Getting Organized!!!

[S Reynolds]

Just wanted to check with the rest of you to see what tips you have
that I might could use.
I have about 15 clients that I do full service bookkeeping/accounting
for and I work in my own office. There's always something that needs
to be done for each client but some of my clients are forever calling
when I'm working on another clients work or I'm meeting with someone.
I understand that this is just how it's going to be and I deal with
the best way I can. I always make sure I get each client's work
complete but I just wondered if any of you have any ideas for getting
organized. I'm not talking about organizing my office (unless you have
some really good ideas that I don't already know about) but more or
less how to move from each client to another over and over during the
day without stressing too much. I have no employees so I do all the
work myself. I love what I do and don't want to get burned out but
there are certain things I need to do for certain clients on certain
days of the week, but then another client wants this or that so I'm
juggling everything at one time. Then there are the kids that have to
be picked up at school, which is a whole "nuther" story. In other
words, I have to work around school and kids most of the time and get
my work done before "the bell rings".

Any ideas would be appreciated. I tried having certain days to work on
certain clients but that didn't help. I always ended up having things
to do for other clients that HAD to go out that day so the one I had
planned to work on had to be put on hold. I've been doing this (as my
own business) for the past 6 years but have 18 years experience.
Maybe this is how a typical day in the life of a bookkeeper/accountant
goes but I just had to ask and see what other people deal with on a
daily basis.

Thanks for your input!
Sandi

[Chris Gunn]

Post by S Reynolds
Just wanted to check with the rest of you to see what tips you have
that I might could use.
I have about 15 clients that I do full service bookkeeping/accounting
for and I work in my own office. There's always something that needs
to be done for each client but some of my clients are forever calling
when I'm working on another clients work or I'm meeting with someone.

Howdy,

You've got the right idea and sounds like you are already in pretty good
shape. Good as our memory may be, it helps to not have to keep too long and
detailed a tracking list.

As a Webmaster, I run into the same kind of scheduling things and look after
over 100 web sites. My secret is a stack of blank 3x5 index cards. Using
the computer takes too long and is too clumsy for effective client/job
tracking. I never go out the door without three or four blank cards in my
pocket along with the client's card.

I have an indexed card box with a card for each client. On my desk is a
reminder stack, a pending stack and today's stack. 2-Do's and client cards
move from stack to stack, back into the client box, or finished stack for
review.

You might like color coded cards as well. Once you get the hang of it and a
system working, you'll find you are much more interruptible. That "Where
the heck was I?" question stops being an irritant.

Thanks, Chris www.bizynet.com and www.bizycart.com
BIZynet Coordinator ***@bizynet.com - [phone]
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