As a solo bookkeeper, managing a growing client base in Birmingham usually meant that creating many proposals consumed much of the work week. Buying proposal software for bookkeepers came after spending a weekend writing proposals instead of being with my family. These last six months have fundamentally changed the strategy I use to approach new clients.
Before automation, every proposal was a tiring affair. It would take me hours to scour old proposals, cut and paste appropriate sections, update pricing, and reformat the document according to the needs of each prospect. Even a simple proposal for basic bookkeeping services could easily consume more than two hours to prepare, while complicated ones could take up to half a day.
The first month was tough with the software as I invested considerable time building my service library and detailed pricing matrices. The approach to every service was outlined to incorporate value rather than focusing on the activities. I designed three packages – Essential, Business, and Premium – with additive components that could easily be accommodated according to client demand.
By month three, I started seeing drastic improvements where proposals that normally took hours were generated in less than 15 minutes. The software automatically brought in prospect details and plugged in the appropriate service packages for client inclusion while generating professional-looking documents that would speak consistently to my brand. More importantly, the quality and detail of the proposals shot up head and shoulder above what I used to put out.
The results for conversion reflected what was achieved in terms of changes. Presentation and structure helped in understanding clearly the outstanding value my services have for prospects. The acceptance rate rose to about 68 per cent from 40 per cent, and there appeared to be reduced signs of price testing by clients. The unexpected benefit of that fifth month was the ability to produce proposals even from anywhere because if I am at my daughter’s football match and a very good lead comes by, instead of waiting until I got to the office, I could make a quick, professional proposal via mobile.
Time savings: truly life-changing. I now write proposals about four hours a week compared to almost 15 hours previously. That time saved has allowed me to focus on client service and business development, achieving a 30% increase in my client base over six months. Reflecting on the changes, apart from time-aspect transformation, the key was that the software generated confidence within me for handling presentations of the services.
No more second-guessing prices or frantically scrounging for the right wording. Each proposal reflects the professional, efficient service I strive to deliver to my clients.
