It’s Summer!

Hello London and surrounding area! It’s been a few months since the last post. At that time we had just moved our office and hired a new employee while saying good bye to another. We are now settled in and Shaina’s training is coming along nicely. Krista has been promoted to Senior Bookkeeper and let me tell you, she is killing it! In case you haven’t seen it, our website has been updated too. Check it out here.

What I Want You to Know

I’ve met with and had conversations with several potential clients in these months and one thing really sticks out. Know. Your. Worth. I, personally, have learned this hard way. In over a decade of bookkeeping, I have undercut myself on many occasions. I have frequently caught myself offering a tidbit of free advice or given countless free consults. I have also come to realize that I charge less than many other practitioners (I use that term loosely). No wonder I’m not spending the summer on a boat in Lake Huron! All kidding aside, I love what I do and don’t do it to get rich. But it’s important for me to understand what my expertise is worth to clients. I have saved client’s tens of thousands of dollars with the work I (we) do. It’s only fair that the business is compensated reasonably for this service. It took me a long time to know my worth. You need to know your worth too.

It’s Not Just Me

A tradesman came to me recently. After completing his bookkeeping to year end, he questioned why he was losing money. We had a meeting to discuss his operations. The last 10 years have taught me a thing or two about running a business whether my own or helping other entrepreneurs with their business’. With some discussion I discovered that he was undercharging his customers by a third! He was barely charging enough to pay his staff! That’s nuts. I’m happy to say that he left our meeting with a renewed outlook on his business. He knew what he had to do to improve things. Before we walked in he didn’t know his worth.

What Does This Mean For You

Now, I am slowly learning my worth but, I did not charge this fellow any fees for my consultation. Hear me out. I know that he will continue to use our services and to see him prosper will give me a great sense of satisfaction. And we will benefit from his clientship (is that even a word?) in the future. You, though, can start now. Today. Figure out what your services are worth and start charging for them. Your business will thank you.