If you’re a CPA who’s tired of the traditional office environment, you’ve probably considered working from home for a variety of reasons. By working for yourself, you’d control your workload, choose which clients you work with and be able to adapt your career to suit your lifestyle.
Plenty of CPAs have taken their jobs home with them – and kept them there. It’s easy to get started, and it only requires a few considerations to become a stay-at-home professional. Here are six tips that will help you make the transition to a home office environment:
1. Find Your Niche
When you work for a firm, you don’t necessarily have to make this decision for yourself. When you work from home, finding your corner of the market solely is your responsibility. What kind of clients do you most enjoy working with? Where is your area of expertise? In order to build a steady client base, pick one niche and stick to it. It’s easier to make a name for yourself when your scope is a little narrower. Clients love the peace of mind they get from using an accountant that understands their special circumstances.
Becoming a home-based accountant has relatively low startup costs, and you’ll be able to recover them in virtually no time as long as you hit the ground running.
2. Promote & Establish Yourself
You’re your own boss now, and it’s time to brand yourself. Ditch the business cards with your old company’s contact information and have your own cards made. Set up a website with a blog and create professional social media profiles that recognize you as an independent entity, rather than part of a larger firm.
3. Get the Right Equipment
You need a setup that’s truly your own. This means a dedicated computer and software that’s optimized for use with your profession. You’ll also need file cabinets, a copier, a printer, a shredder and a fax machine. You might have to start from the ground up and purchase all of the equipment you took for granted at your previous office. And yes, it may be expensive at first, but other than basic office supplies and paper goods, most of these things are a one-time purchase.
4. Use Safe Internet
You’re going to be dealing with a lot of sensitive information that contains very private details about your clients. It may be unwise to trust the security that comes with a standard internet connection when it comes to the transmission of this information. Using a VPN can help keep this information safe. If you’re unsure where to start looking for a VPN that will work for you, you can always read VPN reviews on Secure Thoughts to find the right fit.
5. Build a Home Office
You can’t run the risk of a guest pulling a private document out from between your sofa cushions at your next dinner party. A home office will keep you organized and allow you to work free from distractions. You’ll need an area that’s easy to move around in, free from clutter, and has enough space for you to set up all of your office equipment. Setting up a home office is relatively easy once you know exactly how you intend to use it.
6. Continue to Network
When you’re just getting started, it’s unlikely that the few clients you acquire will be able to carry you into retirement. Networking is an ongoing process, and you’ll be doing it for as long as you’re a home-based accountant. Make sure you have a place where you can display reviews and testimonials, and stay active on your professional social networking profiles. Even if you can’t take on any more clients at the moment, you never know how many you’ll need to fill in the gaps in the future.
Becoming a home-based accountant has relatively low startup costs, and you’ll be able to recover them in virtually no time as long as you hit the ground running. If you’re unsure, stick with the job you currently have until you’re ready to fly solo.
Emily Burgess is an avid blogger who enjoys writing about careers and entrepreneurship. Emily is currently sharing some of her ideas at Course Guru – experts in the field of online education. Personally, she’s a great fan of foreign languages.