The Premier Accounting Service

Dear Universal

I wanted to drop you a quick note to let you know how things are going for me since completing the Professional Bookkeeper Program in March, 2010 and The PB’s Guide to QuickBooks Program in April, 2010.

I  have gotten one client.  I do monthly sales taxes for his business.  We will be doing financials the end of October so that tax planning can be done.

After speaking with you on what organizations to belong to, I joined in my home town.  I have been attending many of the meetings and have landed a job doing the books for a county juvenile justice board. I feel the exposure to several attorneys and other business people is tremendous.

I have also picked up an assisted living home.  I will be doing the A/R and A/P on a weekly basis.  The company is in need of a person who can help get them back on track as far as their expenditures go.  They are great people and have agreed to the changes I have proposed to help their cash flow.  I will be getting a monthly fee of $350 to start, with a set up fee of $400 and back bill for their input from January to June of $1,350.  I did have to redo my engagement letter in order to “save” this company.  We have agreed to revisit the monthly fee once I get them back to where they should be.  I will be able to charge them up to $1,050.  I believe that the higher fees will be effective by January, 2011.

I believe that I will increase by client count once the last 2 clients see what I can do and pass this on to others.

Thanks for all the encouragement you have given me.  It is very appreciated.

Sincerely,
Kay H.
Kachina Bookkeeping & Tax Services

I just got another new client today...that new shoe store that I was telling you about  (she opened her business over Memorial Day weekend and was featured in the local newspaper)!  This was my second visit to the store and it turns out she was telling her employees that she wanted to use me but she didn’t know how much I charged, so I handed her my sell sheet and said ‘well here you go’. (We both had a good laugh at that)  She has committed to my Bronze Package (which is the basic package without payroll and financial statements).

Thank you Universal Accounting Center! My bookkeeping practice is starting to take shape thanks to the Master Coaching Program and the guidance of my Master Coach Rick Howard.  The weekly commitments and personal accountability make all the difference because they ensure you are the author of your own success!  The Master Coaching Program has helped me to step outside of my comfort  zone and challenge myself in ways I never thought possible. I have obtained several new clients since I have been on the program. If you are serious about your business I would recommend starting with this program… It definitely works!

Renee D. Latimer, MBA, PTP, QuickBooks ProAdvisor

President

Thank you very much for all your help.  I realize I can be a stickler sometimes for making certain that I have understood what has been written.  It is sometimes hard to understand things when communicating face to face with the ability to use all our senses, but remove sight and/or sound and sometimes we have to work a little harder to fully understand the message.  I’ve taken courses through every medium out there.  I enjoy the extra time UAC has taken to make the distance learning experience as close to actual classroom as possible.

Anna P.

As an accounting & bookkeeping practice owner, David uses his experience to coach others in marketing strategy

David Sherwood sees himself as an accountrepreneur, and for good reason. Owner and operator of his own accounting and bookkeeping practice, David also works at Universal Accounting (UA) as a Practice Development Coach. In that capacity, he travels the country conducting marketing seminars for financial professionals, some of which include “Get Paid for Your Power, Not Just by the Hour: Build a Six Figure Practice in Twelve Months” and “The Power of Your Own Practice: Start Your Own Successful Accounting Service.” He also acts as a Master Coach for UA students, which he admits is a favorite part of his job.

“To have people say that I changed their lives,” David explains, “or that I (and Universal Accounting) are an answer to their prayers or that they have been able to build a business that will impact how they live the rest of their lives, raise their kids and give their families the things that they need, has been more than rewarding. Sometimes it is hard to remember that this is a job to me, but to them it is the dream, and we help people achieve their dreams. That’s fun.”

Those who think that being a good accountant precludes you from being a good marketer should meet David Sherwood, a consummate marketing accountant. He’s of the opinion that accountants are well suited to attract all the clients they want. In fact, he believes the same characteristics that make good accountants can also help accountants build their own practices. All it takes is the knowledge to say the right thing, in the right way, to the right person. And that’s what David helps them do.

With over 20 years of sales, marketing and marketing management experience, David has spent years perfecting a system of marketing the accounting practice that is guaranteed to help professionals secure clients using no to low-cost marketing methods. He has spearheaded Universal Accounting’s advanced marketing programs that have helped hundreds start and grow their own bookkeeping services.

David joined Universal Accounting nearly seven years ago because he was impressed with the company’s product and staff. His interactions with Allen Bostrom, Universal Accounting President and CEO, and Roger Knecht, Universal Accounting Vice President of Operations, impressed David, instilling in him the desire to join the company. David explains, “I saw an opportunity to take my skills and experience and apply them in a meaningful way that would benefit many.”

A native of Hawaii, David graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in marketing. Married for over 15 years to his wife Xenya and with three children, ages eight, ten and 12, David enjoys traveling.

Ken’s approachable, warm, and comfortable style makes him a favorite among students

As the son of Alf Bostrom, founder of Universal Accounting Center (UAC), Ken first began working for UAC teaching computer classes in 1987. While Ken has worked in several of the industries currently taught at Universal, his focus has been on management and teaching, which he loves. In fact, he has over 20 years experience teaching accounting and accounting software programs.

In 1992, Ken officially joined the Universal staff and saw the company grow from a small local vocational training school into an international company with clients as far away as New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. Ken has been instrumental in all aspects of the company’s growth.

As Vice President of Administration, Ken developed and implemented systems that resulted in consistent double-digit growth rates for Universal. As these systems have been adapted to our clients’ practices, they have been able to use emerging technology to earn more income in less time. As a QuickBooks Certified Pro Advisor, Ken brings years of hands-on experience to the field of small business office automation. He has also created and assisted in the creation of several accounting and software courses.

Ken has conducted seminars nationwide with presentations focusing on creating automated systems that stimulate growth. Some of his seminars include “Conquer Stagnation through Office Automation” and “Start Your Own Successful Accounting Service.” Ken explains, “The advancement of computer technology and business software programs has made systems development and implementation affordable and easy for even the smallest business. Small accounting firms can enjoy many, if not all of the systems the largest accounting firms are using.”

Ken now focuses on his work as a Universal speaker, trainer, and Master Coach. This change, however, was a logical choice as Ken had been an instructor at the Salt Lake City school for 15 years where he has personally taught, coached, and consulted thousands of accountants and bookkeepers on how to start and grow their practices. Ken says, “I love teaching. I love to help people and see the lights come on. [As a coach] it is fun when students will call and I can see that they are reaching their goals with the training and support that they have received.”

Ken’s approachable, warm, and comfortable style makes him a favorite among students and seminar attendees. He is sought out for his ability to make complex topics understandable and fun. Many students tell us how grateful they are to have worked with Ken. For example, Sandy says, “I love Universal Accounting. I am so happy that I found them! I completed both courses and I have 5 clients. I work a small part-time job as well. I took on one client that has been a real challenge but with the coaching program and Ken Bostrom’s help I am feeling like I can take on difficult clients. There is so much to learn and I feel it has opened up a whole new future! I have owned my own business for the last 20 years and learned things I wish I would have known way back when! Everyone is so nice to work with, very nice people!!!”

Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, Ken has lived in California, Arizona and Sweden. He currently resides in Sandy with his wife and five children, two girls and three boys. In his spare time, Ken likes to travel and fish.

http://www.pitchengine.com/universalaccounting/universal-students-access-industry-leaders-ken-bostrom/69346/

To say that Bill is passionate about taxes would be a severe understatement

William Brough is somewhat of a Renaissance man, with a broad and extensive range of skills and knowledge. As an accounting and tax professional, you might be surprised to discover that he’s also a trained musician who writes and records his own music. In fact, he actually performed for a number of years and even worked in the Los Angeles area as a songwriter, landing a spot on a production team for a Stevie Wonder spin-off called Writer’s Quarters West.

It wasn’t until he started his own laser printing business that he discovered a passion for bookkeeping as well. He explains, “[the business] took off in such a way that it consumed more and more of my time, and I found that I actually enjoyed it as much as music, which surprised me.” Because of this, he returned to school to earn his MBA in accounting and finance and continues to manage his own bookkeeping and tax practice, enabling him to truly understand what UAC students encounter as they transition from student to practitioner.

Originally Bill began his work with Universal Accounting Center (UAC) as a bookkeeping and tax coach, but in 2008 he was asked to rewrite the Professional Tax Preparer Program (PTP). As the principal author of the course he’s one of few people who can literally say that when it comes to taxes, he “wrote the book.”

Since that time, Bill has worked exclusively as Universal’s Tax Curriculum Specialist, which means he is not only responsible for updating the tax curriculum every year and spearheading efforts to have UAC’s tax course approved and certified by various state and national organizations, but he also works closely with students as they complete the tax course and begin their own tax practices, confronting what are often complex tax issues.

To say that Bill is passionate about taxes would be a severe understatement. He explains, “I’m sort of a wonk, and I love being in the tax books, doing research and having to stay on top of a very dynamic field. Unlike bookkeeping, the rules of tax preparation change every year, sometimes quite dramatically, and not only do I enjoy the challenge of constantly learning, but it puts me in a position to actually keep up my skills relative to my own tax practice.”

But that’s not the only part of the job that Bill enjoys; he also appreciates the opportunity to engage with UAC students: “It really is fun to see the sense of accomplishment for the ones who put in the work and conquer something new and challenging that helps them realize a dream they maybe thought was unrealistic at one time.”

Here’s what a couple of our PTP graduates have said of their interactions with Bill:

As I worked on different tax returns, it was always nice to know that when I had a question I could call UAC’s support team and they were always very helpful. Tax Curriculum Specialist Bill Brough was totally awesome and guided me through each step, giving me pointers and answering all my questions. For anyone considering taking this program, I would highly recommend taking that step and watching how their training and your effort can build a successful tax practice and be quite lucrative in the process. It’s a choice you won’t regret… – Talea K

Bill Brough has been an integral part of the success that I am enjoying today. His constant support and encouragement during those times that I was overwhelmed with the volume of the course material and faced with self-doubt were extremely helpful. He was always available to answer questions, get me thinking on the right track, or provide a funny anecdote or real life experience which kept my spirits and kept me moving forward towards my goals. He never stopped believing in me, and this helped me believe in myself. – Renee L.

Originally from Wichita, Kansas, Bill was raised primarily in Salt Lake City, and while he spent a considerable amount of time in Los Angeles, he now resides in Sandy with his wife Elaine. His oldest child, Sean, is currently serving an LDS mission in Chicago, Illinois while his youngest, Emma, is currently attending middle school and exploring all the musical talents she appears to have inherited from her father. When he’s not busy coaching students or managing his own practice, Bill likes to hike, camp, golf, and of course, make music.

http://www.pitchengine.com/universalaccounting/universal-accounting-success-story-bill-brough/69588/

Internal Revenue Service Electronic Tax Administration Director David Williams May 6 said that while all tax preparers will have to sign up with IRS under a new regulatory regime, they will not be given their registration papers with IRS until they have passed a test to determine their competency.

“People who come in [early] will have three years before they have to take the competency exam,” he said. “Once you pass the test, we propose to call you an IRS registered tax preparer. We will give folks a certificate that says that.”

IRS is working now on setting the user fee, after selecting Accenture as the contractor to establish the registration system.

IRS is expecting to sign up between 900,000 and 1.2 million tax preparers. A PTIN will become a condition of practice, Williams said. “If we identify a tax compliance problem or criminal problem we need to be able to resolve this and work through the due diligence process to determine if that person is really fit to practice before IRS.” None of that will be happening in the last four months of this year, he said.

Competency Exams

Anyone who is not an attorney, certified public accountant, or enrolled agent will be required to pass a competency exam. There will be two versions of the exam, which Williams said is expected to be available in May 2011. Preparers will be required to complete 15 hours of continuing education annually. Each year, two of those hours will need to be ethics training, and four hours of new tax law, he said.

There will be two exams at the start—one for the basic Form 1040 and the earned income tax credit, which will be limited to “Schedule C EZ.” The second exam will include small business returns and the full range of Schedule C returns, including individual and small business returns exams.

http://www.bnasoftware.com/News_Articles/News/IRS_Says_No_Registered_Preparer_Designation_Without_Competency_Test.asp

Just wanted to give your training a bit of praise.  I started on becoming certified with Intuit as a QuickBooks ProAdvisor, so that I can be listed on their website.  I must say their training is nothing to compare to yours.  I have worked through the first one of three modules and taken the test for that particular module.  The multiple choice questions did not even seem to relate to the material presented in the module.  I did pass, and got the certification on that module, but I must say I used your manuals to find some information that they did not provide.

Nancy B.