Help Me Find Bookkeeping Clients
Can you help me find bookkeeping clients?
Why most bookkeepers do the right things – but don’t get the best results …
Here’s an email we received today:
I am looking for is to get some clients on board so that it generates me enough cash flow to spend on further marketing so that you can coach me on “how to catch the fish”. I hope this makes sense to you.
Budget:
At this stage I am running at a very tight budget, probably can do about $100.00 a month to a maximum of $200.00 per month. Once the cash flow starts coming in I am happy to look at further marketing opportunities.
Ask us what we do differently to get the proven results
You may be frustrated becuase you’ve put a bit of thought into your marketing, and that’s a great start.
Most bookkeepers are already doing the right things – but you’re not doing them the right way to get the best results
We ask for an upfront investment before we can go to the next step, since most of what we do happens at the beginning of a campaign.
This is no longer negotiable – everytime we’ve tried to help bookkeepers with this issue, it’s backfired on us.
You want to build a business turning over ++$60k per annum, then you need to make a financial investment. You’re an accountant or bookkeeper – you should realise that every business has start up fees.
If you don’t have the money:
- Go and borrow it from a friend, relative, neighbour.
- Or go and get a small unsecured personal loan from the bank – don’t tell them it’s a business loan.
- Or get some cash on your credit card. Or sell something.
- Or ask for upfront payment from your clients.
- Or negotiate payment terms with your regular suppliers for a short time
- Or tell your existing clients you need to increase your fees.
Are you any good as a bookkeeper? You should be – if you’re a qualified – so why are you selling yourself short?
Do your clients discount their services (bet they don’t) ! Tell them that you can no longer afford to work for them at that rate and tell them to get someone else – then you’ll see if they value your services. And if they don’t then that’s GOOD NEWS – becaiuse it makes room for people that value what you do.
Have you noticed the power companies put up their rates without asking you? The Council puts up rates? Fuel is rising in cost? Go tell you’re clients that they are sending you broke – so you’re going elsewhere – and if they worry about a few dollars extra a week then they’ve missed the point.
What do we differently to get the proven results?
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On reading through your email there’s a few questions I would raise:
1) Why waste money running an advert in the xxxxxxx xxxxxxxx publication.
a) Do you have ANY WAY of tracking the success of that advert? ROI?
b) Have you already committed to that advert?
c) If yes – can you change the layout? If yes – can you send me through the proposed artwork?
d) If you have paid for the advert – can you write an advertorial for the publication?
2. School Newsletter
see points above
3. Interview on the local xxxxxxx radio program
a) did you pay for that promotion?
b) Do you have / Can you get a copy of the recording?
c) What do you need to do to get another interview?
d) What (if any) results did you get from that interview?
e) I have some other ideas for you
4. Doing free work for one client
a) Do you have any referrals from this client?
b) If he can’t pay you in cash – is there a way he can help promote your business?
5. Certified bookkeepers/ bookkeeping organisation membership
a) Why do you want to invest in that type of membership?
- I’ve spoken to quite a few certified consultants that get very little return from the additional membership fees
Very few bookkeepers get referals from bookkeeping organisations and not many business owners know / care what the bookkeeping organisation is
6. Networking Group
a) Most networking groups and people in networking groups have no idea – and it ends up being a “tea party”
b) What’s your elevator speech?
c) How do you work the room?
d) Are you simple “playing” at networking?
7. Is your website working for you?
Most bookkeeping /Accounting websites are a waste of cyberspace! They may look and feel good – but that’s as far as they go.
Ask us what we do differently to get the proven results