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What this walkthrough gets you
You will keep the books for small businesses on a monthly retainer, from anywhere, with no degree, no office and no prior experience. You get certified in a weekend and it costs $0 to begin, because free trials cover you until your first client pays. The walkthrough gets you your first paying client in weeks two to three, and each client takes only two to four hours a month once you are in rhythm. Its realistic path is about $2,000 a month at five clients within roughly six months.
Members only
Walk the whole business, step by step.
This walkthrough and the other 20, for one payment of $99. Every step, every tool with its price, every script and template as a download, and Ray beside you the whole way. New walkthroughs are included for life.
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Every chapter and every step
The full walkthrough · 20 chapters
- Start Here: The Business in Plain Terms
- 1. Reality Check: What This Actually Is
- 2. Why Right Now: The Window Is Open
- 3. The Trust Architecture: How a Stranger Earns Bank Access
- 4. Confidence Calibration: The Thoughts You Are Having Right Now
- 5. Niche Selection: Who You Work For First
- 6. Tool Stack: What You Actually Need
- 7. Core Build: Before You Have a Client
- 8. The Messy First Client: What Nobody Tells You
- 9. Offer Architecture: What You Sell and What It Costs
- 10. Boundaries and Scope: Protecting the Operation
- 11. Legal and Compliance: The Line in the Sand
- 12. Client Acquisition: How You Fill the Roster
- 13. The Compounding Client Base: Why This Income Is Different
- 14. Client Operations: How the Month Actually Runs
- 15. The Part Nobody Likes
- 16. Progress Markers: Month by Month
- Case Study: Sara, Month Zero to Month Eight
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Sources
In Steps · 16 steps
- Get ready1Get QuickBooks ProAdvisor certified this weekend.
- 2Set up the professional presence that earns trust before you have a track record.
- 3Pick one niche to start with.
- Build4Set up your tool stack, and learn it on your own books.
- 5Build your service document and engagement letter, before you approach anyone.
- 6Build your client folder system, so you're clean from day one.
- Land the first client7Run the acquisition system, fastest channels first.
- 8Handle the trust moment and the messy books, and sign the first client.
- 9Set your offer with three tiers, so you never under- or over-price.
- Run the month10Onboard the client cleanly, and get QuickBooks access the safe way.
- 11Run the monthly cycle, and make the report your highest-value touchpoint.
- 12Hold your boundaries, and stay on the legal line.
- Compound13Retain relentlessly, because retention is most of the business.
- 14Raise prices and upgrade tiers as your track record builds.
- 15Fill the roster through referrals and accountant partners.
- 16Reach the self-sustaining practice, and decide how big you want it.
Included
3 downloads, ready to use
- Client Onboarding KitWelcome email, access request checklist, onboarding call agenda, and first-month workflow.
- Engagement Letter TemplateScope letter covering services, fees, liability limits, and termination terms.
- Income & Client TrackerFormula-driven spreadsheet tracking clients, monthly fees, hours, and annual income milestones.
Answered inside
Questions this walkthrough answers
- Do I need to register a business before I start? Answer in the walkthrough
- What if a client's business uses software other than QuickBooks? Answer in the walkthrough
- Can I do this while working full-time? Answer in the walkthrough
- What if I make a mistake in a client's books? Answer in the walkthrough
- How do I handle a client who wants tax advice? Answer in the walkthrough
- Should I specialise in one accounting software or learn multiple? Answer in the walkthrough
- How do I price a clean-up job? Answer in the walkthrough
- When should I raise my prices? Answer in the walkthrough
- What if a client asks me to do something I cannot do? Answer in the walkthrough
- How many clients can one person handle? Answer in the walkthrough
Your guide inside
Ray walks it with you
Inside every walkthrough, Ray goes through the steps with you. He points out what matters at each step, saves your place when you step away to a tool, and answers the questions people ask most: 21 ready answers for this walkthrough.
Let's build this together — one move at a time. The credential's free and the software does the math; the real skill is being reliable. I'll only jump in when it matters.
- Ask Ray: Do I need to be good at math?
- Ask Ray: I'm terrible with numbers — am I really able to do this?
- Ask Ray: How do I get certified, and is it really free?
- Ask Ray: How do I find my first client?
- Ask Ray: How much should I charge?
Direct support
Stuck on an idea or a build? Email us.
Members can write to us directly about their ideas and their builds, at
Members only
Walk the whole business, step by step.
This walkthrough and the other 20, for one payment of $99. Every step, every tool with its price, every script and template as a download, and Ray beside you the whole way. New walkthroughs are included for life.
Get every walkthrough · $99Already a member? Sign in