How to Start a Home-based Bookkeeping Business (Home-Based Business Series) [Paperback]

Michelle Long (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2011 | Series: Home-Based Business Series

In tough economic times and with rising unemployment, people are looking to take the bull by the horns and start their own home-based businesses.... From GPP's enormously successful How to Start a Home-Based Business series (more than half a million copies sold!), comes the essential guide to starting up a home-based Bookkeeping business.  

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

I hope this book will help you start and run a profitable and satisfying business from your home. Whether you are just starting to learn the trade or are an experienced accountant or bookkeeper looking to be your own boss, this book will help you build your own successful business.

After college, I worked in public accounting and corporate finance for several years.  Upon the birth of my first child, I decided I didn't want to work full time any more.  I wanted to start my own home-based accounting business so I could set my own hours and schedule.

Although I was a CPA with quite a bit of experience, starting my own business wasn't as easy as I anticipated.  I discovered there was a lot to learn, lots of details and tons of questions.  I utilized the resources of SCORE and many library books to help me start my business.  I made mistakes and learned as I went along.  I wrote How to Start a Home-Based Bookkeeping Business (and my other book Successful QuickBooks Consulting) to help others start their own business with the information and resources I wish were readily available when I started my practice.   

After owning my own traditional accounting practice for about five years, I realized I did not enjoy the work I was performing. I went back to school and earned an MBA in Entrepreneurship. My business has evolved over the past 20 years. 

Now, I am the owner of Long for Success, LLC specializing in QuickBooks consulting and training services a well as coaching small business owners to start and grow their own business.  I love what I'm doing and very glad I went on my own 20 years ago!

I love being my own boss, setting my own work hours, and choosing the clients and type of services I want to provide. Most importantly, I was home with my children while they were growing up!  It hasn't always been easy and there have been some bumps along the way, but starting my own business was one of the best decisions I've ever made. 

It is my hope that I can help share my knowledge to help others achieve the same in their lives. I truly enjoy helping others start and grow their own business as well as helping small and growing businesses to utilize QuickBooks to manage their business with good financial information.

From the Back Cover

How to Start a Home Based Bookkeeping Business is a comprehensive guide which takes you through every aspect of setting up and running a thriving home-based bookkeeping business, from estimating your start-up costs and finding clients to being on top of financial considerations, establishing an online presence, and staying profitable.  Whether you're just starting to learn the trade or are an experienced accountant or bookkeeper looking to be your own boss, this guide will help you build your own successful business.
Look for useful charts and worksheets throughout the book, including:

• Home Office Checklist
• New Entity Setup Checklist
• Business Entity Selection Guide
• Create Your Own Mailing or Contact Lists
• Sample Engagement Letters
• Sample Business Plan with Industry Statistics
• Questions to ask New or Potential Clients
• Client Setup Checklist for QuickBooks Setups
• Guidance on Setting Billing Rates and Policies (an Average Billing Rates)
• and much more

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Globe Pequot; First edition (June 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762761261
• ISBN-13: 978-0762761265
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #27,248 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #31 in Books > Business & Investing > Small Business & Entrepreneurship > Home Based

More About the Author

Michelle L. Long, CPA is the owner of Long for Success, LLC specializing in QuickBooks consulting & training, coaching small business owners, speaking and writing. She was named one of '10 Women who Inspire a Profession' by Accounting Today and a Financial Services Champion of the Year by the SBA. She has been mentioned in the New York Times, Inc.com, Business Week, Investor's Business Daily, WebCPA, Accounting Today, PCMag.com and more. Michelle is the author of "Successful QuickBooks Consulting" and "How to Start a Home Based Bookkeeping Business".

Michelle is an Advanced Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor and has a unique relationship with Intuit as one of the few national trainers in Intuit's Trainer/Writer Network. Michelle is a consultant for Intuit product development and author for Intuit Academy.

Since 2000, she has taught hundreds of seminars to thousands of people about QuickBooks, filmed QuickBooks training courses and been a guest speaker for Office Depot's Web Cafe multiple times.

You can learn more at her website and blog www.LongforSuccess.com