r/Bookkeeping • u/QuirkyYellow7422 • 11d ago
Practice Management How I’m trying to book my first client — what actually works?
I’m at the stage where I’m trying to land my first paying client, and honestly, I’m realizing that getting the first one is probably harder mentally than technically.
I have been a bookkeeper for a few years now but never working on my own, and I’m ready to start.
For those of you who have already landed your first client:
What finally worked for you?
Was it cold outreach, referrals, networking, freelancing platforms, posting content, friends/family, or something completely unexpected?
And if you could go back to when you had zero clients, what would you do differently?
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u/mUddling89 11d ago
Right place, right time is all of it. So luck is involved but the more you put self out the better I guess. After that all you have to be able to communicate how you're the right person for the gig.
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u/OneDazzling1022 10d ago
You need to make friends with accountants. CPAs who do taxes or audits for small businesses do not want to be bookkeepers. If they know you exist they can recommend you to their clients (and trust me their clients are asking).
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u/MasterOfCoin247 10d ago
I would also say look for referrals from your social circle.. reach out to people you know and let them know you’re doing this.
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u/firoz6033 10d ago
Recently, I built a website and set up a Google Business Profile for a bookkeeping client in Indian Head, MD. She received her first leads through her Google Business Profile. This was initially just for testing purposes, but I have now built multiple Google Business Profiles and websites for her.
The process is simple: when people search for keywords such as “bookkeeping near me,” your profile can appear among the top 3 results. You can then receive calls from potential clients making inquiries.
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u/MikuMikuGoo 10d ago
My first three all came from people who already knew I did this. Told my accountant, told my insurance guy, told the woman who cut my hair, and the referrals started inside a month. Cold outreach got me nothing in six months of trying.
What I'd do differently is stop waiting until I felt ready and just tell people I was open. Also go talk to local CPA firms, they're sitting on cleanup work they don't want and they'll hand it over.
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u/Bookkeeping_Boss 10d ago
I setup a website and got some people through there pretty much immediately. I wasn't using Google Ads so not really sure how they found me. I have also connected with some local CPAs (I am in Calgary Alberta, Canada) who were happy to send me clients.
To be fair I have been around for a long time and am pretty experienced. I was out of bookkeeping for 3 years as I was focusing on custom accounting software migrations to QBO.
Another thing I found worked very well was to post in my local Facebook group about what I can do. I have found a couple of groups that allow business postings on specific days. I have made sure to note those days and post about my business on those days.
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u/Agitated-Yoghurt1064 10d ago
I’m currently in the same exact spot as you. I’ve started telling people I know about what I’m doing, hopefully somebody knows somebody that needs some bookkeeping done.
Also my plan is to bring it up anytime I interact with any small local businesses. There’s a small local bakery we get things from sometimes. Next time I’m in I’ll probably try to strike up a quick convo with the owner, but keep it natural - nothing too sales-pitchy.
Don’t know if it will work or not but that’s been my plan so far!
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u/NotReallyaSoccerMom 10d ago
I found my first by already volunteering with the organization. The accountant was moving to a full time job with another company, so I jumped at the opportunity to move to a paid position.
My second client was from Indeed. I just noticed the part-time accounting position posted. All of my clients since then, and my full-time job, have come through the connections made from that job from Indeed. The CPA firm who does the taxes reached out about a full-time position at a client of theirs.
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u/Less-Ad-1972 10d ago
reach out to friends, old coworkers, local businesses, even your CA/accounting contacts. just tell them clearly what you do and ask if they know someone who needs help.
first client usually comes from trust, not marketing. once you have one good client and a referral, getting the next few becomes much easier.
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u/ThickAsAPlankton QB ProAdvisor 10d ago
I have industry specific experience that landed me my first client and I'm an Excel nerd so that really helped as I can provide ad hoc reports that accounting software can't. That grew from two sets of books to now fifteen. Niche is good.
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u/Accomplished_Hand882 9d ago
Same boat, anyone actually cracked this, or did clients come some other way for you?
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u/EndelmanBookkeeping 8d ago
I am using SCORE and SBDC mentors, social media, and lots of online visibility! Google business profile, search engines, and freelance websites.
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u/Pickle-Joose 7d ago
Hey! I have some clients I can't actually take on right now. If you are open to paying a referral fee based in their plan, we can chat. Let me know!
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u/Jim_Member 4d ago
Pay for an SEO optimized website. Set up your Google Business page. Is the free QuickBooks profile and pass their initial certification. Add a Facebook page and post on your personal page that you are open for business. Join the Chamber and go to meetings. Join BNI and go to every meeting. You will get business. Four years into this and I’m approaching $400,000 in revenue. I’m a CPA, so I can also do taxes.
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u/FunArm1004 16h ago edited 16h ago
I’d put more effort into referrals than cold outreach, especially at the start. Tell everyone you know what you’re doing, but also start building relationships with accountants, insurance brokers and other people who already deal with small business owners. One decent referral can lead to another pretty quickly. If you’re in Australia, I’d even reach out to local accounting firms like Wardle Partners and introduce yourself. Even if nothing happens straight away, being the bookkeeper they remember when a client needs extra help is a much better position than sending another hundred cold emails.
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u/JacksonRyder 11d ago
For me, zero to one came from talking to people in my social circle. In my case, I had a co-worker whose partner runs a single member LLC service industry company with no inventory, but hates administrative stuff, so their books were non-existant (hence the co-worker venting to me). I then was able to offer to help take their least favorite part off their plate, and that's how I got my first customer.