Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
- What does the course include?
- Will
this course help me if I'm experienced? Inexperienced?
- Will this course show me how to get clients?
- Do I have to buy any particular software to work with clients?
- How long does it take to complete the course?
- What equipment do I need to start a bookkeeping service?
- How long does it take to find clients?
- What types of businesses will the accounting course cover?
- Is there a test and a graduation certificate?
- Can you, or someone else, help me find clients?
- How do I get follow-up support?
- Can I really do this?
- How much will it cost to start a home-based, bookkeeping service?
- I am in the UK; will the techniques work in my country?
- Since everything is done using our computers now, why isn't this class taught using computer accounting software?
- Is this course offered live?
1. What
does the course include?
The complete course consists of four modules which you may purchase individually,
or as a set:
Module #
I: Accounting Made Easy
Four two-hour video cassettes holding 8 fast-moving, entertaining sessions
and a workbook containing over 100 pages of excellent reference
materials and practice sets. With each module you receive one
month of FREE follow-up support. To view the video cassettes, and perform
the work, it usually requires approximately 12 hours.
Module
# II: Practical Business Applications
Four two-hour video cassettes holding 4 incredibly entertaining sessions
and a workbook containing over 200 pages of excellent practice sets,
and reference materials. With each module you receive one month of FREE
follow-up support. To view the video cassettes, and perform the work,
it usually requires approximately 18 hours.
Module
# III: Advancing Your Account-Ability
Three
two-hour video cassettes of 10 great sessions, and a workbook
of over 200 pages. With each module, you receive one month of FREE
follow-up
support. Approximately 20 hours is required to finish this module.
Module #
IV: Building a Successful Accounting Service
If
you want to free-lance, you won't want to miss this tremendous "how-to"
video series on three, two-hour cassettes containing seven information-packed
sessions, and a 200+ page workbook. With each module, you receive one
month of FREE follow-up support. Since understanding the nuts
and bolts of accounting is critical to your marketing work, I suggest
you take Modules # I and # II first.
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2. Will
this course
help me if I'm experienced? Inexperienced?
Yes! Regardless of your background, this course has a lot to offer. Although
this course begins at a basic level, a good portion of those buying
all four modules have accounting degrees. They take the course to learn
all the small business practices that the university and college programs
ignore. Payroll, for instance, is a critical issue to small businesses,
but not included in most four- and six-year accounting curriculums.
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3. Will
this course show me how
to get clients?
The
fourth module will demonstrate a process that has been consistently
successful for thousands of successful accountants and bookkeepers.
Modules
# I, # II and # III will show you what to do once the client
says "Let's
do it!"
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4. Do
I have to buy any particular
software to work with clients?
No. Although there are some that work better than others, my recommendations
may change over time. If I were to identify one well-qualified software
in the course, and then find another that works better, it might be too
late to let you know. So instead, I try to keep you notified through the
newsletter, or through the articles. When you are ready to buy a software,
look at my technology articles. I'll
keep them up-to-date with my most recent recommendations.
Since most accounting software programs work on the same basis as manual
systems, I find that the best training is working the problems by hand.
Then, when you sit down at the computer, it's just a matter of learning
how to move the mouse around.
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5. How
long does it take to complete
the course?
That depends on you. On average, a person should expect to spend 60
hours
taking the course. Some people have completed it within a couple weeks.
Others approach the course more leisurely, and may spread it over two
months. That's the beauty of a video course. You feel like you're in
the
classroom, but work on your own time.
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6. What
equipment do I need to start
a bookkeeping service?
The beauty of an accounting and bookkeeping service is that it doesn't
take a big investment to get started. At a bare minimum, you will need
a calculator (ten-key preferred), and a desk or table. I recommend that
you also have a Pentium III computer, printer, fax machine, and some
type
of accounting software. There are some great articles
that deal with this topic.
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7. How
long does it
take to find clients?
It varies from person to person. Many students find clients, while they
are taking the course, by simply letting people know what they are doing.
If you follow the system taught in the fourth module, you may expect one
client per week, on average. We have had students sign-up all the clients
they can handle in a matter of two months. Others have taken longer.
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8. What
types of businesses
will the accounting course cover?
During
the course, you will do accounting for nine different businesses.
Many of these businesses
provide more than one type of product or service,
so you will be exposed to additional industries as well. Here's
a list of the types of industries covered within the three modules:
retail,
wholesale,
service, dealerships, construction, and manufacturing. Also,
if you buy all four modules, you'll receive two additional practice
sets
for even more practice and experience.
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9. Is
there a test and a graduation certificate?
Upon completion of the course, you will be instructed to take a test
from a web site. Upon successful completion you will receive in the mail
an attractive certificate of completion.
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10. Can
you, or someone
else, help me find clients?
There are prospecting companies that will help you find prospects. I
find, however, that they charge a steep fee for their services, and they
don't guarantee a client. Instead, I suggest you prospect yourself. Not
only will you discover that this is very easy, but it won't cost you
an arm and a leg to get a client.
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11. How
do I get follow-up
support?
With
each module, we will give you a toll-free telephone number that
you may call for unlimited telephone support for one month. This will
give you ample time to complete the course. And, if you purchase
all 4 modules at the same time, you'll receive an additional two months
of follow-up support, for a total of six months. By this time,
graduates
are able to run on their own.
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12. Can
I really do this?
Most people can, and enjoy it. But this business isn't for everybody.
You need to feel comfortable working with numbers AND people. Basic business
math is all that's required to understand accounting, but if you don't
get along with people, you won't enjoy contact with your clients. A good
way to test your abilities with people is look around at your contacts.
If you are one that enjoys your relationship with others, you will most
likely enjoy working with small business owners - they're the salt of
the earth.
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13. How
much will it
cost to start a home-based, bookkeeping service?
You can start an accounting service for under $100.00, but this means
that you'll be doing the bookkeeping by hand. You'll probably want to
buy a computer, printer, and some software (see Articles
for direction on what equipment to purchase). Plus, I suggest you have
a fax machine and a ten-key calculator. You can have a great setup for
under $1,000, and be ready to work.
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14. I
am in the UK; will the
techniques work in my country?
The accounting concepts taught in these courses are universal (that's
not a pun), meaning that you can apply them anywhere in the world. Let's
face it, accounting, as we know it, was first performed in Italy 500
years
ago. Now, the same basic system is used all over the world. So that means
that you can have clients anywhere in the world. However, since the course
is only provided in English, you must understand the English language.
Also, the payroll laws may be a bit different in your country, although
I find that most country's payroll laws are more alike than they are
different.
You can usually pick up the payroll laws for your country from the taxing
body that works with the employers.
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15. Since everything
is done using our computers now, why isn't this class taught using computer
accounting software?
There
are several reasons why we continue to teach the home study video
course "Start Your Own Successful Bookkeeping and Accounting Service" with
manual practice sets. I've listed those below.
- Our
home-study course is not a data entry class. Not too long ago
we put computers in the classroom. But every time we did the accounting
course turned into a software/data entry class, and not an accounting
course. People would turn off their minds the moment they logged
into
the computer.
- If
we were to teach a particular software, you would only become proficient
in that software. With an understanding of the accounting process,
and
what the computer is doing, you can sit down at virtually any software
program and quickly adapt to it.
- Accounting
software is becoming increasingly easier to use. A person
with a good understanding of accounting, and decent keyboard/mouse
skills
can become adept at using the software within an hour or two. Most
programs
even contain tutorials and sample data files. This is not true, however,
if you don't understand the accounting process. If accounting is
new
to you, most people struggle with any accounting software.
- Other
companies provide training in accounting software as we do at
our live training centers. Regardless of how good the course is, many
of the questions are accounting in nature so the instructor has to
refer
the student to an accountant. Understanding the accounting first puts
you way ahead, if you should choose to take a software class.
- Different
individuals prefer different software packages. If we were
to emphasize on particular software system, this course would not be
helpful to them.
- Finally,
there are some economics at play. Accounting software changes
at least once per year meaning that every year the video course would
be "dated." To update the course for the new software would
be a monumental and expensive task. Ultimately, the consumer pays
the
price. The video course would be twice the price we are presently charging.
Incidentally, we do have a a QuickBooks tutorial workbook using one of
the practice sets in the book so that you can do it both ways. If you
would like to know more about that course, call our customer support at
(800)343-4827.
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16. Is
this course offered live?
Yes,
we have training centers in key cities across the United States. If
you would like to locate the training center closest to you please
contact us with the city and state in which you live.
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