Northern NSW Bookkeeper

[Everyday bookkeeping]

Hi there Room,

Looking forward to the day I can Humblely walk beside you all and say "I too am flying solo". Unfortunitly the Morgage will not let me do that, as i am the sole income earner in my household. But i do see a light at the end of the tunnel and its all thanks to the Coments and Articles i have read on this site.

I started Everyday Bookkeeping Solutions in October 2008 to help my 2 clients as they were struggling to keep me employed as a bookkeeper Insurance, Wages, Super, Tax etc so i suggested they employ me as a contractor (Mainly to keep working with them and recieving an income, Morgage strikes again). and in the first 12 months i have increased my clients to 10. Yeah. All Word of Mouth.

I put my add in the local Directory as i am the only Bookkeeper in my town advertising (and it was cheeper the Yellow) and hoped Clients would keep my phone ringing. Yes i have had tire kickers but no real responce to the add.

One of my new Clients is a Bartercard Member and as of December 09 i am as well. Yes 1 new client responce so far in 2010.

I am still employed as a Receptionist 3 days a week and i am finding that it is the word of mouth that is the best advertisment. I am still to ask the local accountants to see if they can refer me, also ring the local members of the Bartercard group and finally cold call the local business in town. And more importantly to get a webpage.

Im looking into starting a unique business idea, not only provide a bookkeeping service but also an office solution. Usually at EOY or to business who are taking over a business and need to clean out the old files and put in the new Files. Not sure if that will work or how to charge for such a service but in early stages yet.

Lots to do and only small amount of time set aside to read and learn. Thanks to this forum i am more likely to use this time growing my business from words of wisdom and not aimlessly looking for the answers to questions that are so off the path it will take more them bread crumbs to find its way home.

Heres to a year of growth, good clients and happy morgages.
Cheers
Carolyn Slade
Owner/ Manager
Everyday Bookkeeping Solutions
carolynebs@yahoo.com.au

[Chris Bates]

Welcome Carolyn, I know the feeling of that restrictive mortgage

When you're ready to get online, contact me on business-going-online.com and I'll help you out.

Best of luck, keep up the hard work!

Cheers,
Chris

[newby]

Hi there,

How long did it take you to become a bookkeeper? I'm setting aside a solid 12 months to get well versed in bookkeeping. In your experience, do you think this is a realistic goal to aim for?

thanks,
Sean

[TM Accounting]

Congratulations on starting your business and good luck for 2010!

Originally Posted by newby

Hi there,

How long did it take you to become a bookkeeper? I'm setting aside a solid 12 months to get well versed in bookkeeping. In your experience, do you think this is a realistic goal to aim for?

thanks,
Sean

[Emroy]

Congratulations on Flying Solo! (Even if you still have a part time job, your technically still Flying Solo :P)

I would definitely recommend a website. I like to be sold on a product or service before I but it and if I see a add, I'm more than likely going to be going to their website before I make any phone calls. That may be why you've had such a low response rate from your add?

Also, cold calling is pretty freaky ... But it's a great way to introduce yourself to new potential customers. I remember it took me about 6 hours to make my first cold call (I kept coming up with excused of other things that I needed to do) and the first 2-3 I completely bungled! Then I just threw away the script, went from memory and tried to make it conversational, it went fantastically! I can normally get at least 3-4 new clients a week cold calling and I don't spend much time doing it.

Anywho, best of luck! Keep us posted on how things progress!

Jake

[Selene]

Hi Carolyn,

Welcome, I am a fellow bookkeeper but Sydney based.

When I first started I sent all local accountants a flyer and then followed up about a week later with a phone call to introduce myself, no pressure but just to keep me in mind. It was a pretty good starting point and did bring me a two customers which turned out to be about 1 day a week.

I also ask my clients to speak to their accountants about me and that I am looking for more work. You know "Hey did you know my bookkeeper, who is great by the way, is looking for more work, I can really recommend her as she has helped me and my business to grow." They then get a good picture of what you can do, by looking through the clients bookwork and may feel a bit more confident to refer business to you.

Word of mouth is gold..

Best of luck
Selene

Blondes Can Count
Bookkeeping Services

[Brad]

Where in Northern NSW?

I ask because I grew up in the Northern Rivers area. Which leads me to the only bit of advice I can offer:

Get a Website, even a basic one as long as it's informative and useful. Try to get on the first page of Google results. I googled "Everyday Bookkeeping Solutions" and the only first page result you got was this thread!

One of the auto guys on here had some info about good methods to get Google exposure outside of keywork auctions (shop1auto.com.au actually - I couldn't remember but I /did/ remember his claim that 'sydney roofracks' put him in the top 3 and so it was).

A /lot/ of people will go to Google rather than Yellow Pages. I'd hazard a guess that anyone under 40 will use the Internet to find a business (even if they have a specific business in mind and just want a ph# for it) rather than Yellow Pages. A good example of this? How many units can you count which have stacked Yellow Pages books outside the door.

[Everyday bookkeeping]

Originally Posted by newby

Hi there,

How long did it take you to become a bookkeeper? I'm setting aside a solid 12 months to get well versed in bookkeeping. In your experience, do you think this is a realistic goal to aim for?

thanks,
Sean

Ive been employed as a Bookkeeper for 10 years and i did the cert 4 FS bookkeeping in about 3 months. Still waiting on the BAS agents Leglislation. March 2010 Maybe. But yes 12 months is a good time frame and if it happens earlier then even better.

[Everyday bookkeeping]

Originally Posted by Selene

Hi Carolyn,

Welcome, I am a fellow bookkeeper but Sydney based.
Word of mouth is gold..

Best of luck
Selene

Blondes Can Count
Bookkeeping Services

Thank you for the great advice. But an accountant would be more interested in doing it themselves wouldnt they?
Carolyn

[Everyday bookkeeping]

Originally Posted by brad

Where in Northern NSW?

The Beef Capital... Casino NSW about 1 hour from Byron Bay. Nice place to visit as the saying goes.