Qualified bookkeepers always stay in high demand. The average hourly rate of freelance bookkeepers is $40 to $60. So, if you have multiple clients and work full-time, you can make more than salaried individuals in your industry.
However, these rates are considered too much for beginners. You must either have great work experience or should be trained by a reputable bookkeeping mentor to charge these rates. Also, you must know some tips and techniques.
Want to learn about them? Read more!
Build the Beginner’s Portfolio
As a beginner bookkeeper, getting your first client will be easier if you have evidence to demonstrate your skills. This evidence comes from either certifications or work records.
You can easily get certifications, but what about a work portfolio? How will you get work to build a portfolio when everyone wants evidence first? Well, you will get it through volunteer work and acquaintances!
Reach out to people you know and pitch them your services free of cost or for low rates. You can also contact different organizations and seek paid internship opportunities.
Create a Personal Brand
Nowadays, people value your social media presence. They automatically trust you if the online world endorses your credibility and skill. So, another way to get bookkeeping clients (without extensive work experience) is to create a personal brand.
Join LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter to establish yourself as a bookkeeping professional. You can post about:
- The Art of Bookkeeping – to showcase your knowledge.
- Productivity, Business & Professionalism – to highlight your soft skills and values.
- Trends and Tools – to demonstrate your competitiveness in the market.
There are different types of content that you can strategically use to get more and more clients.
Improvise Your Communication Style
Sometimes, newbie bookkeepers easily get work opportunities on platforms like Upwork. However, they are unable to retain their clients because they don’t know how to communicate professionally and timely.
You should be decent, formal or semiformal, and responsive. It doesn’t matter whether you are talking online or in person. It’s important to think from your client’s perspective, identify their problems, and offer a solution accordingly.
Also, try to remove the hesitation and uncertainty from your speech. You may come across many new terms and methods, but don’t let it consume you. Handle the situation confidently, research, and let the client know if it’s outside the scope of your expertise.
Practice Cold Outreach
Outreach is the attempt to reach out to others. It is more commonly used in sales, but you can always use it to get more clients. Many professionals routinely use it to access a better pool of work opportunities.
You can do this by identifying the right prospects (companies, HR managers, small business owners, solopreneurs, etc.) and pitching your services. Make sure to send a personalized pitch that suggests your bookkeeping service as an exceptional offer.
Be Consistent
Lastly, don’t lose hope and give up. It’s okay to fail a couple of times as a beginner. Don’t let these failures consume you. Instead, use them as learning opportunities to improvise your skill set.
Stay consistent and keep finding clients. Good luck!