INSIDE: Wondering how to land bookkeeping clients from home? In this article, we’ll cover the difference between virtual bookkeeping business and a remote bookkeeping job and the best ways to advertise your business if you decide to go that route.
In recent years, many members of the work-at-home community have found success in the online accounting industry.
This online profession doesn’t necessarily require any formal training, though you certainly need a passion for numbers and an eye for detail.
This can be a stressful gig. You are helping with the maintenance of the most intimate details of another company: its finances. But, it can also be very rewarding and lucrative. When done correctly, you will inevitably become an important part of another entrepreneur’s team.
One aspect of running a service-based business that most people struggle with is finding customers. There is a lot of competition in the online world and it can be hard to break through the noise and stand out. Today we are sharing some tips for acquiring new CPA and accounting clients.
Virtual Accounting Business vs. Remote Accounting Job
Your first step in acquiring work as a new virtual bookkeeper is to determine whether you will be in business yourself or go the more traditional route of finding a telecommuting job.
With a “job”, you will most likely work with only one company as an employee. They do the marketing and customer onboarding. They assign you projects or clients to work on. There are several companies that routinely hire for remote accounting jobs and even seasonal tax preparer jobs.
While Employee vs. Independent Contractor Positions positions come with certain advantages, eg. Steady job, benefits, employer-remitted income taxes, often compensation. That trade-off is often freedom: freedom to set your own hours, freedom to choose who you’ll work with, freedom to set your own rates.
For that reason, many people choose to start their own virtual accounting business. If you’re willing to give up some of that job security for more personal freedom and satisfaction, here are some tips for getting clients as an independent bookkeeper.
Our top tips on how to get bookkeeping clients from home
Assuming you want to go the business route, the rest of this article will shed some light on how to land bookkeeping clients from home. Let’s go deeper into…
Tips for Creating a Website to Attract Accounting Clients
Your first step in attracting accounting clients is to establish that online presence. It can be a simple one-page website that introduces you to visitors, shares your mission statement, has your contact information, and lists the services you offer. This will allow you to send interested parties to a place where they can learn more about you. You can include this URL on business cards, your email signature, social media profile bios, and more.
How to advertise your bookkeeping services to potential clients
It can be difficult at first to put yourself out there and know how to get accounting clients from home. You may not have a portfolio of customer testimonials. It may be your first time working with a remote client. The harsh reality, however, is that you can’t just put up a website and wait for customers to come to you. It may never happen. You have to hurry. You have to spread the word.
That being said, simply throwing spaghetti at the wall anywhere and everywhere online won’t work either. You need to determine your ideal client:
- Within which industry would you like to work?
- What size company do you feel comfortable working with?
- How many hours would you like to dedicate to each client per month?
- What accounting service or services do you need?
- Do you have a budget?
- What do they sell?
- Where they are located?
- What can you bring to the table?
- What are your values?
By asking yourself these questions, you can narrow down exactly where you want to spend your marketing time and/or money. You don’t have a spare minute if you want to be successful. Cut straight to the point!
The best places to advertise your accounting services
Once you’ve set up your website and know who you want to work with, you’re ready to start reaching out to people. Let’s look at the best places to advertise, which is one of the easiest ways to find out how to get bookkeeping clients from home.
go locally
I always recommend reaching out to your personal connections and the local community first. These are people with whom you can already have trust and rapport. And a small business owner is often more willing to trust someone local if it’s their first time outsourcing.
Let him know first that you have started your own business doing bookkeeping from home and are looking for clients. Ask if they know of any small businesses that need accounting assistance. Go to local business networking meetings. Stop by and shake hands with your small business neighbors.
teach a class
A great way to introduce yourself to potential clients and showcase your expertise is to teach. Many community colleges, trade organizations, and even libraries will open their classrooms to those with knowledge to share. Offer to teach a basic bookkeeping course to entrepreneurs and small business owners. Those who decide that his books are too much for themselves may be willing to pay for his services.
Start a referral program
When it comes to knowing how to get home accounting clients, the best place to look is your existing clients. Maybe they’ve been in the local small business world for a while and know more business owners who need their services. Offer a small reward or discount for referring new customers your way.
online paid advertising
If you’ve maximized your personal connections, it may be time to consider paid online advertising. This can be done through Google, Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms. While this may seem like a quick and easy route, it is often not the case.
You first need to be very granular about who you show your ads to or you could end up spending a lot of money and not see any return. You should also remember that accounting clients give you access to the most intimate part of your business: your finances. This requires a lot of trust. Trust that may not be achievable through an online ad from a stranger.
If you want to step into this pool, do it carefully, on a budget, and with some training.
How to use social media effectively to network with potential customers
Just because social media advertising isn’t right for your new accounting firm doesn’t mean you should avoid it entirely. Social media marketing can be a great place to connect with a potential customer. You can use your social media channel to share timely tips and resources. However, it should be a place to share your experience with a potential customer, not just to spam your target audience.
Final Thoughts on Getting Accounting Clients from Home
I hope you’ve picked up some ideas that will help you on the path to a successful bookkeeping and bookkeeping practice. It takes a lot of hard work and rush to connect with a potential customer, but it’s worth it when you can take that relationship to the next step.
