Freelance Bookkeeping Series
How To Find Bookkeeping Clients

Starting a bookkeeping business or just getting into freelance bookkeeping? Here are some ways to find bookkeeping clients. We will divide your advertising resources for finding bookkeeping clients into two basic categories: online an offline.

We will get into each of these categories more thoroughly later, but for now here is a brief idea of your advertising options, to get you started brainstorming.

Online

Build Your Own Website

One way to find freelance bookkeeping clients is to build your own website. However, building a website is more than just putting up a couple of pages and hoping someone finds it. You need to ensure that the traffic on the web actually finds your website.

Advertise on Existing Websistes

A quicker way to find clients might be to advertise on other people's websites. Some ways to do this are to pay for advertising space, or to use google's pay-per-click feature. Ever notice when you do a google search, that there are links that come up on the top and right called, "Sponsored links"?

If you used googles PPC as an advertising option, you would be one of those sponsored links. The trick is to know how to do it in such a way that it doesn't cost you more money than it makes you.

Social Networking

Probably the quickest AND cheapest way to advertise on the web is through social networking, such as Facebook, or in forums where you provide helpful advice to other people's questions and advertise your freelance bookkeeping services in the signature.

The thing to remember if you are going this route, is always keep it professional. For example, you may not want to advertise your freelance bookkeeping services on facebook and then spend the day playing mafia wars or bashing one of your existing clients.

Just remember, the person that finds your freelance bookkeeping services on Facebook can just as easily spy on anything else you do there, so always keep your clients and your reputation in mind.

Offline

Business Cards

Business cards are a must, and you can get them pretty cheap online. Vista print is one place you may consider trying. Now to determine where to give out your business cards and what style of business card best reflects the freelance bookkeeping services you plan to offer.

Build Your Own Logo / Brand

Speaking of business cards, it is worth paying to create your own logo in order to stand out from your competition. After all, anyone can build a business card, but how will your card be remembered and not thrown in the trash?

You can also use your customized logo on your letterhead, envelopes, website, hand out pens and other gifts with this logo, brochures, etc...you will certainly get your money's worth out of it!

Fliers

In addition to printing business cards, you may consider printing fliers. Yeah, most people probably throw them away, but their cheap enough that if you get one or two new clients per printing, the service will probably pay for itself. Nothing too complicated, just a listing of your basic services so people know what freelance bookkeeping services you are available for.

Remember, the more helpful information you offer them, the less likely they are to overlook you and assume you can't help them.

Phone Book

Advertising in the phone book is probably becoming out-dated and may not be worth paying for. One thing to keep in mind when making this decision, is that if your number is listed, your business name and number will be listed in the phone book automatically.

If you're looking for more than that, you will have to pay a fee. Just don't let anyone rip you off by promising you for a fee what you're already getting for free.

Door to Door

While I'm not a big fan of going door to door to advertise in most industries, the truth of the matter is, who doesn't need a bookkeeper? I've had people ask me about my freelance bookkeeping services when I made a purchase at their store, just because they recognized that I offered these services based on the name of my company.

So try going door to door, ask to speak with the business owner or manager, especially at small businesses that are not part of a franchise, see if you can make an appointment to sit down and talk about what freelance bookkeeping services they need and leave a business card or flier.

With the impersonal internet becoming so common, you just might be surprised at how much people will appreciate this rare courtesy of stopping by their office and seeing how you can be of help to them instead of going the easy way out of harassing them with phone calls and emails.

Watch for New Business Opening in Your Area

The best time to promote your services door to door or in any other way is when a new small business comes into your neighborhood. Why not bring them a welcome basket and see if they are in need of your freelance bookkeeping services.

Well actually, this may be a second best to promoting your freelance bookkeeping services in January when everyone is freaking out about taxes and getting all their stuff together.

Word of Mouth

Don't feel bad asking your clients to spread the word if they like your services. As a small bookkeeping business owner, I have gotten most of my clients this way. Nothing more flattering from your clients than recommending your services to someone else.

Incentives?

Whether or not to offer an incentive for word of mouth service is a question to consider. After all, it's more flattering if they do it on their own, but you may consider offering an extra incentive to people who bring in new clients.

Of course, you'll always wonder whether they did it for the incentive or because they loved you, but offer the best possible service and it won't matter!

Team up with an Accountant

Another way I have gotten a lot of new clients over the years is by teaming up with an accountant. This way you get to reciprocate, they bring you bookkeeping clients, you bring them accounting clients, and it's always good to have an accountant that you can go to with your questions anyway, so it's a win-win.

Just make sure you find an accountant that you trust and respect.

Related Resources

Now that you've figured out where to find your clients, let's figure out how to market to them.

Setting yourself apart from your competition.

And don't forget the most important thing that so commonly flies out the window: how do you maintain the relationship and ensure that all parties remain happy and fulfilled in this relationship?

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