Pursuit, you're right you need some capital, but not much. You can work at of your home or find a nice commercial space with internet office/shared for $150 to $450 a month. Business cards about $40 for 500 cards, business phone $39/year -Majic Jack forwarded to your cell, recieve faxes for $1.00/month, website/domain/emails for about $100.00/year with Godaddy.......+ you can give yourself a nice title like Director of Accounting Services or Senior Vice President...lol
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sanguine
offlineMemberI compeltely understand what you guys are talking about. I'm thinking very hard about starting my own Accounting/CPA firm. I'm in the infancy stage of researching it now.
I quit my job about a year ago because the hours I was putting in was crazy. I was working for a big oil and gas company as a corporate reporting specialists; basically gathering and analyzing business unit data, creating the financial statements and reporting those to the CFO and board members etc. I loved my job, but I had to make some tough decisions. Luckily, my husband does well enough that I can venture out and start my own firm.
I'm not new to being an entreprenuer. Up until recently, that's all I had done, until the economy and housing market went south; I was a mortgage broker.
Since then, I've turned my interest elseware. I've decided to prepare to sit for the CPA exam, which I'll be starting in the fall.
I'm just wondering, what all needs to be considered when starting up an accounting/CPA firm.
I think getting to know those particular softwares, that were mentioned is a great idea.
My plan is to start a little small and then grow to eventually accommodating small to mid-size companies. I have a lot of contacts, by chance, that are waiting for me to get started. :)
Posted 2 years ago # -
JM2010FL
offlineMembersanguine, you're on the right track....I was also in mortgages (commercial) and I took a BIG bath....lol
Pursuit, the start-up is the easiest part, the toughest/trickiest part is the marketing and keeping your marketing cost to a minimum...
Look in Craigslist for a professional office to share. I share an office with a very nice conference room in Tampa and another in Miami. Total cost for both offices is $600.00/with internet. I started with a virtual office ($75.00/month) and I only paid for the office when I needed to meet with a client. Then I got my own offices cause I had more business.......
I if you can study and sit for the CPA exam you surely don't need any help with the set-up of your office....as far as office, phone, fax, website and marketing with what I've already been posting here...........but you'll live and die by marketing...which is not that hard neither....
Posted 2 years ago # -
financeguy
offlineMembermarketing is the hardest part of business imo. I ran a small business for a few years...definitely wasted a lot of money trying to figure out the best marketing.
The best product doesn't win. The best marketing wins.
AUD - 81, BEC - 74, 80, FAR - 82, REG - 81
Done!Posted 2 years ago # -
ILoveCPA
offlineMemberI was a mortgage broker as well before the collapse. Since then I got my MBA, finished sitting for the CPA and took on some consulting projects. I am curious what way I can put a positive spin to parlay my mortgage background into an accounting career, whether it be in my resume or general networking. If any of you former mortgage people, or anyone for that matter, have some good suggestions, I would love to receive them?
Thanks and my tip for people looking to job hunt or sit for the CPA is to do both. Network during the day and early evening and study at night. Forget your friends and reserve some time for close family to let them know they are still important to you but this little (facetious) CPA Test has current priority. You'll be glad you did and the seeds you planted when networking during the exam will at least start to show some signs of life.
Good luck and looking forward to peoples' suggestions.
FAR(11/09) - 83; AUD(1/10) - 94; BEC(2/10) - 83; REG(2/10) - 88Posted 2 years ago #
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