Hi there!
Ok after the client says I want to work with you you need to lay out the ground rules. Talk about what duties the client needs and then what you will do for them. Basic bookkeeping should include transaction entries, inputting of bills received and paid, informing the client what cheques need to be written and sent out, monthly trial balance etc...
Sometimes the client will you also fill out the government remittance forms, do income statements and cash flow reports.
Some clients will also want to fill out their company tax returns. This is something they really should have a professional accountant do. If you feel comfortable doing it, then go ahead. But at least insist that a professional accountant check it over since this will also include making adjustments, amortazation of assets, bad debts calculation, and other things that a CPA or CGA usually do.
After you finalise what duties you will be preforming, how often you will be working and your fee, write up a contract and send it off with a list of the types of paperwork they need to submit. Plan out how they will submit them, (drop off, snail mail, email, fax, shared server) and then... I guess that's it. When the paperwork arrives (or if you go there) then you get started.
Hope that helps.
Kim.
ps: you may want to take a look a different bookkeeping certificate courses that are out there. They will help you get an idea of what today's bookkeepers should know. I'm not saying take the course (though you can, and then you can say "I have a certificate") but check out what the courses require, what they will teach.
How to get started?
Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
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