Michelle Long
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Michelle L. Long has many credentials, from author to CPA to MBA to Advanced Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor, but the credential we like best is leaderboard leader. As of this writing, Michelle has earned nearly 12,000 points. (Points are based on the number of postings and even more on how the postings are rated among other members.)Michelle's Main JobAlthough we know Michelle best as a highly visible and respected member of our accounting community, at the core of Michelle's working life is her QuickBooks practice. At M. Long Consulting, she helps small business owners and accounting professionals nationwide with QuickBooks—from data file set up, training or troubleshooting. "I also provide coaching to entrepreneurs and small business owners to help them start and grow their business," she says.Michelle's Other Jobs: Author and EducatorHer work with small businesses and accounting professionals fuels her other jobs of writing and training. Michelle is a frequent contributor to industry and business publications and has published Successful QuickBooks Consulting: The Comprehensive Guide to Starting and Growing a QuickBooks Consulting Business.As an educator, Michelle is a national trainer for Intuit and an early member of the Intuit Trainer and Writers' Network. She presents training and courses she has written are often presented across the country, not just by her but by other trainers in the network. Plugged In and a YouTube Star!While it may sound as though Michelle spends all her online time on our forum, she is also plugged into such other networks as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter (see her handles below). At LinkedIn, she's a prime mover at the group Successful QuickBooks Consultants / Consulting.At YouTube, she presents a series of highly rated videos on working with QuickBooks. Here she talks about using Remote Access to expand your practice: What's Working Well in Her PracticeWe asked Michelle what seemed to be working especially well in her practice just now. "Contributing to Intuit Community Forums and other online groups" is especially rewarding, she says. She also cites other networking and outreach through writing and teaching.Michelle's Current Challenges"Right now my biggest challenge has to do with Human Resources – finding good employees or associates, and then managing them and delegating responsibilities appropriately." She also mentioned keeping current with changing technology and the ongoing changes in accounting and tax rules and regulations.How Are You Meeting These Challenges?Michelle says that her business structure provides a helpful response to many of these challenges. "My business is now a virtual/network structure," she says. "I don't have any employees—I utilize associates (i.e., subcontractors) and a cross-referral network with other accounting professionals."As for human resources, "if I need assistance or expertise in an area, I may utilize one of my subcontractors. Or, if a client needs services that I don't provide (like taxes) then I refer them to another accounting professional." The arrangement also helps her with getting new clients. "Likewise, there are accounting professionals who refer clients to me to clean up the QuickBooks data file prior to the yearend tax work. Or, they may want me to help a client get QuickBooks set up and train them." More Fun, Too. "With this business structure, it's easier to maintain expertise in selective areas," Michelle reports, "and allows me to focus on the areas that I truly enjoy!" Practice Snapshot - M. Long Consulting LLCFounder: Michelle L. LongWebsite: www.MLongConsulting.com Blog: QBConsultant.blogspot.com Twitter: MichelleLongCPA LinkedIn Group: Successful QuickBooks Consultants / Consulting Clientele: Small business owners, bookkeepers, and other accounting professionals. Services:
Professional Designations: CPA, MBA in Entrepreneurship, SBA Financial Services Champion in 2007, Advanced Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor, QuickBooks Enterprise Certified, QuickBooks Point of Sale Certified, Sleeter Group Certified, Certified FastTrac Facilitator Hobbies: "I enjoy reading, traveling, spending time at the lake and boating, snow skiing, and learning about new things!" Retirement in Your Future? "Maybe someday. If so, I'll probably retire to our lake house at Lake Lotawana, Missouri." |
