Accounting & Bookkeeping & Small Business Forum

[Damu]

Hello Everyone,

I am considering starting my own business. But my husband is in the military and we are not stable. Right now I am in Connecticut but next year I will be in germany. I want to start an online bookkeeping services. I have several question.

When I start my online business will I register my business in CT but once I leave what will happen?

Also I want to do the UA course, do you think that will help me with my online bookkeeping services?

I have so many concerns I just don't know where to start. For instance, what would I need to get my website up and running? What telephone company will allow me to transfer my telephone number to Germany?

So many more question that is overwhelming me.

[stasia2003]

Damu wrote: Hello Everyone,

I am considering starting my own business. But my husband is in the military and we are not stable. Right now I am in Connecticut but next year I will be in germany. I want to start an online bookkeeping services. I have several question.

When I start my online business will I register my business in CT but once I leave what will happen?

Also I want to do the UA course, do you think that will help me with my online bookkeeping services?

I have so many concerns I just don't know where to start. For instance, what would I need to get my website up and running? What telephone company will allow me to transfer my telephone number to Germany?

So many more question that is overwhelming me.


Hello there. Over 90% of my business is virtual plus I have a few local clients but I prefer online work. I wouldn't be too concerned about the phone because you will rarely have to use it with your online clients. The only time I get phone calls is if a potential customer wants to interview me and that's not too often. They usually just communicate with you by email and accept your job proposal based on what you can do for them and at a reasonable rate.

If your bookkeeping skills are rusty or you don't feel confident enough to go out on your own, then take the UAC course. When you're doing virtual bookkeeping, there is absolutely no one there to hold your hand and the customer sure as heck won't know what to do. I have clients that are absolutely null and void of any accounting knowledge. That means they don't realize that I need to have a paper trail for transactions and I need to report everything that goes through the business.

It is a challenge getting started but the key is to find a freelance website that will hook you up with potential customers. As far as having your own website, that won't be really necessary but it's recommended. People don't really go browsing through Google for example to find an online bookkeeper. They usually find someone locally or they find an online middleman to hook them up with someone.

[saturna]

stasia2003 wrote: Over 90% of my business is virtual plus I have a few local clients but I prefer online work.
How does an online bookkeeping business work? I'm just wondering how you access your client's paperwork. Does they ship it to you? Do you download information online?

Thanks,
Sylvia

[stasia2003]

saturna wrote: stasia2003 wrote: Over 90% of my business is virtual plus I have a few local clients but I prefer online work.
How does an online bookkeeping business work? I'm just wondering how you access your client's paperwork. Does they ship it to you? Do you download information online?

Thanks,
Sylvia

They basically communicate with you via email and rarely by phone. They generally fax or scan/email their paperwork to you. Some clients even boldly give you access to their online banking information. My very first online client who is still my client today, just flat off the bat gave me his online banking info. I thought to myself, "Geez, this guy is either bold or just too busy to care." I'm an honest person and I've proven myself to him. But, they rarely give you that kind of access; they prefer to just send you everything.