Conflict Resolution 101 (Part Two of a Two-Part Series)

Negotiating an Equitable Solution

Chances are you will encounter more conflict in the workplace than you would like. But working through conflict can be a positive experience if handled properly. In this two-part series we’re sharing 12 steps on negotiating an equitable solution. Last week we examined the following six steps:

1. Don’t ignore the conflict.
2. Gather all parties for a discussion.
3. Determine exactly what the conflict is.
4. Recognize that the conflict should not pit employees against one another; it should pit employees against the problem.
5. Identify shared concerns.
6. Distinguish facts from opinions.

This week we’ll cover the final six:

7. Step away, if necessary.

Regardless of how well negotiations seem to be going, there may come a time when participants need a break. Those involved in conflict resolution should be allowed the chance to step away from discussions when they become too heated or even lose their focus.

8. Listen actively.

This is probably one of the most important steps in conflict resolution. Everyone has their opinions, but in order for conflict resolution to be successful, coworkers must stop arguing and taking side; everyone needs to listen actively. This requires participants to set their differences aside and listen to what others say with intent. Rather than using the time to plan their next argument, they should focus on what others are saying, weighing these perspectives carefully.

9. Be willing to compromise.

There’s a reason this step follows the last. You cannot compromise unless you have listened to all sides and considered countless options. To reach this point you must be willing to release your desire to achieve your outcome and your outcome alone.

10. Brainstorm solutions.

There may be solutions that no one has considered. In order to achieve a resolution that all parties feel comfortable with, everyone involved must brainstorms possible solutions. You may be surprised at the satisfactory resolutions you encounter when coworkers work together to create them.

11. Identify equitable solutions.

From the solutions you’ve brainstormed, determine which are equitable and meet the needs of all parties.

12. Consider the one the best suits everyone’s needs.

Select the one that best resolves this conflict for all involved. Before reaching this step you may need to return to others, like listening actively, stepping away, or distinguishing fact from fiction.

The better prepared you are to deal with conflict, the more likely you’ll be to facilitate a satisfactory resolution. Also, the more experience you have with conflict resolution, the more comfortable you will become achieving equitable solutions.

Create Your Ideal Work Environment

Often when working for another employer, it can be difficult to struggle against a system that you have no influence over. When you start your own accounting practice, you are able to determine policy, hire your own employees, and have final say in what does and doesn’t happen in the workplace. This is one of the most appealing aspects of self-employment.

The Professional Bookkeeper Program

Not only will this course train you in small business accounting, but it will enable you to use the accounting information you generate to act as a Profit Expert for your clients. You will become confident watching key indicators that diagnose a business’s health. You will understand how accounting, marketing, and production should all work together in order to create a thriving business. And you will become well versed in key marketing strategies designed to attract the clients who would most benefit from your valuable services. And you can find all this in one accounting course, you ask? YES! The Professional Bookkeeper Program has it all.

The Professional Bookkeeper’s Guide

The Professional Bookkeeper’s Guide to QuickBooks is another valuable program. When you learn how to use QuickBooks to better manage your clients’ accounts, you are learning how to work more efficiently, making more money in less time. Not only that, but more than 80% of small business owners already use QuickBooks! That’s the majority of your prospective client base!

When you master QuickBooks, you are gaining expertise in the software program used by your clients; doing so will prepare you to do much more than just help clients with their books, but you also make yourself available as a QuickBooks consultant, offering help and setup services. This will increase your potential bottom line and make you even more valuable to clients.

If you find yourself frustrated with a system over which you have no influence and would like to take charge of your own business and manage your own affairs, order this valuable package today! In just a number of months you could be on your way to a more independent and lucrative lifestyle. Enroll now!

Conflict Resolution 101 (Part One of a Two-Part Series)

12 Steps in Negotiating an Equitable Solution

Conflict isn’t always a bad thing. It’s a red flag that alerts you to a situation that needs to be addressed in order for employees and supervisors to enjoy a healthier work environment. In fact, when you approach conflict with the intention to negotiate an equitable solution, you can achieve greater understanding and perhaps find a resolution that greatly improves things altogether.But in order to find that equitable solution you need to know how to resolve conflict. In this series we will present key steps that will help you do that. And this particular article will examine the first 6 of 12 steps in practicing conflict resolution in the workplace:

1. Don’t ignore the conflict.

There are some problems that should be allowed to sort themselves out. But when a conflict begins affecting multiple parties and the work climate, a manager may need to step in and apply the following steps in workplace conflict resolution. Otherwise, when involved in a conflict with another employee, you may consider taking the following steps yourself.

2. Gather all parties for a discussion.

It helps to have everyone present to voice their perspective. When you isolate parties and have them present their views, you add an extra, unnecessary step into the process that does little more than allow employees to vent in attempts to bias your opinion of the conflict.

3. Recognize that the conflict should not pit employees against one another; it should pit employees against the problem.

The biggest problem in workplace conflict is that people begin to see themselves in conflict with coworkers rather than problems. When employees realize that they can join forces to resolve their common problems, it becomes easier for them to talk through their conflicts. In order for conflict resolution to be successful they must stop seeing their coworkers as opponents.

4. Determine exactly what the conflict is.

What, exactly, is the problem? Often employees are stewing over different issues without even realizing it. When you’re able to pinpoint all the issues and articulate why they’re problematic, you have a starting point from which to find equitable solutions.

5. Identify shared concerns.

Your discussion will have a friendlier tone when you attempt to find shared ground-what do you agree on? While parties may not see eye-to-eye on some issues, they should be able to find common concerns. If all else fails, you should attempt to agree on the importance of resolving the conflict. Most conflicted parties should at least be able to agree on that.

6. Distinguish facts from opinions.

Once employees have shared their opinions it’s time to note the facts. It’s important to realize that fact and opinion are often two separate things. In fact, this step alone might clarify the problem for both parties and enable them to gain necessary perspective as they realize that perhaps the problem wasn’t what they had initially imagined.

Almost everyone encounters conflict in the workplace at least once in their careers. And if you plan to manage others, your chances of encountering conflict are even more likely. It’s important that you learn how to resolve conflict not only between you and other employees, but also among coworkers you might eventually supervise.Return next week when we will discuss the following:

7. Step away, if necessary.

8. Listen actively.

9. Be willing to compromise.

10. Brainstorm solutions.

11. Identify equitable solutions.

12. Consider the one the best suits everyone’s needs.

Have You Ever Considered Starting Your Own Practice?

Resolving conflicts among coworkers can be frustrating when you don’t agree with company policy and approach. If you’ve ever considered starting your own practice, with your own policies and business practices, now’s the time to learn more about just how easy it can be. Universal Accounting Center has been helping professionals start their own bookkeeping services for over 25 years! If you’d like to learn more about our course, the Professional Bookkeeper Program, order our video “Start Today” and watch actual course content while learning just how profitable your practice can be. Order the DVD today or watch it online for free! What have you got to lose but a long future as someone else’s employee? Change your future today!

Effective Workplace Communication Skills (Part Two of a Two-Part Series)

How Successful Managers Ensure Successful Communication with Employees

The problem with communication…is the illusion that it has been accomplished. – George Bernard Shaw.Many attempts to communicate are nullified by saying too much. – Robert GreenleafWe have two ears and one mouth so we can listen twice as much as we speak. – Epictetus

Communication is extremely important for those accountants who want to excel and advance their careers. It’s so important, in fact, that we’ve dedicated a two-part series to developing effective communication skills. Last week we discussed the following four tips in accomplishing that:

1. Determine your message
2. Select the most appropriate communication method
3. Ask for feedback
4. Listen with intent

To become a manager you must have excellent soft skills. Communication is absolutely necessary if you are to manage well. Perhaps as an accountant you thought developing those skills would never be a priority. They’re not, if you are content being managed by someone else.

This week we will cover the final four tips in developing effective communication skills as an accounting manager:

5. Speak up!

In order to instill confidence in those you are speaking with, you must speak with confidence. This requires you to speak up and speak clearly. This might take practice and a little introspection as you determine how you can project a more confident image when speaking with others.

6. Tackle difficult topics

Often we avoid those topics that need the most attention. It may be difficult to talk with an employee about objectionable behavior or address a team about their questionable approach. But in order to manage successfully you are required to tackle the difficult topics, to speak about that which most would want to avoid. It may sound ugly, but that’s why you’re the manager. That’s why you get paid the big bucks.

7. Practice presentation skills

Managers give presentations. They deliver proposals, reports, and even announcements in staff meeting. If you plan on becoming a manager you must practice your presentation skills. Perhaps this will require you take a class or practice in front of the mirror. Regardless of the method you choose you must become comfortable, or at least appear comfortable, presenting messages before groups of people.

8. Allow everyone the opportunity to voice opinions

Good managers make an effort to become familiar with their coworkers’ opinions. Not necessarily their political views or their food preferences, but what they think about the climate at work and how the company is handling projects and work flow. The manager who doesn’t listen to his/her coworkers is missing out on valuable information.

An Accountant’s Role

There are three business functions that must work well together in order to increase a company’s profitability. And you guessed it; accounting is one of these three functions. Accounting, marketing, and production are the three functions that must work well together to ensure success. If you would like to learn how to improve communication among these different functions while increasing your employer’s profitability you must read In the Black by Allen Bostrom, President and CEO of Universal Accounting Center.

This book will enable you to become a more valuable employee and, if you’re not already, a prime candidate for a managerial position. For less than twenty dollars you could advance your career while strengthening your employability. Order your copy of In the Black now!

Effective Workplace Communication Skills (Part One of a Two-Part Series)

How Good Managers Ensure Successful Communication with Employees

Whether you’re a manager or would like to be one at some point in your career, you must practice effective communication. Without it your company will experience higher turnover rates, less productivity, and decreased customer satisfaction. Not to mention, your employability lessens when you don’t possess key soft skills like effective communication.Unfortunately, communication doesn’t come naturally to many accountants. Known as introverted “bean counters,” we often have a bad reputation for practicing ineffective communication with customers and coworkers alike. If you find yourself struggling to get your message across, consider the first of 8 tips on developing effective workplace communication skills:

1. Determine your message

First you must determine exactly what your message is. As a manager you must always be aware of office dynamics and employee performance in order to work closely with those you supervise and facilitate improvement. Take note of areas that need attention and then determine what your intended message should be.

After you’ve determined your message, ask yourself what you hope to accomplish by communicating this message? As you define your objectives and the intended audience, consider how to present the message so that it appeals to them. Your approach will greatly influence how the message is received.

2. Select the most appropriate communication method

Different communication methods include written correspondence like email and business letters and verbal correspondence like face-to-face meetings and group presentations. Each and every communication method can be effective if paired with the right message.

For example, if you need to place an employee on probation, email probably isn’t an appropriate communication method for that message. If you need to announce a departmental retreat, it probably wouldn’t be effective to schedule one-on-one meetings with each employee. Scrutinize your message and select the communication method that will most effectively communicate that message.

3. Ask for feedback

In order to truly know how your message has been received and whether or not it has been understood, you must ask for feedback. Provide a forum in which feedback can be safely communicated and received. Some employees may not feel comfortable sharing feedback in a public environment; in that case you might consider requesting feedback via email.

4. Listen with intent

If your only objective in communicating is to get your message across then chances are you are not communicating effectively. The majority of effective communication comes in listening with intent. If you’re not listening, you’re not learning. And if you’re not learning then your work as a manager is probably misguided and ill-informed.

When you listen with intent you focus on the speaker and their message. Consider what motivates them and what they may be thinking and not saying. If you are too busy constructing a response or refuting their message in your mind, you are not paying close enough attention.

Without effective communication skills a manager will not be successful. And if you want to earn a promotion, chances are your boss will be watching to see whether or not you practice effective communication techniques.Return next week when we will be discussing the final four tips on developing effective communication skills:

5. Speak up!

6. Tackle difficult topics

7. Practice presentation skills

8. Allow everyone the opportunity to voice opinions

If you would like to learn more about how accountants can increase profitability by communicating effectively, visit our website Are You in the Black today!

Countless Individuals Have Started Successful Accounting Practices

So Can You!

You’re not the only one with a dream to start and manage your own accounting practice.  And as far as dreams go it’s not a bad one to have.  The US Department of Labor has long toted accounting as a lucrative career choice, predicting that the, “Employment of accountants and auditors is expected to grow faster than average for all occupations through the year 2014. As the economy grows, the number of business establishments will increase, requiring more accountants and auditors to set up books, prepare taxes, and provide management advice.”  In addition, Brent Inman of PricewaterhouseCoopers said, “It’s clearly one of the hottest markets (for accountants) that I’ve seen.”Perhaps you’re currently working in the accounting industry but have yet to decide that starting your own bookkeeping practice is viable and profitable, all while being startup-friendly.  Authors of The Best Home Businesses for the 21st Century, Paul and Sarah Edwards, have rated a bookkeeping service as the “Best of the Best” home-based businesses.   With little to no equipment, inventory, and software costs, and the ability to work from your home, an accounting practice is a business you can start easily.  Not to mention, you can moonlight as a freelance accountant until you gather enough clients to take your practice full-time.

Success Stories

Often it helps to hear from people who, like you, wanted to start their own practices but were uncertain whether or not they could be successful.  Listen to what they have to say about their experiences and how UAC’s Professional Bookkeeper (PB) Program provided them with everything they needed to know to build a thriving accounting practice.

It’s Quick

Scott spent a number of years working in corporate America, and after two company shut-downs he decided that he was ready to start his own business as a full-time accountant.  Because he lacked formal training he did something unusual; he went to a local university to get an associate’s degree in accounting and he took Universal Accounting Center’s 4 week Professional Bookkeeper course.

Scott explained, “…from the get-go with Universal Accounting Center, their training was fast and simple. In looking at both, it was actually more comprehensive than the 18 month class. We had to do the entire extra general education thing, and they broke the training up into little pieces, where in Universal Accounting Center you got the whole picture and you got to do it all in four weeks. It was great.”

It’s Realistic

Victoria was looking for a position that would afford her great flexibility.  She had two young children and needed to arrange her schedule around their needs.  She also needed to make at least $60,000.  And because traditional employers weren’t interested in meeting her unique demands, she decided to take a serious look at starting her own accounting practice.  And when she found Universal Accounting Center’s website she was surprised at the wealth of information about starting and managing her own bookkeeping service.

Victoria said, “…It made me realize that this was something that was an achievable goal.  …So that was very, very encouraging for me. And the other thing that I had walked away from that with is this incredible realization that not only did you provide this incredible gamut of information on how to run your own business, but you also had the programs so that I could continue my education.  …The gem of all of that was the confidence that I had at the end.”

It’s Profitable

One of the most important things entrepreneurs hope to discover is that their venture is profitable.  Rebecca The became frustrated when she realized that her dream of moving up the corporate ladder wasn’t being realized.  She was working long hours and not making the money she desired.  Rebecca finally decided it was time to quit and start her own accounting practice.  After graduating from the Professional Bookkeeping Program she started her own business and has seen fabulous results.

Rebecca boasts, “March 2005 was a banner month for me – I recorded over $10,000 in billings. I never would have imagined doing that well and that soon. I was never compensated that well by a corporation.  I am finally living the life I envisioned for myself. With the increased earnings and flexibility of being my own boss, so far this year I have been able to take 2 trips to Maui. I have planned additional trips to Las Vegas, New England, and Singapore throughout the year. I have already booked a 50^th wedding anniversary vacation with my parents to Maui next year on April 17. Universal Accounting gave me the practical skills to successfully reach my goals.”

Many more like Scott, Victoria, and Rebecca have started their own practices and are enjoying the results.  You can become one of them and have everything you need to know to start your own practice in just 60 hours.  Krista Farmer, a Professional Bookkeeper, says, “Since I am not a risk taker by nature, I eased my way into my bookkeeping and accounting practice. Fortunately, the marketing tips provided in the program are so adjustable that I could use them to help build my business as slowly or as aggressively as I wanted…  I would never have attempted to start a business had I not completed the PB course. It provided me with the knowledge and confidence to actually start my business.”The Professional Bookkeeper ProgramWith 4 instructional manuals and 16 DVDs you will have access to training that you can review again and again until you feel you have adequately mastered the concepts.  You will learn how to perform small business accounting tasks and market those skills to a valuable niche market: local small businesses.  Not only will you gain expertise but the confidence to make your practice successful.  Follow those who have gone before and succeeded.  We’re confident that you’ll soon be adding your testimonial to those of countless UAC graduates.  Take your professional future into your own hands and enroll in the Professional Bookkeeper Program today.

Job Search Toolkit

When searching for a job it’s important to have everything you need to succeed, like a toolkit with all those items prepared that will enable you to secure the perfect position. That way, you’re never taken off-guard and required to throw something together for a potential employee. And everything from your resume to your email address communicates a level of professionalism and dedication. So you can’t wait until the opportunity presents itself to get your toolkit together. Now is the time to gather your job search gear.

1. Resume

It’s important that you update your resume periodically. If you wait too long, you will forget significant achievements and responsibilities that will appeal to potential employers. And while you should revise your resume to cater to the position for which you are applying, it helps to have current information to work with.

2. Application-at-the-ready

While filling out a job application isn’t rocket science, it does take a certain amount of time, energy, and recall ability to complete successfully. Depending on the application, this may require you to sort through old documents listing previous addresses, employers and their corresponding contact information, as well as starting and ending salaries. Save yourself some time by making copies of old applications to keep on file. That way completing an application becomes a matter of copying information from one form to another.

3. Cover letter template

Most jobs require you to submit an application package which requires a thoughtful cover letter stating your intentions. While each cover letter you write should be unique to the job for which you are applying, having a standard template will help you compose the letter more quickly.

4. Elevator speech

An elevator speech is like a quick infomercial about you and your abilities that can be delivered in the time it takes an elevator to carry its occupants to their floor. An elevator speech is something you hone and practice so that at opportune moments you can network effectively, explaining what you do and why you do it so well that everyone deserves to hear about it.

5. Portfolio

Most professionals can demonstrate their expertise with samples of their work or specialized certification. All these things should be collected in one place for easy access. Then you have a portfolio prepared should a potential employer ask to see it.

6. Professional email address

While you may think smartdude28@email.com is a great email address, it doesn’t say much for your professionalism. When selecting an email address for the purpose of a job search it’s important the you choose one that will project a positive, professional image.

7. Power suit

When interacting with significant contacts and potential employers it’s important that you dress the part. You should have at least one power outfit to wear for interviews and networking occasions.

Add Universal’s DVD 4-Pack to Your ToolkitIncluded in your toolkit should be strategies to increase your skills and expertise. Universal’s DVD 4-Pack is designed to introduce you to all the valuable programs we offer, each and every one of them intended to enhance your accounting career. This power pack includes:

Introduction to the Professional Bookkeeper Program

Learn how becoming a Professional Bookkeeper will improve your accounting skills, enabling you to expand your business and become a full-service financial provider.

Introduction to the Professional Tax Preparer Program

Learn how becoming a Professional Tax Preparer will improve your tax skills and help you earn a professional designation that will evidence your expertise.

Start Today and Have Your Own Bookkeeping Service

Learn how to make over $80,000 per year working from home while getting more clients than you can handle. Know how to charge your client so you can afford to take that next vacation while they get such a great deal they will be telling all their friends about you.

The Art and Science of Getting Clients

Learn how to get more clients by using our proven methods.

Not only will these programs enable you to bolster your resume and enhance your career, but if you’ve ever considered starting your own accounting and tax practice, these DVD’s will help you get started. Order now and complete your job search toolkit!

Starting Your Own Bookkeeping Service is Achievable, Profitable, and Easy (A.P.E.)

It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3. Or should we say A.P.E.. Entrepreneurial wannabes often imagine a potential startup as a difficult venture, one requiring more know-how, gumption, and drive than they may have.

Does that sound like you? Are you worried that your dream of becoming self-employed and enjoying an improved lifestyle with increased earnings is too good to be true, or maybe not a good fit for you?

If so, it’s time you realized that starting your own bookkeeping practice is achievable, profitable, and easy. Don’t believe us? Read on to find out just how true it is.

Achievable

You don’t need a four-year degree to do someone’s accounting. In fact, many individuals who train at a university don’t learn the practical, day-to-day accounting functions needed by many businesses. That’s why the Professional Bookkeeper (PB) course is such a popular program changing countless lives every year.

In just 60 hours, and with less money than you’ll probably spend on your summer vacation, you can learn all you need to know to launch your own bookkeeping practice: from starting a business’s books from scratch, to helping owners increase their profitability, to marketing your valuable services. YOU can do this!

Testimonial: “This course is definitely NOT just an introductory course, although it is wonderful even for beginners. It is a comprehensive accounting and bookkeeping course that truly taught me everything I would need to know to start my own accounting business, and gain clients with confidence.” -J. Young

Profitable

We have a simple equation that will help you calculate how many clients you need to quit your day job and enjoy an improved lifestyle. Most clients bring in an average of $300 per month. With 20 clients you’ll be earning $6000 per month, and with 25 clients you’ll be earning $7500. Respectively, that’s $72,000 and $90,000 per year.

How much are you earning right now? How many clients would it take to replace that full-time income with contract accounting? Once you start your own bookkeeping service you determine your income by deciding how many clients you wish to serve.

Testimonial: “As an average for each client I am making about $30 – $50 an hour, I’ve been able to quit my full-time job. Thanks again to everyone at Universal Accounting Center! It has created for me a brighter outlook financially, as well as more free time in my personal life. And, I didn’t have to go to college for years and pay thousands of dollars for an education.”-S. Thomas

Easy

Whether you’re new to accounting or a seasoned accountant, the Professional Bookkeeper course is designed to easily lead you through all the concepts necessary to run your own practice. Now only that, but the hands-on approach taken in this program will enable you to become confident in your ability to perform all necessary accounting functions.

Testimonial: This course has literally changed my life. When I started I hardly knew the difference between a debit and a credit. Now I have the confidence to tackle almost any type of business and do their books.-A. MoodyTestimonial: Even with15 years of accounting background, I found myself learning something new nearly every day. -B. Varechok

The Professional Bookkeeper (PB) Program

The PB Program is jam-packed with valuable features, including, but not limited to, the following:

• 16 quality DVDs and 4 manuals enable you to learn on your own time and at your own pace
• Specialized training in small business accounting
• Practical, hands-on experience in all the necessary accounting functions
• Access to a proven system of getting and retaining clients
• The opportunity to earn a professional designation
• A customized website for your business
• 6 months of free follow-up support
• An iron-clad guarantee

For more than 25 years Universal Accounting Center has been demonstrating just how easy this can be as long as you have the knowledge and skills necessary. Let us share them with you. They can make a difference in your life and the life of your family.

There’s no time like the present to change your future. Enjoy the freedom of self-employment including the ability to achieve an increased salary, an improved lifestyle and the chance to do what you’ve always dreamed. Enroll today and see just how achievable, profitable, and easy it is to start your own bookkeeping service.

Marketing Yourself to Potential Employers (Part Two of a Two-Part Series)

The real go-getters are able to promote themselves and their abilities with ease. In order to advance your career you must be willing to go out on a limb and talk about your value as an employee with both current and potential employers. And just about everyone you meet is a prospective member of your professional network with the ability to connect you with just the right individual or opportunity. Because of this it’s important that you always be ready to discuss your expertise and skills. Last week we shared 5 of 10 tips in marketing yourself to potential employers. This week we’ll discuss the final five:

6. Have a Unique Selling Proposition

A Unique Selling Proposition, or USP, is what sets you apart from other professionals in your field. You must have some skills, experience, certification, or specialty that will set you apart from other accountants. This is what you must focus on when promoting yourself to others.

7. Network, network, network

You know what they say: “It’s not what you know; it’s who you know.” While that’s not always true, building your professional connections will someday come in handy. When networking effectively you must interact with a lot of people, frequently hand out your business card, join accounting and bookkeeping associations, frequent conferences and workshops, develop mutually-beneficial professional relationships, and stay in touch with strong contacts.

8. Build a support group

Networking will help you build this support group. It’s always good to interact with peers with whom you can advice, commiserate, and share experiences. Whether they be accountants, bankers, or small business owners, it’s nice to have a variety of professionals to whom you can turn for help or a listening ear. It’s also within this small community you might hear of career opportunities and perhaps gain the advantage by having one of them refer you for a position.

9. Develop a mentor relationship with an industry veteran

It’s always nice when an industry veteran has your back. When you develop a mentoring relationship with an experienced accountant, you can access valuable advice and informed wisdom. You could learn from their mistakes as well as their achievements. Not to mention your mentor may be able to tell you which employers to avoid and which to gravitate towards.

10. Develop new skills

As you develop your skills you not only build on your USP (Unique Selling Proposition) but you also expose yourself to a new set of individuals with whom you can network: instructors, classmates, special quests-all will afford you the opportunity to build relationships and promote yourself as a professional.

UAC Can Help You Gain New Skills and Learn Valuable Marketing StrategiesWhile it’s important to work on advancing your career, it may be time to consider promoting yourself with an improved lifestyle, greater flexibility, and an increased salary. Becoming a contract accountant will enable you to enjoy all three.

The Professional Bookkeeper (PB) Program Regardless of your expertise, whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or expert accountant, the Professional Bookkeeper (PB) Program will teach you small business accounting, enabling you to promote your service to a large niche market. You’ll learn everything you need to know to help your clients’ businesses become more profitable. Imagine gaining the reputation as a Profit Expert, granting the Midas touch to every business with which you work. The PB Program will give you the skills to analyze a company’s finances and determine how they can best increase their revenue and become more profitable. Whether you become a contract accountant or not, these skills will enable you to advance your career and build on your Unique Selling Proposition.

The Universal Practice Builder (UPB) ProgramAccountants are generally uncomfortable promoting themselves and their services. Wouldn’t it be nice to learn a proven system for marketing your newfound small business accounting skills? This could be used to market your own accounting practice, or the same concepts could be applied to self-promotion in advancing your accounting career. With over 25 years experience, Universal knows how to do that, and we want to teach you! For years we’ve been offering the Universal Practice Builder Workshop, designed to train you how to market your practice in order to experience significant growth and profitability. You had to attend a two-day workshop in order to glean all the amazing information offered. Now, to accommodate students and make this information more convenient we have turned this workshop into a DVD program. Imagine all that you could learn from our experience training thousands of individuals like you!

If you could benefit from increased skills and marketing abilities, order this Power Package and change the course of your career today. Enroll now by either paying in full or financing the package.

A Ready-Made Business Opportunity

If a window of opportunity appears, don’t pull down the shade. – Tom PetersSmall opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises. – DemosthenesThe pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. – Winston Churchill

Imagine owning and operating your own accounting practice. Doing so would enable you to be your own boss, enjoy a flexible work schedule, determine how much you will work, determine how much you will make, and enjoy a fulfilling career helping small businesses succeed. Do any of these things appeal to you? If so, it’s time you take advantage of an amazing opportunity to get started-today!The three main business functions are accounting, marketing and production. In order for a business to operate successfully these three functions must coordinate their efforts. An accounting practice produces accounting services, so production and accounting are closely intertwined. You use accounting information to diagnose a business’s vitality and inform business decisions while you “produce” accounting services for your clients. And unless you market these services effectively the business will fail. The best business opportunity will provide you with the chance to hone these key business functions: accounting and marketing. Once you these two areas are covered you practically have a ready-made business.

Accounting

If you’re reading this article you probably already have some experience with accounting. Perhaps you work in the accounting industry full or part-time. Or perhaps you’ve always wanted to work in the accounting industry. Regardless of what you currently do, you can start your own accounting practice. The key is in finding a niche market in need of your valuable services.Small businesses are in great need of accountants who understand their specific needs and know how to help them make their businesses more profitable. Traditional accounting training doesn’t prepare graduates to work with this niche market and their unique needs. That’s what makes the Professional Bookkeeper Program matchless.

UAC’s Professional Bookkeeper Program

At Universal Accounting, we understand the needs of the small business like nobody else. We’ve helped people like you advance their careers in small business accounting for over 25 years. The Professional Bookkeeper Program is designed specifically to address the needs of small businesses, and Universal Accounting Center’s small business accounting course is the most complete of anything else offered today. And depending on your schedule and situation, it will only take you 60 hours to complete. Imagine earning a professional designation in less than one month!

Marketing

Unless your target market knows about your unique skills, they will not retain your services. Part of your job as a contract accountant is to promote these unique skills effectively. The Universal Practice Builder Program is designed to help you master your business’s marketing function.

UAC’s Universal Practice Builder Program

This program is a turn-key marketing solution which will enable you to grow your business with our proven system. You could work for years on a marketing plan, hitting and missing, only to find your business growing at a snail’s pace. Imagine learning 12 plus marketing strategies proven to reach your niche market. That includes helping you secure 15-25 qualified leads per month and earn $30,000 more in annualized billings in just one year! The Universal Practice Builder Program is designed to teach you the art and science of getting clients. Top your Professional Bookkeeper designation off with this guaranteed program that will help you coordinate those two key functions: accounting and marketing. With these two programs under your belt, business success is much closer than you can imagine.

Life is too short to wait for success to fall into your lap. You must chase it! This package deal is an opportunity in work clothes. You’ll have to dedicate your time and energy to mastering the concepts contained in these two priceless programs, but we can promise you that it will pay off. Order today and turn this grand opportunity into an even grander enterprise.

What Motivates Entrepreneurs to Start Their Own Businesses?

Have you ever considered starting your own accounting practice? What’s keeping you from taking the plunge? There are countless things motivating entrepreneurs to start their own businesses; and not all motivators are created equal. What would motivate you to take your mark, and startup?Purdue University conducted a survey between 2004 and 2006 in which they questioned 101 Indiana entrepreneurs to see what motivated them to start their own businesses. They found that those making more than $100,000 a year were less likely to start their own businesses than those in the $50,000 to 75,000 range. They also discovered that those who had developed a business plan were more likely to move forward than those who had not. Included in these business plans were industry analysis, marketing goals and pricing structure. Maria Marshall, a Purdue agricultural economist and the study’s lead researcher, said, “Learning more about the industry you’re going into goes hand-in-hand with writing a business plan. People sometimes tend to overlook business plans, but I think they are very important.”Aside from creating a business plan, there are other things inspiring entrepreneurs to start their own businesses. Here are just a few:

Make more money.

In Entrepreneur.com, Tamara Monosoff interviewed renowned entrepreneurs and asked what motivated them to start their own businesses. Rachel Ashwell, founder of Shabby Chic, explained that she was driven to it out of necessity. Separated with young children, Ashwell decided to start her own business selling refinished furniture pieces. It wasn’t long before her unique style became popular. Shabby Chic has grown to include a line of slipcovers, bedding, home accessories, and even books.

Be your own boss.

An informal survey run by Yahoo questioned small business owners and found that 24.3% started their own businesses in order to answer to themselves rather than someone else. These individuals are tired of watching others make all the important decisions and desire the opportunity to take a business by the horns.

Test a brilliant idea.

Some entrepreneurs have what they consider to be a brilliant idea that just needs development, financial backing and exposure. They believe that once this idea gets off the ground it will attract countless buyers. Monosoff found that Tomima Edmark was just one of those entrepreneurs. She had hit the glass ceiling in the corporate world and felt her idea for a hair accessory was brilliant and worth pursuing. After earning the funds to launch her new business, TopsyTail, she went on to make $100 million in sales.

Make a difference.

Some entrepreneurs aren’t so much interested in their potential earnings as they are making a difference. Julie Clark, founder of Baby Einstein, wasn’t interested in making a load of cash or even starting her own business. She was most interested in creating educational videos for her babies because she felt there was nothing else available on the market. Years later she sold Baby Einstein to Disney for $50 million dollars and used her earnings to launch yet another business. Maxine Clark, founder of Build-A-Bear Workshop felt the same way. Successful in the corporate world and living comfortably, Clark didn’t start her company to make millions; she did it because she wanted to have a positive impact on the lives of countless children. Fortunately for her she accomplished both.

Enjoy greater flexibility.

In the Yahoo survey mentioned earlier, 21.4% of small business owners said they were interested in enjoying a more flexible work schedule and quality time with their family. When you start your own business not only do you become your own boss but you’re able to enjoy a more flexible work schedule designed by you!So what motivates you? Could more information help? If you believed that starting your own business was achievable, profitable, and easy, would you do it? UAC’s video, Start Today and Have Your Own Bookkeeping Service, will show you that growing your own accounting practice is all three of those things: achievable, profitable, and easy. For less than $10 you can discover that, regardless of what’s motivating you, starting your own bookkeeping service is definitely within your reach. Order now!ResourcesMonosoff, Tamara. “What Inspires People to Startup?” 22 August 2007. Entrepreneur.com 9 June 2008. http://www.entrepreneur.com/startingabusiness/inventing/inventionscolumnisttamaramonosoff/article183286.html“Small Business Owners Reveal What Motivates Them.” Yahoo! Small Business 9 June 2008 http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-80400-m-1-sc-12-small_business_owners_reveal_what_motivates_them-i“Survey Looks at What Motivates Entrepreneurs.” 28 March 2007. Inside Indiana Business 9 June 2008. http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=22501#middle