Move Your Practice Online Series: Step 1-Join the QuickBooks ProAdvisor Program

…or the UK/AustraliaProCloud Partner Program

In my original article about how to move your practice online, the first step in the process that I listed was to join the US based QuickBooks ProAdvisor Program, or the ProCloud Partner Program, if you’re based in Australia or the UK. This post is going to focus on the advantages of the US based ProAdvisor program, since that’s what I know best.

I’m a perfect example of how this program has the ability to change your life. Before I joined, I was working as a full time bookkeeper and I absolutely hated it. There was so much time during the day where I sat in my office and did so much NOTHING. I had used the previous 3 years at the job to learn as many aspects of QuickBooks as I could. I would open a sample file and just drop down each menu, clicking on each feature in the menu, and see what happened. I learned how to map a file to import list items into QuickBooks, keyboard shortcuts, and all about the Loan Manager.

When the company moved to a new building, I didn’t have to share a dial up internet connection (just typing that sentence makes me laugh, like trying to explain to my 11 year old daughter about rotary phones) with anyone, so I found myself doing what else? Spending A LOT of time online, and a lot of that time on the Intuit websites. I found the ProAdvisor program, and since I already had a couple clients that I’d found via word of mouth and looking at want ads for companies looking for part time bookkeepers, the idea of getting all of that software, being able to show clients I knew what I was doing by getting certified, and then being listed on Find A ProAdvisor once I did get certified seemed like a no-brainer!

I borrowed the money for the program from my mom, quickly got certified in QuickBooks 2004 and 2005, and then before I knew it, I was getting a few inquiries a month. Enough referrals so that I was able to pay my mom back within 2 months of joining the program. The practice resources were impressive – I was able to download example engagement letters (variations of which I still use to this day), I was able to get access to other training, on POS and Enterprise Solutions, (and last year I had the distinct honor of outlining, writing, recording and reviewing much of the QuickBooks Online certification!) and the one that was unexpected was material to train clients or use in a classroom environment.

I started to build my client base fairly quickly – I used a combination of word of mouth, checking out want ads for part time bookkeepers, and referrals I received from the findaproadvisor.com site. Within about a year I was at a tipping point; still working full time and still servicing clients, I sometimes didn’t get home from work until 10 or 11 at night – I had to make the decision, and it was EASY. I went to my boss’ home one day after work and told him and his wife that I would be leaving to start my own business, and that I would stay on as long as they needed to find my replacement.

The Michigan economy has been tough; I lost many of those early clients as they went out of business or just couldn’t afford my fees any more. Some I parted ways with during my transition to a remote practice (more on that in Step 4), and I only have one of those early clients left on my client list. In fact, it’s my first client, a referral from my old boss as a matter of fact. He just celebrated his 10 year anniversary and I’m so proud to have watched him expand and grow and become a great success story.

The ProAdvisor program has enabled me to learn so much, meet so many people by belonging to many online communities and networking groups devoted to it, and attending training events designed for members. Intuit has always been behind supporting the members by offering updated training options, resources for supporting clients, marketing and growing a practice and putting in-product links for users to find help quickly.

Next: Step 2 – Find the technology that will allow you to work remotely.

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