a position to own this risk and must let the proper party take responsibility for it.

2. The unnecessary risk.

Unfortunately many take risks they believed were necessary only to find out later they were not. This is often the result of reckless decision making where risks are taken without first being studied. The results of taking an unnecessary (and thoughtless) risk can be devastating.

3. The risk you can afford to take.

When studying a potential risk you must weigh the cost of the risk against its potential for success. And monetary cost isn’t the only thing you must consider. How much time and energy with the risk consume? The same applies to success. While you should definitely be interested in the monetary return you may see, you should also consider how the success will impact your state of mind and personal satisfaction.

4. The risk you can’t afford to take.

This type of risk should be avoided. Again we stress the importance of studying a risk before making a decision. Often it’s only in running the numbers and weighing the pros and cons that you can determine the risk is much too pricey for you in your current situation.

5. The risk you can’t afford not to take.

And then there are those risks that have a potential payoff that’s too significant too ignore. Not only can you afford to take this risk, but you would be crazy not to. The more experience you gain studying out and taking strategic risks, the more skilled you will become at recognizing these valuable opportunities.

For those of you who have considered starting your own accounting practice, Universal Accounting Center is happy to tell you that doing so is probably a risk you can’t afford not to take. Rated as one of the best of the best home-business opportunities by Paul and Sarah Edwards in their book The Best Home Businesses for the 21st Century, a bookkeeping service is not only an inexpensive startup, but it’s a business with a huge potential client base.

When you enroll in the Professional Bookkeeper Program you learn everything you need to know in order to get started. But if that’s a risk you’re still not sure you can afford, you can learn more before making this important decision.

Purchase our video, Start Today and Have Your Own Bookkeeping Practice, for less than ten dollars and discover all you need to know about this venture. We can promise that it won’t take long for you to determine that starting your own bookkeeping practice is a risk you can’t afford not to take. Order the video now and decide for yourself. Or watch it online for free!

References

Tracy, Brian. “Taking Small Risks.” 9 July 2008 Entrepreneur.com

Dare to Begin

“All Glory Comes From Daring to Begin”
-Anonymous

President Thomas Jefferson’s had the vision. But it was up to Meriweather Lewis and William Clark to make it happen. Their challenge: explore the Missouri River and find passage to the Pacific Ocean.

This presented a pretty daunting challenge over 200 years ago. Fortunately for the budding country, Lewis & Clark didn’t fear that challenge.

To prepare for the epic journey, Lewis studied everything he could on botany, celestial observation, zoology and medicine. He spared no effort to prepare for the journey that for several years would separate him from the comforts of home.

Suffering many hardships, Meriweather Lewis and William Clark finally made it to the Pacific Ocean. On November 7, 1805 they saw their first view of the rugged coastline of what is now Northern Oregon.

“Chance Does Nothing That Has Not Been Prepared Beforehand.”
-Alexis de Tocqueville

Like Lewis & Clark, our personal and professional success is not a matter of chance. It is a matter of preparation. What prevents you from preparing for the lifestyle you and your family deserve?

Don’t Let These 4 Obstacles Keep You From Your Dreams

1. You Need Specialized Skills and Knowledge- You might be thinking, “I’m not an accountant, can I really do this?” The answer is, yes. Whether or not you’ve ever worked in the accounting field before, here’s some good news. Universal Accounting’s Professional Bookkeeper Course fully prepares you with everything you need to know to do small business bookkeeping. In fact, you’ll become a small business bookkeeping expert.With all the tools and information to help business owners keep their businesses profitable, you will be a valuable asset to any business. If you don’t have previous experience in bookkeeping or accounting, you can still do this. With basic math skills, you have the building-blocks for a successful bookkeeping and accounting business.

   At Universal Accounting, we believe that hands-on learning is hands-down the best. With DVD and textbook instruction as well as practice sets of actual bookkeeping records, you’ll experience doing actual books for several small businesses during your course work. From a frame shop to a convenience store, you’ll have the skills to help any small business. From accounts payable and receivable to payroll, you’ll have the specialized skills to succeed.
   
   

2. You Need to Make an Investment in Time as Well as Money- Unlike Lewis & Clark, it won’t take several years to finish the Professional Bookkeeper Program. If you devote a couple of hours every night, you can be finished in as little as 4 weeks.And because you can reasonably expect to earn $30 to $60 per hour with the skills you’ll learn, the $1485 cost of the program quickly pays for itself. To make it simple and easy, we offer the option of purchasing the course with a credit card or with no-hassle student financing. In fact, if you can put as little as $145 on a credit card, you’re already approved.

   Whether you choose to pay for your course with a credit card or to finance, you’ll find the Professional Bookkeeper Course a great value. In all my searching for a better bookkeeping and accounting education, I haven’t found anything that even comes close to the value of the Professional Bookkeeper Program. Even franchise opportunities that can cost up to $80,000 just to get started don’t provide the training and real-world business knowledge the Professional Bookkeeper program provides.

   However, the real value of the course has nothing to do with what it costs. The real value is in it’s ability to create the income and lifestyle that you and your family want and deserve. Once you’ve completed the course, just follow the step-by-step marketing program to earn an aggressive income. Finally, get paid what you’re worth.

   What’s more, it only takes two hours or less per week to service a client, for which they’ll pay you $300 per month! So even if you are want a supplemental income, you can start small and and gradually increase how many clients you want to take over time. For many, once they have 10 clients, they make more in their part-time bookkeeping job than they do in their full time job. Then you get to decide, “Do I fire my boss now?” Keep your full-time job or really increase your income by building your business full-time, it’s up to you. And personal choice and freedom are the among the best benefits owning your own business has to offer you.

   Learn How to Make $35 to $60 Per Hour as a Part-Time Small Business Bookkeeper

3. Your Investment in Time Will Pay Big Dividends- Most of us feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day. The Professional Bookkeeper Program will teach you everything you need to know to make the most of the time you spend servicing clients to generate the most income. By prioritizing your time and energies, you’ll not only be able to generate an enviable income. Most importantly, you’ll also have the time to enjoy it.Dedicate 60 hours to your future. That’s all it takes to complete the Professional Bookkeeper program. A huge advantage of distance learning is that you can learn at your own pace. By dedicating a couple of hours each night, you’ll finish in less than a month.

   According to the University of California at Berkeley, Americans spend about 3 hours every day watching Television. Learning the skills to earn $30 to $60 per hour might cut into some TV time for a few weeks, but the earning potential of this powerful business more than justifies this small sacrifice.

   Let’s talk about the potential to maximize your time and multiply your earnings for a minute. If you presently make less than $15 to $30 per hour, I’ve just introduced you to something that can double your income. What I’m really saying is you can either make twice as much as you do now or work half-time and make the same income you do now.

   Click Here to Learn How to Make More Money in Less Time

   The Professional Bookkeeper program not only teaches you the ins-and-outs of small business bookkeeping, it will teach you the most efficient ways to service your clients in the least amount of time. You’ll learn the tricks-of-the-trade experienced professional bookkeepers use to squeeze the most out of every minute. Tools like the Client Organizer help you and your clients streamline your workflow so you spend less hours working and more hours doing the things in life that are most important to you.

4. You Need to Walk the Walk if You’re Gonna’ Talk the Talk- We all know people who talk a good game, but when it comes time to actually do something, well… they don’t. Thomas Edison said, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”If I told you building a your business won’t take a commitment on your part, you wouldn’t believe me anyway. You will need to be determined to make this a success. But you should know, you really can be successful at this business. I say this because I have seen it happen. If you haven’t looked at what some of our successful graduates have to say about the Professional Bookkeeper program yet, click HERE to see what this program has done for so many others.

   The Professional Bookkeeper program, unlike most distance learning courses available, is presented in an easy to understand and accessible way. With DVD instruction and hands-on learning activities, you’ll experience a perfect learning environment. We believe that hands-on learning is hands-down the best. That’s why as a part of the Professional Bookkeeper program, you’ll do a sample set of books for several small businesses. When you learn by doing, you retain the knowledge much better. Working with clients, you will find yourself saying, “I can do this. I’ve done it several times before.” Only this kind of practice gives you that level of confidence.

   But that’s only the beginning. As part of the Professional Bookkeeper program, you’ll have a personal coach to help with your questions and keep you motivated as you learn the nuts-and-bolts of small business bookkeeping and accounting. In fact, we measure our success by how successful you become. Of course, we can’t do it for you, but short of that, we’re here to help you every step of the way. In no time, you’ll become a small business bookkeeping and accounting expert.

Don’t Forget the Universal Accounting 100% Money Back Guarantee

I have never taken a college course that offered a guarantee. But Universal Accounting Center does.

Universal Accounting’s Ironclad 100% Money Back Guarantee

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

So, What’s Holding You Back?

“All Glory Comes from Daring to Begin.”

There has never been a better time to start a professional bookkeeping and accounting service than right now. The Professional Bookkeeper program gives you the tools to teach you everything you need to know to make your business a success.

You really can experience the personal and professional rewards that come from owning your own bookkeeping and accounting practice. Let me show you how achievable, profitable and easy it really is.

A Great Deal On the Most Complete Small-Business Accounting Training Available Anywhere!

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 and Planning to your Financial Services business at some point, you get a great price by purchasing both programs as a bundle.

Start Today!

The Professional Bookkeeper (PB) program consists of video instruction, practice books, and manuals.

550,000 New Opportunities for Bookkeepers Every Month

550,000 new businesses… Wow! A study, sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, showed that the number of small businesses in the U.S. grew by 550,000 per month from 1996 to 2004, despite swings in the economy.*

If you’ve ever thought of making a change in your life… now is a great time.

I know there are many opportunities out there, but there are lots of advantages to a owning your own professional bookkeeping business and I’d like to spend a few moments with you to discuss them. If a recession-proof business and the opportunity to make $30 to $60 an hour appeals to you, read on.

Small Businesses Are Required by Law to Do Accounting

This is a great opportunity for you. In fact, the US Department of Labor predicts that as the economy grows, the number of business will increase, requiring more accountants/bookkeepers to prepare taxes, set up books, and provide management advice. As these businesses grow, the volume and complexity of information developed by these professionals regarding costs, expenditures, and taxes will increase as well.

They go on to say that the increased need for qualified bookkeepers and accountants will rise from changes in legislation related to taxes, financial reporting standards, business investments, mergers, and other financial matters.

Many entrepreneurs who start a new business don’t understand the ins-and-outs of the accounting process and need the skills of a qualified bookkeeping and accounting professional. Allen Bostrom, President of Universal Accounting and author of, In the Black: Nine Principles to Make You Business Profitable, suggests that you should have one accounting professional for every 10 employees.

He also suggests that if you have less than 10 employees, you should contract with a freelance bookkeeper to prepare your bookkeeping records each month. The need for skilled and qualified bookkeepers who provide valuable advice and direction for small business owners has never been greater. Mr. Bostrom calls these professionals, “Profit Experts.”

Wanted! Profit Experts!

There are several advantages to owning your own small business bookkeeping business and not the least of these is the ability to earn an incredible income! Let’s take a look at some of the reasons that you should consider this lucrative business.

• You will earn a better income. If you’re like most people, you’ve spent a good deal of your life working for someone else and putting money into their pocket. Wouldn’t it be nice to earn the same type of income your boss does? Would you like to do better than that? With a career in professional bookkeeping, you can. With the right training, you’ll be able to bill $30 to $60 per hour or more for your services.

• You will be your own boss. Working for yourself can be one of the most rewarding things you can do. You’re in a position to provide for yourself and your family the type of lifestyle you deserve.

• You will create a stable income. You might be thinking, “Owning my own business can provide a stable income?” “I thought it was just the opposite.”

Let me assure you…it sure can. If you plan and use a proven strategy for success, you will be able to create a very stable income and a very comfortable lifestyle.

In years past, you could work in a big corporation and find all the security of lifelong employment, but those days are over. Because of corporate restructuring, layoffs, downsizing, and countless other reasons, many people have found that the career choice they thought would lead them to a secure future didn’t.

But don’t despair; you can experience that security by being in business for yourself. You just need to make the right choices.

• You can enjoy increased tax benefits. When you own your own business there are a few perks that the average employee doesn’t get to enjoy. There are many things that you can either partially or completely write off as tax deductions. Your car, your home office, your computer and your office supplies to name just a few.

I Don’t Have Any Experience in Bookkeeping … Can I Really Start a Bookkeeping Business?

Absolutely. There is no question in my mind. Thousands of people just like you are finding the interesting and rewarding business of small business bookkeeping is the perfect business for them.

Many of these folks are people just like you and me, people without a background in bookkeeping, but with the right education, they are finding their professional bookkeeping business to be one of the most rewarding things they have ever done.

“That’s all fine and good, but how can I know for sure?”

The first step is to evaluate your own strengths and weaknesses. If you follow the link below, I’ve included a short questionnaire that might help you determine for yourself if a professional bookkeeping business is right for you.

I’d Like to See if a Professional Bookkeeping Business is Right for Me

If you’d like to learn more about starting a professional bookkeeping service, just click on the link below and you’ll find all the information you’ll need to create a profitable and beneficial bookkeeping business.

Okay… Show Me How to Start a Professional Bookkeeping Business

*The study, conducted by Robert W. Fairlie of the University of California, Santa Cruz, who drew on Census data and Bureau of Labor Statistics for the study, indicates that entrepreneurship in the U.S. has remained relatively constant over the past 10 years.

Let Your Fingers Do the Walking

Why Your Local Community Would Probably Welcome Your Accounting and Tax Practice

If you clicked on this article, we’re guessing that you’ve been thinking about starting your own accounting and tax practice. But you want to make sure the planets are aligned, that you’re sufficiently prepared, and that your community can support another accounting and tax practice.

We have an exercise for you. Follow these directions to see how one more accounting and tax practice might fair in your area:

1. Take out your local phone book.
2. Look up “Attorney.” How many pages of attorneys are there? Make a note.
3. Now look up “Accountant.” How many pages of accountants are there? Make a note.
4. Now compare the two numbers and ask yourself the following question: Which services would the small business be in need of more, legal services or accounting services?
5. Now ask yourself: If your local community can sustain that many attorneys, and we’re guessing the number of accountants is significantly less than the number of attorneys, don’t you think it could sustain one more accounting and tax practice (especially if it’s as good as yours will be)?

Your Niche Market: The Small Business

Small businesses need good accountants more than they need good attorneys. In fact, by the time they need an attorney, we’re guessing their need for your services is long past gone. And while the business owners may need a little coaxing to realize just how valuable a good accountant and tax preparer can be for their business, once you’ve won them over you’ve generally earned a client for life.

Nearly 50% of small businesses fail within the first five years of start-up. Much of this failure can be attributed to poor financial management. Unfortunately for them, most of the accountants trained in a university setting have been prepared to work for big corporations. You can imagine that small business accounting is a different animal (or math problem, so to speak).

Universal Accounting Center (UAC) Knows Small Business

For more than 25 years UAC has been training individuals like yourself small business accounting. Our mission statement reads: To equip students with the education, skills and confidence needed to enjoy a successful career in full-charge accounting, bookkeeping and tax. And not only do we train our students in the practical application of these accounting skills, we also teach them how to market their unique services (because let’s face it, accountants and tax preparers are generally not skilled in marketing).

The Professional Bookkeeper Program

The Professional Bookkeeper Program was designed specifically to address the needs of small businesses, and Universal Accounting offers the most complete small business accounting course anywhere. Not only that, but UAC teaching you effective marketing techniques; you’ll leave the program with small business knowledge and skills and the ability to promote those things to potential clients! You’ll have the ability to earn the Professional Bookkeeper Designation which 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 Professional Tax Preparer Certification

We trust you could start a successful accounting practice without adding tax services, but the truth is you can charge 100+ per hour preparing individual and business taxes. That’s an incredible income boost during tax season and throughout the year for those clients who need any tax consulting or tax planning services. Why not increase your income by becoming a full-financial service provider? You will quickly become a one-stop shop for those clients who need you do more than just their bookkeeping.

The Professional Tax Preparer Certification is a nationally recognized designation. Countless individuals are scammed each year by people who claim to know what they’re doing. And more and more are becoming leery of tax preparers without any credentials. This exam will enable you to earn the Professional Tax Preparer Designation which 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

Intuit has captured the market in accounting software used by small businesses. Nearly 80% of small business owners use their Quickbooks software. 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. You may well call it a lifesaver. With these QuickBooks skills you can offer setup and consultation services to your menu, increasing your value to potential clients.

So what are you waiting for? In the time it would take you to finish a more traditional training program (and one geared towards the big business), your business could be up and thriving! Besides, if you wait too long, that list of accountants in your local phone book will just get longer.

If you enroll in these three programs this week you will get a special discount: an exclusive offer for our newsletter subscribers.

Order Now!

Get Yourself Positioned for the Right Accounting Career Move

Having a successful business hangs on two things: 1, offering a service that’s in demand, and 2, finding clients willing to pay for that service. If you’re finding that your service isn’t in demand, and if you lack marketing strategies to promote your business, you need to revamp your business now!

Accounting: A Sure Profession
Does this sound familiar? You have been working for your employer for some time and have continued to wonder what it would be like to be your own boss. You enjoy working the numbers for businesses and you know you could be doing the books for more small businesses in your community. But do you have the proper training? Do you know how to get that account or accounts that you would need to have? Is there any way you could make sure you have all your bases covered?

The accounting profession is booming, no doubt about it. In an article entitled “A New Outlook on a Timeless Profession,” Robert Half International states the following: “Hiring skilled accounting and finance professionals will be increasingly challenging in the coming years. Existing business demand, combined with the expected retirement of millions of baby boomers, will shrink the pool of available talent.” If you are a bookkeeper or accountant, you are part of that talent pool from which countless businesses will look to fill gaps in their organizations. And recent corporate scandals have caused many businesses to look for bookkeepers and accountants they can trust, and typically that implies certification. When they can’t hire a full-time bookkeeper they feel comfortable with, they will look to freelance bookkeepers with trusted credentials. So there’s no question that accounting services are in demand. But do you have trusted credentials that potential clients are looking for? Universal Accounting has you covered!

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

• Accounting Made Easy

• Practical Small Business Application

• Advancing Your “Account-Ability”

• Building a Successful Accounting Service

In less than 60 hours you could complete all four modules and be on your way to a successful accounting practice with a certificate to hang on your office wall. Training that you can finish in in less than a semester at the local university, which is designed for what you need to meet all the accounting needs of a small business. That’s much more appealing than 4 years on a university campus. You can be applying what you learn in real time, for as many clients as you wish to!

Marketing: Building a Successful Accounting Service
Every business, regardless of what it sells, is in the business of marketing. If you’re not selling your business, your business isn’t selling. Most accountants find themselves flustered when it comes to promoting their business; they feel more comfortable with numbers than they do with marketing strategies. That is why we have designed the Building of Your Successful Accounting Service strategies and tactics to work with that personality type. The more outgoing you are the quicker you can see your success. You need clients, and Universal Accounting Center can help.

UAC’s Start Today Video
As we mentioned, UAC has developed this training program for the maximum effectiveness to what you want to accomplish in the accounting field. Click Here now to get started on the path of success and watch the video online! You could work for years on a marketing plan, hitting and missing, only to find your business growing at a snail’s pace. Imagine learning which marketing strategies work in just hours!

You tired of waiting for that day when you are going to make that difference happen in your career? Click here to get better acquainted with the Professional Bookkeeper’s Program at Universal! Isn’t today a great day to find out more?

The Modern Bookkeeper-The Small Business Profit Expert

What is Today’s Bookkeeper Really Like?

“Our Song is the Star Spangled Banner.” That’s what my good friend said. His wife couldn’t believe that was his answer to what romantic song left him “weak-in-the-knees”. Now, every time I’m at a baseball or basketball game and they play the Star Spangled Banner, I lean over to my wife and say, “That a boy, [name omitted].”

Of course,he and his sweet and understanding spouse must remain anonymous. I don’t think she would ever forgive me if I revealed his identity, but yes, he is a member of the accounting profession.

Despite his apparent lack of romance, he is not the dull, bean-counter caricature that has followed bookkeepers and accountants around for years. In fact, he has a really great sense of humor, is a very savvy business man and a great friend.

In my opinion, he is the perfect example of what today’s bookkeeper or accountant is really like. I’d like to share with you some of the traits that I think are critical to the modern bookkeeper and how these traits will help you grow your bookkeeping and accounting practice.

The Green Visor is Gone…

• He is a Likeable Fellow- The first real “accountant” I ever knew was my dad’s accountant. He was a grumpy old guy who never smiled. I don’t think anyone enjoyed being around him, but he was very good at what he did, so we all put up with it.Today, being good at accounting is not enough. The modern bookkeeper is a likeable person who communicates and works well with both clients and co-workers. If you like people and enjoy working with others to solve problems, you have the perfect personality to be the modern bookkeeper.
• He Knows About Other Stuff Too- I’ve noticed that my friend is informed about the world around him. Although his taste in romantic music is somewhat lacking, he is pretty well-rounded. In fact, we hardly ever talk about accounting when we’re together. (Despite the fact that we both work in the accounting field.)If you have interests outside of accounting, that’s a good indication that you will be able to communicate and relate to your clients on a more personal level. After all, that personal connection is what will keep your clients working with you instead of finding someone else who is more personable. Your personality is a unique advantage over your competition.
• He is a Very Savvy Marketer- I don’t think he started out that way, but he knows marketing. He has spent the time to educate himself on the best ways to find and keep clients. He stays up-to-date on what marketing methods work and how to apply them to his business.If you are willing to learn the secrets that will help you find clients and make your business grow, you are well on your way to a successful bookkeeping and accounting practice. It’s not difficult and will pay big dividends as you grow your practice.
• He is Obsessive About the Details- It’s often the little things that make the most difference. When it comes to his career, he is relentless with the details. Of course, he’s human, but he pays attention to the little things that will make the difference in profitability for his clients and himself. He’s more than just a bookkeeper, he’s a profit expert.He is very successful in business because he is not casual about anything that goes on inside his business. Paying attention to the details will make your business grow and prosper. In fact, your clients are hiring you to pay attention to the details.
• He is a True Professional- I don’t think I have ever seen him in the work environment when he didn’t look like a complete professional from head to toe. He dresses professionally. He carries himself professionally. And exudes confidence and capability in his very demeanor. You know he will get the job done for you.In the business world, perception is reality. If you don’t look like a professional when you meet your clients, they won’t have the confidence to trust their business financial records to you. You may be the best bookkeeper in the city, but you have to look like it, or you won’t have the clients you need to grow your business.
  
• He is Technically Proficient- He keeps up to date on the latest computer software and hardware. He’s not afraid of the technology that makes accounting and bookkeeping more and more efficient and accurate all the time. If you’re not afraid to embrace technology as it changes and evolves, you excel as a modern bookkeeper.
• He is a Person of Personal Integrity- His clients and coworkers trust him. He does nothing that would cause anyone who knows him to doubt his intentions or motivations. You can trust what he says because he does what he says he will do.Although this is at the end of the list, I think it’s one of the most important qualities. You will know the most intimate details concerning the companies you work with. As the bookkeeper, you will know the complete financial picture of every business you work with. These business owners will put their complete and utter trust in you.

How Many of These Qualities Do You Posses?

These 7 skills are critical to your personal and professional success. If you exhibit many of these traits, with some specialized training, you’ll do a great job as a small buisness bookkeeper.

Universal Accounting has taught the ins-and-outs of small business accounting for over 25 years. Since 1979, the Professional Bookkeeper Program has taught people just like you and me everything you need to know to do the bookkeeping and accounting for small businesses. From the flower shop down the road to the dry cleaner around the corner, you will have the skills to offer a valuable and needed service.

With over 500,000 new business start-ups each and every month, the opportunites in small business bookkeeping and accounting have never been better. Find out more. Click on the link below and find out for yourself how achievable, profitable and easy it is to start your own bookkeeping and accounting practice.

Click Here to Find Out Why The Professional Bookkeeper Program is the Best Way to Learn Small Business Bookkeeping and Accounting