Bookkeeper Business Blueprint

Business & Marketing System - Module 1Lesson 1: Your Mindset

Welcome!

Your Mindset & Motivation

NOT a motivational speaker / don’t live in a van down by the river...

Take Control of Your Life!

Design Your Own Destiny!

Create Your Own Future!

You Must FIRST Feel Successful

Emotions Create Behaviors

Behaviors Create Your Results & Successes

You Are a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy!

You’ve Got The Power!

Only YOU Control Your Destiny!

The Rest Is Still Unwritten

3 Mindsets1. Know Your “Why”

2. Begin With The End In Mind

3. Act Fast

Why Are You Doing This?

MUST READ:

Begin With The End In Mind

What It Means to “Begin With The End In Mind”

“To begin with the end in mind means to start with a clear understanding of your destination. It means to know where you’re going so that you better understand where you are now and so that the steps you take are always in the right direction.”

Stephen Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Blueprint in Building

See, Feel & Experience It BEFORE You Do It

Go Fast, Take Action

Bookkeeper Business BlueprintBusiness & Marketing System - Module 1

Lesson 2: Marketing 101

Marketing 101

“What the Heck is Marketing Anyway?”

“Getting the right message to the right people via the right media and methods - effectively, efficiently and profitably.”

Dan Kennedy, Marketing Genius

MUST READ:

3 Marketing Components

● Message (this week)

● Media (next week)

● Market (next week)

Bookkeeper Business Blueprint

Business & Marketing System - Module 1Lesson 3: Your “USP”

Message: Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

“...a way of explaining your position against your competition and against all other choices…”

Message: Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

“A USP is also a way of summarizing and telegraphing one of the chief benefits of the business, product, or service being marketed”

“What Do You Do?”

“I’m a bookkeeper”

“What Do You Do?”

“I help (your avatar / market) to (main benefit contained in your USP)”

“What Do You Do?”

“I help dentists to make more money”(avatar) (USP benefit)(market) (message)

You’re at a Party. Which Do You Remember?

“I’m a bookkeeper”or

“I help dentists to make more money”

Be ANYTHING Other Than Boring!

ACTION Assignment #1

Determine Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

Tips for determining your USP:

● Answer the following: “Why should I choose your bookkeeping service versus any/every other competitive option available to me?”

● Never make lowest price a part of your USP: you’re a rock star bookkeeper darn it!

ACTION Assignment #1 (con’t)Determine Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

Tips for determining your USP:

● Focus on benefits vs. features. For example, “reconcile your bank account” is a feature. “Accounting for every penny in your account to make sure you’re not getting ripped off” is a benefit.

● Ask: “So?” behind everything you put in your USP.

ACTION Assignment #1 (con’t)Determine Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

Tips for determining your USP:

● Speak in a positive voice with power words: help, profit, save, learn, guarantee, results, improve, powerful...

● Know Your “Why”

ACTION Assignment #1 USP ex:

● “Fresh, hot pizza delivered in 30 minutes or less, guaranteed”

● “When it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight”

● “Expect More. Pay Less”

● “The nighttime, coughing, achy, sniffling, stuffy head, fever, so you can rest medicine”

● “15 Minutes Could Save You 15 Percent or More on Car Insurance”

● “The milk chocolate melts in your mouth, not in your hand”

ACTION Assignment #1 (con’t)

USP final thoughts

● It ain’t a slogan or mission statement

● It should align and be derived from your “why”

Where Are You Going With Your USP?

● Soon, you’re going to begin to communicate your USP to potential clients.

● Don’t worry - no cold calling or knocking on doors.

● Post your USP in the Facebook group

Bookkeeper Business Blueprint

Business & Marketing System - Module 1Lesson 4: Setting Up Your Business

Setting Up Your Business

Setting Up Your Business

● Legal entity structure● Tax identification number(s)● Finances: bank account, credit card● Keep business and personal separated● Keep receipts

ACTION Assignment #2

● Determine how you wish to form as a business: sole proprietor, corporation, limited liability company

● Determine the name of your business (you can change this but it’s best to get it right from the beginning)

ACTION Assignment #2

● Form the entity with the state of record you select

● Obtain tax identification number from the IRS

● Open up a bank account and credit card for bookkeeping business use only

● Ongoing, not “due” next week :)

Bookkeeper Business BlueprintBusiness & Marketing System - Module 1

Lesson 5: Goal Setting

ACTION #3

Set Your Goals:

● What your business will give you

● Revenue

● Work / life balance

ACTION Assignments Recap

● Know your “why”

● #1: Determine your USP

● #2: Business setup

● #3: Set your goals

● #4: Begin thinking about your niche / avatar / market