Prepare for New Year (Part One of a Two-Part Series)

We will open the book.  Its pages are blank.  We are going to put words on them ourselves.  The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day. – Edith Lovejoy Pierce

The New Year is a perfect time to enjoy a fresh start for your practice.  As 2008 winds down, you should take some time to reflect, and consider ways to improve your business practices in 2009.  In this two-part series we examine 10 ways to prepare for the New Year and enjoy more productivity and profitability as a result.  This week we cover the first five tips:

1. Revamp workplace

No, you don’t have to redecorate your office.  But we do suggest at least rearranging the furniture.  Giving a workplace a fresh new feel will often inspire better performance.  This is the perfect time to consider a new coat of paint, or if necessary, a new office chair or filing cabinet.  Reflect on items you need to best do your job, and then take advantage of holiday sales to purchase those items your office needs most.

2. Clean up computer files

While we often take the time to clean our workspace in order to present a professional image to clients and other visitors, how often do we clean up our computer files?  Although business associates may not be privy to how messy our virtual desktops may be, it does impact our ability to work efficiently and maintain valuable client records.  Schedule a couple hours during which you can reorder your computer files and back up pertinent information.

3. Revisit damaged relationships

No one performs better while holding a grudge.  Whether they be personal or professional, the holidays present a perfect time to repair damaged relationships.  Take the time to apologize for any real or perceived offenses for which you may be responsible.  You’ll find the holidays are much more enjoyable when you’ve taken the time to iron out misunderstandings with friends, family, and business associates.

4. Create a financial forecast

You’ll have a good idea of what to focus on when you create a financial forecast for the upcoming year.  Especially considering the current economic crisis, your business will do better when you can estimate your income and prepare for any contingencies.  Prepare a budget and consider and implement strategies that will increase your income.

5. Implement new techniques and services

In this day and age, industries change and advance quite rapidly.  Now is a good time to research industry trends and determine how you might alter your business practices in order to keep up with the competition, or better yet, gain that competitive advantage.

Return next week for our final installment in this series when we share the final five of 10 New Year preparation tips:

6.    Consider final tax benefits

7.    Contact clients

8.    Go green

9.    Eliminate clutter

10. Create a business strategy for the New Year

QuickBooks Made Profitable

Consider enhancing your service offerings by using your QuickBooks expertise to generate more clients.  In QuickBooks Made Profitable (QBMP), UAC trains you how to build a wider client base by offering QuickBooks setup, help and consultation services.  Not only that, but you can offer free QuickBooks seminars in order to attract clients who might also find your tax services beneficial.  The QBMP will teach you the following:

• Getting Started Basics
• Setting up a Company
• Working with Lists
• Setting up Inventory
• Selling your Product Invoicing for Services
• Processing Payments
• Working with Bank Accounts
• Entering/ Paying Bills
• Using Other QuickBooks Accounts
• Creating Reports, Creating Graphs
• Tracking and Paying Sales Tax
• Payroll interfaces with QuickBooks
• Estimating
• Time Tracking
• Job Costing

For a minimal initial investment, you can grow your business and bottom line in the New Year.  Be ready for 2009.  Order QuickBooks Made Profitable today!

An Early Christmas Gift

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!

Tips from Successful Entrepreneurs

Countless individuals have successfully started their own businesses.  Countless individuals have tried and failed.  And even more have done both.  From those who have experienced both the ups and downs and are still around to tell about it, we offer the following advice:

“For us, our most important stakeholder is not our stockholders, it is our customers.  We’re in business to serve the needs and desires of our core customer base.”  John Mackey”There are a lot of good new ideas out there.  What differentiates companies and makes them great is the execution.”  — Anonymous”The biggest obstacle to wealth is fear.  People are afraid to think big, but if you think small, you’ll only achieve small things.”  T. Harv Eker”A brand for a company is like a reputation for a person.  You earn reputation by trying to do hard things well.”  — Jeff Bezos.”Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”  — Steve Jobs”Next to doing the right thing, the most important thing is to let people know you are doing the right thing.” – John D. Rockefeller”The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” – Walt Disney

What advice will you contribute after successfully starting your own accounting and tax practice?  If you’ve been thinking about taking that leap to entrepreneurialism, now is the time.  A brighter future awaits you.  Universal Accounting Center (UAC) will help you find that future.

A Ready-Made Business

You already have skills in tax preparation.  You are good with numbers and would enjoy managing a business’s financials.  All you need now to become a full-service financial provider are two things: small-business accounting skills and the ability to market those skills.  Once you have both you can start your practice.

The Professional Bookkeeper Program

There are countless small businesses that need a Profit Expert, an accountant who understands their unique needs and can help them make informed business decisions.  A Profit Expert knows how to watch key indicators and use that information to increase a business’s profitability.  A Profit Expert does more than just manage a small business’s books; a Profit Expert plays an integral role in enhancing a small business’s standing and longevity.

Only one program will enable you to become both a small-business accountant and a profit expert.   The Professional Bookkeeper Program is designed to help you take advantage of a key target market: small business owners.  While you may believe that big money is with big businesses, they represent less than 15% of accounting opportunities.  The remaining 85% resides with the small business sector.

Adding accounting services to your menu will enable you to remain busy year-round and not just during tax season.  The quality of your services will also ensure your ability to retain clients.  But in order for your business to succeed you must first secure those clients.

The Universal Practice Builder Program

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 valuable niche market.  We do!

Not only do we know how to market those services, but we know which strategies and approaches will grow your business to the point where you will become so busy you may have to turn some prospective clients away – that or consider increasing your staff in order to increase your capacity (and your bottom line!).

To share this priceless information we developed the Universal Practice Builder Program.  Here’s just a sampling of what you will gain from enrolling in this phenomenal program:

• A guarantee of $30,000 in new annualized billings in only 12 months
• The skills to become a Profit Expert for each of your clients
• 12 marketing strategies that you can implement immediately
• A process which can produce 15 to 25 qualified leads per month
• 3 months of coaching via telephone and Internet
• Training on a computerized database tracking program
• A presentation DVD to show potential clients
• Training to use QuickBooks to attract more clients
• Access to a plan proven to help retain clients

These two programs will enable you to start your business venture with confidence and ease.  For a minimal initial investment you can become a successful entrepreneur.  Not to mention both programs carry our iron-glad guarantee: if, after completing the programs and applying their principles you feel they did not live up to your expectations, you can return all materials for a 100% refund of all monies paid.  That makes these two programs practically risk-free.

It’s time you invested in your financial future. Take the first step to realizing your dream of becoming a successful entrepreneur.  Enroll today!

Securing Referrals (Part Two of a Two-Part Series)

Step Two: Approaching Clients for Referrals

Only after your clients have experienced your stellar services can you approach them for referrals.  Last week we talked about providing quality customer service to your clients in order for them to truly appreciate your business. Until you are certain clients are happy with your services, you should not approach them for referrals.  You don’t want to compromise an already delicate relationship.Once you have a handful of pleased clients, select one of the following approaches in asking them for referrals:

1. Request feedback

One subtle method for requesting referrals can accompany your request for valuable client feedback.  Give your clients a survey on which they can respond to the quality of your services, explaining what they appreciate and what they would like you to improve.  If clients are especially satisfied with your work, this can be a good time to request, at the bottom of the survey, a list of individuals they know who might also benefit from your services.

2. Use a sales letter

If you distribute a newsletter for your business, this would be a great place to request referrals in a very casual way.  If you don’t currently distribute a newsletter, you may consider sending all your current clients a sales letter where you detail your services and offer a seasonal offer or special deal.  Again, at the bottom you can include a request for referrals.

3. Ask directly

Business lunches are a great way to show your clients appreciation.  It’s also a good setting for requesting referrals.  It’s important to remember that your approach should never be pushy or aggressive.  Take the time to chat with your clients, showing genuine concern and interest as you talk casually.  At some point the conversation should turn to business, and as the end of your meal nears you should make the request.  Consider a casual request, such as, “Is there anyone you know of who might also benefit from my services?”  If your client’s response is positive, ask if you could invite the client and his/her friend(s) to another lunch appointment where you could be introduced.

4. Offer incentives

Often the idea of discounted services is the best motivator.  You may find your clients more willing to refer their family and friends to your tax practice when they realize that they will receive a complimentary service or some type of discount.   Remind your clients of these incentives 3 to 4 times a year in order to encourage them to consider who they know that might benefit from your services.

5. Give gifts of appreciation

Regardless of whether or not your clients actually refer anyone to you, showing your appreciation for their business is always a good practice.  Gift cards for restaurants, movie theaters, gas stations, book stores, etc. are all good examples of small gifts of appreciation that will go a long way in inspiring client loyalty.

Asking for referrals can be daunting.  However, when you can ensure that your clients are first satisfied and then approach them with a low-pressure technique, you’re more likely to find success and a handful of prospective clients.Attend a Free SeminarWhether you have your own accounting practice or have been considering starting one in the future, you could benefit from a free seminar on Having Your Own Successful Accounting Practice.  Universal Accounting Center is making the rounds these next few months, offering this free two-hour workshop designed to teach you how to save many wasted hours and thousands of dollars learning techniques that work.  See if one of our free seminars will be coming near you.

Securing Referrals (Part One of a Two-Part Series)

Step One: Ensuring Client Satisfaction

Customer service is awareness of needs, problems, fears and aspirations. – AnonymousCustomers are an investment. Maximize your return. – PeopleSoft AdHere 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!

Running a Client-Centered Full-Service Practice

3 Questions That Will Help You Get On-Track

In order for your services to appeal to clients, they must focus on fulfilling their needs. This requires you to be dedicated to running a client-centered practice.You’re familiar with the importance of good customer service because you yourself patron other businesses. You know what you like, and often the offer of a one-size-fits-all solution for your unique needs isn’t appealing. The same applies to your own clients. They want to feel as if your services are customized to suit their specific needs.How do you do that? You must regularly step away from your practice and look at it from a client’s perspective. When you do so ask yourself the following three questions:

1. How will these services enhance my business?

Your clients aren’t interested in what you do as much as they’re interested in how it will benefit their business. While you may submit a mean tax return, they would find your ability to save them money in taxes much more appealing. So as you consider your demographic, ask yourself what they really want from you. Once you are able to answer that question, you’ll be better prepared to cater your services to meet their specific needs.

2. How much will it cost me?

While we’d like to think that clients are first interested in your services and second interested in your fees, that’s not always the case. Especially when you’re working with small business owners, they want to save as much money as possible, even when it comes to their taxes. When faced with this issue it’s often most effective to present them a per-project estimate rather than an hourly fee. They imagine those hourly fees adding up much more quickly than they actually do. When they can see how much the entire project might cost them (for example, tax planning by the month or tax preparation by the form), they’re generally more subdued and can see just how valuable your services are.

3. Do you offer any complementary services?

When you’re low on time or too tired to drive around, you can probably appreciate the convenience of a super store that has everything from groceries to pharmaceuticals to clothes to hardware. Your clients are just as interested in convenience as you are, and if you asked them they would probably admit they would prefer to have all their financials managed by the same individual.

Accounting services are the perfect complement to tax services. Not only would your current clients find your new services appealing, but you would be more likely to attract more prospective clients with the convenience of a one-stop financial shop.

The Professional Bookkeeper (PB) ProgramWhen you enroll in the Professional Bookkeeper Program you can master small-business accounting skills in less than 60 hours. With a DVD program designed to help you review key concepts until they become second-nature, this self-paced approach enables you to complete the course on your own time. Not only that, but in addition to learning small business accounting you will also be trained in marketing those skills. After 25 years training professionals in small business accounting we know which marketing strategies are most successful in actually attracting and retaining clients.Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned accountant, this course will teach you everything you need to know to service your small business clients. Here is what some of our graduates are saying:

I can’t believe the accounting knowledge covered in four short weeks. I spent years in school and did not get the same education I did this past month… – L.C. Westergard

I knew nothing of accounting before I took this class and now I feel I have a good working knowledge of bookkeeping and starting a business.- S. David

My current clients have recognized the changes and appreciate them greatly. – S. Christensen

You gave a stay-at-home-mom the knowledge and understanding of accounting needed to go out and get work that can be done from home.- I. Snow

In order to best serve your clients you must consider all their financial needs. Once you master small business accounting you can manage their books as well as their taxes. This is incredibly appealing to clients who are looking for a one-stop financial shop. Expand your business before tax season hits again. Enroll in the Professional Bookkeeper Program today.

Closing the Deal (Part Two of a Two-Part Series)

6 Steps for Turning Prospective Clients into Current Clients

You’ve made a good first impression and now you want to deliver your sales pitch and seal the deal. That may be easier said than done. But when you attend to the client’s needs and follow 6 simple steps, it can happen, and quite possibly, before the bill arrives.

1. Arrive early

It’s important that you properly set up your meeting. Most sales pitches are delivered over a meal; it’s a great way to lure prospective clients from their own businesses in order to discuss your services. In that case, you should ensure the restaurant is aware that your reservation is for a business breakfast, lunch or dinner. Give them your card before the clients arrive in order to avoid that awkward moment when the bill is presented. You can also determine seating at this time, which is important when meeting with more than one prospective client.

2. Build your professional relationship

Set the meeting’s tone by getting to know the client better before jumping into your pitch. Ask questions and listen to their answers. Just about everyone likes to talk about themselves, their families, their businesses, and even the weather. Exhibit genuine interest in your client’s life and you’re sure to build a solid base for your professional relationship.

3. Time your pitch

You want to avoid interruption and ensure adequate time to deliver your pitch. If you’re having breakfast, you don’t have much time and will want to start fairly soon. Lunch appointments are a little longer and you should wait until everyone orders before you start. Dinner appointments are the most leisurely and you should wait until everyone has finished their entre before you start talking business.

4. Ask the right questions

It’s important that you determine your prospective client’s needs. What are their current accounting needs? Do they already have an accountant? Are they satisfied with their current accountant? What services would they find most beneficial? The more you learn about their business and corresponding accounting needs the better equipped you’ll be to cater your pitch to align with their business objectives.

5. Emphasize benefits

Before you even practice your pitch try to take on your prospective client’s perspective. What would they most want from an accountant? While you probably offer everything from standard bookkeeping to payroll services, the client is more interested in how those services will benefit their business. It’s much more appealing to hear that you’ll help them cut costs and increase profits than it is to know that you can manage their accounts payable and accounts receivable.

6. Listen to and answer questions

This step is often overlooked. We can be so focused on delivering our pitch that we forget to listen to our prospective client’s questions and thoughtfully answer them. This will help you best determine what their deeper concerns might be. Often this is where the deal is sealed as the client comes to realize that you’re genuinely interested in what is best for their business.

Enhancing Your Sales PitchYou’ll be better equipped to seal the deal when you have a professional designation to back your experience and expertise. Not to mention, when you receive training in small business accounting, you will enhance your service offerings and become a full-service financial provider! What client wouldn’t want their tax preparer to become a one-stop shop for their financial needs?And when you enroll in Universal’s Professional Bookkeeper Program, you learn how to become a client’s Profit Expert, enabling you to contribute to a client’s profitability – a skill that makes your services invaluable. Imagine how that will enhance your sales pitch!Get started today! UAC has been training professionals like you for over 25 years. Benefit from our experience and expertise. Enroll now and gain the skills and confidence necessary to secure more clients and seal countless deals!

Closing the Deal (Part One of a Two-Part Series)

7 Tips on Forming a Good First Impression

Meeting with a prospective client in order to pitch your services can be intimidating and nerve-wracking. Does it help to know that much of your prospective client’s decision will be influenced by their first impression of you? In fact, your contact will form that first impression within mere seconds of meeting. It’s important that you do your best to make it a good one. We recommend you consider the following when meeting clients to discuss your services.

1. Looks matter

We’re not suggesting that in order to succeed you must look like a contender for a beauty pageant or the cover of GQ. But we are saying you need to appear well-groomed and professional. Depending on the setting, a formal restaurant or a casual bistro, you should dress appropriately and ensure that all the details-from your hair to your shoes-are attended to and project a positive image for your practice.

2. Consider the contact

You don’t want your contact to feel out-of-place or uncomfortable. When selecting a meeting place you should consider the prospective client and what would put them at ease. This includes how you dress as well. You would probably select different attire when meeting a tattoo artist than you would when meeting a stock broker.

3. Practice a firm handshake

Just about everything you do in that first meeting will reflect back on your business and the services you offer. A firm handshake projects confidence and strength while a limp handshake projects a lack of confidence and strength. If necessary you should practice your handshake until it becomes second nature.

4. Express thanks

Lydia Ramsey, in her article “Seal the Deal in Seven Seconds,” says that while only 7% of your first impression is formed by the words you use, it’s important that you choose those words wisely. She suggests focusing on your first 12 words by expressing gratitude for the opportunity to meet with the prospective client.

5. Use the client’s name

Everyone loves the sound of their own name. And when talking to a prospective client, especially within those first crucial minutes, it’s essential that you say their name. But don’t overdo it; you just might start to sound like you’re schmoozing which is never very appealing.

6. Smile

No matter how nervous you are be sure to smile. A genuine smile will put the client at ease and set a friendly tone for the meeting.

7. Be energetic and personable

Even your walk says something about you. If your demeanor is sluggish then your prospective client will think that’s how you work. Be energetic, positive and friendly. This effort will communicate volumes about your work ethic.

Almost as important as your pitch is the first impression you give a prospective employer. As you attend to your appearance and the way your present yourself, applying the seven tips described above, you’ll find it much easier to close the deal. Come back next week when we will discuss how to present the perfect sales pitch.To enhance your sales pitch and learn crucial marketing techniques, you can enroll in the Professional Bookkeeper Program. You can add new services to your offerings and broaden your target market. If you would like to learn more you can order our video “Introduction to the Professional Bookkeeper Program” today. For less than $10 (or free when you watch it online) you can learn everything you need know about this amazing course.ReferencesRamsey, Lydia. “Seal the Deal in Seven Seconds.” 2 July 2008 About.com

Are You Ready For The Tax Season

Get Your Checklist Taken Care Of: Training and QuickBooks Pro

This week its coming down to crunch time. There is only two more months until the Tax Season ’07 officially kicks off. Are you ready? I’m sure all of us have one or two things they still need to do, but for us who are wondering do we have the training that will allow us to get through the season with flying colors.. it’s getting down to the wire.

For what you may ask? The Universal Professional Tax Preparer’s Program is the most comprehensive tax preparation program available on the market. In the program, as you may know, you will be able to get the rundown on the standard deductions and exemptions as well as the complicated employee business expense and miscellaneous itemized deductions among many, many other skills taught. And the time is quickly passing to get the program and to master all the material before the season starts!

It is estimated that if you only spend one hour a day on the course materials, (which is a comfortable pace for most) that you will be done with the course and ready for the certification process in 60 days. If you carry that out, it takes you into the last week of December. Don’t procrastinate getting enrolled into the program. You will be able to have the confidence and the know-how to properly give the best Tax Prep Service to those that come to you and those you are doing business with. Give yourself that added edge in your tax preparation career!

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What else will give you that edge for the ‘ Tax Season? Have you dreamed of having your own accounting clerk who manages your accounts payable and receivable? A personal tax practice requires you to manage lots of fiscal information, and that probably requires more of your time than you might like to spend, especially when that time could go towards more billable hours. Most business owners’ dream system would include the ability to do the following:

• Track clients and vendors so that you can easily find their information from one location

• Quickly create invoices so that you can receive payment sooner.

• Write checks with one click.

• Remind you when bills are due.

• Process easy-to-read financial reports.

• Manage accounts payable and receivable.

Thankfully there is a system that can do all those things for you, making the business end of your tax practice more manageable and less time-consuming. QuickBooks Pro is that system, servicing more than 80% of small businesses like you. And as a tax preparer you know how valuable it is to use the same system many of your clients are using.

Get the Information You Need from Your ClientsAs a tax preparer you know how valuable it is to get the information you need from your clients, and in the right format. In fact, the biggest complaint many tax preparers, accountants and bookkeepers have is that the information they receive from their clients is difficult to sort out and sometimes unusable. This is true whether the client is doing the books by hand or through QuickBooks. Potentially, many of them are already using QuickBooks, so you can simply teach them how to use it so that you can get the information you need, making your job much easier.

Make Extra MoneyOnce you master Quickbooks, you can offer help services to other Quickbooks users, and that’s not just limited to your current client base; you can attract new clients by offering Quickbooks set-up and consultation services for $65-$95 per hour. You’ll find companies who want to do their accounting tasks themselves, but need help in configuring Quickbooks to meet their needs. And once you’ve helped a company set up its initial QuickBooks system, who do you think they’ll turn to for help? You, of course! After all, you’ll have the training and expertise they’ll need whenever they run into a problem. Because even if businesses are doing the books themselves, they will need help in certain areas or have problems that only you can solve. Taxes and depreciation come to mind immediately, along with installation support, accruals, job costing, estate planning, and a myriad of additional services that only you can offer. And once your Quickbooks clients recognize the value and competence of your expertise, they’ll come to you for their tax needs.

Learn QuickBooks Now!Universal Accounting Center (UAC) has a training program that will teach you QuickBooks quickly, and painlessly. UAC’s Guide to Quickbooks Pro 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 program teaches you shortcuts and methods you may not have known. You will be impressed by the simple flow and completeness of this program. So why wait? In just a number of hours you could be ready to better manage your own finances, and add new services to your own practice, increasing your bottom line.

Imagine what you would pay for that accounts payable and receivable clerk we talked about earlier. Let’s say that clerk charged $25 an hour and you used her services 10 hours a month. That would cost you $250 dollars a month. Not bad, you think, especially if you can make that amount in less than 3 hours time preparing taxes. But in one year, that would cost you $3000. The retail cost of UAC training coupled with the QuickBooks Pro software is $485, but for a limited time you can get that for just $385; less than what you would pay that clerk in two month’s time. And if you already have the software, or are just interested in a trail version, it’ll just cost you $285. And in addition to having a system that can help you better manage your own business, you’ll also have the training to offer Quickbooks help services to current and potential clients. This could be just one way to expand your practice beyond tax season. Don’t wait; order today!

Universal Accounting Center

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!