Discussion:Doing all the right things.....no dice

My attempts to go woo new clients have fallen on stony ground.

I visited most of the small businesses (basically anything that is non-franchised) in my town looking for business. A couple took my cards with no committment...one admitted she wasn't making any money. Most businesses had bookkeepers or were CPA's themselves. I gotta say, it was somewhat depressing to be told no so many times....but I am keeping on keeping on. My best lead was a new florist in the area that hasn't even opened yet (my wife is friends with the previous owner who sold the business). He already has a bookkeeper.

At the pack meeting last week, the cubmaster praised my work to date in getting them up and running in front of everyone. I have the parent/leader meeting this Thursday where I will present the treasurer's report and will be dressed up and on my game. I think this could be my best lead to date.

I also plan to visit a couple of the CPA's and my brother-in-law's firm on Halloween day (next day off) in order to see if maybe I could siphon off some overflow from their businesses during tax time and even pick up a single bookkeeping client--in exchange for sending them the C corp accounts that I don't want to deal with.

That's pretty well my update. I knew getting my first client would be difficult but not THIS difficult. But I will keep on keeping on and eventually doing the right things right will yield some results....RIGHT? :D

Michael

Hope everything works out for you. I'm hoping to get into my own small firm one day (and I'm sure others are as well) so let us know how it pans out.

Zman, a great idea. The young lady that set up my business and helped set me up as the pack treasurer for my son's boy scout unit was very nice. I might just pay her a visit as all new businesses must see her to establish a bank account. Excellent idea.

Thanks all!

Michael

Michael

I pulled down the latest list of new businesses in my County for the past week and made all the calls that I can possibly make...after weeding out the businesses that I simply do not want to work with (taxi services, subcontractors, etc). I made about 10 calls.

I left 4 messages I received two "I already have someone I work with" One must have just changed business structure because they had in-house payables, receivables, etc.

The good news: I talked with two guys who have not worked with an Accountant before. One landscaper and one flooring guy. Both were very receptive and seemed like they could frankly use the help. Both seemed really interested in the phrase "I want to be more than just a drop off, see you in a week Accountant. I want to become a partner, if you will, in your business to see you succeed. Therefore, I also do various consulting--Computer, Software, and management consulting". That line works if you can get someone new in business that has a workable concept but no business training.

The landscaper gave me a definite "I will get back with you after next week"...it is his busy time. I used to own my own landscaping business and I worked in the nursery business for almost 10 years to boot.

The flooring guy was interested but driving so he wrote down my name and said he would get back with me when he got back to the office and had a chance to look at his schedule.

Both may bail on me but since I use my cell phone as my business phone, I programmed their numbers after calling them to show me their name and business name on my caller id. So I will answer the phone with "Hi David, I am glad you decided to call me back....what do you say we get together and see what we can do to make you more successful". Cliche, yes. Just what a nervous new business owner likes to hear? I hope so.

I'm excited. I am having a whale of a time doing the books for the Cub Scouts--despite them not paying.

Thanks all!

Michael

I plan to visit two of them on Wednesday to see about that very thing.

Thanks, Michael