Hi from Manchester

[NicolaCassidy]

Hi, my name is Nicola and I have an accountancy/book-keeping business. I was training to be an accountant after completing a business degree, but unfortunately was made redundant before I could do any exams (and couldnt afford the costs on my own) and so I took some book-keeping exams (much cheaper and gained a diploma). I have quite a few years experience working for a company but after not being able to get a job as another trainee or as a book-keeper (kept being told i was over-qualified), I decided to go out on my own as this was always my intention, I just never imagined it would happen so soon. So now my main problem is (as I assume most new businesses) getting clients. I am finding peoples accounts are very close to their heart and therefore only go off recommendations and so advertising is proving fruitless - very de-motivating! If there is any advice out there or criticisms of my previous actions, I'd be grateful to hear them,

Thanks, Nicola

www.business25.co.uk

[emubill]

Hi Nicola and welcome to the forums.

Checked out your website - impressive.

Liked your logo aswell.

As regards creating more business - that is always the age old problem for most businesses old and new. Can't offer any advice at the moment - will have a think - but i'm sure you will get lots from here.

Nige

[NicolaCassidy]

Thanks Nige and thanks for looking at my website - I'm looking at changing some things but glad you like the look :-)

[jmds]

Welcome to the forums Nicola.

[multilingual]

Hi Nicola, welcome to the forum. :)

As well as the usual marketing you can do, I would advise that you stick around in here and answer as many posts as possible, providing they are relevant to your business field and your answers are correct and professional.

You will, in time, become known as an authority on your subject and then whenever someone wants a book-keeper your name will spring to mind.

Join in on the fun by all means, but don't get sidetracked by putting too much stuff in the "time out" section or people will think you're not serious. Above all, don't put up ANY posts about any subject unless you are 100% sure of what you are saying and can back it all up.

Otherwise you will end up looking foolish and no-one will know whether to trust you or not.

You don't need to look too far today to see an example of how someones credibility can be seriously undermined in a single thread.

:?

JB

[uksbc]

welcome nicola,

i am sure you will benefit from being on the forums and as one of the other posts mentioned if you show you know your stuff then your credibility will grow

good luck

[Alpha]

Hi Nicola and welcome to the forums.

As you say it is often very difficult getting work as recommendations do outweigh nearly everything else and as I have posted several times on the forums, 'a good book keeper is worth their weight in gold and will save the client in accountancy fees. A bad book keeper will cost the client a fortune for the accountant to put everything right' (and I come across a lot more bad book keepers than good.)

As far as getting work is concerned you could try

1) Putting an ad in the opportunities section of accountingweb
2) Write to local accountants offering your services as an outsource service (most accountants do not want to do book keeping especially the one man business/small practice however they can either use you and charge their clients for your services or recommend you direct.)
3) Join your local chamber of commerce
4) Find out any networking opportunities and use them (e.g. business clubs)
5) Develop your website more to see if you can attract more traffic and hence interest.

Also you may not be qualified but you can certainly pick up easily much of the knowledge required to do partnership/sole traders returns.


Look forward to seeing more of you on the forums and if we can help further please do not hesitate to ask.


:D

[fastfences]

Hi Nicola.
A warm welcome to the forum!!

Cheers, Nigel

[NicolaCassidy]

Thanks very much for all your advice - I will be spending alot of time on here to hopefully be able to add some useful comments. Hopefully, Alpha, I will be one of the good book-keepers as I am a member of Institute of Certified Book-keepers and passed their advanced exam with 94 %. I know exams is just proving you know the theory, but I am looking forward to prove I can do it in reality as well. The advanced paper went as far as Ltd companies, although obviously I can not advise on tax issues as I am not qualified in that. Once again, thanks for the advice so far.

[Hayles]

Wish I'd known you a long time ago Nicola...!

It's nice to know there are good book-keepers around who obviously know what they're doing (94% - v.impressive!). Look forward to your posts, and welcome!

Hayles

[DarrenC]

Hi Nicola,

Welcome to the forum.

I might need to "pick" your brain in the near future as I am in the process of looking into aquiring the services of an accountant - and looking at the disadvantages and advantages of moving my business to a limited company.

Darren

[NicolaCassidy]

Hi Darren,

Feel free to "pick" away, you can always pm or email me any specifics if you want.

Nicola

[Jayne]

Hi Nicola,

Welcome to the forum :D

Jayne

[DarrenC]

Thanks Nicola - I will do that :)