Bookkeeping from home

[Richmond 1984]

Hi

I am hoping there might be some one on here to give me a bit of advice as I don't really know where to start.
I am currently working as a Financial Accountant and I am looking to start bookkeeping from home.
Can anyone give me advice on rates to charge, how to get some clients and where to advertise?

Your help would be great

Thanks

 

[Zeno]

There are quite literally hundreds of threads exactly the same as this available via the search function.

This alone should tell you something about your prospects.

 

Hi Richmond

Firstly, you need to make sure you have MLR and PI cover.

Are you going to carry on with your employment whilst building up your business? If so, you need to make sure you don't have a clause in your employment contract preventing this and get the balance right so that your job doesn't suffer and that you can provide a service to your clients. You may want to invest in telephone answering services so that clients and potential clients can get hold of you whilst you are at work.

One of the best forms of marketing for bookkeepers is networking as people like to work with people that they know and like. Tell everyone that you know what you are doing - friends, family, neighbours, etc. Ask them to let their friends know what you do.

Look around your area for networking groups and go along to a few as a visitor to see if they suit you. They may not instantly bring results but keep at it and they may mention you to someone further on down the line.

Contact accountants in your area and see if they have any work they can refer on to you.

Just a few first thoughts.

Kind regards

Zöe

 

[Richmond 1984]

Thanks for your advice Zoe, its just hard to know where to start. I've put the word out between friends and family. However I will definatley try a networking group. Do you have any idea what to charge?

Kindest Regards

Laura

 

[semsley]

Networking is definitely the way to go, I got back from a networking meeting an hour ago, very productive it was too.

 

[DFL]

Laura

Your charge out rates will depend on level of services. Are you offering purely bookkeeping services or will you use your financial accounting knowledge to prepare the accounts as well?

If you systemise your business so that the records are presented by clients in one standard format and you use same software for all, and become speedy and expert in it, then fixed fees can bring you higher profit than hourly rates ever will. Fixed fees also work for clients due to price clarity and incentivisation for greater efficiency.

It is difficult to say what you should be charging without knowing your service offering, your experience, your location and your own profit requirements, if you can elaborate a little then advice can be given accoringly.

 

[Richmond 1984]

Yes bookkeeping for the moment just to see how things go. I am qualified as an accounting technican so could prepare the accounts as well but just to start with book keeping. I have roughly 7 years experience of working in accounts and for 2 of those i was working as an assistant accountant.

thanks for you help

 

[Richmond 1984]

Just one more question..... Does anyone know of any networking meetings that are held on Evenings / weekends? The only ones I can find are during the week?

Thanks

 

[GRDCredit]

Where abouts in the country are you?

 

[Richmond 1984]

Hi

I Live in Saffron Walden (Essex) and I work in Cambridge. I also travel to Hull a lot on weekends so any of these place would be great if you know of any Networking meetings?

Thanks for your help

Laura

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

Have a look at WiRE:

http://www.wireuk.org/

 

There is also this one which is an early morning one depending on what time you start work - http://www.findnetworkingevents.com/in/cambridgeshire/index.cfm?action=eventdetail&eventid=7812

Kind regards

Zöe

 

[mrscoco]

Hi All

I am just starting out on my own, i currently sort my husbands business books and am nearly finished doing a Pitman Diploma in Finance!!! Double entry bookkeeping certainly did my head in!!! lol

Was wondering if anyone could give me any advice or review on Sage Account's club?? I phoned Sage today to see what package i should use and they said this one as I plan to have up to 5 clients (have had someone ask me for 15 hours a month using Sage so want to get this sorted asap)

Of to see the bank tomorrow to sort a business account!!! i do not have the best luck in the world so am going to do all this the right way!!

Good luck Richmond, keep in touch

 

[mrscoco]

Hi

I am just starting my own bookkeeping business and was wondering if anyone had any reviews on the Sage accountants' club??
I have been told by Sage that this is the one to use for bookkeeping for up to 5 clients.

Good luck Richmond. Keep in touch with any tips and advice you might come across and i'll do the same!!! The more advice we can get the better we will be!!