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Have you made some “resolutions” for your business? I’m hearing from many fellow bookkeepers who are determined to grow their business in 2012. How about you?

What does that really mean in practical terms though?

The economy is still a bit choppy, and times are changing. But our prospects are VERY bright, especially for those who are moving more toward working with clients on a virtual basis. That is, working from your own office and communicating primarily through the Internet and telephone.

Here’s why.

In a recent, informal survey conducted by FreshBooks (an up-and-coming simple, online bookkeeping software program for service-based businesses) small businesses are turning to technology to boost productivity and flexibility. With that, there will also be a shortage of technical help. And finally, relationships (including those through social media) will be more important than ever for small business success.

Why are these three points significant?

First, it means more and more small businesses are getting comfortable using the Internet to run their daily operations. They need the efficiency of online technology to trim costs and maximize value. This including handling their financial recordkeeping.

That’s great news for us!

If you have been working with your clients by going to their location, you know how time consuming that is and inefficient. You cannot charge full price for your travel time (if you charge for it at all). There are usually interruptions and distractions while working in your client’s office, and you are not available to your other clients, or worse yet, not free to answer calls adequately for potential new clients who want to contact you.

If you’ve already been working with some clients on a virtual basis, the trend toward more online technology and efficiency, as well as mobile team mindset, is fantastic. This is what many of us have been promoting for years. Until now, clients have often been resistant to using online technology to handle their financial records. But that is changing rapidly. Because of the convenience, speed and cost savings, many more potential clients are open to working on a virtual basis to get their bookkeeping handled.

It’s important to note, however, that as the way we work with our clients changes, nurturing relationships are more important than ever for both getting new clients and for holding onto your existing clients. Open and frequent communication is a must to succeed this year! Therefore, building trust and maintaining a strong, positive connection with each of your clients is going to be super important for your business success.

When working virtually, this may take some extra, proactive effort on your part. But in my own experience, creating opportunities to occasionally meet in person with your clients, whether they are local or cross country, goes a long way toward building rock-solid client loyalty.

SIDE NOTE: If many of your clients are long distance, you should have a recent photo of yourself prominently available on your website. Your clients will look at your picture often when they are not able to meet with you face to face.

But there was one other finding in the FreshBooks survey that reveals a HUGE opportunity for us. If you really want to set yourself apart from the vast majority of other freelance bookkeepers. This is REALLY important to success in a tough economy.

Small businesses are in a pinch because they may have discounted their prices to attract new customers. They will find it difficult to raise their prices, even as the economy improves. That’s because people have come to expect lower prices than before the economy went South.

How is this an opportunity for freelance bookkeepers?

As I’ve often mentioned when talking about marketing your services, you need to know where your clients and potential clients are feeling “pain.” That’s because we all gladly spend money on solutions that relieve pain because that equates to high value for us.

So the question is, if small business owners are feeling pain from tight cash flow, do you have solutions that you can share with them to help relieve that pain? Can you explain to a prospective client how to use his financial reports to identify where he can improve cash flow? If you can, you will definitely get his attention and easily justify the cost of your bookkeeping services.

As an example, showing them how to use their financial reports to identify expenses that can be trimmed, as well as what’s working best on the sales side can have a huge impact on their cash flow very quickly. You just need to spend a few minutes helping your clients understand what their financial reports mean in practical terms. And of course, to have financial reports that provide this kind of information, they need to keep their bookkeeping up to date and accurate!

Do you think your clients will value your services if you show them the information they need to run their business more efficiently and increase cash flow?

You will be worth your weight in gold because rarely do bookkeepers or accountants take the time to REALLY help clients in this way. (And the clients who don’t see the value in this kind of service won’t be “qualified” clients for you – so this works as a filter for finding and keeping high quality clients too!)

This year, 2012, is ripe for showing clients how you can help their business succeed – and you will likely find that your business will grow and prosper like never before as a result!

So do we have reason to be excited about what 2012 has to offer us?

You bet! Not only is the trend toward virtual services accelerating, but you are in the perfect position to provide your current and potential clients exactly what they want and need most.

If you’ve been looking for ways to take your freelance bookkeeping business online, work virtually, and set yourself apart from the competition, you’ll want to check into the audio book, “Virtual Bookkeeping Secrets: 7 Steps to Taking Your Bookkeeping Service Business Online”

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Have you started working with your clients on a virtual basis yet?

Please comment and share your thoughts and experiences below.

Recently one of your fellow readers submitted an excellent question about what we face as freelance bookkeepers when working virtually (from your own office rather than on-site in the client’s office)…

“I’d like to know how to address the concern of prospective clients who suspect that they will lose privacy when they outsource their bookkeeping to a back office business service company.  This is ultra important to closely held companies… Will they lose their privacy or are there ways to calm their fears?”

Clients with this concern are assuming that bookkeeping done on-site is more “private” than when it’s done remotely. Privacy is, in reality, more secure when it is done virtually using secure online tools in a paperless environment. But I’ll admit that that does seem counter-intuitive.

Your first hurdle is the client’s perception of what is private. And that really is an opportunity for you to identify whether this is a client that you really want to work with on a long-term basis.

Usually, the reason they *think* their info is safer in their office is because they can see and touch it themselves. They can also see the people who are working with that information. That seems to make sense. But in reality, when using proper online technology, their information is actually much MORE secure when outsourced than when keeping it in-house in the “traditional” paper-based way.

That’s because when appropriate cloud-based applications are used,  their financial information is stored more securely and privately than when it is handled in their office the “old fashioned” way. The biggest privacy risk, in reality, is with the PEOPLE who have access (or could have access) to their financial information, not WHERE those people are working.

Online software (including remote access tools) uses high level security encryption, which is actually safer than how these potential clients are likely handling their info in the office now. Online, only those authorized to see and use the information are allowed access. Security in a typical paper-based office is not so tight.

So how do you “gently enlighten” your potential client?

Ask them if they are comfortable in using online banking. Does that make them nervous? If it does, I’d suggest that this may not be a client you want to engage, unless you are willing to work onsite and and be paid less than your virtual colleagues.

In truth these days, all businesses face privacy risks. But those doing their bookkeeping in the “traditional” way actually are at HIGHER risk (Side Note: If you are handling their financial data, who do you think they will blame first when something goes wrong? Something to consider.)

When attending the Sleeter Conference last month, I learned that a full 33% of businesses experience fraud – usually due to paper checks.

Recently my own business account was subject to fraud. But not because of any online transactions or electronic information handling. It was because of a local vendor who did not protect my data taken from my PHYSICAL business debit card! And today I learned that one of my clients is currently going through the same inconvenience for the same reason with one of his business credit cards.

The reality is, secure online software is actually much safer than physical financial tools.

So, we are left with the last part of our colleague’s question: “…are there ways to calm their fears?”

YES! Use online technology with appropriate security!

When a client recognizes the value of outsourcing their bookkeeping, but needs some reassurance, make it easy on them (and you)!

• Transition them into virtual services one step at a time. The easiest way is with remote services. Their bookkeeping files can remain on their computer and you simply connect remotely to perform the work. (You will need to use digital source documents)
• Use online tools that are secure – don’t email QuickBooks data files or financial source documents. Use a secure file transfer service instead.
• If offering hosted QuickBooks services, use licensed, secure hosting solutions, not your own website hosting account.
• Consider using an online accounting solution by a trusted software company, such as QuickBooks Online for secure, anytime access to your client’s books.

You will need to determine your potential client’s online “tolerance” and choose the level of service that won’t feel “too risky” for them. Most of what they fear is just an illusion. Once they start to see the convenience and the built-in security, they will relax.

Of course, you may also need to accept that not all clients are ready to adopt new technology. When that happens, it raises a big question mark for you.

“Desktop accounting is on the road to becoming obsolete” – Randy Johnston, founder of K2 Enterprises

You need to be clear on WHO your ideal client is. If your outsourced virtual bookkeeping services are not a good fit for a client prospect, be willing to move on. The truth is, everyone is NOT well suited to be your client.

Bottom line – ALWAYS hold fast to the unfailing motto: win-win or no deal. If you do, both you and your clients will prosper!

Recommended Resources

SmartVault – a nearly all-in-one tool for virtual bookkeepers for secure document management and file transfer service that integrates with QuickBooks. You can get a free Lite account to see if it’s right for you.

Insider’s Guide to Your Own Virtual Bookkeeping Business – my comprehensive training course that shows you exactly how to get your own virtual bookkeeping clients in 30 days or less, along with ALL the tools you’ll need for working securely with your clients.

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I’m happy to introduce the first in our brand new series of freelance bookkeeper interviews where you’ll hear from grassroots freelance bookkeepers who are in the trenches building their businesses from the ground up.

This very first interview is about 33 minutes. So take a break, grab your favorite beverage, and sit back and get to know fellow bookkeeper Connie Carlson, who transformed her business dream into her reality.

Connie Carlson

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Technology? The economy? Where are we headed in 2012 and beyond?

Little over a week ago I attended one of the bookkeeping industry’s most well-known events – the Sleeter Conference (aka The Sleeter Group Accounting Solutions Conference) and the message throughout most of the training sessions was very clear:

Desktop accounting is on the road to becoming obsolete!

There’s no question about it. More and more businesses are headed online, especially with the rapid development of mobile applications, the power of “smart phones” and how they now can integrate into popular business software – including (but clearly not limited to) QuickBooks.

The accessibility and sharing of electronic data to conduct business–anywhere anytime–is driving the move toward a truly paperless (and mobile) office with (nearly) zero data entry.

Does that scare you? How much of the services you offer consist mainly of data entry?

The future of bookkeepers will be more focused on managing data flow, not data entry.

Another BIG reason businesses are rapidly embracing the move to the clouds is all team members can instantly collaborate in real time without version problems – think about the hassles we so often must wrestle when coordinating backups, accountant’s copy, etc. Problem solved.

Of course, this means as freelance bookkeepers, our role is changing. Those who are paying attention will seize the opportunities that are emerging and start moving  toward becoming a trusted business adviser now, who cannot be replaced by automation!

I’ve seen the opportunities coming for awhile. And it will only grow now as your clients start to upgrade their business technology. And by the way, this is GREAT news since consultants and advisers generally charge higher fees than bookkeepers.

In using multiple applications to run their business, clients will be best served by using a dashboard approach to instantly get a sense of what’s going on within their business. We’ve also seen this trend in the most recent versions of QuickBooks. Intuit realizes clients want tools to USE their financial information to grow more lean, profitable businesses. (Starting with QuickBooks 2009 they created the Company Snapshot feature)

But QuickBooks and even QuickBooks Online Edition had better watch it’s back!

New cloud-based bookkeeping software is also taking root and we need to pay attention. That’s especially so if you focus on small service-based businesses. A few that I’ll be watching and learning more about for my own business are:

- FreshBooks
- Wave Accounting
- Xero

These are FREE online bookkeeping programs (to start) that small businesses can grow with, are easy, and automatically tap into live banking data to nearly eliminate data entry altogether. FreshBooks even ties into QuickBooks.

But the biggest obstacle on the road of transition to the clouds is the human factor – the learning curve is not so easy to climb for everyone.

In truth, not all clients will embrace the new technology quickly. In fact, some people will downright refuse and resist the changes that are already upon us. While the shift to online is gaining rapid momentum, as Doug Sleeter said regarding the slow or non-adopters, “Some of these people just have to die!” (That was my favorite quote! LOL! )

Side Note: If you are one who resists change, don’t despair. There is a sparkle of sunshine here. You can choose to serve the clients who want to keep doing their bookkeeping the way they’ve always done it. But just realize that this market will continue to shrink (and their business profits will likely slip as well). But they will appreciate you for not forcing them to go online.

For those who welcome the online upgrades, you are positioning yourself and your business to prosper going forward! The highest fees will go to those who step up to lead their clients.

A sobering question: Do you serve your clients, or lead them?

Leaders always get paid more. Your clients will look to you to lead their business into the new way of using online technology to grow profitability. (And younger clients are already there waiting for you.)

Your role will be to…

1. Cobble together the technology that works together effectively for your clients
2. Step into the role of business consultant and mentor

In Summary:

• The speed of online technology is increasing rapidly
• Clients will need your help to upgrade their workflow and efficiency (motivated by the desire to increase profitability) using the new (inexpensive) cloud-based tools

What we need to do now:

• Educate ourselves on what’s now available and emerging
• Use the new online products ourselves
• Learn new skills, including how to build dashboards for clients to manage business more profitably
• Move from the role of bookkeeper to indispensable consultant

As a first step, I’ve created a sort of Virtual Bookkeeper boot camp to get up to speed quickly on the basics called, “The Insider’s Guide to Your Own Virtual Bookkeeping Business.” This program will grow and expand as new tools and technology emerge.

We are entering a new online era. We can’t stop where the future is taking us. But we can position ourselves (and our clients) to use the new technology to prosper. It will be a dynamic process.

So, how do you plan to face new online technology and trends during the coming year?

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Have you hit resistance to transitioning your bookkeeping service business from in-person and on-site to working virtually from your office and through the Internet?

You’re not alone, especially if your clients are primarily small, traditional mom & pop type businesses. In fact, one of the questions I hear most often from freelance bookkeepers who are thinking about taking their business online is…

“How do I deal with clients who are hesitant to start scanning paper documents so they can send me their information electronically?”

Going paperless is not so much a question of technology anymore. To do it successfully, the bigger hurdle is often the human mindset.

The fact is, smaller businesses are usually slower to embrace new technology. They fear change, loss of control and security. It’s just plain uncomfortable to move away from routines that have become familiar.

That’s just human nature.

But as with anything new, the willingness to change usually comes from one of two things:

1. The promise of relief from pain

2. The possibility of gaining of pleasure

We are generally hired to relieve our clients of the “pain” of keeping their financial records up to date, often out of necessity for tax reporting requirements. The more savvy clients also recognize the pleasure of building a more profitable business when they have key financial data available to manage the destiny of their company.

Clients will more readily accept the changes involved in working virtually when they see the benefits of doing so. In other words, much of their acceptance will come from HOW you present the concept of working remotely, especially if it is far different from how they are used to running their own business (i.e., they’re rather low-tech)

With existing clients, a gradual approach will likely be easier for them to swallow. Highlight how it will benefit THEM (time savings, cost savings, and/or other benefits, depending on the technology solutions and methods you use). Come up with a specific transition plan and implementation date. You also want them to step up and participate in the success of the new strategy.

You are always in partnership for mutual success with your clients. So the rewards should be shared for best results.

Your clients will also need your reassurance and guidance until the new procedures feel comfortable and they start to actually see the benefits for themselves. You may want to document and report back to your client on the progress of the transition. Show them “before” and “after” results, especially if you expect a dramatic change in efficiency (i.e., how quickly they receive reports, or the savings that is passed onto them because you are able to do the work in less time)

An easy first step toward transitioning from paper to electronic documents is to suggest that your clients start faxing their information to you. Even clients who are not the most tech saavy usually have a fax machine. This is a gentle way to help them move in the right direction with something they already use.

Of course, for best results on your end, you will want to be using an email fax service yourself (if you’re not already). They are inexpensive and instantly convert faxed documents into PDF files. I switched to an email fax system for this reason several years ago, and it has worked perfectly.

If you’re still using a phone/paper-based fax, you’ll love that using an email fax service immediately eliminates spam faxes too! (It also saves the cost of paper and supplies, so it is cost-effective to make the switch.)

Ultimately, the transition from on-site services to virtual bookkeeping should be a win-win proposition. So if you have clients or prospects who just refuse to embrace online technology, then you have to decide whether they are the kind of client you want to be serving.

There is no right or wrong answer here. Some freelance professional bookkeepers will go 100% virtual (like I have since 2003). Some will choose a mix of on-site and virtual clients. And some will dig in their heels and stick with clients who require on-site services.

Any of these choices are viable. There are still plenty of clients for all of these bookkeeping business models, too. The question is, which fits your business goals? If a client’s needs and yours differ, simply refer them to a colleague who is a better fit. When mutual benefit is a requirement, everyone wins.

Recommended Tools I Use:

MyFax

SmartVault

You Send It Express

If you’re in the process of transitioning to virtual bookkeeping, what’s your biggest challenge in making the change?

If your business has slowed down due to the rocky economy, or just because we’re in the dog days of summer, your thoughts may be turning to how you can bring in more business quickly, or rev things up as we head into the fall.

Either way, if you know QuickBooks well, here’s an easy way to not only get the word out about your bookkeeping services, but expand the services you offer to a wider audience at the same time. All without any hard selling.

The Plan in a Nutshell

Offer to do a health check-up of QuickBooks data files

While this doesn’t sound sexy, it’s something that 95% of all small businesses using QuickBooks really need, whether they know it or not. The fact is, the vast majority of small businesses are NOT using QuickBooks correctly. Some of them have SERIOUS problems with their books that may cause a HUGE problem for their bottom line.

But you can save them from this peril!

Bookkeepers and Dentists

I’ve often compared keeping bookkeeping records up to date like going to the dentist. We all know we SHOULD do it to avoid BIG problems later, but many of us do not eagerly anticipate our next dental checkup.

In this simple comparison, however, we, as bookkeeping experts can take a cue from our dentist friends. They are pretty savvy about overcoming this hurdle and keep a flow of return patients… and revenue… coming into their office!

Yes, they take in patients with toothaches and broken teeth and make big money from those emergency services. But the foundation of their STEADY income is from the patients who are coming back for regular checkups every six months or so.

Why?

Because that’s how they uncover additional work that needs to be done. And their patients appreciate it because it takes care of problems while they are still small.

How do we apply this to bookkeeping and QuickBooks?

Not only can we help clients who have neglected their books and are in trouble because they have a tax deadline looming or some other “urgent” need to get their books straight…

But we can also help clients who have been attempting to handle their books themselves (and will ultimately get themselves into trouble).

How?

Through education, regular check ups and “repair” services.

How to Put This Simple Concept Into Action

1. Offer a free or low-cost “class.”

It could be on something like, “The Most Common QuickBooks Errors that Could Be Costing You a Bundle”

You could teach this at your local business networking groups, to past clients, or even offer it free to clients of local CPA firms who do not specialize in QuickBooks. (That gets you good exposure from two angles!)

2. Present a simple but educational session that lasts 30-60 minutes.

Brainstorm your class content by thinking about all the problems you see whenever new clients come in and their books are a mess. Show them the tell-tale signs of the most common problems as they show up on their financial reports.

If you’re part of the QuickBooks ProAdvisor program, there are also plenty of free QuickBooks training materials you could use for this and other types of QuickBooks-based classes that could serve the same basic purpose.

You want to make them aware of problems that could be draining them of profits that they need to address within their bookkeeping records.

3. At the end of the class, offer a free 30-minute QuickBooks data file check-up.

This should be by appointment and can be done at the client’s site, in your office, or via online meeting. Whatever works best for you is the way to go. The point is to get them to raise their hand and say that they want more information from you, and give you their contact information so you can follow up.

To conduct the check-up, use the Client Data Review tool available in QuickBooks Accountant Edition 2009 and newer. Or create your own diagnostic checklist.

IMPORTANT: The purpose of this “check up” is NOT to FIX problems with the client’s books! You are simply identifying issues found and providing an overall report (I suggest a written report) on how “healthy” their bookkeeping records are.

Discuss your findings with the client and then come up with a mutually agreeable action plan for…

• Prioritizing and addressing any important problems found, including your suggested solutions
• Decide whether or not the client will engage your consulting or bookkeeping services, will need guidance in fixing problems themselves, or require training to avoid repeating the same problems again
• Offer ongoing maintenance with regular check-ups to keep the books in a “healthy” condition (just like dental cleaning & checkups every 6 months!)

This process naturally leads to new client prospects, referrals and more billable work both in the short term, and over a long period of time. You will be remembered for providing this valuable, professional  service!

Even if you’re not a QuickBooks specialist, you can use these same principles to help small businesses assess the overall accuracy of their bookkeeping records, even if they’re using a pencil and paper system.

Using this simple strategy, or some variation of it, will position you as a top-notch expert in your community AND attract high quality clients at the same time.

If you’d like to learn more soft-sell, high-value ways of attracting new clients, then you’ll want to take a look at my NEW Freelance Bookkeeper Marketing course.

It’s the easy way to fill your business with more clients than you can handle, using simple, but powerful relationship-based strategies!

Get more information HERE

QuickBooks is a registered trademark of Intuit, Inc.

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What’s the single most powerful way to grow your business?

Based on my experience over the last 20+ years?

It’s attending live seminars and conferences.

What Makes Attending a Live Events So Powerful?

Most people attend seminars and live events because they want the education the event has to offer. They feel the new information they learn will help grow their business.

The knowledge you gain is one important benefit, no question.

As freelance bookkeepers, we have a need to stay on top of the fast-moving technology changes to work efficiently (and more and more virtually) with our clients, as well as keeping up with the growing list of software our clients are now using on their computers AND in the clouds (with a variety of devices!).

Along those lines, the two most notable annual conferences (surrounding QuickBooks and accounting technology) are:

The Sleeter Conference

Scaling New Heights

If you specialize in a particular niche, you may want to attend other seminars and conferences specific to the type of clients you serve There, you’ll gain valuable training to position yourself as THE expert bookkeeper in a particular industry.

For example, if you love doing the books for professional speakers, trainers, authors and consultants, then you might want to attend the annual convention held by the National Speakers Association.

Another choice is to attend events for entrepreneurs surrounding specific aspects of your business, such as how to market your services more effectively.

Personally, I tend to favor online marketing events, since, as a virtual bookkeeper and consultant, ALL of my promotional efforts are done using the Internet.

But there is another, even MORE VALUABLE reason to attend live seminars than for the educational content!

What Makes Live Seminars Incredibly Valuable?

The people you meet and the connections you can forge. These are what will ultimately grow your business and potentially explode your bottom line.

In-person networking helps you to build strategic alliances and stimulate new ideas that can have a HUGE impact on your business. When you look for ways that you can complement other businesses, build strategic alliances, and make friends in the process, that’s a powerful way to build your business that you just can’t do any other way.

This is true both at events you attend with your peers and those where you will be mingling with potential clients and referral partners.

An example of this for me this year was that I attended the IVAA conference, since there is a definite overlap of virtual bookkeeping with virtual assistance. The connections I made there were both with peers and complementing virtual professionals!

Personally, I’m now “addicted” to attending live events several times a year for the simple reason that I want to re-connect face-to-face with the powerful friends and business partners I’ve made at these events (and continue to build new ones, too!)

In fact, just this year alone I’ll make more than $28,000 from just one client as a direct result of a connection I made at a live seminar!

I can’t promise you’ll get that kind of tangible result immediately from attending just one live seminar. But I can tell you that I have consistently reaped HUGE benefits because of attending seminars and conferences. They have boosted my business in totally unexpected ways that would be impossible otherwise.

How To Get Results from Attending Live Events

While the sad reality is, only the top 10% (or less!) of freelance bookkeepers will make the investment to attend a live conference or seminar, it’s not just attending them that will really boost your business. It’s what you do AFTER the event that is the true “secret to success.”

(By the way, the fact that only about 10% or less of most industries will attend live events is a GREAT reason why you should be one of them! You will be rubbing shoulders and making connections with the best in the field!)

Based on the two main benefits of attending seminars – education and making connections – to maximize your return on investment, you’ll need to…

1.  Implement what you’ve learned

2.  Follow up with the people you connected with

To make that simple, you can use my own cheat sheet, which I created for myself a few years ago.

=> Live Seminar Tips Sheet

Which seminar(s) should you attend?

Here are two coming up that I’ll be attending this fall:

The Sleeter Group’s Accounting Technology Conference – this is all about the cutting edge of technology for the accounting industry. Primarily attended by CPAs, accounting IT professionals and QuickBooks ProAdvisors. Best pricing is by June 30th (TOMORROW!), but even after that date, if it’s your first time attending, let them know I recommended you and save $100

The Jim Boat – though it’s specifically geared toward information marketers, this fun-filled and educational seminar – held on a cruise ship! – is extremely beneficial for virtual professionals who market their business using a website!

If you will be attending either or both of these events, let me know so we can get together in person! I’ll introduce you to my contacts at each of these events, so you’ll be surrounded by friends. Then we can learn new skills and build our businesses together! 

Technology is changing WHAT we do for our clients, along with HOW we do it.

If you are working with your clients virtually… or headed in that direction, your role is in the process of some major changes.

A large part of the bookkeeping role has been to do “intelligent” data entry so that financial records are accurate. But with the improvements in electronic information processing, much of this is being done by computer programs via the web instead.

Think about how banking transactions can be downloaded directly into QuickBooks Online. Or services like ShoeBoxed can scan paper receipts and categorize expenses for you. Even Bill.com has a feature where they will seamlessly get your faxed or emailed vendor bills entered into QuickBooks for you.

And finally, there are new programs emerging that bring all the financial data together, using the Internet, to feed into the bookkeeping records automatically… from banks, vendors and client sales, using online accounting programs like Xero.com.

What does this mean?

Entering data into bookkeeping software is something that will eventually be nearly eliminated (or at least greatly reduced). Does that mean the role of the bookkeeper will also be eliminated?

No. But WHAT we actually do for our clients… and the value we provide… is starting to shift dramatically. We are moving from entering financial information efficiently and intelligently to get it into the bookkeeping records to managing the financial data flow and interpretation of it. We are facing a unique opportunity to assist our clients with getting the real VALUE from what their financial information means for their business. This prepares them for more productive meetings with their accountants for tax and business planning.

In other words, we are growing into the role of assistant / consultant with our clients to help them get the BENEFIT of their financial information for managing business. This is MUCH more valuable than simply doing the clerical work of keeping records updated after the fact so taxes can be filed. Our services are becoming more present and future focused.

and THAT is a VERY good thing for both you and your clients… if you’re willing to step up into this revised role. Of course, with a promotion to higher value for clients comes higher fees, too. It will likely also mean the TYPE of clients you serve will begin to change (improve), too.

So what do these changes mean for you right now?

Be aware that they are coming, and they are taking hold rapidly. You need to pay attention to how your existing clients are reacting to and embracing new mobile / online technology. You also need to choose the changes that you want to support for the future of your own business and the services you provide.

Of course, there will be some clients (and bookkeepers) who will dig in their heels, resist change altogether, and want to keep handling their financial records the same way they always have. If you are one of them, there will continue to be that “old fashioned” business owner who will still need your help… for a while. But know that those clients will be left behind in their market and eventually struggle, and possibly go out of business. How long that will take remains to be seen.

Small businesses are changing HOW they operate because of the major advancements in mobile and online technology coupled with affordable applications… this includes how they get their bookkeeping done.

So the question is, if these changes are coming – whether we like them or not – what will you do to prepare for it now, and how will it affect the way you provide YOUR bookkeeping services in the near future?

I’d love to hear your thoughts, complaints, excitement, or any other reactions you have to where our services are headed and how it is changing our role as bookkeepers with our clients in the months and years ahead.

Please leave your thoughts and comments below.

What better way to kick off the Fall than by getting some useful information on how to effectively promote your business and increase your bottom line?

If that’s what you want, then you’ll want to read this article by my favorite online marketing expert. It cuts to the chase to solve the mystery of effective marketing using the Internet. You’ll find it on this brand new blog especially designed for small businesses.

Small Business Marketing Weekly

Although I’m primarily a freelance bookkeeper and QuickBooks trainer and consultant, I love to learn what makes small businesses really prosper – and apply it to my own business, as well as suggest improvements for my clients’ businesses.

I’ve learned a lot through the MANY books I’ve read and seminars I’ve attended. And the vital conclusion I’ve come to is this: As business owners, marketing is really job #1 for all of us.

That’s what keeps the sales coming in and the cash flowing. And as we all know, cash is the lifeblood of your entire business! No sales = no business.

And I can tell you honestly, out of everything I’ve studied over the years and all the people I’ve learned from whose techniques I’ve actually tried in my own business, there is no one that has given more high value and true nuts-and-bolts information that really works like Jim Edwards.

No one.

So I wanted to pass along this article to you in hopes that it will be as helpful to you, too. It’s a great a big picture reference for what we really must to be doing to pull more business in locally or virtually with our websites (and beyond). This one’s a keeper:

Small Business Marketing Weekly

And it looks like Jim will be writing a series of these helpful articles, going into more depth. I’m definitely going to be following them, so I thought you’d like to know about them too.

Enjoy!

Gabrielle Fontaine, PB
BookkeepingDirect.com

By the way – I’m a long-time member of Jim’s monthly training program, The Net Reporter. As I said, I think he’s the best (and I’m picky!) because he tells it like it is… AND shows you exactly how to market your business effectively online. (My business is proof of that!)

Most of his training, though, is primarily geared toward building an information-product based online business. So I usually have to try and translate what I’m learning to work for my own QuickBooks consulting business.

But this month he’s doing something I’m really excited about… Tomorrow he’s starting a 2-webinar training series entitled:

“Using Internet Strategies on a Brick and Mortar Business”

No translation needed! So I’ll definitely be attending this one LIVE! If you’d like to attend the first webinar on Tuesday too, just join The Net Reporter and try it out for a month (you can get two of these live webinars – replays if you can’t attend live -  AND get access to Jim’s “Fast Track Video Coaching” for less than what most other people charge for a single webinar!) Highly recommended.

The Net Reporter

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That’s the question I’ve been asking.

Like me, I’m sure you’ve heard all the noise about the BIG claims of mega-success by businesses who are using Social Media to promote their businesses. But is it really just that – a lot of NOISE that doesn’t mean a hill of beans in the real world? Or is this an important trend that small business owners need to pay attention to for the sake of their bottom line?

Cut through the hype and find out what the real deal is with social media. Get straight answers from an expert who’s actually doing it and knows first hand whether it’s really just a big waste of time, or if you can truly use it to market your business profitably.

Join me, Gabrielle Fontaine, and my special guest, marketing expert and social media guru, Ely Delaney as we cut through the hype and finally learn…

* How to use social media to build relationships with prospects, customer and referral sources

* How social media is changing the way we do business

* How to easily get up and running on the three biggest and most strategic social media networks

* How to attract quality “friends” and “followers” without getting caught up in the numbers game

* What free automation tools you can use to maximize your reach and save time in the process

* How to avoid getting sucked in to wasting a ton of time keeping up with your social posting

* What NOT to do so you don’t make enemies, or worse, get banned from the social networking sites

* How networking online is not the same as in-person networking

Find out for yourself why such respected business authorities as Inc. Magazine are now saying that Social Media really is worth your time.

Isn’t it time you found out how to put it to work for YOUR business? Now you can, right after you attend this cut-to-the-chase, FREE, get-action webinar.

Join us Thursday, July 8 at 8:00 PM Eastern Time for this LIVE webinar training.

“Social Media” Online Business Networking Basics”

Grab your seat as our free guest right here:

=> Register Here

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