1. What does the course
include?
The complete course consists of four modules which you may purchase individually,
or as a set:
Module # I: Accounting Made Easy
Four two-hour video cassettes holding 8 fast-moving, entertaining sessions
and a workbook containing over 100 pages of excellent reference
materials and practice sets. With each module you receive one
month of FREE follow-up support. To view the video cassettes, and perform
the work, it usually requires approximately 12 hours.
Module
# II: Practical Business Applications
Four two-hour video cassettes holding 4 incredibly entertaining sessions
and a workbook containing over 200 pages of excellent practice sets,
and reference materials. With each module you receive one month of FREE
follow-up support. To view the video cassettes, and perform the work,
it usually requires approximately 18 hours.
Module # III: Advancing Your Account-Ability
Three two-hour video cassettes of 10 great sessions, and a workbook
of over 200 pages. With each module, you receive one month of FREE follow-up
support. Approximately 20 hours is required to finish this module.
Module # IV: Building a Successful
Accounting Service
If you want to free-lance, you won’t want to miss this tremendous "how-to"
video series on three, two-hour cassettes containing seven information-packed
sessions, and a 200+ page workbook. With each module, you receive one
month of FREE follow-up support. Since understanding the nuts
and bolts of accounting is critical to your marketing work, I suggest
you take Modules # I and # II first.
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2. Will this course
help me if I’m experienced? Inexperienced?
Yes! Regardless of your background, this course has a lot to offer. Although
this course begins at a basic level, a good portion of those buying
all four modules have accounting degrees. They take the course to learn
all the small business practices that the university and college programs
ignore. Payroll, for instance, is a critical issue to small businesses,
but not included in most four- and six-year accounting curriculums.
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3. Will this course show me how
to get clients?
The fourth module will demonstrate a process that has been consistently
successful for thousands of successful accountants and bookkeepers. Modules
# I ,# II and # III will show you what to do once the client says "Let’s
do it!"
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4. Do I have to buy any particular
software to work with clients?
That’s a yes and no question. You do not have to use any software in order to start your own bookkeeping business. You can do it all on paper and complete everything you need to do in order to keep your client’s books.
On the other hand, using an accounting software will automate many of your tasks and make you more productive. When people ask me what software to use, I always tell them to go out and pick up QuickBooks.
While QuickBooks has many of the same features as other accounting software, it’s big advantage is that it has captured over 80% of the small business market. Why try to swim against the current? QuickBooks is a very good product and many people are using it. If you’re going to use software to help you prepare books, I’d go out and pick up a copy of QuickBooks online or at your local office supply retailer.
Since most accounting software programs work on the same basis as manual
systems, I find that the best training is working the problems by hand.
Then, when you sit down at the computer, it’s just a matter of learning
how to move the mouse around.
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5. How long does it take to complete
the course?
That depends on you. On average, a person should expect to spend 60 hours
taking the course. Some people have completed it within a couple weeks.
Others approach the course more leisurely, and may spread it over two
months. That’s the beauty of a video course. You feel like you're in the
classroom, but work on your own time.
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6. What equipment do I need to start
a bookkeeping service?
The beauty of an accounting and bookkeeping service is that it doesn’t
take a big investment to get started. At a bare minimum, you will need
a calculator (ten-key preferred), and a desk or table. I recommend that
you also have a computer, printer, fax machine, and some type
of accounting software. There are some great articles
that deal with this topic.
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7. How long does it
take to find clients?
It varies from person to person. Many students find clients, while they
are taking the course, by simply letting people know what they are doing.
If you follow the system taught in the fourth module, you may expect one
client per week, on average. We have had students sign-up all the clients
they can handle in a matter of two months. Others have taken longer.
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8. What types of businesses
will the accounting course cover?
During the course, you will do accounting for nine different businesses.
Many of these businesses provide more than one type of product or service,
so you will be exposed to additional industries as well. Here’s a list
of the types of industries covered within the three modules: retail, wholesale,
service, dealerships, construction, and manufacturing. Also, if
you buy all four modules, you'll receive two additional practice sets
for even more practice and experience.
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9. Is there a test and a graduation certificate?
Upon completion of the course, just let us know and we'll get the final exam out to you in the mail. Just complete it and send it back for grading and upon successful completion you will receive in the mail
an attractive certificate of completion.
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10. Can you, or someone
else, help me find clients?
There are prospecting companies that will help you find prospects. I
find, however, that they charge a steep fee for their services, and they
don’t guarantee a client. Instead, I suggest you prospect yourself. Not
only will you discover that this is very easy, but it won’t cost you an
arm and a leg to get a client.
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11. How do I get follow-up
support?
When you take the course, we will give you a toll-free telephone number that
you may call for unlimited telephone support for one month. This will
give you ample time to complete the course. And, if you purchase
all 4 modules at the same time, you'll receive an additional two months
of follow-up support, for a total of six months. By this time, graduates
are able to run on their own.
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12. Can I really do this?
Most people can, and enjoy it. But this business isn’t for everybody.
You need to feel comfortable working with numbers AND people. Basic business
math is all that’s required to understand accounting, but if you don’t
get along with people, you won’t enjoy contact with your clients. A good
way to test your abilities with people is look around at your contacts.
If you are one that enjoys your relationship with others, you will most
likely enjoy working with small business owners – they’re the salt of
the earth.
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13. How much will it
cost to start a home-based, bookkeeping service?
You can start an accounting service for under $100.00, but this means
that you’ll be doing the bookkeeping by hand. You’ll probably want to
buy a computer, printer, and some software. Plus, I suggest you have
a fax machine and a ten-key calculator. You can have a great setup for
under $1,000, and be ready to work.
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14. I am in the UK; will the
techniques work in my country?
The accounting concepts taught in these courses are universal, meaning that you can apply them anywhere in the world. Let’s
face it, accounting, as we know it, was first performed in Italy 500 years
ago. Now, the same basic system is used all over the world. So that means
that you can have clients anywhere in the world. However, since the course
is only provided in English, you must understand the English language.
Also, the payroll laws may be a bit different in your country, although
I find that most country’s payroll laws are more alike than they are different.
You can usually pick up the payroll laws for your country from the taxing
body that works with the employers.
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15. Since everything
is done using our computers now, why isn't this class taught using computer
accounting software?
There are several reasons why we continue to teach the home study video
course "Start Your Own Successful Bookkeeping and Accounting Service"
with manual practice sets. I've listed those below.
- Our home-study course is not a data entry class. Not too long ago
we put computers in the classroom. But every time we did, the accounting
course turned into a software/data entry class, and not an accounting
course. People would turn off their minds the moment they logged into
the computer.
- If we were to teach a particular software, you would only become proficient
in that software. With an understanding of the accounting process, and
what the computer is doing, you can sit down at virtually any software
program and quickly adapt to it.
- Accounting software is becoming increasingly easier to use. A person
with a good understanding of accounting, and decent keyboard/mouse skills
can become adept at using the software within an hour or two. Most programs
even contain tutorials and sample data files. This is not true, however,
if you don't understand the accounting process. If accounting is new
to you, most people struggle with any accounting software.
- Other companies provide training in accounting software as we do at
our live training centers. Regardless of how good the course is, many
of the questions are accounting in nature so the instructor has to refer
the student to an accountant. Understanding the accounting first puts
you way ahead, if you should choose to take a software class.
- Different individuals prefer different software packages. If we were
to emphasize on particular software system, this course would not be
helpful to them.
- Finally, there are some economics at play. Accounting software changes
at least once per year meaning that every year the video course would
be "dated." To update the course for the new software would
be a monumental and expensive task. Ultimately, the consumer pays the
price. The video course would be twice the price we are presently charging.
Incidentally, we do have a QuickBooks tutorial workbook using two of
the practice sets in the book so that you can do it both ways. We also offer a CD-ROM based QuickBooks tutorial. If you
would like to know more about that course, call our customer support at
(716)630-1650.
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16. Is this course offered live?
Yes, we ofer live classes at our offices right outside Buffalo, New York. If you are interested
in attending the live class, please give us a call at (716) 630-1650
Return to Questions
Own Your Own Bookkeeping Business
What’s in Module #1?
What’s in Module #2?
What’s in Module #3?
What’s in Module #4?
What’s in the Self Employment Package?
PAC Frequently Asked Questions