Are you growing your bookkeeping business by empowering business owners?

I wrote that the Pure Bookkeeping mission statement is to transform the bookkeeping industry by helping great bookkeepers grow their businesses. A key part of that process is educating passionate and proud bookkeepers about the value you provide your clients.

For me, it was definitely an epiphany when I finally realised that as bookkeepers we provide much more than just data entry and compliance.

When I wrote about that, it seemed to resonate with a lot of our readers so I thought I'd expand on that. I used to think our job was to provide impeccable books.  Making sure the client’s compliance obligations were met and that the information we provided for them was accurate and reliable. If you have been bookkeeping for a while you have probably come across messes left behind by inexperienced bookkeepers who are not passionate or proud about the work they provide. They are not interested in further education or finding out what is “best practice” bookkeeping.

There is certainly value in providing your clients with impeccable books. They don’t have to worry about the ATO and their tax return is completed on time and with the minimum of fuss. However, if that’s all you do, then it’s not enough for a couple of reasons.

Firstly because I believe our job is to empower business owners around their finances. To remove confusion, fear and uncertainty and to replace that with clarity, freedom and control which, by the way, is a lot more fun than just thinking all you’re doing is data entry and compliance isn’t it?

Secondly, because you’re providing your clients with accurate and reliable information and educating them around what the figures mean, they now are armed with information to enable them to make strategic decisions about their business in order for it to be more profitable. In short, you are the primary, trusted advisor for your clients.  There’s a lot more value when you provide that level of service and that's what business owners will pay top dollar for.

That’s the game I’m playing. What about you?

Love to hear your thoughts.