Grow Your Bookkeeping Service Through The Power Of Networking

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All of us start our business for one reason or another. For me, my passion came when I was in my early twenties. I was working for a small CPA firm and sitting for the CPA exam.

I loved the diversity of working in accounting, but I hated doing tax returns. I knew back then that I wanted to own my own bookkeeping firm, but lacked the confidence. It wasn't until I turned 30, and I was a Controller for a recruiting firm did I take the plunge to be a business owner.

I started the business while I had a full time job still. It was great to have the cash flow, but my boss at the time thought if push came to shove I would quit my business and keep my job. You guessed it; I jumped and I only had a couple of clients at the time. Not enough to support my $1200.00 townhouse and my 300.00 car payment and oh, I am a single parent to boot, my son was twelve at the time.

So, a lot of you are probably wondering what did I do? It's called the Power of Networking. When I first started out; I went to any networking group I could get in front of. I think I was attending eight events a month. Crazy I know, but I did for four years straight.

For me, it was not about getting the business, but learning who my centers of influence were. Thank you to Bill Kenney who at the time owned The Small Business Network (TSBN), which was the first networking group I joined for $900.00; a big investment when you do not have any money coming in - however one I knew that I needed to make. He educated me on who I was looking to connect with.

I started focusing on people that were marketing to same cliental I was look for as clients, so I was building relationships with CPA's, Attorney's and Consultants (i.e. coaches, financial advisors, and other bookkeepers). The events I would attend were Chamber events in several towns, TSBN, American Society of Women Accounts (I was on the board), BNI and a group called The Exchange. You can use the internet or local business paper to see announcement that are in your area. Also sometimes you can get some free press from attending these events.

For me building these relationships was just a stepping stone to open the door to the next phase of my business. So never under estimate getting to know the right people, for me after joining the group, 6 months later I hired my first employee.

About the Author:
Laurie O'neil, an Advanced Certified QuickBooks Advisor, is the founder of Innovative Financial Services, LLC a national bookkeeping firm located in Hartford, CT who offers advice to other freelance bookkeepers and business owners. For more information go to http://www.infinancialservices.com



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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