How to Find Part Time Bookkeeping Jobs

Finding Part Time Bookkeeping Jobs can be challenging.

In any given area in the United States, there are dozens of individuals that start a new business every week. These budding entrepreneurs are not aware of the ramifications of choosing the right incorporation status, the right set up for the accounting for their new business. They are focused on what they do best, whatever that line of work happens to be. New businesses will need help with taxes, budgets and more. Proper accounting is fully a third of any successful business and is as important as production and marketing. It is better to get it right at the start.

Things You'll Need

• QuickBooks or another accounting software package.
• Website of your local business licensing office.
• Website advertising the services you offer.

Instructions

Networking to Find Clients

1. Join a local chamber of commerce. Your local chamber of commerce is a collection of small business owners in your area who may or may not have bookkeepers. A membership in one of these organizations is like making soup, it's only as good as what you put into it. Become active and meet business owners, pass out business cards and network to find people you can work for.

2. Volunteer as a business mentor at SCORE. An alternate to a local chamber of commerce is the local SCORE office. SCORE is a nationwide organization of small business mentors with local offices in many major cities. Become a volunteer at SCORE and you will meet dozens of potential clients. You may volunteer by finding your local SCORE offices (use the national website provided in the references section) and contacting the administrators to inquire as to how to become a volunteer.

3. Walk through the local business centers in your area. By far the hardest way to find clients is the old "hoofing it" method. Head downtown with preprinted brochures, postcards or business cards and introduce yourself as the new bookkeeper in town. You may get an appointment with one out of twenty, but if you are seeking work, sometimes the face to face cold call meeting will work better than all the postcards mailed and ads taken out.

Online Networking

1. Study to become either a Certified QuickBooks Pro Advisor or a Peachtree Certified Consultant. Completing the course will place your name and contact information on the main servers of the companies that create the software. This will promote your business to all people in your area that use one of the two accounting software packages mentioned above and who click on the "Find Local Expert" button. Statistics wise, more small business owners use QuickBooks than Peachtree, so keep that in mind.

2. Create a website for your business. Many webmail companies will provide free webspace for you if you have an email address through them. Promote your website through sites like Google Business and Yahoo Local by adding your business' contact information to those sites. You can enhance your odds of being found with Google and Yahoo by choosing the keywords that someone who is looking for your services will enter to find you. Use those keywords in the text of the website throughout each page you are provided.

3. Create a social networking site for your business. Use Facebook, Merchant Circle or MySpace. Or use all of them. These days instant communication is the key. Use the IM feature to update any contacts you make with new information, anecdotes simply to keep in touch with those people you may have met in other ways. A daily tip on keeping accurate books or tax law may help you find an eager client who is learning something they weren't aware of before.

4. Find the website for your local business license office. Each week there will be a list of all business owners who have just started their business. Send a letter, a postcard and/or a business card to each new business owner promoting your services and pointing them to your website. Promote to these business owners your daily, weekly or monthly newsletter or tips by email. Keep these short and to the point, but regularly sent.

References

• GoArticles.com: Using QuickBooks and Google to Promote Your Business
• SCORE website
• United States Chamber of Commerce Site
• Intuit: QuickBooks Pro-Advisor Enrollment Page
• Sage: Peachtree Certified Consultant Enrollment Page