How To Start A Bookkeeping Business

As with any business venture, it’s so important to do some research before you start a bookkeeping business

Bookkeeping clients outsource bookkeepers because they want a problem solved

We were recently approached by a Brazilian gentleman who’s been in Australia for around eight years. He came here with virtually no comprehension of the English language.

He purchased a takeaway store that he ran successfully for a number of years which he has now sold. During that time he did his own bookwork, utilising his financial skills and knowledge that he learned in Brazil

Then he decided that he’d become a professional bookkeeper. So he’s done TAFE courses in MYOB and Quickbooks, and even taken the time and investment to obtain a Cert IV in bookkeeping.

That’s all very well, but his English leaves much to be desired. Having the right pieces of paper doesn’t make you ready to start your own bookkeeping business.

He’s struggling to find any clients or any work -simply because his level of English is such that no one can be quite sure that he can understand simple instructions or take direction.

We’ve said many times on this website – clients outsource bookkeepers because they want a problem solved.

Bookkeeping clients do not want to engage a freelance bookkeeper to give themselves more problems. This is nothing to do with discrimination. It’s a simple fact, that for the time being at least, Australia is primarily an ENGLISH speaking nation.

If you can’t speak English fluently, then you will not be as much of an asset as a freelance bookkeper who can speak English.

When asked why he hasn’t bothered improving his level of English, his answer was that most times bookkeepers just sit in a corner “head down – bum up” and don’t need to talk to people.

Yes, he’s right. However, when busy small business owners want to have a quick chat with their bookkeeper, they do not want to be bothered wasting time on someone who can’t speak the language, thus creating a further problem for the bookkeeping client, not SOLVING a problem for that client.

This wanna-be bookkeeper realised the importance of a Cert IV, but hadn’t realised that it is really not much use if his English is substandard.

Also he didn’t consider his age – who’s going to employ a “junior bookkeeper” who’s just starting out a new career in their mid-fifties? It’s not like he’s been bookkeeping for twenty years and just decided to go freelance.

Because he didn’t do the necessary research, he’s gone to a great deal of trouble to lead down a path that’s taking him to a dead-end.