Accounting & Bookkeeping & Small Business Forum

[uncommonfavor]

I am new here and have contemplated opening my own accounting business for quite a while. I am kind of worried that i will not have enough business since i am not a CPA. I am also not sure i will enjoy doing mundane bookkeeping work. My background is Accounting and IT and I do get work on a regular basis. Is there plenty of business doing accounting and taxes for businesses?. Will a business be willing to pay 300 dollars for such services. Most companies will already have a bookkeeper, so the challenge is having to persuade the companies to make a switch. What i have learnt from this site is that marketing is really tough. Can anyone share with me how to market effectively and how they have been able to tap into the opportunity. I already have a lucrative profession and if i am going to switch to this, i want to do it well. I would like to start part time and then gradually scale it up.

Any help from this forum will be greatly appreciated

thanks

[David]

Businesses want someone to help them lower their taxes and increase their profits. If you can do that, I assure you that they will hire you and pay you.

[Marc Adams]

Hi Uncommonfavor

Your post is amazing! I am in the exact same predicament. I am an computer programmer and work for large financial firms (currently Merrill Lynch). I am not a CPA, nor do I have a degree in accounting. In fact, my complete bookkeeping education came from Universal Accounting.

I took the PB course about four years ago, but have not developed clientele yet. I am going full-bore starting next month however. I don't know if it's going to be successful, but I've set myself up financially to have a full year to try.

I am about to start implementing the techniques that I've learned in the marketing course offered by the same group starting next month.

All of the colleagues that I keep in touch with from the UAT marketing course have not tried the techniques, so unfortunately, I don't have a touchstone to determine success.

But, I'd gladly trade contact information with you to let you know how things are proceeding. Feel free to grab my forum info and send me an email if you wish. I can at least give you details about the PB course and the UAT Marketing Course. I'll be very honest about my opinion of the pros and cons.

[Cicero]

How good an opportunity this is kind of depends on the person. If you are confident in your abilities to work for yourself and willing to follow the necessary steps this is a good opportunity.

[uncommonfavor]

Thanks Cicero for your comment. Are you speaking from experience?. It would be nice to find someone in this forum who has enrolled in the tax and accounting course and who has opened their practice with good success.

[Cicero]

uncommonfavor wrote: Thanks Cicero for your comment. Are you speaking from experience?. It would be nice to find someone in this forum who has enrolled in the tax and accounting course and who has opened their practice with good success.

I have not done accounting specifically, but have succeeded in other businesses. The demand is there and UA provides a LOT of support for starting up. I am a big due diligence guy and did my homework on UA. I am finishing the book keeping courses as we speak and can honestly say I have learned more in a week and a half than i did in any one year of college.

Use the tools and follow the program. I have done marketing myself in the insurance industry and the marketing training is very sound and will be very profitable for you.

The crux is that you must be willing to put the system into action. There are so many people that do something half way and then quit because they are not succeeding. They never know if the opportunity was good because they never give their 100% effort. All my market research syays this one is very good, but you MUST be willing to put yourself out there and chase it.

[Roger]

Here is something more to consider:

Accounting, the Best of the Best businesses

Best wishes

Roger

[pistolmcaction]

I'll tell you what-I've tried many opportunities and this is the only one I have any success at. I took the PB course and the PTP course last year and within 3 months of implementing the program I had 12 new clients and over $5000 in monthly billings.

This program works if you just work it. It's all laid out there for you. Just do it. I see so many times where people just sit there wondering if it will work or not but DON'T DO anything. They figure all the reasons why it won't work instead of following the plan. Hey, it's OK to proceed while afraid.

Let me tell you something else. Universal Accounting is stocked with quality people who really care about your success.. I've gotten to know many of them and they couldn't be more helpful to me when I needed them.

As an example, I recently had a tax question that I wasn't sure of the answer so I called my coach. Do you know that not only did I get a return phone call the next day, but it wasn't even from my coach. It was from Allen Bostrom himself. I can't tell you what a thrill that was.

To alleviate any doubts, let me just say one final thing. Just DO IT. It can change your life in so many ways. It really works. Everybody is a prospect or knows someone who is.

Hope this helps anyone not sure if the program works.

Pete Marchiano

[Lynette]

Hello there, this is my first time posting. I just signed up to Universal Accounting for my office and myself. I just wanted to give some insight and hope to new students or newly graduating students.

I have had my own practice for 8 years. I do have my accounting degree (which we all know that means nothing in the "Real World"), and am an enrolled agent (passing in early 07).

I started my business with 1 yes 1 client and now have a decent sized practice with 2 part time employees. I joined Universal Accounting for the consulting benefits and marketing benefits. I have only watched and read module 4 of the PB set. I already have a wealth of knowledge that I didn't have before. I have been doing all of my marketing myself or paying for advertisement in the tune of about 85K over the last 8 years. I am sick just thinking about how much money I threw away and I am still not where I want to be. I struggle with bills because payments from clients are not paid on time. I do not feel the quality of the clients are there and we are currently beggers that can't be choosers.

However, I have vowed to change my practice around in 2008 even if it kills me. This is my first marketing expense (universal acctg) and the only other expenses will be postage, paper, and new heels for my shoes as I pound the pavement. I am holding myself to a higher standard with regards to selling my services. I am training to become a sales person, a teacher (seminars and employee training), a manager, and a accounting and tax consultant. I don't want to do data entry, I am going to go out and laso in all the clients I can to keep my employees happy, and myself as well.

I am hoping this program will give me the ideas I need to sell my business and so far it is looking very promising. With regards to is there enough work for anyone out there, you would be amazed at the amount of potential clients there are out there. I have a list of over 2000 names for construction, restaurants, and retail within 1 mile from my business and over 5000 homes. There is more than enough business for me. 1-2% is 20-40 accounting clients 50-100 tax clients are great to start with.

Good luck to everyone, you can do it.

[Ahshucks]

Great for you Lynette! Psst .. they're going to turn us into sales people yet .. :) I'll be following in your foot steps this year also.

[QBConsultant]

It is a great opportunity! It is a relatively easy business to start with low start up costs and little investment. It takes time to build the business, but it is well worth it! You can do it!!!

Michelle L. Long, CPA, MBA
Author of: Successful QuickBooks Consulting: The Complete Guide to
Starting and Growing a QuickBooks Consulting Business
http://www.SuccessfulQuickBooksConsulting.com
http://www.amazon.com/Successful-QuickBooks-Consulting-Comprehensive-Starting/dp/1434810690