Some may wonder – “Can’t I do freelance bookkeeping business myself without building a team?” Of course you can, but the number one reason businesses fail is because the owner insists on doing everything, thinking that no one else knows how.
As CEO of your freelance bookkeeping business, you need to be spending your time marketing and growing your freelance bookkeeping business. This can be difficult if you’re doing all the “busy” work yourself.
Here are some core elements to consider when building a team for your bookkeeping business:
• Hire according to their strengths. You want to hire people who are working at their strength – so this may mean hiring multiple people to get the job done. Your role is to motivate them, and clearly communicate your expectations.
• Be slow to hire. To assemble an efficient team, you have to get to know the person and learn their strengths and weaknesses. Even if slowing down is not something you can afford to do because you need the help NOW, trust me it’s worth the delay! I’ve learned that every time I’ve hired fast, it’s always come back and cost me in a really big way. I end up having to spend time training and re-training or paying to have things cleaned up.
• Make the tough decisions. If you find someone doesn’t want to be a team player, my motto is “slow to hire, quick to fire”. You have to maintain the quality of your freelance bookkeeping business and sometimes that requires some tough decisions. (That doesn’t mean you get rid of good team members because they are going through a difficult phase. Sometimes you have to give people a chance to work things out.)
• Don’t sabotage your team members. Make sure they have all the information needed to do their job. Taking the time upfront to teach them will save you time and money in the long run. Make sure you provide a visual example of what a client’s finished product looks like.
Those who join your team are there to fill in for your weaknesses, allowing you more time to focus on what you do best and to grow your freelance bookkeeping business. Discover more tips at the Bookkeepers Club – every month you’ll learn new systems that increase the productivity and bottom line of your freelance bookkeeping business.
Awesome advice, Linda!! Sounds a little like someone we both know should take some tips from you…….
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Beneficial info and excellent design you got here! I want to thank you for sharing your ideas and putting the time into the stuff you publish! Great work!