Category Archives: Money Making Tips

A Surefire Way to Get Your Bookkeeping Clients to Agree to Your Rate Increase

  By Linda Hunt | January 18, 2012 - 5:01 am | Bookkeeping, Getting Customers, Increasing Profits, Money Making Tips
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In a recent article, I shared how a bookkeeper can face their fears and have the “money conversation” with clients about raising rates. Today, I want to share some practical ways to approach this touchy topic with clients. Over the years I’ve come up with what I call a price increase formula. I have never had a bookkeeping client object to my rate increase since I began implementing it. I discovered that the key was to be prepared. I recommend that you script out what points you want to cover in a verbal conversation as well as written communication in the form of an email or letter. Start off with what you’ve accomplished since you’ve been working together. This is not every single little thing that you’ve ever done. If you’ve been working for a client for several years you can reference some big things that you’ve done together. Next, … Continue reading →

Lesson Learned: A Faster Way to Setup A New Computer

  By E.T. Barton | December 20, 2011 - 9:23 pm | About, Case Studies, Lessons Learned, Money Making Tips, Money Saving Tips, Step-by-Step Instructions
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This past weekend has been yet another eventful “Lesson Learned the Hard Way” weekend.  This weekend, I had my laptop die an untimely death.  To say it was unexpected would be a lie.  I saw the signs; I knew it was going to stop working for me sooner rather than later.  Thus, at the first sign of serious trouble, I began to think of laptops I have loved and lost over the years.  As I did, I suddenly realized a very disturbing fact:  I have gone through four laptops in nine years. As you can imagine, I was not delighted by this realization.  I was in fact, a bit aggravated.  Although my last computer lasted just shy of four years, I felt it had not been nearly long enough.  Since my computers have never had a virus before, and since I  am gentle with my computers and never, ever drop … Continue reading →

CASE STUDY: When Making Any Sales, “The Eye Buys”

  By E.T. Barton | December 12, 2011 - 11:18 pm | Getting Customers, Increasing Profits, Money Making Tips, Small Business Advice
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In today’s case study, I am reviewing a Pet Shop.  This pet shop is in a mall in Spain, (the only mall in town) and it is the only pet shop for several miles.  A LOT of people walk by this store everyday, but not so many actually go into the store.  By looking at the picture, can you guess why?    Their Three Biggest Mistakes Myself – I had probably walked past this shop about a  dozen times, on several different mall visits, when I suddenly realized there was a pet shop located right smack dab in the middle of the mall – a fantastic location for this store.  You know what finally made the place catch my attention?  It was not the dreary, overcrowded window display to the right.  It was in fact, the puppies they put in the cages to the left of the doorway.  It was … Continue reading →

How to Charge More for What Comes Easily to You

  By E.T. Barton | August 9, 2011 - 1:32 pm | Bookkeeping, Guest Bloggers, Increasing Profits, Money Making Tips, Small Business Advice, Spotlights, Virtual Bookkeeping
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Linda Hunt is the founder of SUMSOLUTIONS, a company devoted to teaching freelance bookkeeping professionals how to build and sustain a profitable practice that supports their body, mind and spirit. Are you ready to learn marketing strategies that work? Click here http://www.sumsolutions.com/free-webinar-lead-generating-strategies/ to join Linda on a FREE webinar for bookkeepers – “Lead Generating Strategies that KEEP Your Pipeline Full.” ********************************************************************************** In the past, every time a prospective or existing client challenged or questioned me on my fee, I would become a deer in headlights!  In my head, I would be shouting “I cannot believe that this is happening again!” and a few choice other phrases I won’t mention here. As a freelance bookkeeper, one of the hardest and biggest lessons for me to learn and assimilate into the very core of my being has been to sell the VALUE and RESULTS that my firm provides and NOT trade dollars … Continue reading →

The One Hour Bookkeeping Method is Here!!!

  By E.T. Barton | July 1, 2011 - 11:43 am | About, Bookkeeping, Decreasing Expenses, Increasing Profits, Internal Controls, Money Making Tips, Money Saving Tips, QuickBooks Instructions, Small Business Advice, Spotlights, Step-by-Step Instructions, Virtual Bookkeeping, Workshops
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HOW TO DO YOUR BOOKKEEPING IN ONE HOUR AN EASY BOOKKEEPING COURSE FOR QUICKBOOKS USERS I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again… I HATE BOOKKEEPING! And Yet I Blog About It. If I had to choose between doing bookkeeping and… Oh, ANYTHING ELSE… I would do the “Anything Else.”  I would focus on my family, my writing, my blogging, business in general…etc.  I would be out walking the beach or riding my Harley.  I would be playing video games with my kids or travelling the world.  I would be doing any number of things other than bookkeeping. Whether you’re a bookkeeper, a business owner, or a manager – I’m sure you’ve felt the same way at least once…especially when your accounts aren’t reconciling.  You can deny it all you want, but I know the truth:  Bookkeeping can be monotonous and/or frustrating at times. It can also be time-consuming.  … Continue reading →