[mike0910]

I plan on getting my CPA and then doing a full time job in the private/corporate industry, where the hours aren’t as bad. I also want to do side jobs or part time work as a CPA by finding clients and providing some form of service. I think I could charge $100-$200 per hour (my professors have told me I could charge even more depending on the service). But how many hours should I spend with one client and what types of services could I provide? I know there’s no guarantee that I’ll have clients all the time, but I’d prefer to work at least 25 hours per month with my side job. Is this realistic? And how do I get started?

Also, I’m completely clueless on this topic, but where do I find clients anyway? I have lots of friends and family members that need CPAs, but how else can I get clients?

[ridiqls]

Not gonna find much to do for people if you go private or industry. Tax, maybe audit if you're really good at small audits, bookkeeping, consulting. All usually requires years of exp at public accounting.

[mla1169]

Here's the rub, the types of clients that are looking for P/T bookkeeping, consulting and tax services aren't looking to pay $100+/hr for those services. The types of clients that are going to want to pay $200/hr want you to be available during their business hours, not after you're done with your full time job. There may be a few exceptions to this generalization but it's the nature of the beast. What you're going to find a lot of is small businesses still getting off the ground that need help with setting up quickbooks (becoming a Pro Advisor is a great idea) looking to pay more like $50-$75 for a couple hours here and there on weeknights and weekends.

Also keep in mind that when your clients are most likely to demand more of your time is around month end and year end-which even in industry can be much more than 40 hours per week. Unless you're in a very entry level clerical position it's not unusual to stay past 5 or even go in on the weekends at month end.

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Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[s2sylvir]

I had a friend do temp agency jobs, she didn't make much though… So…

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Becker for all + FAR 10 Point Combo

[Skynet]

I plan on being a Chip & Dale dancer as a side job after getting my CPA so that as the ladies are stuffing dollars in my pants, I can also solicit business.

“Hey baby, talk business with your girlfriends and you can write of the dollar bills as Entertainment Expenses”

“If you need more Tax help my office number in on my Thong”

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World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - In Progress
Phase III : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase IV : Form the new Charlie's Angels with Megan Fox, Scarlett Johansson, & Gal Gadot
Phase V : TBD

BEC : 78
REG : 87
FAR : 84
AUD : 90

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - Initiated
Phase III : Bring back 8-Tracks
Phase IV : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase V : TBA

[s2sylvir]

Skynet… That's a terrible idea… Don't dance with your pants on, take them off first, easier to access your thong.

BEC - PASS (79)
AUD - PASS (63, 71, 74, 74, 83)
REG - PASS (88)
FAR - PASS (58, 89)

Becker for all + FAR 10 Point Combo

[Skynet]

You gotta pay before you play.

AUD - 90
BEC - 78
FAR - 84
REG - 87

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - In Progress
Phase III : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase IV : Form the new Charlie's Angels with Megan Fox, Scarlett Johansson, & Gal Gadot
Phase V : TBD

BEC : 78
REG : 87
FAR : 84
AUD : 90

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - Initiated
Phase III : Bring back 8-Tracks
Phase IV : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase V : TBA

[How many letters do you need]

Skynets aspirations aside….

Ridiqls hit the nail on the head multiple times….

You aren't getting $100+ an hour for after hours/work from home stuff. At those rates they want somebody at their disposal. I am just starting a new job back in Finance but want to keep my accounting sharp so I've contemplated this as well. As mentioned Quickbooks ProAdvisor is pretty much a must, but even 50 an hr is high if you aren't doing either audit or tax. Bookeeping/Payroll stuff maybe 25-30 once you are a CPA but honestly most small businesses are looking to get the job done well and since they don't need a CPA for bookkeeping they would rather just hire a cheaper experienced Quickbooks person with refs. It's a tough spot.

MBA,CMA,CPA, CFF?, ABV?

[Tripp11]

Someone mentioned doing audits, but the liability insurance which one would need to do that sort of work would eat away at any profit you could possibly make.

Before doing anything on the side, I would first look into liability insurance and the associated cost. This world is a sue happy one.

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[tomq04]

I'm traversing this myself at the moment, and am unsure where to go. Some of my thoughts are to find a local cpa that could contract me out for small jobs, but that isn't going to be $100/hours, closer to $30-50 in little Spokane.

Another is to offer payroll and it's various tax reporting, which can amount to 1-2 hours/payroll/client.

Tax work is also acceptable, but unsure how I feel about anything beyond simple 1040's.

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[Anonymous]

Everyone has already addressed the weak rates/clients you're looking at.

I also think it's important to consider the time commitment you're looking at. I bet you'll spend 3-4 hrs marketing for every one hour you bill for the first few years. That means your looking at 75-100 hrs a week just to get 25 billable hrs per week.

If you combine that with the high-potential for mutt clients/poor rates, your realization rate will be lower than working the drive-through at McDonalds for two or three years.

Despite all that, if you: have a lot of time; don't like sleeping; and are ok waiting a few years until it's worth anything– I say go for it.

[taxgeek83]

Does anyone have good information as far as what it takes to become a Quickbooks ProAdvisor? I was able to find a certification on their website – one looks to be free (if you use the online version) and the other is upwards of $500 (if you use the desktop version). I wasn't able to find anything that really explained the difference between the two. I have a friend applying (somewhat unsuccessfully) for bookkeeping jobs, and I think this would be a great on her resume.

[san4596]

taxgeek – Quickbooks Online is a much weaker version of the Desktop version. You would think that they would mirror each other, but they don't. Knowing how to use Quickbooks is a huge asset, and being a ProAdvisor opens many doors in the “Bookkeeping” world. The door is much smaller in public accounting, but still an open door.

CPA EXAM: DONE!!!!
Ethics Course: Passed
Application Mailed: 3/16/15
Professional Conduct Exam: 97
Certification Date: 4/2/15!!!

[taxgeek83]

Awesome – thanks! I suppose if the budget is a huge issue, then the online certification is better than nothing; however, I'll try to steer her toward the desktop version.

Thanks again – your help is much appreciated!

[mla1169]

I think you have to pay a monthly fee (approx $50/mo) to maintain your status as a proadvisor. Please correct me if I'm wrong because I took it off my resume when I cancelled my subscription. Note to soon to be or current CPA's, great way to earn CPE credits!

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[tomq04]

There is an annual/monthly fee mla.

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[Author]

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