How come it is so hard to find an at home bookkeeping job?
Asked by Bubba Sparks
Is it a control factor or to see what you are doing? I want to work from home as a bookkeeper where I can do there books out of my house, and would be willing to certainly provide copies of the Quickbooks programs and reports daily or weekly. I just do not understand why ma and pop business owner are so scared to give the bookkeeping to someone outside their family basically. Aunt Bertha can cook the books as much as I would be able to. It is has been a year since I incorporated YES INCORPORATED my bookkeeping biz and still I am struggling to get clients. Help??? By the way, did I mention I was in the Fraud capital of the US - Florida??

Best Answer:
It's not the cooking of the books. It is the idea that your business is personal and private - an outside firm means that your information is "out there". If you want to start your business, I recommend that you agree to come on-site, there is a familiarity with someone on-site - and the records stay there, adding to safety. If I were going to hire you for my business - here is what I would ask: 1) How skilled are you? So you can do quickbooks are you a CPA? 2) How will you protect my information - how do I know that my data, information, receipts will be safe? What happens if your house burns down? What happens if your place of business is broken into? How do you secure my information from your kids when they're surfing the web? 3) What references do you have? Did you used to work for a big 6 firm and are striking out on your own? 4) What type of bonding / insurance do you offer? Do you have a tax attorney you work with in case the IRS comes to audit me? Will you come to my audits, and stand behind any error that is attributable to your company? If all you're providing is key entry into quickbooks, then I'm not surprised that you're having a problem getting business. What type of advertising are you doing - I don't hire people who put fliers at my place of business, or drop in uninvited. Anyone can have business cards printed up. If you look low tech, you will be perceived as low tech. BTW, your business name has nothing to do with the type of business you're in. If you do some marketing 101, that is one of the first things you need to do.

Go through Careerbuilder.com. They have work from home accounting positions. If you want the clients to think you are legitimate, you must have a sign outside your location and advertise as your business and have a location (room) in your home for your business. In advertising, place number of years experience you have and "privacy issues" must be explained. Also, offer to file quarterly taxes, etc. for clients. Once they see how well you do in handling their taxes, etc., trust then begins. Also make note all information CONFIDENTIAL. This eases the minds of people, I think.
Answered by pfl

Getting clients is the hardest part. What services are you offering and what kind of advertising are you doing? One of the most important things is business owners want someone who knows what they are doing. Someone who is honest and reliable who will keep their financial information private. Have you worked as a bookkeeper? Do you have references such as employers or teachers? If you don't have experience I would recommend taking a few courses at your local community college such as a basic accounting course, Excel and payroll accounting. You could ask your instructors for a reference. As far as advertising I would get a second phone line in your home and that way your business will be listed in the yellow pages under bookkeeping or accounting. You can make up some nice professional looking tri-fold brochures and send them out to people advertising for bookkeepers. Try visiting businesses owned by men such as auto repair shops. Why? Because usually they need bookkeeping help. Usually women who run their own business do the bookkeeping themselves. Also, try advertising in a low cost paper. We have one here that is sent to all the homes for free once a week. There are many self-employed people advertising in there like painters, plumbers, etc. who could use your services. You could become QuickBooks certified at www.quickbooks.com and get listed on their website. Make sure you put together services you have to offer so you can tell people exactly what you have to offer them. Services such as: Payroll, Payroll Taxes, Sales Taxes, New Business Set-Up, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Balancing monthy bank statements, etc. Good luck!
Answered by Shay

You may want to take a look at the two links below for work at home type businesses such as yours, and how to get clients.
Answered by T Davis

Hi, There are several companies that provide opportunities of bookkeeping from your home. Ofcourse they look for some experince in bookkeeping and how qualified are you. Get registered and apply for the position. Visit http://workathomedesk.com/directory/accounts-and-bookkeeping.htm Keep an eye on "work at home leads" section of the website. or subscribe newsletter. Bookkeeping job leads are also posted there fequently. Hope this will help you :) Best of Luck
Answered by foolable