Here at Let's Learn Bookkeeping, we like to think that a person can go out into the world (whether as a bookkeeper or not!) and make a living without having to answer to faceless corporations as an employer.

A fellow student of our Quickbooks class, Paul Turner, owner of Laptop Repair in Burbank, feels the same way.  Below are some of Paul's thoughts about the opportunity that awaits so many unemployed people in our society today, one that should be seen as a golden opportunity:

"Here's the deal...with the economy in the crazy state it's in, there is big opportunity for people to work for themselves.  There is a huge amount of talent being let go from large forces and they need to start making a living.  They have mortgages, bills, and families, like everyone else.

These corporate casualties are partnering up with people in the same situatio they are in. As a result, there is a new group of young, highly educated, successful people forming companies in the industry they have lead in for years.  These small companies will grow and replace the corporations these executives were let go from in the first place.

These small companies are in need of services and it makes no financial sense to hire people as employees to do them if they can contract them on an as-need basis; such as payroll, accounting and legal services.  A well-trained person in a specific area can offer their services to many companies and they stand to make a great deal of money.  Times are changing.  Be a part of it, or be left behind."

People can go out and be their own boss, and by working with others who want the same thing, they can actually challenge their own former employers and be successful at it.  Contracted work for bookkeeping is just one example of the new line of work someone who used to be in payroll or accounting can do.  As a future entrepreneur, one of the first rules is to think outside of the box.  Paul's words put that rule into clarity very well.

For more information about Paul's business, please go to www.laptoprepair.com.  Thank you, Paul, for being our first guest blogger!

Let's Learn Bookkeeping has an exciting new announcement: we will now be offering DAY CLASSES!!!

Starting February 22, 2010, classes in the daytime will begin.  Classes will be from 11AM to 2PM.  We will be offering them at our classroom in Burbank.  We are very excited at the prospect of being able to offer our students the chance to come during the day to learn how to be a bookkeeper!

Please check our website for more information.  Thank you!

In honor of the New Year almost upon us, we thought it would be appropriate to show people that we can poke some fun at ourselves, even though our subject matter is so serious!  It is important to remember that a sense of humor is always welcome, especially at this joyous time of year! Without further ado, please find some funny zingers aimed at people in our profession!  Enjoy!

"Why did God invent economists?

...

So accountants could have someone to laugh at."

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"What's the difference between an accountant and a lawyer?

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The accountant knows he is boring."

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"Why was the accountant so excited that he completed a jigsaw puzzle in only 59 weeks?

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Because on the box it said 8-12 Years."

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The accountant was visiting the Museum of Natural History and said to the person standing next to him, "That dinosaur is two billion years and ten months old."

"How did you get such exact information?"

"I was here ten months ago and the guide said the dinosaur was two billion years old."

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Please find plenty more of these jokes here.

Source: www.skp.com/au

Ever wonder what you and your company need to do at the end of the year when it comes to your bookkeeping?  Ever think to yourself, "Did this client pay already?" or "How much did I spend in terms of my budget this year?"  Before the new year rings in, here are a few pointers about what to do to wind your books down for this year and gear your company up for the next year.

These pointers have been provided by Cloe Sill, a fellow bookkeeper.

"It’s that time of year – time to clean up your numbers and make sure your books are ready for the end of the year reports and the upcoming tax season.  If you own a small business, or even if you’ll just be dealing with your own personal finances, the more organized you are at the end of year, the easier tax time will be for you.  Here are some basic tips for things you can do now to organize and prepare in the next month or so:

1. Review last year’s tax form and compare it this year’s expenses and income.  Note any extreme discrepancies and look into them."

To read the rest of the article, click here.

Source: Cloe Sill