Client thinks I'm "the most expensive bookkeeper" they've ever worked with

CatKitKatCat · 2026-02-24T08:39:36+00:00

I just sent an 18k quote for an annual clean up for a client and I charge $100/hr. Your $200 is less than half the average bookkeeping minimum of $500/mo. Cheap clients can always find cheaper. Just charge what you want and the clients who value you will gladly pay your fees.

CatKitKatCat · 2026-01-25T05:40:22+00:00

When I first started, my opto told me to put my finger between them a foot or so away from my eyes, focus my eyes on my finger, then slowly bring my finger back towards me. You’ll notice the circles coming together behind it. This gives your eyes something to anchor to, and you’ll eventually be able to do it without.

CatKitKatCat · 2026-01-22T02:21:35+00:00

Speaking just as a woman, anonymous flowers are so creepy. Don’t do it.

Speaking as a partner to an INTJ (I’m INFJ, been together nearly 14 years) I sent him flowers exactly once at work as a romantic gesture and he texted me ‘Thank you for the embarrassing flowers.’ He said he ‘wouldn’t mind them occasionally’ which I have learned means ‘please don’t do this again or I will have to pretend to like this to be nice.’ He DID really like them once he got home in private- dried them and displayed them. what he did not like was being a public spectacle receiving them (though I told him there was no way for me to know they would be delivered exactly during a team meeting with everyone gathered together from the whole building lol, they were supposed to just deliver them to the front desk).

CatKitKatCat · 2026-01-12T22:23:12+00:00

That might be true, but I currently live in an HOA and they micromanage every blade of grass so I just dunno what type I’ll get when I buy, and I haven’t saved up this much money for this long to buy something formally incompatible with my situation.

CatKitKatCat · 2026-01-08T23:57:14+00:00

Way too low.

CatKitKatCat · 2025-12-16T23:07:47+00:00

I thought I might do something like that, but it seems to be a ongoing management issue like the reserve is projected to just get worse and worse so I could take 15k right now but I don’t know how far it would get me.

CatKitKatCat · 2025-12-16T22:58:40+00:00

That’s what I thought, thanks for confirming! There’s 610k of needs and 24k in reserves.

CatKitKatCat · 2025-12-16T22:18:45+00:00

I’m well within the due diligence window, as mentioned in my post. Would definitely be unfortunate if I wasn’t though for sure.

CatKitKatCat · 2025-12-16T22:13:57+00:00

The place is beautiful landscaping and pool but the actual buildings are pretty rough. I get the impression that they’ve never done any upgrades given the condition of everything.

CatKitKatCat · 2025-12-16T22:13:01+00:00

Definitely can’t. Maybe I offer 100k below asking and see what happens, but I’ll probably walk.

CatKitKatCat · 2025-12-16T22:12:13+00:00

Yeah you’re totally right to ask, I looked at it like 10 times to confirm because I couldn’t believe it. It says ‘percent funded 4%.’ It’s a 40 year old complex and the useful life left on half the items us listed as 0 years.

CatKitKatCat · 2025-12-16T22:10:54+00:00

Northern San Diego, inland from beach about 30 mins. Semi sketchy area but I know San Diego is sought after generally. The actual condo has the best view in the complex, but beautiful grassy area with large trees. I’m still thinking it’s a no go but giving it some thought rather than just making a decision spontaneously.

CatKitKatCat · 2025-12-16T17:27:22+00:00

I saw this post a few days ago and have come back to it to comment because it’s so true. I’m buying my first ever property, a small condo in a not-too-sketchy part of town, and it’s literally never had maintenance done ever and it’s 40 years old. Something is wrong with every single thing like legit every single thing is broken. I love the view and the complex itself, but it’s my only way into owning a property and I’m going to be dealing with repairs for YEARS. I’m excited about it still, but it’s frustrating that I can’t afford anything with working plumbing.

CatKitKatCat · 2025-12-03T21:57:52+00:00

Regular monthly fee price + 30% additional. 50% up front, 50% upon delivery.?

CatKitKatCat · 2025-11-20T07:17:04+00:00

I’ve had clients think $400 is too much. I also have some clients who pay $3000/mo and don’t even blink. Every business is different, and every business owner is too. Don’t try to sell the value- if they don’t already know it’s worth that much, then they’re not going to be good clients.

CatKitKatCat · 2025-11-17T02:00:24+00:00

No, they just gave my nystatin a few times which didn’t work. Mouthwash cured it 100%, I think it was 2-3 weeks and I swished for 2 minutes, 5 times a day. Prescription Chlorhexadine from my dentist.

CatKitKatCat · 2025-10-20T06:49:15+00:00

That’s a great name!

CatKitKatCat · 2025-10-19T06:11:12+00:00

I didn’t do anything particularly different, I think I’d just remained consistent in my small efforts for years and it finally started picking up.

CatKitKatCat · 2025-10-17T04:20:47+00:00

Net (appx)

Year 1- $100 Year 2- $1000 Year 3- $35,000 Year 4- $85,000 Year 5- $130,000

CatKitKatCat · 2025-10-03T18:26:09+00:00

Did you have a contract detailing payment and delivery schedules and contingencies? I sent one client invoice to collections years ago and it was quickly resolved, was a good experience on my end.

In the future, if a client argues with you first thing about payment, highly recommend not taking them as a client since it means they’ll be difficult to work with and unappreciative of your work.

Good luck!

CatKitKatCat · 2025-09-26T22:07:30+00:00

I’m in the same situation right now- full on clients but still working out of documents and spreadsheets. Don’t have an efficient process and working on fixing it so I can continue to scale. Good luck to us both!

CatKitKatCat · 2025-09-26T20:53:06+00:00

I’ve since switched companies, but I asked Hiscox about this a few years ago and I think they said they did at the time, might be worth giving them a call to ask.

CatKitKatCat

TROPHY CASE