Freelance Accountant & Accounting Services

"We are in need of an additional income stream. Without it we will soon be forced to jump into the Bay of Bengal," Krishnan said. Chitra, his wife, nodded her head and said, "Many of his friends have their own workshops and small factories. His dream has always been to own a small workshop. But, we know it is a dream impossible."

"We have heard from our forefathers that we become what we want to become. But we never take that truth seriously. If you really want to earn money, you will. If you don’t make money, it means that you don’t really want to make money. Only a strong will can help you make money. Lazy wish will not help you," I told them.

Chitra smiled dryly and said, "I married Krishnan immediately after I completed Plus Two. He is a diploma holder in Mechanical Engineering. At present he works in a small private business firm and earns Rs.3,000 a month."

"Don’t you want to go for a job?" I asked her. "Though I am ready to go for a job, I have to stay at home as my aged parents-in-law are in need of constant physical help. So, I think I can do only work-from-home projects. But, for my qualification, I don’t think there will be even one suitable project," Chitra replied.

"Most of us have gone to schools and acquired some knowledge in different subjects. Even basic knowledge in one of the subjects you studied in school can create a self-employment opportunity. Your knowledge need not be specialized or professional," I told Chitra and asked her, "What subjects did you study in your school?"

"I studied Economics, Commerce and Accountancy. But, I don’t think I can earn with what I studied in school," Chitra replied.
"I am sure that Krishnan has good relationship with the owners of many mechanical workshops. These workshops are too small to employ full time accountants. Yet, they must submit sales tax returns and other account statements to government departments. You have studied Accountancy in Plus Two for two years. You can work from home as part-time accountant. You need a computer and an accounting software package to make money," I told Chitra.

"I know that Tally and EX are the two leading accounting software packages. I don’t know how to use them. I don’t have money to buy computers and software. I will not be able to go out frequently to meet prospects and clients," Chitra gave a long list of her weaknesses. Then we discussed about how we could overcome her difficulties.

Chitra decided to learn EX, a good accounting software package from Tata Consultancy Services. But, she did not have Rs.30,000 to buy a computer and Rs.10,000 to buy EX. A friend had an old computer and printer. He had a licensed version of EX. He had stopped using it after switching over to QuickBooks. He was so moved by their sincerity that he gave them even a table along with the computer system and the software. The couple promised to pay him Rs.20,000 over time when they earned money.

Krishnan met his friends and offered to do accounting work. Two of them immediately accepted the offer. Every evening Krishnan would go to the workshops and prepare statements. Chitra would do all accounting work at home. The work generated an additional income of Rs.1,500 a month within a few weeks.

Krishnan would help both the clients, who were uneducated, in writing letters and preparing quotations. Sometimes, he would even mange the show, when the clients were out. They began to like him and trust him. After a few months, they offered to take him as a working partner. Krishnan resigned his job and became a partner in both the companies.

When I spoke to Krishnan a few months ago, he said that he was earning above Rs.25,000 a month and the business was expanding. He was in need of many workers. He asked him whether I would be able to find new skilled workers so that he could bag all the orders that were in the pipeline!

Chitra still continues her accounting work. She earns Rs.3,000 a month and uses it for her personal expenses.