At present, everyone seems to be freelancing, from accountants and bookkeepers to even bookkeepers themselves. Here are a few helpful suggestions to get you going yourself. Lunafi has conducted interviews with over one hundred experienced freelancers over the last year and designed an intuitive yet easy solution to managing finances of freelance businesses to suit their individual needs and priorities. An exclusive beta group has been testing Lunafi to ensure users enjoy an exceptional experience – Lunafi wanted to ensure you had access to one of the best bookkeeping software solutions for freelance bookkeeping.
Accountants were once expected to maintain an extensive corporate infrastructure that included paper documents archives space, costly software licenses and dedicated servers and meeting rooms, human resources to complete administrative duties such as data entry or filing documents as well as keeping journals; not to mention all the effort, time, space and personnel needed to comply with tax-related and regulatory compliance issues; this took even longer when providing payroll services and producing good management reports for businesses – whereas now with online accounting software even an individual home-based accountant is capable of doing everything by themselves!
Now that most business transactions take place online and data entry doesn’t need to be costly, online accounting systems will capture information as it arises – from bank accounts, invoicing systems and electronic POS systems, right through to expense applications and expense applications. With less staff needed for basic accounting tasks Bookkeepers and accountants working freelance will no longer require assistance in performing their basic duties.
Get online
In order to go online, you will require a reliable Internet connection, laptop and conferencing application (which many can be downloaded for free). Payment processing applications like Stripe or PayPal make accepting online payments simple if selling subscription accounting services.
Connect to cloud software
Communication between client accounts can become much simpler when simultaneously logging into them is possible, enabling you to provide responses within context while decreasing meetings in person. With Smart Cloud’s cloud accounting software you can achieve this and also take advantage of automatic data entry as well as daily reconciliation of bank accounts; payroll becomes simpler.
Create service bundles
Small businesses want certainty around their expenses, and hourly billing doesn’t provide it. Instead, consider negotiating a contract which includes specific services monthly retainer fee such as account reconciliations or posting transactions daily assistance with posting transactions coordinating billing reporting or giving advice about expanding your business.
Use Current Job Posting Websites
Craigslist and LinkedIn job ad websites offer an ideal way of discovering new customers. Many colleges also have pages specifically for jobs – you might even see these posted in your local newspaper! Spend some time searching these websites to identify bookkeeper job postings as well as companies you may want to work for. Furthermore, create your own listing that states you’re available for new clients by creating your personal listing on these job search websites.
One of the many advantages of bookkeeping is being able to find job vacancies all across the UK, since you are an online freelancer work can be completed from any location – which is one of the joys of freelancing! Not all job posts will yield instant leads but they’re great starting points; do some research before reaching out as it may not be ideal for you and always make sure there’s enough work there before reaching out to potential companies.
Increase your revenue per client
Once you’ve established some retainer customers, consider how to market additional services to them. It’s often easier to earn additional income from existing clients rather than trying to acquire new ones; leverage the trust earned through automating accounting by proposing payroll management as well. Offer tax planning advice as well. Take advantage of cloud software’s reporting and dashboard functions to offer clients advice about creating the optimal business strategies – there’s plenty of choices here!
Get free referrals
Cloud accounting can be an asset. Many companies specifically search for accountants that utilize cloud-based software. Find out where customers may be congregating.
Build your digital presence
Your region likely holds many potential clients for you as an accountant; however, there may also be many more available online. By taking advantage of cloud-based accounting software solutions and freelancing remotely from anywhere in the world, geography no longer restricts you.
Hone Your Own Social Media Platforms
Social media can be leveraged to your advantage! At minimum, you should maintain accounts on Facebook page and LinkedIn profile, plus perhaps another platform such as YouTube, podcast or blog for creating content creation. From my initial launch with YouTube even when I didn’t have many viewers initially, I was able to gain more traction than would otherwise be possible – this proved invaluable as an advertising platform and now my bookkeeping practice has numerous clients! As a bookkeeper myself, I often receive inquiries from other bookkeepers or prospective bookkeepers looking for guidance in bookkeeping. Clients also reach out to see if we would make a good team. Since expanding my network has grown steadily and allowed me to form incredible connections that wouldn’t otherwise exist within my city’s limits.
Nowadays, it is easier than ever to be seen online. So why not take full advantage of that fact? I wouldn’t advise joining every social networking platform; rather choose two that you feel most at ease with and trust are used by your target customers. Focus on developing these two platforms to foster communities, increase value and promote your company.
Stay on top of your expenses
Tracking revenues using invoicing and payment applications is straightforward, while expenses often slip under the radar. Be mindful of expenses like phone bills, computers and software costs as well as professional membership dues or hosting for websites directories or advertising. Consult a tax professional if possible in order to take all available deductions.
Find a Bookkeeping Niche
Identify a specific field or subject area where you would like to become an expert, and dedicate yourself exclusively to that topic or discipline. Specializing in specific businesses you are working with will allow you to become more experienced in that particular field, making you even more valuable for business owners. Perhaps, for instance, you are seeking to specialize exclusively in bookkeeping for lawyers. This would involve managing legal books, trust accounts and understanding their billing systems as well as income and expense statements for each firm you meet with – something marketing yourself exclusively towards law firms makes even more valuable!
