1. Consider Full-Time Self Employment

Don’t quit your day job just yet.  However, we would encourage you to consider whether or not you’re genuinely interested in launching your own full-time tax practice.  If so, it’s important for you and your family to know that this transition won’t put you out on the street.  And while it will require sacrifice, take the time necessary to ensure that you have work enough to sustain you when your business goes from being a part-time endeavor to a full-time one.

Consider how long it might take you to grow your business to the point where you’d feel comfortable quitting your job.  3 months?  6 months?  One year?  And don’t work blindly towards that deadline.  Determine “readiness indicators,” or symptoms that your business is healthy enough to go full-time.  Will you need at least 10 year-round clients? 15? 20?  Look at your current client base and calculate how much money each brings in.  How many more would you need in order to compensate for your current full-time income?  And don’t rush yourself.  Give yourself the necessary time to prepare for this most important career shift.

2. Add Tax Planning Services.

There is a notable difference between tax planning and tax preparation: THE DATE. Tax planning must occur before the year ends, and tax preparation begins after January 1st. Tax planning is an important step in reducing taxes.  Throughout the year, tax professionals can discuss with clients various tax strategies that could potentially save them thousands of dollars.  This also enables them to make any needed adjustments before the end of the year to effectively lower their tax liability.  Universal’s Professional Tax Preparer Program will help you accomplish this.

3. Offer more services.

Last week we discussed the importance of expanding your offerings.  This is sound advice because the more services you offer, the more valuable you become to current clients and potentials clients.  Consider adding accounting services to your menu in order to increase your value and become that one-stop financial shop. You’ll find that people may need an accountant more than they need a tax professional, and visa versa.  Only when you’re prepared to do both are you able to secure both types of clients.  And for the clients who need both accounting and tax services, you’re able to increase your billable hours, and thus increase your income.

4. Fine-Tune Your Marketing Approach.

It’s difficult to grow a business no one really knows about.  With just a handful of proven and effective marketing techniques, you could increase your clientele significantly.  Universal Practice Builder Program, otherwise known as Marketing on Steroids, will teach you how increase your billable hours and earn the monies you deserve by leveraging your time with techniques proven to get clients.  Your practice can become the premier service in your area for tax planning and preparation.  Your ability to market your business and network with key community players will promote your business to those who need and appreciate it most.

If you get started now, you may find 2012 better than you could have ever imagined!  But first, call Universal Accounting at 1-877-833-7909 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-877-833-7909 end_of_the_skype_highlighting to see which of our programs could help you best prepare for a more profitable future!

If you intend to continue your business, be it full-time or on the side, you limit yourself by only offering tax preparation services.  It’s possible to build your business by landing more tax clients, but you’ll have more luck if you enhance your service offerings.  By adding complementary services like accounting, QuickBooks consulting, loan application services, and business turnaround help, your current clients are likely to request some of those services as well.  Without sending out fliers, postcards, or doing one radio commercial, you could increase your billable hours simply by informing current clients of your expanded offerings.   Consider the following:

Accounting

Chances are many of your current clients manage their own small businesses.  Accounting services are in high demand because every small business is required by law to perform various accounting functions—these business owners are more likely to trust an accountant who already manages their financials every tax season. 

QuickBooks Consulting

QuickBooks is, by far, the most popular accounting software on the market.  More than 80% of small businesses use it to manage their accounting.  However, these same businesses often need help setting up their companies and managing various tasks.  A QuickBooks Specialist can provide the assistance they need in optimizing this accounting software and all its features. When you consider that Intuit, the makers of QuicksBooks, charges $75 an incident and $349-$600 per year for support, you can see how easy it would be to offer your services for a more reasonable fee in order to serve clients in need of QuickBooks help.

Loan Application Services

Business owners are often intimidated by the process of completing a loan application package.  There are a lot of required components and many would feel more comfortable if they could enlist the help of a financial professional before submitting their application.  You could add loan application services to your offerings as yet another complementary service that would appeal to your target market.

Business Turnaround Services

The survival rate of small businesses is low even in an ideal market; imagine what it’s like now?  Many small businesses are struggling and owners often need help in moving those businesses from the red into the black.  Offering turnaround services will enable you to become a valuable resource to many current and prospective clients.

By all means, take a break!  But after you do, consider investing in your future by expanding your offerings.  Universal Accounting Center offers training in all these areas.  If you’re interested in expanding your business and your bottom line, call us at 1-877-833-7909 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-877-833-7909 end_of_the_skype_highlighting today to see how we can help make your financial practice even more profitable!  Now’s the perfect time!

Membership Benefits

Timely Tax News If you’re interested in current information on recent tax legislation and IRS policies and procedures, the NATP website and newsletter are valuable resources.  Current newsletter topics include the new IRS PTIN rules, the IRSAC’s annual report, the pending registered return preparer competency testing requirements and 2011 reporting tables; all valuable information for the tax professional. Members also receive access to a quarterly journal which covers timely tax topics to help you stay current in the tax profession.

Workshops and Symposiums The NATP hosts workshops and symposiums for the tax industry professional. Here are some upcoming conferences and courses:

1040 and Other Live Workshops—Currently the NATP is holding 1040 workshops in order to help tax professionals be prepared for the upcoming tax season.  Receive the latest tax law updates and understand how they apply while networking with others.

Annual Conference & Expo – This conference and expo will take place in St. Louis, Missouri from August 15-18, 2011 and will include education, fun, and networking.

Technology and Office Productivity (TOP) Conference – Next year’s conference will be held at the Rio Resort in Las Vegas, September 26-27 will cover key topics such as hiring, training, software, computer hardware, business acumen and more.  If you missed this year’s conference, you can still access the TOP Virtual Conference at the NATP website.

Self-Study Courses – The NATP offers self-study courses on specialized tax issues such as preparing C Corporation and partnership returns, estates and gifts, divorce issues, and more.

Facilitated Online Courses – The NATP offers more courses on specialized tax issues but in a live, online environment.   Registration for these courses began in May and is ongoing.

Take the time to get all the information you can, and an excellent way to do that is attending these types of workshops geared to exactly what you need to properly serve your customers.NATP and UAC’s Partnership in ExcellenceNATP is a UAC program affiliate. Both organizations promote excellence in tax preparation; UAC offers a 10% discount to NATP members on all our programs.  Many NATP members are interested in adding bookkeeping to their services with the Professional Bookkeeper (PB) Program, although many also find the Professional Tax Preparer (PTP) Program helpful in training their staff and preparing for the Enrolled Agent exam.  If you’re interested in expanding your service offerings, consider enrolling in the PB Program today or take the PTP course in preparation for the new tax legislation.  It’s not too late to give yourself the gift of greater profitability this Christmas! ResourcesNational Association of Tax Professionals (NATP)

1.    Not researching the market before entry

2.    Focusing on a narrow niche

3.    Launching too slowly

4.    Forgetting about branding, marketing, and sales

This week we’ll share the final 5:

5. Being short on passion

Before starting any business, you must ensure that it’s something you’re passionate about.  You’re going to be working many long hours to build and grow your fledgling practice; if you’re not passionate about what you’ll be doing, it’ll make your new venture more drudgery than dream-come-true.

6. Spending too much money

A financial practice is one of the more economical business ventures you can start.  You shouldn’t have to spend too much money to begin; a good computer, printer, scanner, fax machine and software package are about all you’ll need to sustain your business.  And as long as you have a good home office, you don’t even need to pay rent on a professional location.  However, regardless, some entrepreneurs still feel the need to spend more money than is absolutely necessary.  Don’t fall into that trap.  The more money you can save in building and growing your business, the more likely your business will survive long-term.

7. Bringing in unnecessary partners

Topping the list of big startup mistakes is arguing with business partners.  But before that comes bringing in unnecessary partners.  We thought we’d cover them both in number seven by encouraging you to thoughtfully consider the necessity of adding any partners to your practice.  Unless you don’t trust your own skill and expertise, you don’t need anyone else to help you launch your new business.

8. Lacking clarity in long-term business goals

It’s an old adage that has become cliché: when you fail to plan, you plan to fail.  But it’s cliché because it rings true.  Unless you take the time to articulate your vision and long-term goals, your business will lack focus and direction.  Business goals are more than mere projections of success.  As you plan how and what your business will become, your goals are the markers by which you measure success.  And the more specific your business goals, the better.

9. Refusing to receive further training

No matter how experienced you may be, refusing to enhance your skills will make you less competitive.  Also, when you add new services, like accounting, you can increase your income and your practice’s profitability.  While it may require some time, energy, and financing, without continued training your business may become obsolete.  Take the time to invest in yourself and your practice’s future.

While you can’t (and shouldn’t-how would you learn anything?) avoid all mistakes, there are a handful that can be avoided with some thoughtful planning.  And if you take the time to receive valuable training on building and growing your new business, you’ll be more likely to experience the type of success you dream of.Universal Accounting’s Power PackageBy adding small-business accounting services to your menu, your practice becomes a full-service provider that can operate year-round and not just during tax season.  Universal’s Professional Bookkeeper Program is designed to help you master small-business accounting on your own time and at your own pace.  You can earn a professional designation, demonstrating to prospective clients that you have the necessary expertise to manage their financial data.And to learn how to promote your services to the right clientele, you need a reliable toolbox full of proven marketing strategies.  The Universal Practice Builder Program will help you master 12 of these strategies, enabling you to secure 15 to 25 qualified leads per month!  This program alone can help you avoid a slew of startup mistakes, helping you grow your business so that it’s not only sustainable, but profitable too.Learn more about this Power Package by visiting Universal Accounting Center today!

5 Big Mistakes to Avoid

The recession is making everyone nervous, especially small business owners.  And as a result, many are taking a cautionary approach to business management, which, in the end, will threaten their ability to outlast the recession.  If you’re interested in gaining momentum in these difficult times, you’ll be sure to avoid the following 5 big mistakes:

1. Stop Marketing

While you may need to reevaluate your marketing approach, you should definitely continue to market your services.  Determine which tactics have worked well in the past and repurpose them for the current economic climate.  Too many small businesses are decreasing their efforts to promote their businesses which will only enable their competition to eclipse them in the long run.  Now is the perfect time to heighten your efforts to market your business and gain more familiarity with prospective clients.

2. Mind Your Own Business

One of the worst things you could do is ignore your competition and their response to the recession.  You’ll gain a competitive advantage by monitoring their efforts in marketing, networking, retention, and service offerings.  Only when you’ve research the competition can you be strategic in your attempt to outlast them.

3. Wait to Self-Assess

Now is a good time to assess your efforts, determining both your strengths and your weaknesses in order to improve your business.  Prospective clients are tightening their purse strings and will be even more deliberate and thoughtful when selecting a tax professional that best suits their needs.  Your willingness to advance your business despite the recession will demonstrate your professional dedication.

4. Minimize Networking

While networking may take time, it doesn’t require a lot of money.  You would make a big mistake in minimizing your networking efforts during a recession.  You can learn a lot from other professionals weathering the economic storm, and as you continue to network, you’ll be exposed to good advice, helpful tips, and potential referrals.

5.    Sit Tight

Now is the time to make all necessary efforts to improve your appeal to prospective clients.  When you sit tight, you surrender the advantage to your competition and lose precious ground.  Look for ways to enhance your service offerings and marketing advantage.  When you do, your business will quickly become the premier financial provider in your area.

UAC’s Training Programs Will Catapult You Ahead of the Competition

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that by expanding your service offerings you can quickly expand your client base and, consequently, your bottom line.  As a tax preparer, adding accounting and QuickBooks services to your menu will not only attract more clients, but it will enable you to easily expand your seasonal business to a year-round venture.

Universal’s Professional Bookkeeper Program and Professional Bookkeeper’s Guide to QuickBooks are perfect recession-proofing training programs.  They will bolster your business with valuable services that every small business owner needs.

For more information on these two programs and their ability to strengthen your business and help you outlast the recession, visit Universal Accounting Center today!

]]> http://www.hometaxbusiness.com/tax-articles/outlast-the-recession-325.html/feed 0 http://www.hometaxbusiness.com/tax-articles/dominate-recessive-market-323.html http://www.hometaxbusiness.com/tax-articles/dominate-recessive-market-323.html#comments Wed, 01 Apr 2009 08:00:37 +0000 uacblogger http://www.hometaxbusiness.com/tax-articles/?p=323 Now, more than ever, you need your business to stand out.  People are being more selective when looking for financial professionals who can meet their every need, conveniently and for a reasonable fee.  Many, especially small business owners, are interested in a tax preparer who can also manage their accounting needs.  Small-business accountants who can consult with owners on increasing their business’s profitability are very appealing.To truly make your business stand out you must become the premier financial provider in your area, expanding your services to include small-business accounting and QuickBooks services.  When you do, you’ll find your business becomes more resilient and outstanding, pulling ahead of the competition in order to dominate in a recessive market.

Market Domination

The best way to secure your foothold in a recessive market is to add complementary services that are required by the majority of your clients.  And small businesses are required by law to keep financial records.  Your services become even more appealing when they’re coupled with informed reporting that will help your clients make more profitable business decisions based on the sound accounting data you provide.

Small Business Accounting

Small business accounting is a valuable niche market.  In fact, over 90% of accounting opportunities can be found in the small business arena.  Universal Accounting Center (UAC) has been training professionals like you in small business accounting for over 25 years because they recognize what many do not; most universities and trade programs are teaching students corporate accounting which isn’t preparing them for the typical, real-world accounting experiences they will encounter.

Becoming a small business accountant doesn’t require years of your valuable time.  UAC’s Professional Bookkeeper (PB) Program is not only reputable, but it’s self-paced, enabling a busy professional like you to take your time or complete the program quickly, in less than 60 hours.

And when you take this program you are trained to act as your clients’ Profit Expert.  What is a Profit Expert?  A proactive accountant who realizes that the information he/she generates provides crucial data that can make or break a business.  It’s the accountant’s job to share this data with business owners, explaining it in such a way that they both understand what the information indicates and can use it to make informed business decisions.  The PB Program will train you how to do that.

You will gain the confidence and skill necessary to start and manage nearly every client’s books, and when you have a question, our follow-up program enables you to call and ask one of our seasoned professionals.

QuickBooks Services

By why stop with accounting services?  Increase your business’s appeal by offering QuickBook services as well.  UAC’s Professional Bookkeeper’s Guide (PBG) to QuickBooks will help you master this accounting software, and once you do, you can offer QuickBooks setup, help and consultation services, charging $45 to $75 per hour.

Becoming a QuickBooks Specialist would provide you with numerous ways to bring in more business, increase your income, and make your job easier.  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.

Tough times require strategic measures.  By turning your tax service into a full-service financial provider, you get your game on, working year-round for clients that not only need your services, but value them enough to tell their friends and family about your business!  Take the initiative and learn more about these two programs. It won’t be long before you can dominate in a recessive market.

Without a sense of urgency, desire loses its value. – Jim RohnPeople who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents. – Andrew CarnegieBe miserable.  Or motivate yourself.  Whatever has to be done, it’s always your choice. – Wayne Dyer.Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything. – Napoleon Hill

They say tough times bring out the best in people.  We’re guessing our current economic slump qualifies as a tough time, especially for small business owners like you.  Is it bringing out your best?

A recession will test your character, and your response will determine what you’re made of.  Will you advance or retreat?  Whatever your response, it will be determined from by your internal motivation.  Steven Covey once said, “Motivation is a fire from within.  If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly.”

The last thing you should do is allow the recession to dictate how successful your business is.  Rather than hunker down to wait out these tough times, you can take initiative and empower your business with a competitive edge, making it the premier financial provider in your area.  But that choice is yours.  Will you make it?

Increase Your Services

Increasing your service offerings makes your practice more appealing to prospective clients.  Nothing will complement your tax practice more than Professional Bookkeeping services. By increasing the number of products you offer, you’ll not only be able to provide your clients with a complete financial service package, but you will also be able to generate a better income for you and your family as well.

You already know that the income from a tax preparation business peaks during the first four months of the year. Many professional tax preparers bill at rates of $100 per hour or more, enabling them to work 4 to 6 months per year and semi-retire the rest of the year. But in these financially troubling times, that might not be enough to support you and your family.  By adding bookkeeping and accounting services to your menu, you’ll create a stable income stream for your business that will be consistent year-round.

When you enroll in the Professional Bookkeeper Program you have access to the following:

• A self-paced program you can complete in as little as 60 hours
• Practical, hands-on training that will prepare you for typical day-to-day small business accounting functions
• The ability to earn the Professional Bookkeeper (PB) designation
• 6 months of follow-up support with our trained professionals
• 12 valuable instructional DVD’s and manuals designed to help you continually review and master concepts
• The confidence to become the premier full-service financial provider in your area
• An iron-clad guarantee that makes the PB Program a risk-free professional investment

Implement Effective Marketing Strategies

When you employ proven marketing techniques in order to promote your practice, you gain a competitive edge that enables you to grow your business and your bottom line.  The Universal Practice Builder Program was designed to train you how to put your practice on top, attracting quality clients using cost- and time-effective techniques.

This program offers the following:

• $30,000 in new annualized billings in only 12 months
• Tactical goal planning and setting
• The ability to generate 15 to 25 qualified leads per month
• Phone marketing instruction and training
• Training in the benefits of newsletters and websites
• 12-proven marketing strategies
• Five business assessments
• A customized business website

Most of your competitors are just as shell-shocked by the recession as you are.  Most of them are also lying low and hoping their businesses can weather the economic storm.  You will gain an advantage by improving your business by becoming a full-service financial provider.  The Professional Bookkeeper and Universal Practice Builder Programs will enable you to do that.  By enhancing your services and implementing effective marketing strategies, your tax practice will quickly become the premier financial service provider in your area.

Don’t cower to the recession.  Take action and advance your business now.  Register 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!

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!

While it may sound counterintuitive to increase your service offerings during economic turmoil, in the long run, it can be the one thing that will ensure survival for your tax practice.

The longer the recession runs, the more competitive the market will become.  A prospective client will have less money to spend, and he’ll be looking for a financial provider that can give him more bang for his buck.

Consider the accountant who has access to much of the same information you do.  If that accountant offered tax preparation services in addition to accounting services, might you lose a client to a financial provider who is not only more convenient, but perhaps more cost efficient?

You gain a competitive advantage by becoming a one-stop financial shop for prospective clients.

Accounting Services

Thumb through your local phone book to see how many small businesses exist in your area.  Consider that all these businesses are required, by law, to keep an accounting record.  Most small business owners don’t have the expertise necessary to effectively manage their own books.  If you could perform those accounting services while increasing their profitability and decreasing their spending, your fee would be worth its weight in gold.  And you would have a competitive advantage.

UAC’s Professional Bookkeeper Program is designed to teach you how to start a business’s books from scratch.  Whether you’re an experienced accountant or a beginner, this course will enhance your knowledge and confidence in order to add accounting services to your menu.  You can earn valuable certification demonstrating that you have the expertise required to manage a business’s financials.  Add to that the training you will receive on marketing your new skill set and you have a program that’s practically risk-free!

Here are what just a handful of graduates have said about the Professional Bookkeeper Program:

This is the best investment for the money and for my future.- B. Davies

We would like to thank you for the opportunities you uncovered for us through your excellent accounting course. – S. & C. Scharp & S. Young

Having been a CPA in ‘Big 8 Firms’ and a top level executive in bluechip companies I especially appreciate your ability to simplify the subject. You definitely are providing a greatly needed service to people who are interested in being independent. – D. Bird, CPA

Watch video testimonials here!

QuickBooks Services

By why stop with accounting services?  Increase your business’s appeal by offering QuickBook services as well.  UAC’s Professional Bookkeeper’s Guide (PBG) to QuickBooks will help you master this accounting software, and once you do, you can offer QuickBooks setup, help and consultation services, charging $45 to $75 per hour.

More than 85% of small businesses use QuickBooks to manage their accounting.  That’s a large percentage of your target market!  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.  And it won’t be long before they realize that it will save them more time and money to let you manage all their accounting and tax needs.

Take advantage of this package deal and enroll in UAC’s Professional Bookkeeper Program and its complementary course the Professional Bookkeeper’s Guide to QuickBooks.  Not only will diversifying your services enable you to wait out the recession, but it will enable you to grow your business and gain a competitive advantage.  Order now!