UKBF user name: Alpha
Real name: Alan Moore
Company name: Alpha Business Services
Website: www.alphalimited.co.uk
Contact: Alan Moore/Sharon Haywood
1. How did you start your organisation?
I had sold the company that I ran as MD on behalf of the group. I stayed on for six months to ensure a smooth handover and represent the group’s interests and then left. I took three months off and intended to look for another senior role but then 9/11 happened and the job market disappeared almost overnight. I had already intended to start my own business but wanted to get it all planned out whilst still working and was still looking at a two-three year timescale. Unfortunately that was no longer possible and therefore Alpha Business Services came into being but in a very unplanned way.
My current co-director already ran a book keeping and payroll bureau with clients continually complaining about the lack of service from their accountants, so the first clients were leveraged from that business. I joined an ill fated franchise called The Affordable Accounts group primarily because they offered telemarketing services and although I was instrumental in getting it closed down, one client that I got from it has been directly or indirectly responsible for about £40,000 of our current turnover.
2. What services does your organisation offer?
We offer amongst other things business advisory services including business planning and development, accountancy and tax, management accounts, book keeping and payroll bureau.
3. What were the main challenges you faced when starting up?
The main challenges on start up were to develop a client base (selling is my one big weakness), persuading potential clients that I had the requisite knowledge to help them develop their business, ensuring that we could operate efficiently, also staying personally motivated during the summer months as I was working from home and it was so easy to just do anything else.
4. How would you rate the success you've achieved?
Whilst we have successfully developed the accountancy, book keeping and payroll sides of the business, the business advisory has been far more difficult as it is an area where many clients seem to want the service but not pay for it. There are too many that look at short term cost rather than business growth. Overall I would say that we are 75% there on the business model that was originally set and we are now set up to grow the business substantially over the next two years. A number of the businesses that we have mentored are now very successful in their own right which is very satisfying.
5. How has UK Business Forums benefited your organisation?
When I joined UKBF in 2004 it was originally intended as a relief from the boredom of being on my own (the book keeping and payroll was run by my partner from a second house that we owned 16 miles away). It did however help me to 'meet' other businesses owners in different disciplines, many in the same situation that I was in and the exchange of knowledge and feeling of camaraderie in those days was very uplifting. I have rarely offered my (paid for) services on UKBF but I now have many of the members amongst my client base and they are amongst the best clients that I have.
6. What are your plans for the future?
As mentioned earlier we intend to grow the current business substantially over the next two years. Oddly enough we also run a successful nursing agency which we will have to decide whether it will remain viable in the next few years. There are also another three business projects currently in development in partnership with a few other forum members.
7. What are your three tips for business success?
1. Ensure that you map out and constantly review both your personal and business goals If you don't know where you are going, how will you know if you have got there?
2. Maintain a good knowledge of what is happening within your marketplace and be flexible enough to adapt your business.
3. Do not try to do everything. Identify your core skills and use them. Find good reliable professionals/suppliers that can be 'integrated' into your business' UKBF is a great source for this.
Alan Moore is a moderator on UK Business Forums.
Real name: Alan Moore
Company name: Alpha Business Services
Website: www.alphalimited.co.uk
Contact: Alan Moore/Sharon Haywood
1. How did you start your organisation?
I had sold the company that I ran as MD on behalf of the group. I stayed on for six months to ensure a smooth handover and represent the group’s interests and then left. I took three months off and intended to look for another senior role but then 9/11 happened and the job market disappeared almost overnight. I had already intended to start my own business but wanted to get it all planned out whilst still working and was still looking at a two-three year timescale. Unfortunately that was no longer possible and therefore Alpha Business Services came into being but in a very unplanned way.
My current co-director already ran a book keeping and payroll bureau with clients continually complaining about the lack of service from their accountants, so the first clients were leveraged from that business. I joined an ill fated franchise called The Affordable Accounts group primarily because they offered telemarketing services and although I was instrumental in getting it closed down, one client that I got from it has been directly or indirectly responsible for about £40,000 of our current turnover.
2. What services does your organisation offer?
We offer amongst other things business advisory services including business planning and development, accountancy and tax, management accounts, book keeping and payroll bureau.
3. What were the main challenges you faced when starting up?
The main challenges on start up were to develop a client base (selling is my one big weakness), persuading potential clients that I had the requisite knowledge to help them develop their business, ensuring that we could operate efficiently, also staying personally motivated during the summer months as I was working from home and it was so easy to just do anything else.
4. How would you rate the success you've achieved?
Whilst we have successfully developed the accountancy, book keeping and payroll sides of the business, the business advisory has been far more difficult as it is an area where many clients seem to want the service but not pay for it. There are too many that look at short term cost rather than business growth. Overall I would say that we are 75% there on the business model that was originally set and we are now set up to grow the business substantially over the next two years. A number of the businesses that we have mentored are now very successful in their own right which is very satisfying.
5. How has UK Business Forums benefited your organisation?
When I joined UKBF in 2004 it was originally intended as a relief from the boredom of being on my own (the book keeping and payroll was run by my partner from a second house that we owned 16 miles away). It did however help me to 'meet' other businesses owners in different disciplines, many in the same situation that I was in and the exchange of knowledge and feeling of camaraderie in those days was very uplifting. I have rarely offered my (paid for) services on UKBF but I now have many of the members amongst my client base and they are amongst the best clients that I have.
6. What are your plans for the future?
As mentioned earlier we intend to grow the current business substantially over the next two years. Oddly enough we also run a successful nursing agency which we will have to decide whether it will remain viable in the next few years. There are also another three business projects currently in development in partnership with a few other forum members.
7. What are your three tips for business success?
1. Ensure that you map out and constantly review both your personal and business goals If you don't know where you are going, how will you know if you have got there?
2. Maintain a good knowledge of what is happening within your marketplace and be flexible enough to adapt your business.
3. Do not try to do everything. Identify your core skills and use them. Find good reliable professionals/suppliers that can be 'integrated' into your business' UKBF is a great source for this.
Alan Moore is a moderator on UK Business Forums.
