Aspiring Bookkeeper in Unique Situation-Please help!

[jgratzer]

Hi! I'm new to Virtual Assistant Forums and have already found it so helpful! Let me explain my situation - My husband has received a job offer in Germany, which he is inclined to take. Before he received this offer, I was just starting to research bookkeeping and getting really excited about it. I have a 2 year old and wanted to do something that would allow me to stay home with him while doing something valuable and interesting at least part time, and bookkeeping just seemed to fit with those requirements, as well as my other abilities. But I really need to get some experience. So this is my problem - How can I get that experience if I am in Germany? I was hoping that I could do some bookkeeping temp work through an agency or contact some local bookkeepers/CPAs, but I don't know if they would consider farming out work to someone who is not in the area. I definitely want to take an online course, like that from Universal Accounting, but I don't know if it would be worth it if I can't find any clients. I also didn't have anyone that I could ask these questions to, so I am really happy to find this site.

So that's it. Can it be done? ANY suggestions, advice, ideas would be soooo appreciated. Thanks so much for your help in advance!!

Julia

[Office Goddess]

Please don't take wrong what I am about to say as I may be misinterpreting your post. I have two points to make in response.

FIRST: If you don't have a bookkeeping background I DO NOT RECOMMEND trying to be a bookkeeping VA. A bookkeeper is more than just someone who does data entry and prints checks/reports. Being a bookkeeper requires a SOLID background in accounting (IMO this is critical) and a LOT of experience working under someone WITH experience before going out on your own. Mistakes are easily made if you don't understand WHY something gets set up/entered the way it is and mistakes can be VERY costly not just to your client but also to you; E&O insurance is a necessity for a bookkeeper. I have been paid big bucks by clients who hired an inexperienced 'bookkeeper' with little or no background or a 'data entry clerk' for their QuickBooks entries and the client needed me to fix their incorrectly done accounting.

SECOND: Being a VA is NOT "something that would allow me to stay home with him while doing something valuable and interesting at least part time." A VA IS A BUSINESS OWNER. Being a VA and business owner requires a tremendous amount of time and commitment to set up the business in the first place, to maintain the business, and to attract/keep clients. Based on what I have read/experienced, it can take upwards of 6 months to obtain your first client and, in the meantime, the business is hemorrhaging money while being created. If your goal is to bring in extra income and have interesting work, there are lots of "work at home mom" (WAHM) jobs out there that are specifically designed for telecommuting which also allow a flexible schedule and bring in extra income at the same time.

That being said...

There are lots more ways to work as a VA than in bookkeeping. If you are interested in being a business owner rather than just bringing in extra income, you are definitely in the right place! I would recommend that you start by making a list of your skills, arrange them by experience, what you enjoy doing, and what CAN be done 'long distance', and use that as your 'jumping off point' for establishing a business. There are lots of great resources on this forum to help you set up your business (start with the Master List) and we are always happy to answer questions and/or guide you to the right place to research past questions/answers that will fit your particular situation.

Please accept my apologies if I misunderstood your focus. I wish you absolute luck in whatever goal(s) you are trying to achieve.

[PamH53]

Julia,

From someone who used to live in London for a few years, I say go for it. Living in another country is an experience in itself. It is not easy as your extended family will be so far away, but the "family" you will meet will be "family" forever.

As far as work goes, you may have a hard time finding work in another country, especially if you don't speak the language. Starting a VA business could be a viable option as your clients do not have to be in the same country. Do your research on the business, get yourself as set up as you can before you go - website, etc. - and go for it.

As Lily said above, it does not have to, but it could take a few months before you have income coming in. And you will have expenses going out from the beginning. She also mentioned not marketing the bookkeeping end of things. I have to agree with her.
Bookkeeping is a different avenue all together. There is so much that can go wrong if you are not an expert at it. And insurance is a must. But that does not stop you from bettering yourself and taking the classes for the future. Learning is vital to keeping a VA business fresh. Again, go for it!!

What you are attempting is not easy, but it can be done with the proper planning and the right attitude. Owning a VA business can be a very rewarding experience that will last you a lifetime. Keep up with your research by way of VAF. Ask your questions and have fun! Let us know how things are going for you.

[leedrozak]

I could not agree more with Lily. Being a bookkeeper is not something you just pick up overnight. I have the education and work experience but it took 20 years to get there. Many small business owners who need a bookkeeper have no processes, or very little, in place so you need to know all the ins and outs to be effective.

As for being a VA (or business owner) it is more then getting clients. Marketing alone is time consuming if you want to build a great client base. I am fortunate that I started before the recession hit and have a client base to work from but I am forever dedicating time to my own marketing as well as my own books, processes and procedures.

Best of luck to you.

[jgratzer]

Hi, everyone - Thanks so much for your replies. I probably should have made myself more clear. I actually have an MBA, so I feel like bookkeeping is something that I can learn. Also, I am not thinking I can turn into instant bookkeeper overnight. I expect that I would need at least 2 years or more of training time/education before I can really stand on my own. I also understand that being a VA means starting a business and expending quite a lot of time marketing and making the business viable. I am really just wondering if, as bookkeepers yourselves, you could suggest ways that I can contract my services to other bookkeepers or possibly CPAs who could sort of mentor me while I am overseas. I am really just talking about working up from the lowest jobs so that I can learn the business. Like I said, I also plan to take the Universal Accounting course, but I feel that I would also need real-life experience working for someone else who help me correct my mistakes. So, I definitely understand that there is huge time commitment, not to mention expense commitment, to this undertaking, but I am fortunate in that I have the time and support to undertake it. Just want to figure out how I can get the experience I need to go for it. Thanks, again!

[leedrozak]

Julia,

It may be hard for you to contract bookkeeping work while overseas. I would suggest that you start with some classes since you will need the knowledge to be of help to CPA's, accountants and business owners who need bookkeepers. I know from what my clients have said is that want an experienced bookkeeper or would be willing to hire someone for the right price but they need to have the knowledge first.

If you want to start a VA business, why not start with the skills that you have and work your way into bookkeeping as you complete studies.

[Office Goddess]

I am not thinking I can turn into instant bookkeeper overnight. I expect that I would need at least 2 years or more of training time/education before I can really stand on my own. I also understand that being a VA means starting a business and expending quite a lot of time marketing and making the business viable.

...as bookkeepers yourselves, you could suggest ways that I can contract my services to other bookkeepers or possibly CPAs who could sort of mentor me while I am overseas.

Whew! I feel better now. Sorry if I sounded harsh before; i have been approached in the past by so-called 'aspiring VAs' who were just looking for employment and weren't aware of what they were getting into by considering being VAs...

I highly recommend taking the Universal accounting classes and, sorry, I don't think 2 years is enough experience to 'stand on your own', intelligence/education notwithstanding. As far as obtaining experience, I would try checking various classified ad sites and accounting forums looking for 'entry level' bookkeeping/accounting data entry positions that would be available for telecommuters; this would give you the opportunity to learn and hone your skills while having someone else's oversight of your work as you go. I STILL run my QB setups past a CPA before going whole hog into data entry and I've been doing bookkeeping for nearly 14 years! I would also check the intuit forum (makers of QuickBooks) for suggestions on how to get started in bookkeeping.

I absolutely agree with Lee that you start with the skills that you already have to establish your business while learning the bookkeeping skills, as well. If you check my website you will see that I offer bookkeeping, office support, and transcription. There is no hard and fast rule stating that you HAVE to only offer one service or that you can't add additional services as skills evolve.

Let us know how else we can help.

[Your Virtual Wizard]

I am really just wondering if, as bookkeepers yourselves, you could suggest ways that I can contract my services to other bookkeepers or possibly CPAs who could sort of mentor me while I am overseas. I am really just talking about working up from the lowest jobs so that I can learn the business.

Your question has to do with asking for suggestions as to how to contract your services. This is something that all VA businesses work to achieve. The only way to know if a CPA will mentor you is to come up with a plan of action and then ask if they will do so. Do you have a business plan? There is a great getting started thread here with a checklist to help you along. Once you have a plan in place, you can get the word out that you are looking for a CPA to mentor you. Another good way to obtain experience is to volunteer your services to a non-profit.

Good Luck!

Janine

[jgratzer]

Awesome advice! Thank you so much! I will definitely check out the other forums for other ideas. Great idea to offer other services while I am working towards bookkeeping. I really appreciate it! Keep it coming!

[LindaK]

Lily,
What is the Master List? Could you direct me to it?