As previously reported, startups are on the rise. This may surprise many who mistakenly believe new businesses shouldn’t be launched in the middle of a recession. The truth is a recession may be the best time to rethink your career and work towards self-employment. Universal’s training programs have enabled countless professionals like you to do just that!
When the recession hit in 2006, Lisa Bybee was the foreman of a Boston-based carpentry company. Instead of wallowing in the economic turmoil, Lisa decided to ensure her financial future by pursuing additional training. And because she had always been interested in accounting, it was only natural that she gravitate to Universal Accounting Center (UAC). She first enrolled in the Professional Bookkeeper’s Guide to QuickBooks and liked it so much she completed the Professional Bookkeeper Program shortly thereafter. Less than one year later, Lisa started her own practice, Parkers Accounting, which she named after her late grandmother (Edra Mae Parker) and father (James Parker Bybee) who had both spent decades working in the accounting industry.
While Shilly Riser may not yet have her own practice, she used Universal’s training programs to secure a $20,000 raise! Just last year, she was working as an administrative assistant who dreamed of one day owning her own practice. After attending one of Universal’s free seminars, she realized that she could definitely start her own accounting practice as long as she received the necessary training and secured a bit more confidence. She first enrolled in Universal’s Professional Bookkeeper (PB) Program, then the Professional Bookkeeper’s Guide to QuickBooks and finally the Universal Practice Builder Program. When asked the key benefit to completing these programs, Shilly replied, “It gave me the confidence to start my own business.” This year she hopes to see that happen, and she believes the marketing techniques she learned from Universal will enable her to do just that.
Angelica Vincent quit her job working as manager of finance for a major non-profit health organization to launch her own financial practice. Looking for all the help she could get, she enrolled in just about every program Universal offers: the Professional Bookkeeper Program, the Professional Bookkeeper’s Guide to QuickBooks, the Professional Tax Preparer Program and the Universal Practice Builder Program. Now, just months after quitting her job and before completing all of UAC’s training programs, Angelica has 22 regular accounting clients and 23 tax clients while continuing to get swamped with referrals. She attests, “If it wasn’t for UAC, I would not be where I am today.”
Small businesses are more agile than big corporations and can quickly change direction or implement new strategies that will enable them to better navigate through a recession. And with little to no equipment, inventory, and software costs, and the ability to work from home, an accounting practice is a business you can easily start. Not to mention, you can moonlight as a freelance accountant until you gather enough clients to take your practice full-time. Training is all that’s left! And with some help from Universal’s stellar programs, you too can change the trajectory of your career!
If you’re interested in advancing your career with additional training, either to secure a better job, earn a promotion or launch your own practice, visit Universal Accounting Center to learn more about our programs and read what other graduates have said about their experiences! Or better yet, call 1 -877-833-7909 to talk to a team specialists who will help you determine which Universal program will help you achieve your career goals.
