As a startup bookkeeping business owner, you need to be aware that it isn’t easy running your own company. At the same time, you shouldn’t make things any harder than they need to be either.
To help make the transition into bookkeeping easier and more manageable for people just starting out in this industry, I have put together four skills that will easily break down what you will need to do as a work from home bookkeeper.
If you can master these 4 things, you will be well on your way to being a top-notch bookkeeper!
4 Skills You Need For Your Startup Bookkeeping Business
1. Gathering Facts
The first thing you will be doing is simply gathering facts. When doing this for your bookkeeping business, you need to act like you are a reporter or a detective.
The only difference is, these are financial facts that you will be dealing with. Then you will simply record all the financial transactions as they come in from that particular business client.
You’re going to record and classify these transactions. By this, I mean putting them in the right categories: utilities, house payment, groceries… the only difference is that you will be doing it for a business.
And then, finally, you’re going to be reconciling that data.
When I talk about reconciling, you are simply going to make sure that everything is perfect. You need to make sure that the numbers are right!
If your client wrote a check for $100, you need to double-check that it didn’t clear for a $1,000… make sense?
2. Reporting
So after you have done all of your fact gathering, the next step is to do the reporting. This is simply putting all the data into financial statements.
There are three different types of financial statements:
- Balance Sheets– These show what the business owner owes (liabilities), what they own (assets) and what is left over (equity).
- Income Statements– These simply show the income coming into the business followed by the expenses. So when all is said and done, you end up with your clients’ net profit.
- Statement of Cash Flow– This basically shows the business owner where all the cash has gone.
3. Analyze Information
Understanding how the three above financial statements work is where you are going to separate yourself from your competition and add tons and tons of value as a bookkeeper.
If you are able to analyze these documents, then you are going to be on the fast track to running a very successful bookkeeping business.
This is where business owners fall off the wagon. They simply don’t understand financial statements. Put your focus on learning the ins and out of them and you will be set.
What you will want to do then is to teach your clients exactly how they work. After all, don’t you think that it is important for your clients to truly understand how they are spending their own money?
In return, they will truly appreciate you as their bookkeeper and the trust and respect for you will grow by leaps and bounds.
You can bet that you will then see new opportunities and leads coming in simply from word of mouth directly from your clients.
4. Be There For Your Client
I kind of hinted at what the fourth one is all about but allow me to elaborate a bit.
It is very important to be there for your client. This doesn’t mean that you have to know everything, and if there was something that you were not sure about you need to let them know that you can find the answer by reaching out to others.
All you really need to do is listen. Many times, business owners want to know that they are being heard. Just take a vested interest in their business and you will have already won.
Show them that you have all the character traits needed as a reliable bookkeeper.
Your ultimate goal is to become almost a good friend with your clients. If you get to the point where they are asking you questions about other things outside of the world of bookkeeping, then you know that you are there!
For example, maybe they have a question about their taxes or it could even be as simple as asking for a little advice about their upcoming graduation party for their child. Now, this doesn’t mean that you have to have all the answers but being able to guide them in the right direction or simply giving your opinion is exactly what they are looking for.
This happens because they have learned to trust and respect you and this is an amazing place to be as a bookkeeper and should be your ultimate goal when all is said and done!
There You Have It… Bookkeeping In A Nutshell
Let me elaborate on the above statement. SUCCESSFUL bookkeeping in a nutshell!
Any bookkeeper can easily learn the first two simply by studying. The last two points (analyzing and just being there) will be what separates you from other bookkeepers out there and will give you a thriving bookkeeping business.
You have to realize that bookkeeping is a relationship business. Simply pay attention to your clients’ needs, look for ways to improve their bottom line, find the answers to any questions they may have, and just be a decent human being that puts them at the center of attention is really all that’s needed to thrive in the world of bookkeeping.
Also, by being a pro with analyzing information and simply being there for them, you tend to be paid very well for your extra efforts. The value that you will be providing will pay you back tenfold!
So What Now? How Do You Become A Bookkeeper?
I have searched and searched for ways to become a bookkeeper online. Sure, you can do the typical and numerous colleges that provide online classes but I can assure you that you’re not going to get everything you need unless you obtain both an Accounting and Business degree.
Even then, you are going to be lacking hands-on experience.
On top of that, you are probably looking at at least a year of classes along with classes that you don’t even need to take but are forced to as part of the curriculum. If this is the way you choose to go about learning bookkeeping and marketing there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
But, in my humble opinion, there is now a much better way! Do yourself a favor and check out my #1 recommended bookkeeping course online to see a much better option.
Not only are you going to learn everything about bookkeeping including effectively analyzing information and being there for your client, but you are also going to learn how to market your services online!
In addition, there is no need to take classes for a year. Instead, this course is designed to be gone through in approximately 10 weeks (depending on the available time that you have)!
Within this course, you are going to master the 4 skills needed for your startup bookkeeping business.
I hope this article provides you with a little insight into was it takes to run a successful bookkeeping business. Please don’t hesitate to drop any questions, comments, or concerns in the comments below and I will get back to you ASAP!