Because accounting doesn’t require much interaction, at times you may feel isolated. To counter that you must build a support system. Not only will this provide you with involvement in a professional community, but interacting with your peers can also help you discover ways to improve your business. Here are some places to look for like-minded business professionals.
Professional Organizations
There are many organizations you can join in order to network with other freelance accountants. Some of these include the National Society of Accountants (NSA) and the National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP). The NSA represents more than 30,000 independent practitioners who provide accounting, tax, auditing, financial, and estate planning and management services to 19 million individuals and businesses. The NATP is a non-profit organization designed to provide taxpayers with vital information and knowledge. It exists to serve professionals who work in all areas of tax practice and has more than 17,000 members nationwide, including tax preparers, enrolled agents, public accountants, accountants, attorneys and financial planners.
There are also organizations designed to help the self-employed. The Small Business Association is an independent agency of the federal government designed to assist, promote, and protect the small business owner. Their site contains many useful resources, including free newsletters.
Local Organizations
You’d probably be surprised to discover there are local organizations designed to support the community while providing business owners with networking opportunities. One of the best places to start is with your local Rotary Club. Comprised of local business owners, the Rotary Club will expose you to potential clients and networking associates. And because the Rotary Club maintains high ethical standards, it is a good organization with which to be associated.
Picking the right organization(s) to frequent and possibly join will not only expose you to professionals like yourself, but will alert you to key conferences, workshops and other events where you can meet even more potential members of your support system.
You may be surprised at what you find when you start doing a little research. There are countless local organizations (some of them non-profits) designed to help small businesses succeed. Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to get the support you need.
Join UAC’s Online Forums
It can be difficult to find a group of small business owners with whom you can ask questions, share insights, and offer advice. Luckily there are online discussions groups, listservs and forums to help you connect with these individuals, including the Small Business Community Forums.
There are also a lot of online tax and accounting forums designed to help financial professionals connect. Universal Accounting Center has developed a forum for accountants and tax preparers to provide just that community environment you may have been searching for. Please join us and make our community stronger. Members are free to ask questions, provide resources and take advantage of the resources others may offer. Join us today!
References
- National Association of Accountants (NSA)
- National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP)
- Rotary International
- U.S. Small Business Association
- Small Business Community Forums
