Site icon Patriot Software

Is It Time to Take Your Services Remote? Offering Virtual Bookkeeping 101

alt=""

Nowadays, everything seems to happen in the cloud and jobs everywhere are going remote. Well, go ahead and add virtual bookkeeping to that list. With virtual bookkeeping, accountants can work with clients remotely whether they’re in the same state or across the country. Interested in learning more about what it takes to become a virtual bookkeeper? Read on to get the scoop on the growing industry of virtual accounting services.

What is virtual bookkeeping?

Virtual bookkeeping allows bookkeepers and accountants to work wherever they’d like and virtually connect with clients all over the country. There are a few tools that bookkeepers need before getting started, such as:

You have to do a bit of research to choose the right accounting software for your firm. When looking around for software, keep in mind:

If you’re thinking about starting virtual bookkeeping services, you also need to advertise online if you want to break into the market. Plus, you may want to consider creating a website for your virtual bookkeeping services to promote your offerings and give details.

Be virtual, with a capital “V”

Virtual accounting services don’t come out of thin air. You have to work hard to get your brand out there and attract new clients (or convince lifetime clients to make the shift to the cloud). To build your virtual bookkeeping services, advertise and cultivate a professional network online. 

Social media platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook are great places to expose possible clients to your brand and the services you offer. When advertising online, don’t forget to mention some of the perks of hiring a virtual bookkeeper:

To attract clients, you may also want to highlight your certifications, education, and years of experience in your marketing efforts and on your website

How much should you charge for virtual bookkeeping services?

It can be difficult to know what to charge for your virtual bookkeeping services. There are several ways to tackle this issue. You could set a flat rate, charge by the hour, or use a sliding scale depending on the size of the client. When setting your prices, be sure to consider the:

Costs of other virtual bookkeeping services. Remember that your competition is all over the country. Research the prices of your competitors and offer what you think is best. You want to stay competitive with pricing while still keeping the lights (and modem!) on, and make some money too.

Thinking about adding payroll to the service you provide?

If you don’t run payroll for your clients, you may want to consider adding it to your list of services. Download our FREE whitepaper, An Accountant’s Guide to Offering Payroll Services to Clients, to learn about cloud-based payroll systems.

Advertising online

You don’t have to be a social media guru to promote your virtual bookkeeping services online. To merchandise your brand online, remember to:

There are plenty of ways to connect with clients online, such as videos, blog posts, and social media posts. The biggest thing to remember is that you can’t afford to wait for clients to find you. You have to do the work to create interest in your services.

User-generated content (UGC) is a great way for your clients to spread the good news about your business on social media and other online platforms. Clients can share videos, images, reviews, or testimonials. UGC is a powerful tool—70% of consumers trust UGC more than professional ad copy. Here are four examples of UGC content and how to use them:

If you’re interested in opening a virtual bookkeeping business, Patriot’s accounting software may be just what you need to get started. Our accounting software is top-rated for price and ease of use. Try us today, and tomorrow we’ll help your business thrive.

This is not intended as legal advice; for more information, please click here.