What is the Bookkeeper Launch program?
Bookkeeper Launch is a proven system that helps you start a bookkeeping system from scratch. You’re probably thinking, Seriously? From scratch? I literally don’t even know what bookkeeping is!
And that’s fair. Prior to looking into this program as a means to quit my full-time job, I didn’t know what bookkeeping was either.
Bookkeeping is simply keeping records of small business finances. The core of this is their monthly transactions. At the end of the year, every single dollar needs to be accounted for. This isn’t just for tax purposes but also for internal reporting and projected growth. Without correct bookkeeping, how can you know how to improve your business if you don’t see what’s working and what isn’t? When you keep a record of your numbers, you can clearly make those decisions in confidence.
Outside of reconciling and categorizing monthly transactions, bookkeepers can also handle things such as:
- Invoicing
- Payments
- Bills
- Assets and liabilities
And what’s crazy is that it can all be done from home! So how does Bookkeeper Launch help you do all this?
What’s included in Bookkeeper Launch?
The man behind it all is Ben Robinson. He started Bookkeeper Business Launch in 2015 after being burnt out from his job as a CPA. One of the biggest obstacles he faced as a CPA was that small businesses would come to him, their books would be a mess all year, and they'd want him to clean them up by tax time.
He created Bookkeeper Launch to solve two obvious problems - unorganized small businesses and moms that really wanted to work from home.
And it exploded! As of June 2021, there are over 9,200 members in the exclusive paid program’s Facebook group. Ben’s big goal right now is to have trained 25,000 bookkeepers by 2025.
The two main pillars Bookkeeper Launch is built around are learning how to do excellent bookkeeping and also learning how to get clients. This program takes you through all the training and stepping stones you need to get up and running as a professional bookkeeper. In addition, the ongoing Q&A calls help you further your development and stay on top of things as your business changes and grows.
The main categories within the program are:
- Core skills - bookkeeping foundations, set up, transactions, statements etc.
- Clients - getting ready to earn, promoting yourself and networking, creating irresistible selling statements, and identifying your ideal client
- Systems - lifestyle, your money, templates and checklists, processes, the tools and tech needed
- Advanced clients - your website, creating a prospect follow-up system, using email outreach, niching down
- Resources - launching your business, Q&A recordings, recommended reading and the option to have premier coaching
- Bonuses - spreadsheets, marketing, hacks and facts, profit maximizers
- Exclusive Facebook group - not a gimmicky one, but a hive of activity and a special place to ask questions and get feedback
There are also final exams to test you on your knowledge and practical exams on Quickbooks Online. Pass these, and you’ll be certified by Bookkeeper Launch. You then can get certified in the software of your choice.
There’s a high standard of values and beliefs woven throughout the program
Bookkeepers.com has a robust set of lifestyle and industry beliefs. They’re built on the concept that we have to be better than just great bookkeepers. A 21st-century bookkeeper needs to know more than just the numbers. They need to be approachable, communicate well, always go above and beyond while creating value.
They need to also be proactive and advise when appropriate and genuinely know their worth. All of these values are evident throughout the program and are an essential element of the success of the Bookkeeper Launch graduates.
This is NOT a business where you’re making $20-$25 an hour. If you build a business around Bookkeepers.com’s same values and beliefs, you can be charging between $80-$100 an hour. Why? Because a 21st Century professional bookkeeper is hard to find, and their consulting pays for itself over again. You’re also using those beliefs and values to build a business around your life and not the other way around.
You control when and where you work, who you work with,
and how much you want to earn.
It’s why I chose to study with Bookkeepers.com and invest in their Bookkeeper Launch program - it’s the definition of freedom I could truly get on board and invest in!
My own Bookkeeper Launch journey
I found the Bookkeeper Launch program in 2017. I came home and told my husband, Ethan, that I’d found this fantastic program. They were running a $500 off special, the deal ended that evening, and I was dying to sign up. At the time, we were living paycheck to paycheck, and the idea of spending that much on a program was a big deal.
So I didn’t buy it.
The next day I woke up and felt so much remorse - especially as I’d missed out on that special price! I emailed their customer support and literally begged to get the course at the deal price. They graciously let me sign up - and that’s just a sign of how great their customer service is. Ben has really led by example, instilling his values across their customer service and the entire business.
There’s so much fear when you buy something that they’ll take your money and run, but Bookkeeper Launch is not like that. Ben and his team really value their students. If you reach out for help, you’ll be seen and heard. You’re asked for feedback regularly from the BL team, and they really want you to get help when you need it.
I was working full-time when I started the course and was desperate to quit my full-time job, so I worked on the modules from 4pm until 10pm every day. Most people take an average of four to six months to complete the course. I finished it in a month.
After I launched my business in October, I quit my job before I had any clients or any money coming in. This program is completely comprehensive, and I trusted its teachings about how to get clients. Imposter syndrome was looming, and I was so nervous!
I told myself I’d earn back the initial investment, and if I didn’t like it or if it didn't work, I'd figure something else out.
I got my first client in October and earned $175 in my first month, a couple clients later I earned $675 in November and $875 in December. I’d exceeded my first goal! In fact, during my first six months of business, I actually earned $14,000! Not bad, when you consider I knew NOTHING about bookkeeping just a few short months before.
Are there any downsides to the Bookkeeper Launch program?
If you work hard, communicate well and promote yourself, this program 100% works. No program is perfect. The downside - there are a lot of moving parts, and they’re constantly launching a new service, program or challenge. This can be a little overwhelming, but with over 10,000 students, they want to capitalize on that. This technically has nothing to do with the program itself - it just means you’ll be seeing lots of potential upsells. My advice is to focus on what is a good fit for you.
Another potential downside, is that there’s a 12-month payment plan. But be aware that if you invest a small amount each month, you may not have enough skin in the game to drive you forward. Sometimes you need to make that full payment to give you the momentum to get on the path you need. Your results will be more significant as your investment will be bigger (and you’ll save some money too).
You can also take two paths with the Bookkeeper Launch program - Bookkeepers Pro, which is the self-study version and Premier, the group coaching version. The Premier version is a significantly larger investment. This isn’t necessarily a downside, but it does make it a little challenging to decide which one is right for you. I found the self-study version the best option for me, simply because I wanted to do it fast. I didn’t need accountability as my drive and determination were there. The group path may be better if you are paying by installments and need that extra accountability.
The only thing I’d really improve about the Bookkeeper Launch program itself is social media. There’s extensive training on Facebook, LinkedIn, your own website, and networking. However, I wish there’d been more training on social media platforms such as YouTube and Instagram. As more younger people start to come into the program, I think this is something that will be added over time, but it would be nice to have it now!
Overall, I’d definitely still give Bookkeeper Launch five out of five stars. It’s a proven, reputable system, and most importantly, it works. That’s why I have no hesitation recommending it to you now.
If you’d like to check out the details (and why wouldn’t you!) I have my very own special link for you to click through and find all the details for Bookkeeper Launch. And if you have any questions about Bookkeeper Launch, pop them below, and I’ll do my best to answer them!
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