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Bookkeeping Coach

Tips for Starting your Own Bookkeeping Business

March 06, 20244 min read

You already own the Bookkeeping skills-  

Let us coach you to bankable confidence

Don't let imposter syndrome dim all that you’ve accomplished. Starting your own bookkeeping business is an exciting venture, but it can also come with its fair share of challenges. However, with the proper guidance and strategies, you can turn your bookkeeping skills into a thriving and profitable business.  Coaching will help you own your expertise with credibility and leverage your talents with conviction. Check out this list for helpful ideas for making your first year of business flow smoothly.  

  • Setting up Your Business: 

    • Bank account - Set up a separate bank account and credit card

    • Business Structure - LLC or sole proprietor-Each has its own benefits and drawbacks, so research which one suits your needs best. You can always move form a sole proprietor to an LLc but its much harder to go the other way.

    • Get a professional domain name (make sure it's easy to say and spell) and use your Gmail to create a branded email address for a more professional appearance. 

    • Professional Website - You don't have to spend a lot of money here - start simple with a DIY and you can grow from there. Mostly - folks want to verify who you are and that your website aligns with what they are told.

    • Get QBO Pro Advisor set up with your professional email.

  • Quitting the Day Job:

  • Get ready to strut out of that day job with the kind of confidence that'll make heads turn. But first build a financial cushion to cover you for around 3-6 months during the transition. Be realistic in what you need to maintain your life!

  • If you have already left your day job, utilize platforms like our private Slack Channel to find potential clients and short-term projects to kickstart your business.

  • Pricing Your Work: Pricing your work takes some time and effort.  Each client is unique, and you should evaluate them as such.  Consider the complexity and not just your “time.” 

    • Hourly pricing - if you are catching up or fixing a file 

    • Monthly flat rate after you have a good feeling about what the client’s monthly needs are

    • Packages - You may consider a “package”  if you have someone who does not want ongoing work but wants something specific, like moving from QB Desktop to QBO and then some training.   Or perhaps someone just wants you to help set up their new business and give you some basic training and helpful hints. You could set up a 4-hour package for a fixed amount. 

Bulls eye

  • Free Tools to help you 

    • Use Calendly to set up appointments. You get one type of appointment for free. Let that one be for 30 minutes, and you can always add time to it. But learn to keep meetings short. 

    • Set up QBTime (free) to track hours per client.

    • Gmail: Set up and organize folders to keep your inbox clean. For improved productivity and focus, have your “promotions and newsletters” go to one folder and skip the inbox. 

    • Canva - Open a free account and create a logo, blog covers and social media posts.  It is much easier than you think!

    • AI - sign up for a free AI account to help with social media, email templates, and correspondence. (We like Chat GPT or Claude AI) 

    • Grammarly—Sign up for the free version and add it to your browser. It helps you catch those pesky grammatical errors, making you look like an English teacher! 

    • LinkedIn—Get your profile updated and add a background you created from Canva. Believe it or not, folks go here to review your credentials, and having it up to date will help them choose you over someone else.

    • Bookmark QBO updates so that you can check them quickly and stay up to date on what's going on in the Intuit world. 

  • Gaining Confidence:

  • Practice assertiveness and learn to confidently convey the value you bring to clients.

  • Confidence means making boss moves, owning your financial future, and feeling good about the services you provide for your clients.

  • Monthly mentoring for your mindset will help here. We'll transform you into a confident bookkeeping pro that clients can't resist.

  • Financial Freedom:

  • Confidence and experience is your ticket to attracting high-paying clients. 

  • Set financial goals and develop a plan on how to get there. Let us assist you in reaching your goal of financial freedom by monthly mentoring and coaching from folks who want you to succeed. 


Remember, starting a business is a journey, and with the right mindset, tools, and support, you can turn your bookkeeping skills into a successful and rewarding venture.

Lynn Talbott

Lynn Talbott recently sold her Bookkeeping firm after 12 years and is now a professional bookkeeping coach providing bookkeepers with training, a bookkeeping support group, and individual coaching. “Master the keys to success and reign in your career with me!”

Check her LinkedIn Profile.

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