“Tom Joseph encouraged me to start by talking with CPA firms. As soon as I did that, I learned that there is definitely a need and I realized that starting this business was the right thing for me to do.”
Janine was hesitant at first. “I was a little scared going into business for myself, because I’ve always worked for someone else. I was hesitant to go out on my own because I had no one to go to for help. I signed up with Bookminders because I needed the support. And, it’s coming along very well. This has been a very positive experience.”
Janine did some market research before she started. “Tom Joseph encouraged me to start by talking with some CPA firms. As soon as I did that, I learned that there is definitely a need. It immediately built my confidence. It all came together and I realized that starting this business was the right thing for me to do.”
Janine learned a lot at the Boot Camp. “The Boot Camp was very helpful. I learned what I was getting into. I saw how everything would flow. There was a lot of information to learn, but it helped to have Pam Ludin to guide me on where to start.”
Sales was a new experience for Janine. “The sales part doesn’t come naturally for me. The sales training was all new. It really helped to learn what to say and how to handle various situations. I also had several phone calls with Tom Joseph and his coaching was very helpful.”
“Almost immediately I got two clients. I went to two networking events and I was in the right place at the right time. I talked with people about QuickBooks issues and within minutes two of them hired me. The second client didn’t even ask about the fee—he just didn’t want mom doing the books any more.”
“Going to networking events has been eye opening; each contact leads to someone else. I thought there would be a lot of sitting at a desk, but I keep meeting people who introduce me to other people and I am able to spend a lot of time meeting with prospects and potential referrers.”
Janine appreciated the systems that Bookminders provided. “I’m very procedure oriented so I like that Bookminders has documented everything and I find the Standards and Procedures [Bookminders online help system] to be a great tool. I didn’t have to reinvent the wheel. The whole package works just fine—the server, the software, the reference materials and the fee schedules.”
Janine Teagarden graduated from Michigan State in 1999 with a Bachelors degree in Accounting. She worked for over 10 years in public accounting and industry. Prior to starting her business in October 2011, Janine worked as an accountant in the healthcare industry.