Is there a lot of business for a virtual bookkeeper?

[VirtualRachel]

I have noticed that a lot of VA work is web designers , customer service, etc. Are there as many businesses working with Virtual Bookkeepers as the other job titles that can be done online? Or is this relatively new to clients? I have seen many websites for bookkeepers in the NC area but they seem not to work alone. All seem to have several employees like a big business instead of one person.
Rachel

[leedrozak]

I have several clients that I do bookkeeping for however I do other office management tasks as well. I market to the small entrepreneur that needs all around help and bookkeeping is one of those services. I have only one client that I do straight bookkeeping for but he will soon be adding other services once we get his action plan complete.

[Office Goddess]

I, too, provide primarily bookkeeping services with a little 'admin' work here and there. It seems to me that entrepreneurs are the ones that need bookkeepers the most.

[shadowcat]

I am about to start a bookkeeping course next month so that I can add the service to my business eventually - I think it will be something client may well look for.


Sandra

[Office Goddess]

I have received two phone calls today from entrepreneurs looking for a bookkeeper. So, yes, there IS a lot of business out there for bookkeepers.

Goddess will OFFICIALLY be off hiatus at the end of September but... (we're only talking 5 hours a month for each of my two new clients so, why not, right? )

[SaraASB]

I turn it away often. I don't want to grow too big again.
Once you have a reputation (guard it like gold!) it comes and comes.
Somehow I became the QuickBooks Queen of the non-profits. I have spent a lot of time studying non-profit accounting rules and the Form 990. All of my non-profits are audited annually and they teach me a lot and the auditors like my work. I even picked up a huge museum in DC. The treasurer is in FL and the auditors are in MD. We do everything on line. Amazing.

So, one idea is to pick an industry and be the best in that industry. You simply can't be a jack of all trades and do it all well. For example, I know nothing about inventory and retail stores, so I turn them away. Don't get in over your head when just starting. If you are going to market to the public that you are a full charge bookkeeper and doing public accounting, you need to be able to switch hats daily. Sole Prop one day, an S-Corp the next or a partnership or non-profit. Some are cash basis and some are accrual. Ask yourselves if you know the difference. If not, maybe you can start small with a type business that you understand and then learn and grow. Be honest with yourself and your potential clients.

I took on a Union Payroll one time. I knew nothing about union payroll! Much less how to write a program that did it. I told them that I knew the theory and if they were willing to work with me, I'd figure it out. I flew back and forth to Oregon to learn how to program and this one job brought me $80k a year for three years. (eaten up by travel and 2.5 employees) In hind sight, I was CRAZY, but I did it! I told them that I may fail and they appreciated the honesty. Three other companies did fail. What a ride. I was doing payroll in four states and one port was daily and timesheets were faxed in 24/7.

So get the knowledge and find the confidence and good luck!

[KVA Solutions]

Interesting reading, thanks for asking and answering. and of course for the inspiration.

[LindaK]

Sara
Thanks for such a great post! I have the full ability to take on bookkeeping but how do you market to get those jobs? Where does one look? At one time I had created a page on my website and set up metatags to attract such business. I have a lot of construction experience, but I never got any hits from it. Maybe I'll have to give it another try.

[Office Goddess]

I have the full ability to take on bookkeeping but how do you market to get those jobs? Where does one look? At one time I had created a page on my website and set up metatags to attract such business. I have a lot of construction experience, but I never got any hits from it. Maybe I'll have to give it another try.

The majority of my marketing is word-of-mouth, networking, and small postcard mailings to my target market.

[LindaK]

Thanks, Lily! I wasn't sure if you had places on the net that people were finding you. I'm on it. Word of mouth, networking and mailers.