Gain access to the same resources I used when starting a home based bookkeeping business of my own. From deciding on a name, obtaining an EIN and purchasing software to knowing the types of expenses you can deduct for your home office.
It's hard to know where to start when first opening your own business. Working at home poses it's own special challenges and important things to consider such as time management issues. Following are a few of the top basics to consider when first getting started with your own home based business of any kind.
Costs are always a consideration when first getting started. You can get free business cards at Vista Print. All you have to do is pay for shipping and handling. I started by getting 250 business cards. The free business cards come with the Vista Print logo on the back, which was definitely worth it to me when just getting started and money is tight. Of course, you can always upgrade at anytime by paying additional charges.
You can get free business stamps from Vista Print by just paying shipping and handling as well. They have many different templates to choose from. I took advantage of the free address stamp, utilizing it for my initial mailings and accounts payable. If you decide to go with the address stamp, make sure to include your website address on the stamp too. It's a great way to gain free name recognition and advertising, and turn a negative (paying bills) into a positive.
Business cards have long been a staple in professional networking and marketing. In the digital age, where information is readily available online, some might question the relevance of business cards. However, home based bookkeeping business cards continue to offer unique advantages and remain a valuable tool for businesses. Here are several benefits of using business cards:
I use QuickBooks Accountant Premier Edition and recommend you use the same for your own home based business. The accountant edition allows you compatibility with all the different kinds of QuickBooks home based bookkeeping business software including Pro and Premier. It also allows you to work with the Accountants Changes so that your clients can continue with their daily tasks while you make adjusting journal entries.
Through bookkeeping-basics.net, you can get a 20% discount and free shipping on Quickbooks Accounting Software. Or, you can also try to get a deal by purchasing new or used through eBay. Whatever you decide on, I would recommend purchasing the most current version out there.
You can apply for an Employer Identification Number online by going to www.irs.gov. I personally feel that anyone who has their own business, whether they have employees or not, should file for a separate EIN number. For the simple reason that it's much safer than using your social security number on everything.
You don't have to file for a ficticious name for your home based bookkeeping business unless you are not using any part of your real name in the name of your business. If you are making up a completely new name, you can do a search to make sure the name is not already being used and file online at www.irs.gov as well.
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