This week it’s me Linda –

This week I am writing to you from Tuscon AZ where I am on a private business retreat with my coach Kendall SummerHawk.  Having a business coach is one of the ways in which I keep my batteries charged and working with Kendall helps to keep me focused on the big picture and unleashes my creativity.    It is great being away from the office so that I can relax and focus on my goals and objectives for next year!

Don’t forget our new Pricing & Packaging Bootcamp starts this week and there is still time to sign-up!

Don’t miss Laurie’s article this week where she shares with all of us the 6 steps in the sales process.

Have a great week!

This week it’s me Linda –

I know that it is only the beginning of October but I cannot wait for November. Not only does it have my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving, I will be flying out to Tucson Arizona to meet with my personal coach, Kendall SummerHawk. I will be working one-on-one with Kendall in her Horsewise Brilliance program where I and my business plan become aligned by working with the horses. I promise to take a few pictures.

Last week we put the finishes touches on our Pricing and Packing Bootcamp which starts in November! This is one seminar you won’t want to miss, especially in this downturn economy. We teach you how to focus and price your services based on value – not trading for hours.

Don’t forget to check out this feature article.

Have a great week!

Time and time again, I run into so many freelance bookkeepers who do not invest in an insurance policy. I have to stress to you how important it is to make this investment.

Most of us start our business because of the passion we have for what we do. Unfortunately, owning a business also comes with a lot of accountability and responsibility. Although we strive to service our clients to the best of our capabilities, a client’s perception of our quality of service may be entirely different. If for any reason they wind up thinking you did them wrong, it can open you up to a can of worms if you are not protected.

For instance, did you know that if you take a client to court for non-payment of a bill, let’s say over the small claims threshold of $5,000 so it ends up in civil court, the client can counter sue you if they feel there are errors in your work? Did you know that depending upon the errors and omissions insurance you purchased, the policy will cover your legal fees?

Better yet, did you know that your general liability insurance can protect you against employee dishonesty and forgery? Your regular policy covers a small portion of this, but you can always have an additional policy added with higher thresholds included. I discovered this little tidbit of information when I was researching whether or not I needed to be bonded. At the time we had run into an issue with a local payroll company who failed to make the tax payments for their clients and all the clients were held liable for their tax payments. Turns out the bond did not cover the client at all.

Here are insurances you should have:

1.    General Liability policy: Protects the assets of the business. It can protect you for property replacement, theft, medical expenses, employment practices, employee dishonesty, forgery, personal property, papers and records.

2.    Professional Liability Policy: Covers you against errors, omissions and negligence. It protects your company from claims if your client holds you responsible for errors or failure to complete the work performed as promised in your contract.

3.    Worker’s Compensation: Covers any injuries that may happen to an employee while they are working, whether it be off premise, in the car or even a work related illness.

Invest in yourself and protect yourself from the unexpected. Take my word for it, you do not want to learn these lessons the hard way.

We got so many great responses to our question “What’s Keeping You from Having Freedom in Your Bookkeeping Business?” Here’s a breakdown of what you are saying keeps you from having freedom:

 
 • Not Having Standard Processes In Place - 34%
 • Not Having Enough Time - 25%
 • Not Having Enough Clients - 25%
 • Not Having Enough Money/Cash Flow – 17%

Here’s our answer to YOUR biggest freedom buster:

Not Having Standard Processes in Place

Creating and implementing standard processes in your business, whether you are a solo-preneur or have a staff people working for you, is a key ingredient to creating the freedom you desire!

By streamlining your operations you not only pave the way to more business but bigger profits and a business that virtually runs itself! Systems create consistency and consistency creates the reputation your business is built on!

To learn more about how to create systems for your business, check out our brand new coaching program, Success Secrets Master Mind.

This week it’s me, Linda and I cannot believe it is already the middle of July! 

This summer, Laurie and I are putting the final touches on some great new products and services as well as lining up some fantastic speakers for our Ask the Expert tele-series. Ask the Expert tele-series, which launches this September, is an exclusive benefit to members of The Bookkeeping Success Circle. We will be sharing more details by the end of this month, so stayed tuned!

My partner Laurie, is technology guru and this week she is sharing some creative ways in which you can work remotely with your client. Don’t forget to check out this week’s article to learn more.

Wishing you financial serenity,

Linda & Laurie
The 6-Figure Bookkeeping Coaches

Hi – it’s Laurie this week. I hope everyone enjoyed their 4th of July with family and friends. It was rainy here so my son and I went to see the movie Hancock this weekend. It’s been quite some time since I have been to the movie theater. I always love a long weekend. It gives you the opportunity to catch up on some of the things you have wanted to do.

In this week’s article It’s Not In Your Control! Linda shares a personal experience with a client that really reminds us that what we want a client to do is not necessarily in your control. Linda also shares some great tips to protect you in a tough economy.

By Laurie O’Neil

With a competitive work environment and changes in the economy, how do you keep the employees you have? You spend so much time and effort on educating your employees, replacing them can be quite costly. Your management style as a business owner can have every effect on your staff. Are you a manager that supports learning, growth, inspires loyalty and creates a work environment that people love? Or are you a Micro-manager who is so hung up on every detail that you are stifling your employees’ growth and inspiring your employees to shop the want ads instead? These are important factors for employees when they accept a position with your company.

Some key factors that inspire employees to stay at a job are:

1. How Supervisors Act: Are they a micro-manager who stifles employee’s growth capabilities or do they inspire hard working loyal employees?

2. Communication: Control your tone and pitch. Body language, expressions and pace of movement can tell it all. Look out!

3. Control Level of Stress: If you are stressed you will convey this to your employees. Stress can bring out the worst in you. Find better ways to deal with it. You may not even notice that you are stressed but your employees will. Do you think they will tell you? Mine do. This was an area I needed help in. I am very crisis oriented, but my staff is not. Be open to learning lessons from your employees. If you don’t you may have mutiny.

4. Motivation: This area is key. Employees want to:

      a. Have their talents on the job be utilized

        b. Do meaningful work

        c. Be recognized for a great job done

        d. Enjoy the work environment

        e. Have good pay and benefits

        f. Agree with the values of the organization

        g. Have supportive management

This is what makes the world go round. Employees spend the majority of their lives working. Make coming to work fun!

As you grow your company, management styles will have key effects on your growth. Constant turnover can reflect badly to the clients and clients will loose their confidence in your ability to hire right people.

Happy 4th of July!

This week it’s me, Linda, and I hope that everyone will be enjoying a long weekend celebrating our nation’s birthday!

Last night we held our first Bookkeeping Success Circle (BSC) group coaching call on how to create a business development time – what a great call! Not only did Laurie and I share information, we learned a few things too.

This is what happens when you participate in a group of like minded people – one person generates an idea, another adds to it, we all learn something and are able to take it back to our own businesses and implement it - You’ve gotta love that!

Switching gears to this week’s article, Laurie talks about how to retain great employees and offers some sage advice during these uncertain economic times.

Wishing you financial serenity,

Linda & Laurie
The 6-Figure Bookkeeping Coaches

May 29, 2008

Happy Memorial Day!

Hi – it’s Laurie this week.  It is hard to believe that it is the end of May and we are already approaching the half year mark!  My son came home last Friday after finishing his first year in college and today I am off to Florida to visit my Mom for a couple of days.

Life can be so busy so it is important to remember that follow-up is extremely important and something that will help you to stand out and differentiate yourself from the pact.  In this week’s article, Linda shares how her firm shows the care for their clients.

Last night we held our first teleseminar on How to Price and Package Your Services!  It was great speaking with so many of you with and being able to answer your questions live!  Save the date, Tuesday June 24^th.  When we will be holding the second part of How to Price and Package Your Services.  This is a call you won’t want to miss!

Wishing you financial serenity,

Linda & Laurie