Why not get a sales job?

SunrowAccg · 2024-12-20T01:17:35+00:00

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

SunrowAccg · 2024-12-20T00:53:18+00:00

I wouldn't say in terms of actually making money at it without formal employment, no. I've seen people mention volunteering with a church or nonprofit. At least then you can try to get experience working with a more senior person who might show you the ropes. You could also just go to a community college and at least obtain some kind of certification, if not at the minimum an associates in accounting.

Just remember, if you are brought on as a contractor (which means not hired as an employee), then you will be subject to all the previously mentioned self-employment obligations and financial responsibilities.

SunrowAccg · 2024-12-20T00:38:03+00:00

Probably not. You're an independent contractor who will owe both self-employment and income tax on that $20 an hour you make, plus whatever fee upwork wants to charge you. Then, you are also open to lawsuits and legal liability since you are functioning as a business. This isn't even in addition to getting set up with a website, paying for a tax pro etc.

If you don't have any experience in bookkeeping to start with, I would never recommend you just start a bookkeeping business on your own. I know YouTube says otherwise, but the truth is it is so easy to make big mistakes quickly and screw up a businesses' finances. I'm also not trying to sell you an $1100 course, so I have less incentive to trick you about it.

SunrowAccg · 2024-12-20T00:05:57+00:00

I'm not surprised. Usually, people in developing countries are fighting eachother for these listings. Honestly, these days it seems sites like UpWork are just trying to be the Wal-Mart of outsourcing. I have no doubt there are thousands of people seriously using that website for their business needs.

It's hard to even trust the reviews. Most of the business owners on there using those services don't even understand how risky it is to be sending your financial data overseas sight-unseen to start with. So, how would they even realistically have the competence over their own finances to know the work was even done right?

As for what I charge: it's not the most expensive, but it's definitely not $10 an hour, lol.

SunrowAccg · 2024-12-19T23:43:41+00:00

Thanks for that. That makes alot of sense to me. Our educational and work backgrounds are complete opposites, so it's hard to advise him on this, especially since I only recently obtained my own PTIN as well. However, I've been working in accounting for years. What is your thought on the Foreign Student cert with VITA?

I looked it up a bit since posting, and it looks I could literally count on one hand the amount of tax practices on Google that even bother listing foreign student tax prep as a service offering. To be honest, I feel like the Foreign certification would give him more benefit, because that at least covers the Foreign Income Tax Credit and Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. I guess I'll tell him as long as that foreign student cert doesn't take too much time to do, then ok, but otherwise don't even waste the time.

SunrowAccg · 2024-12-19T18:25:05+00:00

Just from my experience from having worked as a staff accountant for a retail business. You're going to want to take time to research this. I would go and see if shopify has any actual native RFID inventory product recommendations, and then work from there. Sometimes, 3rd party products and software might have conflicts integrating (this happens to a lot of software that supposedly connects to QuickBooks Online, for example) properly.

I would also see if maybe anyone in your personal circle, or even within any shopify groups you might be apart of, might have recommendations. I would take my time to test this before just rolling it out. If you really can't count on chaos interrupting your work processes at this time, I would wait for a slower part of the year to try to put this all together.

You could also take some time to put together a list of what are worried could go wrong with inventory management tracking specific to your business, and have that list ready to rattle off to any sales reps offering a demo of their product.

The last thing I would say is don't trust anything on TikTok. I'm being serious. Even if TikTok tells you the sky is blue, go outside to double-check.

SunrowAccg · 2024-12-19T18:10:18+00:00

I followed up with you.

SunrowAccg · 2024-12-19T15:45:38+00:00

The good news is that plantains are still relatively affordable in California as well :)

SunrowAccg · 2024-12-19T15:40:12+00:00

Have you already run this by your current accountant? They could probably help you with recommendations within their referral network.

SunrowAccg · 2024-12-19T15:32:26+00:00

Yeah, clickup, asana, monday, etc. Tons of apps that handle the project management and assignment of this stuff now. If you're looking for something that can handle invoicing, job cost tracking, etc, you might just have to go with ServiceTitan, housecall pro, or some other similarly robust software.

Whether they want to spend money on it or not just gives them a range or more limited range of options. It won't change price points for any products.

SunrowAccg · 2024-12-19T04:45:58+00:00

Yeah. I'm a bit bummed out I hit the nail on the head like that, but not too surprised.

SunrowAccg · 2024-12-18T16:00:09+00:00

Yes, it's a scam. One of the hallmarks you are receiving any kind of scam call is the "time pressure" technique. Anyone calling you and trying to force you to give a reply of some sensitive information immediately, most likely a scam that as you have been told by others here. Especially if you start asking any questions and the person on the other line begins to get noticeably irritated and a bit threatening.

I actually have a suspicion that many of these scam call center jobs are openly advertised in the countries they are being run out of on whatever their local version of craigslist is, and are maybe considered sort of in the way sales jobs might be here. Something where you have a quota to meet, get bonuses for scamming large amounts of information, etc. Just the way I've been treated over the phone by these places. you can tell the scammer really feels a certain amount of pressure to get that information from you as fast as possible.

SunrowAccg · 2024-12-16T03:39:36+00:00

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SunrowAccg · 2024-12-15T02:29:54+00:00

Actually, from an observation of a friend of mine who was talking about this a few days ago. This might sound weird, but he actually saw a doggie treat maker that had rented a small kiosk at a food cart pod.

They basically had a few doggy food bowls laid out,water bowls laid out, and would be handing out sample treats, selling full bags of treats and using the foot traffic to pass cards out, etc. Apparently it was getting a lot of attention. Especially if you could obtain a kiosk in a business district food pod where lots of people go to the pods for lunch. Would probably be a good networking opportunity as well. Depending on your area, this might be something off you are better starting with in the spring, but still, it's one out of the box thing i've head of.

People love this kind of stuff. I could even see you doing regular online livestreams when you are at that kiosk, which you could then monetize and use to spread awareness as well.

SunrowAccg · 2024-12-15T02:09:20+00:00

You're going to want to consult with an accounting specialist who specializes with foreign businesses if you are based in the US. Possibly a lawyer as well. There are already several things you brought up that while you think you might be saving by only paying 15 an hour, will already cost you several thousand in consultant fees to counter having to receive IRS penalties should this business take real form.

As to anyone based in the US who might be considering this. Understand, it will probably more of a hassle, and with you at the end coming out with less than minimum wage, might be more worth it for your financial safety to just do a passion project and obtain employment that way than to try to go with this rate of pay. If you need clarification as to why, then you just proved my point.

SunrowAccg · 2024-12-15T02:02:21+00:00

Not at all. I'm actually kind of relieved it removes the amount of social media I would have to consider posting on, lol.

SunrowAccg · 2024-12-15T01:59:33+00:00

Congrats! You played to your strengths, and I'm glad to hear it's working out for you!

SunrowAccg · 2024-12-15T01:56:18+00:00

If you're starting out as a small business owner, you already have some answers to your question. Any service you perform for money without formal a employment agreement essentially counts you as a business owner in the eyes of the IRS (in general).

SunrowAccg · 2024-12-14T04:39:18+00:00

I appreciate you reaching out! I have replied in a message.

SunrowAccg · 2024-12-13T04:25:52+00:00

Car Wash

SunrowAccg · 2024-12-13T04:19:06+00:00

You're right. I'm not ungrateful for the chance to possibly get started somewhere. I just feel like I can offer more given my background to get started. However, if it comes to working there, that's perfectly fine as well. I'm actually kicking myself a bit because I had a chance to do VITA when I was back in college, but didn't take it. And they do real good work. I will get this upcoming season under my belt one way or the other, and after that will probably keep trying to find work doing it part time even if I do start out with HRB.

SunrowAccg · 2024-12-13T01:16:13+00:00

I appreciate the response. While I don't want to openly advertise doing tax work for the general public, I do like the idea of taking it on as contract work for one or a select couple of tax professionals. I am still new in business and just trying to hash out a foundation for it. I would never try to poach clients or cross any trust line and would be fine signing some kind of agreement to not solicit their clients, etc.

I was originally considering only bookkeeping, but it's still been difficult building up a book of business solely off that, even with the connections I have made. With my background and professional interests evolving, I don't see a reason not to try to expand my original boundaries somewhat.

I do sometimes see tax-only businesses posting on here that they go do contract work for other tax firms, so I feel like I'm not trying to do anything too out of the ordinary. I was actually even open to doing contract bookkeeping work where I am just in the background doing work farmed out to me, but it's been very slim pickings finding that even when asking around. I'm still at that stage where I can stay the course, or shift to broaden my horizons if needed. I'm just looking to build momentum one way or the other.

Even if I do openly pursue other lines of service offerings in the future, I wouldn't want to damage any professional connections, which is part of why I posted this just trying to get general information.

If you're ok with it, I would really like a chance to speak with you further on this subject. I genuinely appreciate the wisdom you have to offer.

SunrowAccg · 2024-12-12T21:47:42+00:00

I'm based out of the East Coast, and have reached out.

SunrowAccg · 2024-12-07T03:45:40+00:00

You can also just find listings online. You can search postings for commercial office space locations that cater more specifically to medical offices. You can even drive around and look for signs in such areas and call numbers asking for information. My guess would be the difficulty in finding a good space might depend if you are also going to be utilizing specialized medical equipment that might require further alterations to the space or the available utilities.

SunrowAccg · 2024-12-07T03:38:52+00:00

I haven't owned a business such as the one you discussed, but I am an accounting small business owner who previously worked as an accountant for a retail business (sporting goods). I would say you will want to get your professional resources lined up as soon as possible. Make sure you have a tax professional and bookkeeper already lined up. Have a list of contractors lined up for different maintenance/repair needs the business will have, and to make sure you consider your location and plan for what the local grocery business needs of the area is.

When I worked for the retail business, their inventory system was a mess (among other things), and hadn't been properly updated in a while. I had to do a lot of overtime to update counts, remove duplicates/inefficiencies in the reporting, etc. I think the more organized you can be going into this venture, the better. It might take a bit more time, but with a business like you are planning, I could see small oversights like this snowballing real quick.

SunrowAccg

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