Discussion:Starting out - a couple of questions
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Current revision Lmcdon9822 (Talk | contribs) (Anyone heard of) |
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| Aside from that diatribe, my experience has been that referrals from clients is the best source of new business, and that you can strategically ask your good clients to make such referrals. Since you don't have a stable of good clients yet, you should get yourself in front of as many local business leaders as often as you can - join Rotary, join the Chamber, and <u>participate</u> in their events. It's not easy, or necessarily comfortable, but you have to start somewhere.}} | Aside from that diatribe, my experience has been that referrals from clients is the best source of new business, and that you can strategically ask your good clients to make such referrals. Since you don't have a stable of good clients yet, you should get yourself in front of as many local business leaders as often as you can - join Rotary, join the Chamber, and <u>participate</u> in their events. It's not easy, or necessarily comfortable, but you have to start somewhere.}} | ||
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| + | {{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Lmcdon9822|Date=10 December 2008|Text=Anyone heard of Letip (www.letip.com)? I went to a few of their meetings. I can considering joining a chapter in my area.}} | ||
Current revision
Discussion Forum Index --> Business Growth Community --> Starting out - a couple of questions
| 30 November 2008 | |
| I'm currently working for a CPA firm about 35 miles from where I live. I'm an EA and should have my CPA license by April (waiting to meet experience requirement). With the commute and all, I've been thinking that I would go out on my own. There is an EA in my town and a bookkeeping service, but there are only 3 CPA firms in within 20 miles. The population of the surrounding towns is approximately 25,000, including the town I'm in. We have very few businesses around--most are home-based service organizations. I have begun putting business cards at every local place I go (restaurants, bulletin boards, hairdressers, etc.) I plan on taking out a small ad in the local paper within the next week to "test the waters" for bookkeeping work and then another in February. I'm not a native to this area and I know 1 person in the area (my neighbor). I've considered joining the local chamber of commerce--but all the meetings are at times when I'm at work. As are the town business development meetings, business womens luncheons, etc.
So here are my questions: First of all--I'll be looking for bookkeeping work and haven't a clue how to find those small business owners. Any ideas what the best way would be? I'm sure I'd run into more people if I was to go places during the day, but I actually can't due to being at work an hour away. Secondly, with starting a new business, I'm at a loss as to where I could meet my 1040 clients (which I'm pretty sure I can get.) I live in a development that doesn't allow for a business that would draw many customers to the actual residence. I've considered going to the client's house or meeting at a restaurant, but I'm hesitant to do those because of safety and privacy reasons, respectively. As it is, I'll have to meet them in the evening or on Saturday/Sunday... Any suggestions? Thanks! | |
| 30 November 2008 | |
| Oh, and as an aside--I have a website and blog setup which are listed on my business cards. (Couldn't figure out how to edit my previous post.) | |
Www.cpa1.biz (talk|edits) said: | 2 December 2008 |
| CSTax,
Fill out your information profile on this website for more info. I would tell you this. You have to be a good salesman and really beleive in what you are doing. Fortunately, everyone has to pay taxes. You have some advantage based on your info. You said you could work weekends. Most CPA firms are closed on the weekends. You could tell your potential customers who cannot meet up during the weekdays that you will meet up during the ends. I would also advice you joing a BNI group, Chamber or Associations that you like to do work for and find some key businesses in the associations. Good luck! | |
| 3 December 2008 | |
| I hate BNI, they make you wake up way too early and you can't miss any meetings. Luckily, I have business associates who like tequila as much as I do and we have formed our own renegade BNI group without all of those restrictions like meeting at 7 am. I so much more prefer the 5:00 pm happy hour meetings myself. I have gotten more business over beers and golf than I ever made from breakfast. Just my own humble opinion. | |
| 4 December 2008 | |
| Well, you are starting out late this year. So, I am giving you what I consider the "nuclear option" to drum up some business since you are so close to sink or swim.
Get a list of all the AA meetings in your area. Attend all of them. In a large city, this should keep you very busy. Yes, you may have to stretch the truth. If this offends you, get drunk the night before so you can show up with a hangover. At these meetings, you are bound to find male and female business owners who have really made a mess of things, and have been fired by their accountants. They will be calling you anyway if you run an expensive ad, so why not beat the competition and meet them first hand? Besides that, you can have at least some hope they are off the bottle, and may listen to you. Try the NA, and Co-dependents, adult children of alcoholics, Al-anon, and other groups too. Good luck. P.S. The SAA's are a lot of fun, but I do not suggest that you attend the sex addicts meetings if you are married, unless your spouse is willing to attend with you, and do what it takes to make the sale. P.P.S. If you are going to the AA meetings, don't shave; or they'll know you're a faker. If you plan to attend the SSA meetings, do shave, everything. | |
| 7 December 2008 | |
| CSTax, wouldn't it be a good ethical choice to tell your current employer of your plans? And ethics aside, I would think that being up front with your employer, and earning his/her blessing for your plans, would be better than having an established CPA firm bad-mouthing you after you leave. As Lyndon Johnson once said, "It's better to have your enemies inside the tent pissing out, than outside the tent pissing in."
Aside from that diatribe, my experience has been that referrals from clients is the best source of new business, and that you can strategically ask your good clients to make such referrals. Since you don't have a stable of good clients yet, you should get yourself in front of as many local business leaders as often as you can - join Rotary, join the Chamber, and participate in their events. It's not easy, or necessarily comfortable, but you have to start somewhere. | |
Lmcdon9822 (talk|edits) said: | 10 December 2008 |
| Anyone heard of Letip (www.letip.com)? I went to a few of their meetings. I can considering joining a chapter in my area. | |
