I have just joined the forum.I am an ACCA qualified accountant and am looking to start my own bookkeeping services (to TB level) from home. I have always worked in industry and really don't have the experience of keeping clients books so I ordered the Bookcert package and have worked through it. It has given me a good insight of what is required but still not that confident to give it that extra push. I would be grateful for lots of advice/tips from people who like me started out and have made a good go of it. I am in the process of getting registered for ML etc and hope to be ready in a month or two. If there are any bookkeepers in the Harrow/Wembley in Middlesex area looking for some help/assistance I would be available just to get some practical experience to get me started.
I know there are some restrictions with the ACCA side, but does it prevent you from providing a more extensive service without mentioning ACCA?
I understand you need experience in a practice before you can get a practice certificate from ACCA but is it something you have considered?
Just thinking you may have more opportunities in the future by moving forward with that.
As for the bookkeeping work... keep an eye out for jobs in the papers, online etc and offer to take it on as an outsourced service. It's something they may be willing to consider and it does give them more flexibility plus someone better qualified than getting a "receptionist/bookkeeper" which some expect.
Also look at your own contacts and see what opportunities might lie there. Do you know anyone in business for themselves? If not, do your contacts know people in business? Let everyone know what you're doing and see where you might get a chance to prove your ability, broaden your experience and gain that confidence!
As far as the ACCA is concerned I can provide bookkeeping services up to TB and include services such as VAT and payroll. Because i don't have a practising certificate I cannot produce financial statements like P&L and B sheets where people may rely on them. I hope to start advertising once I get all my paperwork in order and hope to start on a small scale by advertising locally etc.
Any advice from other bookkeepers would be most welcome and appreciated. One needs all the help they can get to get started and hopefully I can do the same for others out there.
