- what accounting software can I use (i have a sage instant account)? - what documents do I have to have for my clients?( business forms, contract forms etc) - where can I find them? - I already have: Professional Indemnity Insurance, i am self employed registered, I am awiting Practicing Certificate, I sent an application form for notification under the Data Protection Act, i am awiting for VAT number confirmation.
A big question and many of the answers depend really on your personal choice.
With software, I don't think Sage Instant Accounts would be up to the job of managing clients, though you might find a way to make it work for you.
We have an exclusive partner offer from e-conomic, which is powerful, flexible and easy to use online software. Completely free for you as the bookkeper to access, and you can use it for your own accounts too.
Another package, at least also helping keep your costs down is Microsoft Accounting Professional, as clients can get the Express version for free too.
We have an affordable new business start-up package that can give you a bunch of stuff to help get going, along with branded Excel templates, marketing material etc.
With documents, I'd recommend having a proposal/quote template so you can produce these without too much delay. Also letter templates for professional clearance (if you do take jobs from previous bookkeepers/accountants) and a letter of engagement.
You said, "I'd recommend having a proposal/quote template so you can produce these without too much delay. Also letter templates for professional clearance (if you do take jobs from previous bookkeepers/accountants) and a letter of engagement".
If you are a member of the ICB with a practice licence, you have access to their members area. In this area there are examples of the letter of engagement, etc.
Re Sage instant: If you look at the licence agreement, I think you will find that you can only use it for your own business, not for clients.
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I make sure each of my clients has their own licensed copy of Sage - I can then backup and restore it onto my local copy to do the work from home if needed - that might workf for you.
I would just like to add one word of caution to anyone considering doing what you do with taking Sage data from client back to office. You must make sure that both versions of sage are compatible because I think I am right in saying that data entered on a later version of sage will not be recognised, as I had a problem with this when I worked in an accounts practice, where some of the client info was run on old versions of sage and we were not able to save any adjustments and then return it complete to the client so we had to make the adjustments and then tell the client what entries we wanted them to put through.
It is still a good idea as it may be a good way to get round purchasing additional expensive licences.
I don't think it would be. But the best way to find out would be take a complete back up of your data on line 50 v12 and then try to restore the data from the instant v15, but if you do this please take a complete backup of all files on line 50 v12.
Hi Mark , thanks for you response. I may try this as it would be really useful to be able to do some of my new clients work from home. I will keep you posted.
