How did you become a new bookkeeper?
Because of COVID, there have been all kinds of new online programs created teaching people how to create a new career. Have any new bookkeepers gone through these new online programs to change careers? If so, what are you doing to supplement your knowledge/experience? Do you have confidence in what you've learned in these programs and feel you can put this new knowledge to practice?
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I have been in the accounting field since I was 19 years old. I have worked in many industries for small, medium and large companies, both privately held and public. At the end of August I found myself without a job due to the pandemic and I decided that I know longer wanted to be working for one company. I wanted to share my knowledge and experience with small and medium size companies so I started my own bookkeeping business.
Ben Robinson's Bookkeeper Launch is phenomenal! He teaches you not only bookkeeping in the 21st Century but also how to start and market your bookkeeping business. The best part is the Facebook community with thousands of bookkeepers ready to help you out at a moment's notice with questions you may have. Please check their website here: Bookkeeper Launch - Own a 100% Virtual Bookkeeping Business (bookkeepers.com). He has a free mini course to check it out too.
It is worth every penny! I started my business in August 2020 and have 4 clients currently but am still working my full-time job. I hope to eventually make this my full-time job by end of 2021.
I have an accounting degree, but I did Booming Bookkeeping Business with Bill Fumetti. He is a godsend when it comes to going thru things step by step. I learned new tips and tricks on things I thought I already knew. I started my own business because I was tired of all the drama in the office workplaces and wanted to be my own boss and spend more time with my grandkids.
I don't think we can ever stop learning how to become better in bookkeeping, accounting and business. I started my own bookkeeping business after working in the financial industry for the past 21 years. I took college classes, and an accounting-specific program, but never learned how to utilize what I learned in a real-life situation. I took a class to learn QuickBooks, but it didn't teach me the WHY behind accounting. I knew how to do the work, but not how to market myself to get clients, so I felt like there was always a piece missing. I actually started teaching some 1:1 classes on learning bookkeeping from a paper perspective to understand the WHY, then training on how it applies to QuickBooks so you can use the skills in the software, and I give my students some real-life experience in using their skills for greater confidence inside and outside the software. I also teach about marketing and mindset and work+life balance. My students are loving having a perspective of what business is really like, learning hands-on everyday skills, and not just the ideal that you can work from home and earn money after just a short DIY course.
HI I have been operating for 28 years as a bookkeeper. I upped my game about 10 years ago and became an Enrolled Agent. I feel like the combination of knowledge helps me serve my bookkeeping and accounting clients better. I have been jumping into EntreLeadership seminars, Asana Workflow classes, and some lunch and learn with QuickBooks Online - so far this year.
I agree 100% with the Ben Robinson Bookkeeper Launch program (BBL). It was the launching pad that I needed, not just to learn bookkeeping basics, but to start creating my network of other bookkeepers. The community has been awesome to help me continue learning and grow. I've continued to use other opportunities through QBO and have supplemented learnings from The Successful Bookkeeper and the Pure Bookkeeping System. By midyear, I plan to be working my bookkeeping business full time.
I became a Bookkeeper by accident!
My first job right out of college was at a Construction Company answering phones and my curiosity to learn about the business and how is run behind the scenes caught the attention of the CFO who for lack of a better word took me under his wings and thought me everything and years later (a lot of years later) here we are...lol
After the construction company I went on to other great companies that helped me learn and developed the skills I needed and the confidence to start my own bookkeeping business.
I have thought myself Quickbooks (when it was desktop only) and Oracle. Now because of COVID, I am learning XERO my goal is to partnership with them, that way I can give my clients more choices. I am also working on getting my Quickbooks Pro Advisor Certificate - I have used the program for years but never got the certificate, now is a great time to do so.
Its weird, I love working with numbers and learning! :)
I'm looking to partner up with bookkeepers
While I have been a bookkeeper for many years, one of my best educational investments was becoming a Certified Bookkeeper through American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB). They require continuing education and recertification every 3 years. Clients have responded well in terms of acceptance.
I trained on Bookkeeper Business Launch created by Ben Robinson. Fabulous program! I have been a corporate accountant for 20+ years but this course also teaches you how to set up a business and market it. I also became a QuickBooks ProAdvisor. I really like watching the YouTube videos created by Veronica Wasek from 5Min Bookkeeping as well.