New Buissnesses

[tdunlopaccountant]

I have often felt bad for new business owners that I have seen lose their business and close it down as they did not know what else to do.

I truly believe there is not enough advice or support for this area. So, I began changing things. I offered my services for free and I also offer a full accountancy package for only £40 per month for the first year.

So far I have prevented the closure of 10 new companies.

Who else would be prepared to do their bit for their community? Or, do you feel that this is something you worry would cause your business to fold?

Theresa

 

[Opinion87]

I'm confused. Are you an accountant or some sort of business consultant? What have you done to prevent the closure of ten new companies? If you're charging a fee, are you really doing your bit for the community or are you doing your job?

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

I'm confused. Are you an accountant or some sort of business consultant? What have you done to prevent the closure of ten new companies?

Saved them 40 quid

 

[Mark T Jones]

I stopped volunteering as a start up mentor because it became increasingly obvious that start ups didn't value what they were being offered, indeed d they just expected more and more for free

My customers now pay market rate. There are a few specific exceptions such as lockdown, when I took the view that my furlough money was the Government paying me to offer free advice on schemes and support available.

In truth, there is an absolute mountain of advice and support available to start ups, but most (not all by any means) are only interested in short cuts, quick fixes and magic bullets

 

[fisicx]

@tdunlopaccountant - just to confirm, it was only you providing free accountancy services that prevented 10 business from failing. Their survival was only assured because of your intervention. If this is the case then that’s an amazing track record.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

I stopped volunteering as a start up mentor because it became increasingly obvious that start ups didn't value what they were being offered, indeed d they just expected more and more for free

Very interesting statement !
Does it only concern people that have never been in business before hence no understanding of value or does it applied to those that may have run other businesses before as well

 

[Mark T Jones]

Very interesting statement !
Does it only concern people that have never been in business before hence no understanding of value or does it applied to those that may have run other businesses before as well

The best way to appreciate value is by f##king it up yourself- I suspect that applies to a few if your customers

So yes, for the most part, those who have failed in the first attempt will be more appreciative

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

The best way to appreciate value is by f##king it up yourself

That should be your next article . No other content just this because it says it all

 

[Blood Lust]

I have often felt bad for new business owners that I have seen lose their business and close it down as they did not know what else to do.

I truly believe there is not enough advice or support for this area. So, I began changing things. I offered my services for free and I also offer a full accountancy package for only £40 per month for the first year.

So far I have prevented the closure of 10 new companies.

Who else would be prepared to do their bit for their community? Or, do you feel that this is something you worry would cause your business to fold?

Theresa

Maybe you need a website and to do some cold calling for small businesses in your area?

I have seen some poorly run small start ups as bad as receipts all chucked in a box, no proper record keeping of purchases and materials usage, no cashflow management, no cost cards, nothing.

The jobcentre gives grants to new start ups and basic advice on running a business. Maybe send the feelers out to them saying you can do courses on financial management?

 

[Free Stuff For Startups]

I'm doing my bit promoting over 200 free forever business applications that cover pretty much every tool a startup will need to get from concept to revenue.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

it became increasingly obvious that start ups didn't value what they were being offered, indeed d they just expected more and more for free

Ain't that the truth!

 

[SarahLou21]

Wow! It's great to hear that you have manage to help businesses. A LOT of them are struggling after everything that has happened over the past 18-24 months! Well done, this shows the quality of your accountancy skills.

 

[tdunlopaccountant]

I'm confused. Are you an accountant or some sort of business consultant? What have you done to prevent the closure of ten new companies? If you're charging a fee, are you really doing your bit for the community or are you doing your job?

I believe that you have read or defined my comment wrong. I am unsure why you also appear to be so passive-aggressive? I have my Masters's degree in Business Accounting, Business Tax, Consulting, and so forth. I also have studied in my own spare time many other facets of Accountancy to ensure I can offer the best possible service. The fee I charge is for my accountancy package; the work that I have carried out with the 10 companies that were in the first stage of closure and the announcement had already been printed in The Gazette paper. Mostly this is due to accounts not being submitted, new business owners not filing correctly. This I do not charge for. I also offer my services for free if a company is in serious threat of foreclosure and funds are at a limit. We are all living in very difficult times and I like to believe what I do helps individuals and their businesses. Am I really helping the community, absolutely yes and I will continue to do so? Furthermore, I will continue with my affordable prices also. I hope this clears up either your confusion or your attempt at putting down what I do.

 

[Elliott Coleman]

At £40/month for an accounting package sounds more expensive.

 

[simon field]

At £40/month for an accounting package sounds expensive

Pay peanuts and you get monkeys .

 

[Elliott Coleman]

Pay peanuts and you get monkeys .

It's an accounting package. Plenty around for £20-£30/month depending on your needs.

 

[Ozzy]

Pay peanuts and you get monkeys .

It's an accounting package. Plenty around for £20-£30/month depending on your needs.

Just shows how different people value things differently, whatever "things" are whether accountancy, legal, delivery, anything.

Personally I would be worried if my accountant charged a fee as low as only £40 a month, it does seem very cheap but as you say Elliot it depends on your needs. An accountancy service isn't just an accountancy service, do you need tax advice, FD support, MI process putting in place, etc.

 

[Elliott Coleman]

Just shows how different people value things differently, whatever "things" are whether accountancy, legal, delivery, anything.

Personally I would be worried if my accountant charged a fee as low as only £40 a month, it does seem very cheap but as you say Elliot it depends on your needs. An accountancy service isn't just an accountancy service, do you need tax advice, FD support, MI process putting in place, etc.

The OP said she was offering an accounting package not and accounting service. I assumed that as she was offering her services for free that this package was accounting software. If that's not the case then I apologise.

Certainly for an accounting package (software) £40/month is expensive.

 

[Ozzy]

Certainly for an accounting package (software) £40/month is expensive.

Indeed, yes for that I agree. Especially as Natwest give away FreeAgent to all their business customers who want it, as does many other banks also provide their own solutions or partner with QuickBooks or whoever. Pretty much any business can have accounting software for free now from their bank.

The OP (albeit she appears to have two separate accounts I need to check) through her second account above mentioned she provides accountancy services.

 

[Ian J]

The OP (albeit she appears to have two separate accounts I need to check) through her second account above mentioned she provides accountancy services.

I presume that the second one was the one congratulating her

 

[Financial-Modeller]

So far I have prevented postponed the closure of 10 new companies.

FTFY