I’m 22 years old and I’m really keen to start my own book-keeping business, but I don't have many years of experience (as I’m only 22). However, I have been doing admin/accounts related jobs since I left school at 16.
Can anyone advise how important it is to potential clients that you have several years of experience in book-keeping? Or is it more important to them that you have the necessary know how and skills? I’m concerned about being asked the questions "What kind of experience do you have?" and "How much experience do you have?" and not knowing the best way to answer, without them doubting my abilities.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
I started my book-keeping business after only completing a basic book-keeping course, with absolutely no prior book-keeping experience. So having any experience at all puts you ahead of where I started! I kept telling myself that everyone has to start somewhere, but the point is they started! You are never going to have experience relevant to every potential client you see. If you have any experience at all, which you do, draw on that experience and assure the client that book-keeping principles are the same for every type of business.
I think it great that you’re starting your own business at 22. Imagine the kind of practice you will have when you’re 32!
Like all things worth doing in life it took persistence and hard work, but it has been worth it. It took me around 6 months to get the business to a stage where I had enough clients to go full time. It actually only took me a week to get my first client, and it's got progressively easier to obtain work through recommendations etc.
I agree it completely possible. You should just try it and see - worse case, it fails and you move on to something else (or reposition yourself and try new tactics. I think it all about word of mouth - so as soon as you get a few clients the word will spread. Good luck!
It sounds like you have the training you need, the most important thing you can do now is market, market, and MARKET.
At first you may spend less time doing book-keeping than you spend drumming up clients, but that's okay, that's how most privately owned businesses get started.
Set a goal for yourself, like making twenty calls a day or sending out a certain number of letters or brochures. Unfortunately, you'll probably hear the word "No" a lot at first. Try not to take it personally, just go on to the next prospect.
With a little luck and persistence, your business should do fine.
