Starting a new accountancy business from home

[Deleted member 332987]

Hello Everyone

I am a qualified accountant who has always worked in industry and I am looking to start my own accountancy services business from home. Can anyone who has started an accountancy business from scratch, give ideas on how to get the first few clients?

 

[KAC]

Hello Everyone

I am a qualified accountant who has always worked in industry and I am looking to start my own accountancy services business from home. Can anyone who has started an accountancy business from scratch, give ideas on how to get the first few clients?

If you have always worked in business, do you hold a practising certificate?

 

[Naheed Mir]

Hello Everyone

I am a qualified accountant who has always worked in industry and I am looking to start my own accountancy services business from home. Can anyone who has started an accountancy business from scratch, give ideas on how to get the first few clients?

You can get your first clients in the same way as every other professional services firm: word-of-mouth recommendations and referrals. Remember that the best clients are always your current ones. The best way to get clients is networking the people you know, referrals from current clients, and internet marketing.

 

[Deleted member 332987]

You can get your first clients in the same way as every other professional services firm: word-of-mouth recommendations and referrals. Remember that the best clients are always your current ones. The best way to get clients is networking the people you know, referrals from current clients, and internet marketing.

Thank you for your reply. I have tried word of mouth recommendations, but haven't had much luck, so I think I will probably start internet and social media marketing.

 

[Mr D]

Advertise at trade events.
Go visiting businesses - then make an appointment with the gaffer / boss while you are there.

 

[Deleted member 332987]

If you have always worked in business, do you hold a practising certificate?

Thanks for your reply. I will be working with somebody who already has a practise certificate, so we should be covered with that side.

 

[KAC]

Thanks for your reply. I will be working with somebody who already has a practise certificate, so we should be covered with that side.

I do not know what professional qualification you hold. You referred above to your wish to "start my own accountancy services business from home".
Without a PC you could only hold a minority interest in the practising firm as it must be controlled by PC holders.

 

[Financial-Modeller]

I think you're 20/30 years too late OP!

Going solo as an accountant was a great business model during a booming and loosely regulated economy that encouraged the launch of small businesses and created the demand for a range of accountancy services that were highly valued by those customers.

With the current regulatory environment and the plethora of tech solutions to the transactional side, delivery of accounting services now seems more suited to larger organisations with the scale to devote resource to compliance etc, to concentrate on valuable advisory work.

It will be much harder to earn a good living starting out as a solo accountant today. Good luck with the venture though.

 

[KAC]

I think you're 20/30 years too late OP!

Going solo as an accountant was a great business model during a booming and loosely regulated economy that encouraged the launch of small businesses and created the demand for a range of accountancy services that were highly valued by those customers.

With the current regulatory environment and the plethora of tech solutions to the transactional side, delivery of accounting services now seems more suited to larger organisations with the scale to devote resource to compliance etc, to concentrate on valuable advisory work.

It will be much harder to earn a good living starting out as a solo accountant today. Good luck with the venture though.

Can only but agree with you. Too much competition at the lower end from unqualified and PeoplePerHour. When I was in practice, I had c.25 staff who all had their own specialities. So difficult these days for one person to stay on top of all the regulatory requirements