How to Run a Bookkeeping Business

• 1). Figure the costs if you are just starting out, or calculate the costs and look into ways of growing your business if you are already established. Use a room in your house or apartment to begin with. Eliminate every unnecessary cost until you can start to generate sufficient income to pay for such costs of doing business. Include such costs as (limited) advertising, basic office supplies, marketing costs (use of your vehicle to drive around and seek out clients) and survival expenses until clients start to pay you.
  
  
• 2
  Do not skirt business legalitiesenough! image by Alexey Stiop from Fotolia.com
  
  Get legally registered as a business in your county of residence, if it is required. (Different states and different counties within states have differing regulations about what is required to be registered, and what is not.) Obtain all necessary information from your county seat about whether you need to be licensed as well.
  
  
• 3
  Tell others in order to grow your business.empty files image by Ivonne Wierink from Fotolia.com
  
  Establish yourself as a business. Run ads in local papers advertising your service, rates and contact information. Use the best advertising still around, word-of-mouth. Tell your friends and acquaintances that you are in business and looking for clients. Post tear-off contact information on area bulletin boards that announces your services. Send emails to prospective clients. Run an introductory special rate for your new clients.
  
  
• 4). Build your business from your first customer. Use the principle of under-promise and over-deliver with all your clients. Get their work done correctly and on time, every time. Ask them for referrals once your relationship is firmly established. Include little extras from time, and always point them out to your customers. Do not presume they will notice.
  
  
• 5
  Strive to grow beyond what you can do alonefiles pile image by Laszl?3 Tavaszi from Fotolia.com
  
  Work diligently at preserving your service reputation. Make yourself available to discuss and clear up any confusion and your rare mistakes. Seize every opportunity to expand your business beyond your immediate service area. Be prepared to recruit help as your business grows beyond what you alone can possibly get done at the promised times.