“The best effect of any book is that it excites the reader to self activity.” – Thomas Carlyle

“I often feel sorry for people who don’t read good books; they are missing a chance to lead an extra life.” – Scott Corbett

“There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island.” – Walt Disney

Whether you have an established tax practice or you’ve been thinking about starting one, you can benefit from the advice of others who have gone before and, in one way or another, achieved success.  Once again, we’re helping you find books that will enable you to achieve your business goals.  This week we took a cue from Entrepreneur.com to supply you with 5 book recommendations that others have found helpful, in no particular order.

Bill & Dave: How Hewlett and Packard Built the World’s Greatest Company by Michael S. Malone (Portfolio, 2007)

This book follows the rise of corporate giants William Hewlett and David Packard, examining those characteristics that made them both successful.  The San Francisco Chronicle calls it “a lesson plan for managers…” while Businessweek calls it “…a biography, management guidebook, and business history, all in one.”  What sets this book apart from others is that Malone focuses on the honesty and integrity upon which Hewlett and Packard built their empire.

New Ideas from Dead CEOs: Lasting Lessons from the Corner Office by Todd G. Buchholz (Collins, 2007)

Author Todd Buchholz follows the lives of 10 successful CEOs, including Estee Lauder, Ray Kroc, Walt Disney and Mary Kay Ash.  Buchholz himself describes the book’s purpose upfront: “I dare you. Search this book for the solitary secret that will guarantee riches while protecting you from being flung against the wall by competitors. You won’t find it.  Not because I have failed to divulge the lives and lessons of great CEOs, but because I tried to reveal the simple truth about making it big: It does not take a village, a Harvard MBA, or even a rich uncle. It takes passion, and obsession with turning a great idea into a sweeping revolution.”

Your Management Sucks: Why You Have to Declare War on Yourself…and Your Business by Mark Stevens (Crown Business, 2006)

This book enables anyone in a management position to reevaluate his/her approach and identify weaknesses that must be overcome in order to run a successful business.  In fact, this book presents a week-long “battle plan” that, in Stevens’ own words, “challenges assumptions about success and provides a road map for taking your business to the next level.”

Buddha: 9 to 5 – The Eightfold Path to Enlightening Your Workplace and Improving Your Bottom Line by Nancy Spears (Adams Media, 2007)

This book takes the Buddhist practice called the Eightfold Path and gives it a corporate spin, complete with practical exercises and case studies that enable readers to see the Eightfold Business Path in action.  Focusing on the Buddhist concepts of intention, mindfulness, and right action, this book provides a very zen approach to better managing your business, your employees and your work environment.

Red to Black in 30 Days by Allen Bostrom (Universal Accounting Center, 2008)

Small businesses are failing right and left; we hope yours is not one of them.  Red to Black in 30 Days enables readers to learn the Universal Project Management Model that will enable them to save failing businesses.   This book is a guideline for financial professionals who work with disheartened small business owners in need of a good turnaround plan.

Each chapter focuses on a crucial aspect of the turnaround process. Simple steps are outlined from initial contact through stabilization and profitable growth. This can be the guide through your first turnaround experience or it can enhance the management skills of even the seasoned tax preparer.  You may find that in offering turnaround services your business (and those of your clients) will be the few that thrive in these difficult financial times. For the cost of this one book you can enhance your value to current and prospective clients.  Order your copy now.

Resources

Edelhauser, Kristin. “10 Biz Books to Read This Summer.” 31 May 2007  Entrepreneur.com

The Art of Asking for What You Need

Entrepreneurs are a unique breed.  We are brave, bold, and optimistic.  We have to be in order to start a business from nothing and see it through both the good times and the bad.  And while we may be in a recession, as small business owners, we are the most flexible businesses, the most mobile and rebound-able entities you can imagine.  So much so that our ability to thrive through these difficult economic times may help the nation as a whole rebound more quickly.

However, in order to see your way through the recession you must be willing, more than before, to speak up and ask for what you need.  Here are four simple things you can ask for:

A deal. Whether you’re looking for a computer, office furniture, a year’s worth of supplies or a new cell phone carrier, you must be willing to pursue the best deal, and often that requires that you ask for it.  Don’t be afraid to admit that you’re a small business owner looking for a discount.  In fact, these days more retailers expect some good old fashioned bartering anyway.  Either way, you’ll never get what you don’t ask for.

A sale. Wouldn’t it be nice if all prospective clients asked to retain your services without the least provocation?  You’ll be lucky if that happens a handful of times in your career.  Typically you must explain the advantages of retaining your services to a prospective client.   That conversation should never end without you asking for a sale.  It can be as simple as, “Would you be interested in having me prepare your tax return this year?”  The thought may not occur to them until you ask.  And the worst thing they could say is “no.”

A favor. When you are involved in a professional community you will often extend and ask for favors from colleagues and other professionals.  The favor could come in the form of referrals, business advice, a mentorship, or a networking opportunity.  You shouldn’t feel self-conscious to ask for favors; the business community is all about exchanging them.  You just need to be ready to give as willingly as you receive.

An audience. Much of your business will be the result of you talking about what you do.  This can occur in the line at the grocery store, at a local convention, or at a tax seminar you organize.  Regardless of the forum, you will be required to request an audience, either by interacting with confidence or formally inviting attendants.  Regardless of the method, you must take initiative and speak up!

Those are just four ways you can enhance your business by determining what you need and asking for it.  You’ll be amazed at what that one simple principle can do to improve your business.

Now It’s Our Turn

Your business becomes more appealing when you offer complementary services.  More than 80% of small business use QuickBooks software to manage their books.  Mastering QuickBooks will make you a QuickBooks authority, enabling you to offer QuickBooks seminars and attract more potential clients by demonstrating how they can use this product effectively.  The Professional Bookkeeper’s Guide (PBG) to QuickBooks is designed to help you accomplish that.  And we wouldn’t be a good example of smart business tactics if we didn’t ask you to enroll, for the good of your own business!

The Professional Bookkeeper’s Guide (PBG) to QuickBooks is a self-paced program that enables you to complete the parts that interest you and skip over the parts that don’t. Even if you have used the program for years, the PBG teaches you shortcuts and methods you may not have known. You will be impressed by the simple flow and completeness of the PBG; it will teach you how to do the basic transactions, reconcile accounts, as well as a basic understanding of fundamental accounting principles. Use this product to enhance your service offerings and your bottom line.  Purchase the Professional Bookkeeper’s Guide to QuickBooks today!

5 Tips in Boosting Your Practice during the Economic Slump

Has your business taken a turn for the worst?  Or perhaps you’re just noticing a decrease in your practice’s profits.  Regardless of the reason, the economic slump is causing many business owners to revisit their financial standing to see how they’re faring.  The following five cautionary steps can make or break your business.

1. Write/Update your marketing and business plans

If you haven’t written one yet, shame on you.  We’re just kidding.  But it’s never too late to benefit from solid business and marketing plans.  And if you have one, an annual revision is in order.  Your business and marketing plans will assess your current standing and consider how to improve things this year.  A clear vision and a plan to accompany it will enable you to keep on track.

2. Meet with employees

If you have employees, it’s good to present your business and marketing plans to them and ask for input.  You may be surprised at the quality feedback you receive.  Also, depending on your situation, you may need to reevaluate just how much each employee contributes to your business’s profitability.  At some point you may need to let employees go in order to see your practice through a successful turnaround.

3. Meet with clients

Your clients may be privy to rumors that your business is failing.  It does you no good to ignore the rumor mill.  Meet with clients and be honest with them about your business and any steps you’re taking to rectify problems.  In fact, this is a good time to ask clients for suggestions.  Taking this one measure may prevent them from leaving your practice to look for a more stable accountant.

4. Streamline your expenses

When business gets bad it’s time to look at your spending.  Can you cut back and leave more money in the business?

5. Invest in your business

This may be the best time for a change in course.  And investing in your business may be just the answer.  Consider earning adding complementary services and getting professional marketing help.  Both will inject your business with a profitable infusion that’s sure to help you ride out the recession in comfort.

The Professional Bookkeeper Program

As a tax preparer, we already know that numbers come naturally to you.  Now all you need to do is find your inner accountant.  If your client roster currently contains small business owners, becoming an accountant would prove more lucrative than you can imagine.  These individuals need help analyzing their financial data so they can make more profitable decisions and achieve true success.  They’ve already trusted you with their financial information so it wouldn’t take much to convince them that you could also work as their accountant.

The four modules in this training program will enable you to target your services for the very valuable small-business market.  From creating books from scratch to growing your accounting practice, this program has it all.  Not to mention, you’ll receive 6 months of free follow-up support and a customized website for your business.  Upon completion you’ll also be able to test for certification as a Professional Bookkeeper (PB), a designation you can include in all your marketing materials as evidence of your expertise.

The Universal Practice Builder Program

Your business will never become profitable if you are unable to successfully market your services.  For over 25 years Universal Accounting Center has trained financial professionals like you in small business accounting.  In all our years working with accountants, bookkeepers and tax preparers we’ve come to understand that most don’t know how to promote their services to this niche market of small businesses.  Fortunately, we do.  Not only that, but we know which strategies and approaches will grow your business to the point where you will become so busy you may just have to start turning clients away.

When you enroll in the Universal Practice Builder (UPB) Program, you’ll receive a guarantee of $30,000 in new annualized billings in only one year, 12 marketing strategies that you can implement immediately, and a process which can produce 15 to 25 qualified leads per month.  And that’s just the beginning.

If your business is failing, don’t despair.  The best thing you can do to advance your practice is take action!   Invest in yourself and your business to increase your profitability now.  Enroll today!

Letting People Know You Really Are in Business

Some are under the misconception that because you work from home, your time is up for grabs.  You may get calls from friends and family to babysit, run errands or just talk on the phone because they don’t yet value your time as a business owner.

But as you already know, time is money, and you’re not home because you’re independently wealthy; you’re home because that is the most economical way to run your business.  In order to communicate that with your family and friends, you need to establish firm boundaries that let them know you’re serious about your tax practice.  Once you do, you’ll find that others are more respectful of your time.

The following 5 tips will help:

1. Set regular business hours.

Whether you work from 9 to 5, from 6 to 2, or 7 to midnight, you need to establish regular business hours, and then communicate those business hours to friends, family and clients.  Once you do, it’s important that you honor them, politely informing personal callers that you’re on the clock and would happy to return their calls later.

2. Use a business line.

Depending on your situation, it may be easier to avoid those personal calls altogether by using a separate business line.  Do not answer your home phone during your regular business hours, and don’t distribute your business number to friends and family without telling them it is only to be used in times of emergency.

3. Be honest.

If someone places a personal call during business hours, remind them that you’re working.  The only way you’ll get people to believe that your home business is a priority is if you remind them.  When you deviate from the boundaries you set, by casually talking to friends when you should be working, you’re sending the wrong message and will continue to have people interrupt you when you could be making money.

4. Just say “no.”

If someone asked you to watch their kids while you were scheduled to work at a full-time job, you wouldn’t hesitate to say no.  Just because you are your own boss now doesn’t mean you have to say “yes” every time someone calls asking for a favor.  While there’s nothing wrong with helping a friend out now and then, if you get into the habit of agreeing to help everyone, you’ll have no time to invest in your business.

5. Ask for support.

Let your friends and family know that you want your business to succeed and will need their help to see it happen.  Requesting their support may help them feel responsible, in part, for your success.  You may find that your request will be honored simply because you asked for their help.

Your business can succeed as long as you make it a priority.  Once you establish firm boundaries with family and friends, and ask for help when necessary, you’ll find that they will respect your intentions and perhaps become your greatest allies.

For other resources in helping you establish a thriving tax practice, visit Universal Accounting Center.

5 Questions to Ask Yourself

Don’t tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results. – George S. Patton

There’s nothing more demoralizing than a leader who can’t clearly articulate why we’re doing what we’re doing. – James Kouzes and Barry Posner

Leadership involves finding a parade and getting in front of it. – John Naisbitt

Small business owners are, by default, managers.  And if they have employees, they better be good leaders as well.  Leaders, by definition, are able to steer an organization and its resources to success.  Are you a good leader?  Ask yourself the following five questions to determine whether or not your business has a good leader at its helm:

1. Is your business headed in the right direction?

The best sign that you are a good leader is when your business is headed in the right direction, headed being the operative word.  While your business may not have yet achieved perfection, it’s important that it be improving by the month.  If not, you should reevaluate your current financial situation and see where you must shift your attention in order to see more profitability and growth.

2. Do you regularly research industry trends?

It’s important that you know what’s happening in your industry.  If you become too busy to follow current tax trends and keep up with the every-changing tax law, you’ll not only be ill-informed, but you’re most likely to be out of work very soon.  Small businesses that have a lead on the competition are generally run by individuals who know where their industry is headed and have incorporated those trends that will help them remain on top.

3. Are you enthusiastic, sharing your vision with clients and employees?

Employees are inspired by leaders with a clear vision.  Do you have a vision?  If not, you must create one, and soon.  If so, you must practice sharing it with employees and clients.  Your ability to transmit your enthusiasm to those with whom you associate will do wonders for your business.  Enthusiasm is contagious, and the sooner it starts catching at you business, the better.

4. Do you communicate clearly and succinctly?

Your ability to communicate well will often evidence itself in your employees’ actions.  If they are following your directions and fulfilling your requests without incident, chances are you’re communicating clearly, in a manner that is well understood by those who work for you.  If not, chances are you’re not being as straightforward and clear and you might like.  Good leaders are also good communicators who can articulate their messages without extreme effort.

5. Are your employees proactive and independent?

Good leaders hire and train employees that don’t require much oversight.  Not only that, if you lead by example you’ll find that your staff desires to work independently, fulfilling their job requirements in such a way that your vision will be quickly realized.  If you find yourself continually micromanaging your employees, you need to change your approach.  Perhaps they need more training or encouragement to magnify their responsibilities.

Good Leaders Provide Employees with Valuable Training

If you would like to improve your leadership skills, consider offering group training to your employees.  You can learn from UAC’s example while offering your employees something that will impact your business in a positive and profitable way.  We offer valuable business management training, which helps your employees develop a strong company culture that’s committed to its own financial success.  Or consider accounting, bookkeeping and tax staff training which enables each employee to become a Profit Expert within your organization.  Either would jumpstart your business for the New Year.  To learn more, visit Universal Accounting Center today!

We know that right now you’re probably thinking about what you’re going to do for Thanksgiving.  Will you be eating with the in-laws?  Maybe you’ll be inviting friends over for a feast at your house?  Or perhaps you’ll buck tradition and order pizza?  Regardless of how you choose to spend this holiday, we’d like you to think ahead to the next one.

Things may be a little tight this Christmas.  The kids might be asking for a Wii, your parents may want a Caribbean cruise, and you may just want a little peace and quiet.  While all those things are great items for a Christmas wish list, we’d like you to consider giving yourself the gift of a more lucrative future.

Whether you prepare taxes on the side or run a tax practice year-round, you can benefit from adding complementary services to your menu.  What client wouldn’t be interested in taking their finances to a practice that could perform all their accounting and tax needs?  You can gain that accounting expertise in less than 60 hours, all spent on your own time and at your own pace, when you enroll in Universal Accounting Center’s (UAC) Professional Bookkeeper (PB) Program.

Accounting Expertise

The PB course will supply all the know-how and confidence necessary for you to start and manage the books of current and prospective clients.  You will learn the day-to-day accounting functions required by small businesses, something not offered by most university degree programs.  You will gain a competitive edge that you will use with effective marketing strategies UAC will also provide.

The course consists of the following four modules:

Module 1-Accounting Made Easy. You will master the tools, procedures, and underlying principles that make up the bookkeeping processes of all businesses.  You will also understand the core building blocks of accounting and bookkeeping.

Module 2-Practical Small Business Applications. You will apply your understanding of the core accounting principles to specific industries.  You will learn to set up books from scratch, do payroll like a seasoned pro, and much more.

Module 3-Advancing your “Account-Ability.” You will learn sure ways to set up complete bookkeeping systems and manage the books for a variety of more sophisticated industries.

Module 4-Building a Successful Accounting Service. You will learn the steps to finding paying clients.  Upon completion of this module you will be able to start and grow an accounting practice following a proven program tested and perfected since 1979.

Upon successful completion of the course you can earn valuable professional certification, demonstrating your expertise.

In addition to all this, the PB program comes with the following iron-glad guarantee:

“If, after completing the course, you feel the course didn’t live up to your expectation, simply return the materials to Universal, for a 100% refund of any monies paid.”

QuickBooks Services

Adding accounting services to your menu would definitely expand your current offering and enhance your overall appeal.  When you add QuickBooks services to your menu, you become a full-service financial provider that also offers QB setup, help, and consultation services.

Consider this, Intuit charges $75 an incident and $349-$600 per year for QuickBooks support.  That’s too pricey for most small business owners, 85% of which currently use QuickBooks software; you could offer QuickBooks support for a more reasonable fee and draw in more clients in need of a little QuickBooks help. Becoming a Quickbooks Specialist will enable you to bring in more business, increase your income, and make your job easier.

This program comes complete with eight sessions that will train you in the following:

Sessions 1-3. The fundamentals of daily bookkeeping tasks, enabling you to gain a better understanding of the tasks that a bookkeeper performs. You will learn the key indicators of a company’s financial health, how to calculate them, and what they mean to your company. You will learn to interpret financial data in order to turn it into actionable business wisdom.

Sessions 4-6.  The must-know principles of marking down assets and how to depreciate them for the largest tax advantage in as little time as the law allows. You will learn methods of depreciating fixed assets and how to calculate allowance for bad debts. You’ll learn the benefits of each business structure and which form will legally allow you to pay the least taxes possible.

Session 7. The technique that will enable you to navigate the debit/credit maze and learn to use the accountant’s troubleshooting tool. You’ll be introduced to preparing financial statements and will be taught how to interpret them into practical steps you can take to increase profitability.

Session 8. Gross profit-what is it and what does it mean to the financial condition of your company? You will learn how the income accounts connect into the balance sheet.

These two programs will enable you to expand your business in 2009!  By enrolling in these courses today, you invest in the financial future of yourself and your family.  While most Christmas presents can wear out or break altogether, this gift of valuable career training will be a holiday investment you will never regret.

Enroll today and get your Christmas present early this year!

Step One: Ensuring Client Satisfaction

Customer service is awareness of needs, problems, fears and aspirations. – Anonymous

Customers are an investment. Maximize your return. – PeopleSoft Ad

Here is a simple but powerful rule: always give people more than what they expect to get. – Nelson Boswell

It’s difficult to request referrals from clients who are not currently happy with your services. Before you can use this valuable resource to increase your client base you must first ensure current client satisfaction. Only after you do can you begin approaching clients for referrals.

The following seven tips will help you better serve your clients so that they happily refer their family and friends your way:

1. Establish clear expectations.

Many of your clients may not have worked with a tax specialist before and are unsure what to expect. The rest have and may be running on old expectations. It’s important to have a preliminary meeting where you define the relationship and your expectations, taking special note of what your clients expect from you. You may need to negotiate some of these expectations so that both you and your client are satisfied. In establishing clear expectations from the beginning, you will eliminate a lot of unnecessary frustration later.

2. Be respectful.

Regardless of your clients’ behavior, you must treat everyone with respect. Be courteous, thoughtful, and listen with intent. This applies to your face-to-face, email and phone correspondence.

3. Respond promptly and maintain contact.

Establish a policy on returning emails and phone calls. We suggest you respond within 24 hours; this shows clients that you are attentive and considerate of their needs. Also, when working on their accounts you should provide clients with periodic reports; otherwise they may assume that you’re not working at all.

4. Quickly resolve complaints.

Anytime your clients have concerns or complaints, you must respond quickly. The longer you wait to resolve a problem, the longer your client has to stew over it. On the other hand, the more quickly you resolve the client’s concern, the more satisfied your client is with your service.

5. Request feedback.

The best way to learn what your clients think of your services is to ask them. Consider giving all your clients a survey on which they can provide you with priceless feedback. Take this feedback into consideration as you modify your services and client relationships.

6. Save them money.

Consider recent ads where people are complaining of catastrophic situations to which another responds, “I have good news. I just saved a bunch of money on car insurance.” Nothing wins client loyalty like having a financial provider save them money. As you serve clients, consider this a priority; when you share your cost-saving tactics with clients, you will find them very appreciative of the effort.

7. Offer complementary services.

Clients appreciate convenience. Anything you can do to streamline their financial services is valued. Consider their needs and add complementary services that would make your business more convenient and, in turn, more appealing.

Only after you ensure customer satisfaction can you request referrals from your clients. Once you take the necessary action to meet your clients’ needs, you can approach them for referrals, at which point they are more likely to provide them.

Consider Adding QuickBooks Services to Your Menu

Intuit has cornered the market on accounting software with QuickBooks. More than 80% of small businesses use it to manage their accounting. Unfortunately for many small business owners, they are unaware how to optimize this software so they can retrieve the information they need to better run their businesses. Fortunately for you, this mean there are a number of small business owners in need of QuickBooks setup, help and consultation services.

Not only would adding QuickBooks services to your menu increase your bottom line, but it will also enable you to better work with clients to get the information you need to best prepare their taxes. As you demonstrate how to properly setup and use QuickBooks to manage their accounting, you can ensure you will receive the information you need in the format you need it in.

The Professional Bookkeeper’s Guide to QuickBooks will enable you to master this valuable software program and earn professional certification as a QuickBooks Specialist. You can better serve your current clients and attract new clients in need of QuickBooks expertise. For a minimal investment, you can enjoy large returns. Increase your customer service efforts today by enrolling in the PBG Program!

If It’s Accounting, It’s Universal:

Get to Know More About the Company That Will Change Your Career!

Universal Accounting is a company that is making a difference in the lives of their students! For those who are pursuing or looking into the possibilities of pursuing a career path into the Accounting, Bookkeeping and Tax Preparation services, you need to get to know more about what all Universal offers in their comprehensive training programs.

If you prefer onsite classroom study or looking for the benefits received on independent study, we have developed the programs that you will be able to get the one-on-one experience in your own home. The skills we have used over the course of the last 28 years, with the trial and error, the fine-tuning of accounting methods and strategies, and what we and thousands more have experienced running their own practices – we have provided to you the advantage to stay on top of your profession. Our coursework is designed to be exactly what you will be doing when you are servicing the biggest customer base available, the small business owner.

If you are looking for the knowledge, the skills, and the know-how to start or build your accounting or tax practice, or just looking to gain the essential skills to further your career in your place of business, Universal’s Programs are what you are going to need.

Click here to take the Video Tour of Universal and all that we offer to you, the accounting and tax professional to be the best in your field and to have the success in business and in your professional life that you are seeking.Our exclusive short term courses do just that!

Imagine staying on top of the latest in the industry and having access to the experts who can assist you through training? Imagine what you are learning can be applied the very next day at work? Imagine being able to keep the materials, and the reading for continued referencing as you take that path in Accounting, Bookkeeping and Tax Preparation? You don’t have to imagine too hard, because that is one of the many things you receive when you enroll in these specialized programs! Click here to get to know Universal Accounting.

Are You Ready For The Next Step?
Be in business for yourself, but not by yourself getting paid what you’re worth! Are you tired of thinking, “Why not me?” You have gotten this far in your search to do what you want to in your chosen career, take the next step. The time is now to be able to get the training and the change you desire in your professional life. Click here to find out if Professional Tax Preparation Certification is a fit for you.

Be the Profit Expert Professional for Small Business! Don’t hesitate another day in getting the Accounting and Marketing Training that makes the difference. Click here to get more information on what you need to know about becoming the Profit Center Expert for small business accounting and tax!

We could all probably agree that your beliefs influence your actions. If you believe that your business will succeed if you work hard enough, than chances are you’ll work hard to see the success of your business. We’d like to take that thought a bit further and say that your beliefs not only influence your actions, but they also influence your experience. If you believe that people generally treat each other well, than chances are you’ll not only treat others well but you’ll experience others treating you well.

So what do successful business owners believe? We’re guessing that their beliefs influence their actions, their experiences, and their success. Who knows? A successful business owner’s beliefs may be your ticket to a more profitable business. Here are five beliefs that are common among successful business owners:

1. Success is a given

Successful business owners don’t waste energy worrying about failure. They expect to succeed. They believe that their actions will lead to success and trust that every roadblock is simply a part of that journey.

2. Every situation presents an opportunity

Successful business owners view every trial, struggle, difficulty, and triumph as an opportunity to move forward. Perhaps they see the situation as an opportunity to learn more in order to grow their business. Or perhaps it’s the opportunity to change their course of direction. Regardless of how challenging the situation may be, the successful business owner never views it as an obstacle, only a stepping stone.

3. A mission statement isn’t fluff; it’s reality

Once they’ve crafted a mission statement, the successful business owner begins to live it, imagining that it’s not just a statement, but a reality. This enables them to press forward to accomplish their objectives and achieve more and more success.

4. A failure is an experience, not a forecast

It can be so easy to let failure deflate you. But remember, failure is simply an experience, not a forecast. If you step back and view it as a teaching moment, there’s a lot the failure might teach you. In fact, many successful business owners attribute their success to one pivotal failure they experienced.

5. If you build it (and market really well) they will come

Whatever the business might be, a tax practice, an accounting business, a full financial sesrvice provider, the successful business owner recognizes its value and believes that as long as potential clients are aware that it exists, they will come. They view marketing as a process, not an event, and are sure to get the word out so that people have the opportunity to benefit from their services.

In the Black

Obviously successful business owners are in the black. They recognize the value of increasing prosperity in order to expand their business and enhance their success, using their belief system and proven principles of profitability. Allen Bostrum, president and CEO of Universal Accounting Center has developed 9 proven principles that help small business owners like you increase profit. He’s written about these principles in his book called In the Black which is an easy-read that will teach you practical actions you can take immediately to increase your profitability. For less than $20 you could begin changing the course of your business. Order In the Black today!

It’s mid-summer and you’re probably experiencing a lull in business; not too many are interested in taxes this time of year. What are some things you can do? We have a suggestion. Why not use this time to enhance your skills and become a full service financial provider? You’ll be able to increase your service offerings and turn your business into a full-time, year-round venture. It’s finally time to quit your day job and give yourself a raise.

How Easy Is It?

You may think that adding accounting services to your offerings would require a lot of time, energy, and money. That’s simply not true. In 60 hours you could not only have the skills, but the confidence to perform small business accounting for a growing niche market. Universal Accounting Center’s Professional Bookkeeper (PB) Program provides hands-on training in the day-to-day accounting tasks required by small businesses. From payroll to bank reconciliations, you’ll learn how to manage more than your clients’ books; you’ll also become their Profit Expert, informing them how they can increase their business’s profitability and success. Imagine how valuable that service would be to small business owners who often struggle to last longer than 5 years.

Testimonial: This course has really helped open options I never thought I had before. The training was easy to understand, and the hands-on work emphasizes that understanding and know-how.-Barbara W.

How Much Could You Make?

We’ll do more than give you an average income range; we’ll share an equation that will help you calculate how many clients you will need to earn the income you desire. You can charge the average client $300/month. If you have 20 clients you’re earning $6000 per month. That’s $72,000 in one year, and that number doesn’t even take into account how much you earn during tax season. Depending on your needs, you can increase or decrease the number of clients in order to hit your target income.

Testimonial: As of July 1st, I am leaving my job of 15 years and working my business full time. I already have enough clients, on contract, to give me a larger annual income than I had working for my employer.-Robbie Ursu

How Many Clients Could You Have?

We challenge you to take a drive down your main street or thumb through the yellow pages of your local phone book. How many small, local businesses can you find? And that doesn’t even include the countless entrepreneurs working from their homes. Your potential client base is huge and continues to grow every year.

Testimonial: After completing UAC’s training I opened my business. I now have 15 clients, and have only had one meeting that did not result in a new client.-Victoria Richardson

How Long Would It Take To Get Started?

The Professional Bookkeeper Program is designed to teach you everything you need to know to get started. And because operating an accounting and bookkeeping practice from your home requires little to no startup costs, you could have your practice up and running as soon as you’re ready. This program is practically a ready-made business; you add confidence and stir.

Testimonial: I did not imagine that I could face this world out there and talk confidently about accounting and bookkeeping, let alone start my own business in it. But having this class, I have developed the confidence that I need to go out there and be on my own and the confidence to make a go at it. I’m ready to face the world!!!-Julie M.

Now is the perfect time to take advantage of a lull in business to grow your clientele and become a full-service financial provider. It’s not only easy, but profitable and can take just a couple months to get started. You’ve already got a strong base with your tax preparation business. Why not take advantage of your standing by growing your business this summer?

The Professional Bookkeeper Program

It’s never been so easy to grow your tax practice into a full-service financial consultancy.  By adding bookkeeping services to your menu your business becomes busy year-round, enabling you to quit your day job and live your dream as a self-employed financial professional.  Don’t delay your future; enroll in the Professional Bookkeeper Program today!