Accounting and Bookkeeping Articles

7    Tips in Getting Your Business off to a Fresh Start

We know it’s cliché, but true:  If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.  The New Year is a great time to revisit your business plan and assess your current standing.  Current economic turmoil should be reason enough to revamp your business strategies and begin 2009 with a solid list of goals.  As you anticipate difficulty and plan for success, you’ll find your business in better shape than ever.

Consider the following tips:

1. Revisit your business objectives.

Remember that fire within that motivated you to start your business in the first place?  Generally it’s the passion for what you do that helps you move forward, through the good times and the bad.  You should revisit your business objectives regularly, reminding yourself of the vision with which you started your practice.  How close are you to accomplishing those objectives?  What would it take to exceed them?  Is it time to revise them, and consider how to see your business become, as the Olympic motto suggests, faster, higher, stronger?

2.    Contact all previous clients.

Now may be a good time to contact previous clients who no longer retain your services.  Send them a quick note or email asking how they’re doing.  Depending on your relationship, you may also ask if there’s a reason why they no longer come to you for their accounting.  You may receive valuable feedback or regain their business.

3. Take advantage of the recession.

Warren Buffet once said, “Be scared when everyone else is greedy, be greedy when everyone else is scared. “  Right now, everyone else is scared, and you can take advantage of their recession fears in ways you may not have realized.  Last month we ran an article that highlighted action steps you can take to increase your profitability in the midst of a recession.

4. Do first for yourself.

It’s your job to manage your clients’ finances.  If you’re a truly valuable and proactive accountant, you watch key indicators that will tell you whether or not their businesses are profitable and suggest ways to increase their bottom line.  It’s important that you do that for your own business as well.  Become your own profit expert and, using last year’s numbers, project this year’s earnings, looking for ways to increase your own profitability.

5. Set new goals.

Would you like to increase your client base this year, or perhaps, increase your service offerings?  Maybe you’d like to move your business out of your home and into a professional office space.  Whatever it is you’d like to accomplish, it’s important that you set and record these goals.  Then break them down into smaller, more manageable steps that you can take throughout the year.

6.    Schedule the month of January.

Now that you’ve set some new goals you can begin to schedule action items within the first month of the year.  What steps can you take to make your business faster, higher and stronger?

7. Educate yourself.

It’s a good practice to participate in some type of training at least once a year in order to hone your skills and maintain your competitive edge.  The New Year is a good time to consider what you would like to focus on this year.  We suggest Universal’s Professional Bookkeeper’s Guide (PBG) to QuickBooks.

The PBG will enable you to master this software program that over 80% of small businesses use to manage their accounting.  Once you do, you will be able to work more efficiently as you use all the features, functions, and shortcuts QuickBooks offers.  Not only will the PBG enable you to manage your own books more efficiently, but it can increase your bottom line as you add QuickBooks consultation, help and setup services to your menu.  With hands-on training you can earn a professional designation as a QuickBooks Specialist that will give you the creditability you need to convince prospective clients that you are an outstanding bookkeeper!

With one simple click you can enhance your offerings and increase your bottom line. What a great way to start the New Year.  Order now!

5 Tips to Enjoying the Holidays

Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts. - Janice Maeditere

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love! - Hamilton Wright Mabie

I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.  - Charles Dickens

We’ve talked a lot about prepping your business for the holidays.  Now is the time to sit back and relax.  What?  You’ve got too much to do to relax?

We understand and appreciate the stress that often accompanies the holiday season.  But if you don’t take time to enjoy your family and friends, and perhaps rest your weary head, your business may suffer in the end.  Here are 5 tips that will help you truly enjoy the holidays:

1. Clean your desk.

Not only will you enjoy returning to a clean office once the holidays are over, but clearing off your desk will let your mind know that you are taking a break from work.  It’s easier to enjoy the holidays when you’ve literally put work away for a bit.  If you don’t, you’re likely to visit your office and easily slip back to work because it was accessible.  Don’t give yourself that excuse.

2. Inform your clients.

It’s important that your clients know that you will be enjoying the holidays.  Create a new voicemail message that informs callers how long you will be away and what they might do in case of emergency.  You might also consider creating an automatic email responder that informs emailers of your absence as well.  Even Walmart is closed for Christmas; you shouldn’t feel bad about shutting down shop for the holidays.

3. Schedule time for your family and friends.

As they say, “Tis the season.”  Be sure to schedule quality time with family and friends.  Kids have recitals, friends throw parties, and families deserve a little quiet time.  Just as you would schedule important meetings with clients, be sure to write these events in your calendar and honor these appointments as best you can.

4. Indulge in personal time.

Whether you want to take a nap, get a massage, or read a novel, be sure to indulge in that much needed personal time.  When you take time for yourself, you’re able to return to work refreshed and invigorated.  Don’t feel guilty; schedule some “me” time.

5. Enjoy the moment.

Sometimes we get into the habit of thinking business 24/7.  It’s time to break that habit and enjoy the moment.  Whether you’re attending a family party, decorating the Christmas tree, or opening presents, you should fully enjoy the occassion.  Don’t let your mind wander back to your to-do lists, client roster, or year-end calculations.  You’ve scheduled this moment (see numbers 3 and 4), enjoy it!

You’re bound to get a present or two that doesn’t satisfy your needs.  Instead of exchanging those presents, why not get a full refund and spend the money on something found in Universal Accounting Center’s catalogue?  From training materials to business books to manuals to informative DVDs, we have something that will complete your holiday season and better prepare your business for the New Year.

This Year Give Yourself the Gift of Profitability

Who wouldn’t want the gift of profitability?  That’s probably even on Santa’s wish list.  A solid investment in yourself and your business would make a great present that may not fit in your stocking, but will definitely fill your bank account!  What’s the investment?

Every successful business thrives on three things: a service that’s in-demand, effective marketing, and complementary offerings.  Wouldn’t it be nice if you could find all these components in one package?  You can, and they’re all right here!

A Service that’s In-Demand

In order to run a successful practice you must offer a necessary and valuable service.  Small-business accounting is such a service.  By law, businesses are required to keep books.  Not only that, but many small businesses are in need of knowledgeable and skilled accountants who will perform that needed function and help them achieve greater profitability.

To appreciate the demand for small-business accountants, consult the US Department of Labor.  For years Universal Accounting Center (UAC) has proudly relayed previous reports that by 2008 accounting jobs would increase by 20%.  That great forecast has been extended to 2014!  They predict “Employment of accountants and auditors is expected to grow faster than average for all occupations through the year 2014. As the economy grows, the number of business establishments will increase, requiring more accountants and auditors to set up books, prepare taxes, and provide management advice.”  The future is bright for freelance accountants!

Universal’s Professional Bookkeeper Program will not only teach you small business accounting with a practical, hands-on approach, but it will enable you to earn a designation that evidences your skill and expertise, putting potential clients at ease.  The program covers four units which each take less than 15 hours to complete, all on your own time and at your own pace.  The units include:

• Accounting Made Easy
• Practical Small Business Application
• Advancing Your “Account-Ability”
• Building a Successful Accounting Service

In less than 60 hours you could complete all four modules and be on your way to a successful accounting practice with a certificate to hang on your office wall.  That’s much more appealing than 4 years on a university campus.

Effective Marketing

Regardless of how unmatched your services may be, you won’t have any clients unless you market effectively.  While accountants are good with numbers, they generally aren’t as comfortable promoting their services.

With over 25 years experience training professional like you, Universal Accounting Center knows how to market accounting services to small businesses!  Our Universal Practice Builder Program will arm you with the ability to accomplish the following:

• Become your area’s Profit and Growth Expert
• Produce 15 to 25 qualified leads per month
• Utilize 12 proven marketing strategies
• Practice effective marketing via phone, newsletter, and professional websites
• Practice tactical goal planning and setting
• Distribute a “Presentation DVD” to potential clients
• Prepare and present seminar training for three different instructional courses
• Use a CRM

In addition, this program is guaranteed to earn you $30,000 of additional annualized billings in just 12 months!  Talk about a risk-free investment!

Complementary Offerings

Successful practices continue to grow and generate profit when they offer complementary offerings their target market finds valuable.  You probably already know that Intuit’s QuickBooks is the accounting software used by more than 80% of small business owners.  Mastering this program will enable you to increase your offerings by providing QuickBooks setup and consultation services.  QuickBooks Made Profitable will teach you just how to use this program to draw and retain more clients to your accounting practice.  You’ll learn how to leverage your time while saving clients money in taxes and helping them increase their profitability as well.  Imagine how much this program alone could increase your bottom line.

So there you have it; a present that will brighter your future and make your practice more profitable.  Give yourself the gift that keeps on giving!  Order this amazing package today!

What You Should Focus on in December

The holiday season can prove stressful for business owners who are just trying to survive until the New Year.  But we suggest you take advantage of this most wonderful time by following 12 key tips intended to help you acquire new clients, secure more business, and create more loyalty with employees.  Last week we covered the following six suggestions:

1.    Wish your clients a Happy Holiday

2.    Send holiday cards

3.    Schedule employee vacation time

4.    Plan company celebrations early

5.    Get in the spirit

6.    Bring your website into the festivities

This week we’ll discuss the final six of our 12 Days of Business:

7. Practice seasonal marketing

We understand that in December you are extremely busy with year-end, but you can target prospective clients at the beginning of the month with seasonal marketing.  Take some time to brainstorm your holiday promotions and then delegate the final project to a trustworthy staff or family member so you can focus on billable hours.

8. Acknowledge your employees

December is the time when many employees receive bonuses.  Small businesses and firms are generally unable to provide significant monetary rewards to their staff; however, you should make the effort to acknowledge your gratitude in some way.  Consider gift certificates, paid time-off, or some other giving gesture.

9. Don’t offend

Remember, not everyone celebrates Christmas, but some other holiday like Kwanza or Hanukkah.  You may consider remaining impartial in your advertising, mailers, well wishes, etc. by simple saying “Happy Holidays.”

10. Schedule your time well

Once you plan all the holiday festivities you should schedule the rest of your time so that you have enough to actual perform the accounting functions for which your clients have retained you.  At some point you must move beyond holiday preparations and attend to the business of billable hours.

11. Balance your personal and business lives

Perhaps these 12 tips have been overwhelming.  In reality, you can only do so much.  Once you’ve determined which of these 12 suggestions are feasible for you to implement, you must then see that your personal and professional lives are in balance this year.  The holidays are also a time of family and you must be sure to enjoy quality time with them this season as well.

12. Develop a New Year strategy

While New Year’s resolutions have become somewhat passé, it’s still good business to develop goals and strategies for the upcoming year.  If you haven’t already, schedule some time to consider what you must focus on in 2009.

Most importantly, take time to enjoy the holidays.  They do come but once a year, and it would be a shame if you didn’t revel in the season for a bit.

Building Your Business is a Great Strategy for the New Year

And Universal Accounting Center can help!  We’re offering a big holiday package intended to enhance any bookkeeping service or individual ready to start one.  You’ll attain the three things all business owners need to achieve true success: professional certification, marketing know-how, and enhanced service offerings.

Professional Certification

Accounting firms fare better when they provide specialized services.  Small-business accounting is a specialized service that will appeal to a large target market.  Most accountants are trained in big business accounting, which doesn’t address the unique needs of small business owners.  When you enroll in the Professional Bookkeeper program, you receive specialized training in the day-to-day accounting tasks required by small businesses.  Not only that, but upon completing the course, you will have the opportunity to earn professional certification, demonstrating to clients your newfound expertise.

Marketing Know-How

Regardless of how good your services are, you won’t secure quality clients without employing effective marketing techniques. And without clients, your business won’t go too far.  The Universal Practice Builder program will train you in 12 marketing strategies designed to help you secure 15 to 25 qualified leads per month!  Additionally, you will be guaranteed a $30,000 increase in annualized billings in just one year.  That is 10 times the cost of this special holiday package!  Talk about a low-risk investment with high returns.

Enhanced Service Offerings

In addition to offering small-business accounting, you will also be able to provide QuickBooks services.  Our QuickBooks Made Profitable program will teach you how to use your QuickBooks skills to attract even more clients!  You’ll learn how to leverage your time, meet more prospective clients and offer services that will enable them to reduce taxes, increase profits and put more money in the bank.

Get a jump start on the new business year by enrolling in these three programs, today!  You’ll be giving lots of gifts this season.  How about giving yourself a gift that continues to give, in profitable returns, year after year?  Enroll now!

What You Should Focus on in December

December often comes before we realize it, and when caught unaware we can miss key opportunities to acquire new clients, secure more business, and create more loyalty with employees.  This season, take command of the holidays and make key preparations that will enable you to take advantage of this crucial time.  The following are six of 12 tips that will help your business become stronger through the stress of the holidays:

1. Wish your clients a Happy Holiday

Everyone likes a little gift for the holidays, regardless of what they may be celebrating.  Consider offering discounted services or a promotional offer that will appeal to clients.  Regardless of what you choose to do, it’s important that you acknowledge your customers during the holiday season.

2. Send holiday cards

This is a great way to promote your services while spreading a little holiday cheer.  Use this as an opportunity to share your mission and goals with current and prospective clients.  This is a great excuse to use direct-mail advertising in order to get the word out about your business.  As with your client gifts, including a promotional offer will often get your business the attention you desire.

3. Schedule employee vacation time

During this hectic time of year, it’s important that you be prepared for employee absences.  Secure a vacation schedule as soon as possible in order to prepare for any significant gaps in staff help.

4. Plan company celebrations early

Most businesses plan a dinner party or other such holiday celebration.  If you had planned on holding an office party, you need to begin preparations early in order to secure the necessary reservations, catering or room scheduling.  The sooner you begin the better.

5. Get in the spirit

Don’t be a Grinch!  Decorate your office for the holidays.  You don’t have to spend a lot of money in order to spread holiday cheer to walk-ins and employees alike.  Because the month promises to be busy, take care of this at the beginning of the month so you don’t have to worry about it later.

6. Bring your website into the festivities

Use your website to offer season’s greetings and promotional offers that may generate more traffic for your business.  If anything, your ability to maintain a clean, up-to-date website will impress all visitors.

Build Your Website, Now

If you don’t yet have a website for your business, now is the perfect time to launch one.  As you begin composing holiday mailings, what better way to get your website the exposure it needs by including the URL?  If you need help creating a website, Universal Accounting Center’s expanded and improved AccountWeb website development tool is available exclusively for accounting, tax, and bookkeeping professionals.  Within just a couple business days you can create a personalized website for your practice, enabling potential clients to access your business even after your office closes.  Whether you run a full-time accounting practice or do taxes on the side, you need a website that tells potential clients about your business even when you are unable to.  Order your subscription now-your website will be up and running in less than a week.  And if you are a Universal Accounting student you will receive a free six-month trial.  Sign up for your AccountWeb website now!

Take advantage of the holidays by practicing the 12 Days of Business.  Return next week when we’ll be covering the final six tips:

7.    Practice seasonal marketing

8.    Acknowledge your employees

9.    Bring your website into the festivities

10. Don’t offend

11. Schedule your time well

12. Balance your personal and business life

13. Develop a New Year strategy

The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings. - Eric Hoffer

Gratitude is merely the secret hope of further favors.  - Francois De La Rochefoucauld

Appreciation can make a day, even change a life.  Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary. - Margaret Cousins

‘Tis the season to give thanks!  In just a few days we’ll be celebrating the holiday that focuses on gratitude.  In these current times of economic turmoil it may be difficult to determine exactly what we have to be grateful for.  But as Buddha once said, “Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.”

Gratitude is a powerful emotion.  It can change your relationship with others, alter your perspective, and perhaps, grow your business.  Consider the following three exercises in gratitude as you offer thanks this Thanksgiving:

1. Discover all that you have to be thankful for

Your first task is to determine all those things you have to be grateful for.  In tough times that can be difficult.  You may be required to consider things you regularly take for granted: perhaps good health, a place to live, family and friends, food to eat, gracious neighbors, hope for a better tomorrow.

Those who believe in the Law of Attraction would tell you that in focusing on all the things you are grateful for, you will begin to attract more good things into your life.  Either way, focusing on the good will raise your spirits.

2.    Develop an attitude of gratitude

Consider a business run by a depressed, negative staff.  Such businesses exist, and they rarely become power companies.  Consider a business run by an enthusiastic, upbeat staff.  Such businesses are more likely to generate positive experiences with their clients.  When you focus your energy on all the good things in your life, you develop an attitude of gratitude which impacts employees, clients, and contacts in an affirming way.  Your business will be much more successful simply because you have a positive attitude.

3. Express thanks to your clients

Everyone likes to be appreciated.  And when you realize that your business wouldn’t exist without your clients, it becomes easier to feel genuine gratitude for everyone on your roster.  When you are able to do more than simply feel gratitude for your clients, but also express it, you’ll find that your clients feel better about the services you offer.  Now is the perfect time to let your clients know that you are thankful for their service.  You’ll find that they’ll be more likely to refer their friends and family to your business when they recognize your sincere appreciation.

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to reflect on all those things for which we have to be grateful.  It’s also a good opportunity to practice gratitude in a way that can positively impact our lives, and not just throughout the holidays.  Take the time to consider all those blessings you enjoy, and then feel grateful for them.  You may be surprised at how such a simple act can change your life experience.

Thank Us Later!

Consider what your life would be like without the convenience of modern technology.  Without software programs like QuickBooks, we would be required to do things the slow, old-fashioned way.  Thankfully, we don’t have to.

The Professional Bookkeeper’s Guide (PBG) to QuickBooks will enable you to master this software program that over 80% of small businesses use to manage their accounting.  Once you do, you will be able to work more efficiently as you use all the features, functions, and shortcuts QuickBooks offers.  Not only will the PBG enable you to manage your own books more efficiently, but it can increase your bottom line as you add QuickBooks consultation, help and setup services to your menu.  With hands-on training you can earn a professional designation as a QuickBooks Specialist that will give you the creditability you need to convince prospective clients that you are an outstanding bookkeeper!

With just one small initial investment, you can increase your income and your clientele.  Don’t wait to thank us.  Order now!

In this day and age of texting, instant messaging, and cell phone stock trading, you must be quick and succinct in order to promote your business.  While the elevator pitch is a fairly effective way of endorsing your services in 60 seconds or less, professionals are expecting an even more truncated approach to self-promotion.

In May 2008, BusinessWeek online introduced the concept of the Escalator Speech which can be relayed in 10 seconds or less.  If you can get that right, more professionals will be willing to stay for a more detailed explanation of your services.

Your escalator speech should be contained in one sentence that is relevant and concise.  Also coined the Twitpitch and the Fortune Cookie Message, it should represent your business well and generate interest in your services from qualified, prospective clients.  Consider the message relayed by Google founders to their investor: “Google would provide access to the world’s information in one click.”  The investor quickly appreciated the vision these young upstarts had for Google.

So how do you pare down your message so that it can be relayed in 140 characters or less? (While 140 characters may sound like a lot, this sentence, counting spaces and punctuation, is exactly that long-not much room for hot air.)

First, you must understand and appreciate the value your business offers.  If you have trouble articulating why your business stands out from the competition, it may be a sign that your business doesn’t yet have a competitive edge.

Second, you must know how your business benefits the listener; this will generate interest in your services.  Brian Solis, author of PR 2.0, explains that this means you must tell the investors how your business will generate income and tell prospective clients how your business will solve their problems.  This may require a different escalator pitch for different audiences.

Third, think of your escalator pitch as a slogan or tagline that would work well in an advertising campaign.  You may even want to start with your mission statement, and tweak it to fit your needs.  Consider Universal Accounting Center’s slogans as an example of springboards to potential escalator speeches.  Changing the face of accounting, one small business at a time may become, “UAC trains students in small business accounting, providing graduates with the skills that will increase a small business’s profitability” (137 characters).    And, If it’s about accounting, it’s Universal may become, “Learn small-business accounting at UAC where we have taught graduates how to start successful bookkeeping practices for more than 25 years” (138 characters).

Your business will benefit from your ability to promote your services quickly and succinctly.  Vinnie Lauria, co-founder of Lefora, explains, “If you have to take more than one sentence to explain your service, people aren’t going to wrap their heads around it.”

Take the time to scrutinize your business enough to create an escalator speech that adequately relays your value in one sentence.  You’ll find that when you do, listeners will be more likely to stick around for even more.

Associate with Peers

You can see how other bookkeepers and accountants are promoting their services by joining our accounting and tax forum.  Upon joining, you can associate with other professionals who are encountering the same issues and challenges with which you may be currently dealing.  Take the time to create a profile today. It’s free and provides you with the perfect networking opportunity.

References

Tozzi, John.  “The Escalator Pitch.” 16 May 2008 BusinessWeek.com

Why Now’s the Perfect Time to Shift Gears

In the face of recession the natural tendency is to lay low, to duck and cover.  It’s likely that your competitors are doing that already, which is why this is the best time for you to shift gears and take advantage of the economic downslide.  Here are six things you can to move ahead during the recession:

1. Take advantage of down time

Remember all those times that you bemoaned your crowded schedule and lack of free time?  And remember all those things you had to place on the backburner because you lacked the time to attend to them?  Take advantage of downtime by doing those things you may not have had time for before: networking, de-cluttering your office, researching industry trends, reorganizing your files, following-up with prospective clients, etc.

2. Hire good talent

Now’s the perfect time to hire good talent for less.  The recession has left lots of talented individuals without jobs and without appealing positions to which they can apply.  You will be able to select from a qualified pool of applicants and bolster your staff in order to prepare your business for number three!

3. Prepare your business for an influx of new clients

Think positively and prepare your business for what might result in an influx of new clients for you.  As you market more aggressively (see six below), build your staff, and take advantage of downtime, you’ll find that your client roster will begin to grow.  So use this time to prepare yourself by ensuring that you have the resources necessary and processes in place that will enable you to manage all that business more efficiently.

4. Cut expenses

Of course it’s a good idea!  Take a look at your budget and see if there’s anything you can cut.  While an accounting practice doesn’t have much overhead, you may consider ways you can streamline your workflow, accomplishing more in less time.  Your objective should be to increase billable hours while cutting unnecessary expenses.

5. Diversify your services

The best way to take advantage of this recession is by making it more appealing to prospective clients.  Have you considered adding QuickBooks services to your menu?  Or perhaps you could learn how to prepare a small business’s tax returns as well as manage their books?  You’ll definitely gain an edge over the competition when you are able to provide full financial services for your clients who will be more than happy to take all their financial needs to just one firm.

6. Practice aggressive marketing techniques

Chances are your competitors are currently trying to maintain their rosters rather than grow them.  Big accounting firms are focusing on their A-list clients rather than their smaller ones who are no longer worth the time or energy to maintain.  Your aggressive marketing techniques will enable you to acquire many of those small business accounts that have been overlooked or forgotten.

Not only that, but when you market like there’s no tomorrow, you inspire more confidence in current clients who see your efforts as evidence that your business is thriving despite the recession.

Universal Can Help You Market More Effectively

UAC has been helping professional like you gain the skills necessary to succeed as small business accountants.  With over 25 years experience, we not only know the skills required to succeed but the strategies you need in order to market your skills more effectively.

It’s no secret that accountants are not marketing experts.  In fact, some accountants even get a little nervous when talking about promoting their services.  With UAC’s Universal Practice Builder (UPB) Program you will have everything you need to grow your business and your bottom line.

Here’s a sampling of what you will gain from enrolling in this amazing program:

• A guarantee of $30,000 in new annualized billings in only 12 months
• 12 marketing strategies that you can implement immediately
• A process which can produce 15 to 25 qualified leads per month
• 3 months of coaching via telephone and Internet
• Training on a computerized database tracking program
• A presentation DVD to show potential clients

While your competitors hunker down for a long recession, you need to take advantage of this time to grow your business and become the premier accounting firm in your area.  And when you enroll now you will receive QuickBooks Made Profitable (QBMP) for FREE, a program designed to help you use your QuickBooks expertise to enhance your services and attract even more clients!  You’ll be trained in the following:

• A proven system in using QuickBooks to attract larger numbers of potential clients
• Representing yourself as a QuickBooks expert
• Leveraging your time
• Meeting potential clients
• Offering clients services that will help them reduce taxes, increase profits and put money in the bank

Only ostriches hide their heads in the sand.  Don’t duck and cover simply because the economy is struggling.  You can take advantage of the recession and have a stronger business as a result.  Order this package today and begin a journey to a brighter financial future for you and your business.

5 Tips in “Thriving” an Economic Recession

Many would agree that there’s no question we’re currently experiencing an economic recession.  That has many small business owners panicking as they worry about the longevity of their businesses and livelihoods.  Entrepreneur.com’s networking guru, Ivan Misner, has written a blog series entitled “I Refuse to Participate in a Recession” where he examines how business owners, in changing their perspectives, can thrive, as opposed to survive, an economic recession.  This week we will examine five tips designed to help you change your experience with the current economy.

1. Assess your internal dialogue.

How you experience the economy has more to do with what you’re telling yourself about it than it does the statistics, the news forecasts and the bailout proposals.  If you have determined that things are bad and they’re only going to get worse, for both the nation and your business, then chances are they will-not because that’s what’s destined to happen, but because that’s what you believe will happen.  Your internal dialogue determines whether or not you become a victim in the current economic crisis or a survivor-or should we say, thriver.

2. Focus on what you do want, not what you don’t want.

The Law of Attraction exerts that your life is a reflection of what you think, what you focus on, and what you expect to happen.  You must turn your attention away from worry and fear.  While it is a good idea to develop a plan for the worse-case scenario, once that plan has been laid you must move on to brighter thoughts.  Consider what you do want for your business and keep those ideas in the forefront of your mind.  Those thoughts will continue to attract more positive things into your life and business.

3. Maintain a positive attitude.

Try to remain as positive as possible.  While thinking more positively is a good first step, maintaining a positive attitude has a lot to do with your emotions as well.  Try to do those things that enable you to feel more upbeat and positive.   Exercise, read, maintain your hobbies, watch comedies.  It’s much easier to remain positive when you’re participating in those activities that make you feel good.

4. Become more competitive.

Consumers are now, more than ever, keeping a close eye on their pocketbooks.  This increases the competitive nature of the marketplace.  If you don’t increase your competitive advantage now, you’ll feel the impact on your bottom line later.  Consider adding complementary services or increasing your marketing efforts in order to counteract these effects.

5. Take action.

Entrepreneurs that passively “wait out” the recession will probably find their businesses in need of serious resuscitation when the dust clears.  Take action to improve your business regardless of what the economy is doing.

The Universal Practice Builder Program

Now is as good a time as any to grow your clientele.  Regardless of the economy, small business owners are still required by law to keep accounting records.  However, the market will grow increasingly more competitive as prospective clients look for the best accountant to meet their needs.  You must better market your services in order to generate the most appeal for your particular skill set.

In all our years working with accountants, bookkeepers and tax preparers we’ve come to understand how to best market your services.  Our Universal Practice Builder Program will provide you with 12 marketing strategies that will enable you to secure 15 to 25 qualified leaders per month, a guarantee of $30,000 in new annualized billings in only 12 months, three months of master coaching, and access to a proven plan that will help you retain clients.  Again, you can complete this amazing program on your time and at your own pace.

When you order this program now, you will receive a second valuable program, QuickBooks Made Profitable, for free! Designed to help you attract even more clients using your QuickBooks expertise, this course will enable you to start and maintain an even more lucrative practice.

80% of small businesses use Intuit’s Quickbooks software.  Learning Quickbooks will help you keep more efficient records, enabling you to teach your clients how to use the software so that you can get the information you need which will make your job much easier.  In addition, this program will teach you how to attract more clients using your QuickBooks setup, help, and consulting services.

Take advantage of this marvelous opportunity to stay the course and thrive the current economic recession.  Order now!

References

Misner, Ivan.  “I Refuse to Participate in a Recession (Part 2).” 1 October 2008 Entrepreneur.com Blog Network.

Become a Profit and Growth Expert

Accountants offer valuable services-services every business needs.  In fact, businesses are required by law to keep books.  So how could you possibly increase the value of your accounting services when they are already extremely valuable?  By becoming a Profit and Growth Expert!

What is a Profit and Growth Expert?

A Profit and Growth Expert uses information from the accounting system to analyze a business’s fiscal standing, sharing that analysis with those who can use it to make more profitable financial decisions.

A Profit and Growth Expert is a proactive accountant who realizes that the information he/she generates provides crucial data that can make or break a business.  It’s the accountant’s job to share this data with business owners, explaining it in such a way that they both understand what the information indicates and can use it to make important business decisions.

Profit and Growth Accounting

When you enroll in the Professional Bookkeeper Program you not only learn small business accounting, but you are trained to watch key indicators that will help you diagnose a business’s health and recommend a course of action that will improve its profitability.  This will enhance your service offerings and enable you to market this competitive advantage.  Here’s what one student had to say about her new skills:

I am about half way through the program and, in the next month or so, plan…to start visiting my local businesses.  I have been focusing on the marketing side of things and it seems like every meeting I have with a potential client I am able to close.  So far since purchasing the program I have about 6 more monthly clients.  I am sure that 50% of those transactions were closed because [of] improvements in my sales techniques.  I love the fact that I am not an Accountant or Enrolled agent, I am now a “Profit, Growth, and Tax Expert.”  It does work…. -Lynette R., CA

Using the skills mastered in the Professional Bookkeeper Program, Lynette has been able enhance her tax practice before she even completes the entire course.  You can do the same for your accounting practice, and within weeks will be able market yourself as the “Profit, Growth, and Accounting Expert.”  Imagine how appealing that will be for prospective clients who are interested in increasing their profitability and ensuring the growth of their small business.

The Profit and Growth Expert Tutorial

If you would like to learn more about becoming a Profit and Growth Expert, order our informational DVD “Start Today.”  When you do, you will learn how to do the following:

• Make over $80,000 per year working from home!
• Secure more clients than you can handle
• Charge your clients so you can afford to take that next vacation, and they get such a great deal they will be telling all their friends about you!
• Get started for next to nothing and make BIG BUCKS within weeks!

Change the course of your practice.  Take action now to become a Profit and Growth Expert.  For less than $10 you can order your own copy of “Start Today” or you can watch the video online today for free!