Marketing Your Skills As a Freelance Accountant

Accounting equips students with the skills and knowledge of looking after the finances of a business entity. Accounting can be a very rewarding career for you.

As a freelance Accountant, you need to market yourself so that you can get business. Here are some of the techniques that you can use to market yourself:

  • Target up-and-coming businesses 
  • Establish an Accounting niche
  • Join freelance networks
  • Sign up with recruitment agencies
  • Tap into digital and social marketing tools
  • Network
  • Ask for referrals
  • Word of mouth

Target Up-And-Coming Businesses

When you are starting out it in your Accounting freelancing business, it could be best to target small businesses. With this approach, you are likely to get more business. Here is why: 

  • As small businesses will also be starting out, they may not, as yet, be able to afford the services of a full-time Accountant
  • You can service more small businesses without taking a lot of your time, as their businesses are still growing. This means that the more small businesses there are in your portfolio, the more income you will get.
  • Small businesses can help you build your reputation and track record 
  • When freelancing for small businesses, you will gain more experience in your trade

Establish A Niche Industry

A niche industry is the Accounting space that you will want to work in. What it means is that you must establish yourself in a particular industry. For example, you may choose to practice your trade in businesses in the printing, catering, hospitality, retail and information technology industries. Here are some of the advantages of establishing a niche market:

  • You become an Accounting expert in the field
  • You can source more business as clients know that you specialise in their field

As you grow your business,  it is also possible to establish a niche in the type of Accounting that you will do for your clients. Some marketable Accounting niches are the following:

Join Freelance Networks

As a freelance Accountant, you can market yourself on online sites that offer work to Accountants. Here are some of the sites that you can use to look for clients: 

Register With Recruitment Agencies

You can register with recruitment agencies for short-term contracts. However, you will need to specify that you will only consider contracts that are short-term, for example, three (3) months or less.  It is also important that during your short-term contract, your hours are flexible so that you can also have the chance to attend to other existing clients. 

Tap Into Digital And Social Marketing Tools

An online presence is a must if you are to make an impact in your freelancing Accounting business. Here are the digital and social marketing tools that you can use: 

  • Build a website – Build a professionally designed website. A website on its own is not going to drive to your site. Use the following to drive traffic 
    • SEO – SEO stands for Search Engine Optimisation. This means that the articles that you write on your site must be written in such a way that they help drive traffic to your business. This happens when potential clients use keywords related to your business, for example  “Accounting services”  when they are looking for Accounting services.
    • Google Ads – This is paid advertising. It is also known as Search Engine Marketing. When a potential customer searches for your services, you will rank at the top of the page whether you meet Google’s SEO algorithms or not. 
  • Use social media tools – Utilise the following social media tools to market your services to potential clients:
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Whatsapp
  • Guest blogging – Guest blogging is when you ask a company of interest, for example, a bank, to write about your services as a Guest Writer. The slant of your articles could be how to invest wisely in the money that the bank could have loaned their customer. It can also be on how you account for the money given by the bank.  

Network

Networking is one powerful way that you can market your business. Attend business events where the attendees can make use of your services. The attendees can also be in a position to recommend you a business that can make use of your services. This does not only apply to business events only, but to any other social gathering that you may find yourself in.

Ask For Referrals

Another way that you can market yourself is to ask for referrals from your clients and from your business acquaintances. These leads can turn into clients, as you would have been referred to them by someone who knows them better and whom they can trust. 

Word Of Mouth

Yes, word of mouth can work wonders for you. Telling people in your circles what you are doing can reap great rewards for you. There may be someone who knows someone who needs assistance and advice in that regard. This also works well since the people who will spread the word for you are either your friends or relatives.

How Do I Become A Freelance Accountant?

Before you become a freelance Accountant, you first need to study Accounting. Here is how the process of becoming a freelance Accountant work:

  • Attain an Accounting Qualification
  • Gain experience
  • Register with a professional
  • Get Registered as a business
  • Open a bank account
  • Start marketing yourself

Attain Accounting Qualification

The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) offers the ICB Financial Accounting Programme Here is what you can study successively to be qualified as an Accountant:

Gain Experience

If are newly qualified, here is what you can do to gain experience in the Accounting field:

  • Apply for entry-level positions – You can learn a lot from entry-level positions. These roles will also give you the necessary experience
  • Volunteer – Volunteering will also give you the experience that you need. With volunteering, you can practice all the facets of Accounting if you are the only one who is in that role.  
  • Internship – An internship gives you that practical work experience, career development and new skills 

Register With A Professional

If potential clients notice in your profile that you are registered with professional bodies, they can hold you in high regard. Here are some of the professional bodies that you can register with:

  • SAIT – South African Institute of Tax Professionals 
  • SAIBA – The South African Institute of Business Accountants 
  • IAB – International Association of Bookkeepers (UK)
  • IAAP – International Association of Accounting Professionals (UK)

Get Registered As A Business

You must register as a business. Most clients will not feel comfortable dealing with an unregistered business. It is therefore in your interest that you formalise your business by registering it. Not registering your business can be viewed as being unethical. 

Open A Bank Account

Once your business is registered, it is now time to open a business account. As an Accountant, you are better placed to know the importance of a business banking account if you are in business. 

Start Marketing Yourself

Once all of the above are in place, you can now start to market your services as a freelance Accountant.

Do I Need A Degree To Be A Freelance Accountant?

No, you do not need a Degree to be an Accountant. Here are the minimum requirements that you require to study the ICB Financial Accounting Programme:
Grade 10 or Grade 10 Equivalent Certificate 

  • Be 16 years or older
  • Be able to read, write and understand English 
  • Be able to study through distance learning

Is Freelancing A Real Job?

Yes, freelancing is a real job. As a freelance Accountant, it means that you are an entrepreneur. You are self-employed. An entrepreneur works for himself or for herself. As a freelancer, you will earn depending on how much you charge your clients.

Author: Collin Wilbesi
Editor: Sive Ncanywa
Date: July 22 , 2022