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Post Info TOPIC: ICB Level 2 Manual Exam
Terri


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ICB Level 2 Manual Exam
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I am taking the above exam next month on the 10th and I am really nervous about it. How are you guys revising for it?  I have three past papers and I have done them each a couple of times but I am worried that I will sit down in the exam and my mind will go blank.  I can do it easily enough, its just that under pressure I am worried that I won't remember how to set out a balance sheet or I will get myself worked up with a trial balance and wont be able to get it to balance.  Also that day, I have to leave the house at 6am and catch a bus, then a tram and then a train to get me to Leeds from Sheffield in time for the exam at 9.45am so I will probably be stressing out that morning, hoping that I get there on time.  Anyway, just wanting to vent I guess, I really want to pass this exam first time.

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Terri Homyard AICB CB. Cert PM. Dip

A1 Bookkeeping & Payroll Services

www.a1-bookkeeping.co.uk
Julie Dawn


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Hi Terri.
I shall probably be taking mine in Oct as I have my last ACCA CAT exam on June 10th......which I am also stressing about! I am sure you will be fine, especially as you have put the hard work in practising on past papers.
Julie

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Julie Savage
Stopsley Bookkeeping Services
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info@stopsleybookkeepingservices.com
sarahwilson


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Hi Terri,

I'm sitting at Leeds too. If it helps you I'll meet you at the train station because I know where the exam place is, it might be one less thing to worry about on the day.

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Terri


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Thanks Sarah that would be great - like you say - one less thing to worry about

Terri

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Terri Homyard AICB CB. Cert PM. Dip

A1 Bookkeeping & Payroll Services

www.a1-bookkeeping.co.uk
sarahwilson


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No problem Terri, let me know what time train you are getting nearer the time and I will meet you.

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Denise


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Hi Terri and Sarah,

I am also taking the level 2 exam in Leeds on 10th June so it will be nice to see you both there.
I am doing the same as you Terri, just doing a couple of past papers a few times and going over and over my coursework. My main worry is not being able to balance the trial balance and taking that much time getting it to balance that I run out of time to finish the exam.

Denise

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Denise
www.niftynumbers.co.uk
sarahwilson


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You can meet us at the station and I can take us to the exam venue. I'll be like the pied piper trekking through leeds with a gang of bookkeepers following mebiggrinbiggrin



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Denise


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Thanks for the offer Sarah but luckily I live in Leeds so I know where it is and its just a short bus ride for me. Thanks anyway.

Denise

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Denise
www.niftynumbers.co.uk
Terri


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Thanks again for the kind offer Sarah, I will book my train tickets and let you know what time I will be arriving.

Terri

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Terri Homyard AICB CB. Cert PM. Dip

A1 Bookkeeping & Payroll Services

www.a1-bookkeeping.co.uk
sarahwilson


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Hi Denise I was looking at your website, without realising who you were. How are you finding business at the moment, your site is good I liked it a lot.

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Denise


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Hi Sarah,

I set up the business on 1st April and apart from my daughters online partyware shop I still have no clients. I do have a part time accounts job, but I was hoping to build up slowly and eventually work for myself full time. They way things are going I am starting to get disheartened as it looks like this is going to be a long way off, if ever. I have had a few enquiries but they came to nothing. The only thing I have not tried, advertising wise, is a letter to local accountants but I was waiting until I have hopefully passed the level 2 manual because even though I have quite a bit of experience I should think accountants would be more likely to take you seriously if you are qualified.

How are you getting on? I see you live in Leeds too.

Thanks for the compliment on the website - my sons handywork!

Denise

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Denise
www.niftynumbers.co.uk
sarahwilson


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Your son is very clever I liked the site a lot.

I'm not really any further on than when I started the ICB to be honest! I have been doing my partners books (for free I might add) since last November when his business partner left to go to Australia for a year. I was already doing the AAT course and decided to do the ICB so I could work for myself under their practising certificate with a view to maybe leaving my job at some point in the future.

I have only just started asking around and what not and I haven't started doing any advertising at all yet. I've mentioned it to various people that we know that are plumbers, etc but a lot of them haven't got a ot of work on at the moment so have no need of my services!!
I'm hoping that in time as they get busier they will come back to me as by and large they sounded positive, I have one guy who last year got the most horrendouse accountants bill due to just taking in a box of receipts and invoices at year end so he could definitely see the advantages.

Wherebouts are you Denise? I'm in Pudsey.

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Denise


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Hi Sarah,

I am in Beeston. Its not the best of areas in Leeds but I will keep trying. Never say die.
I hope you have better luck when you start advertising.

Denise

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Denise
www.niftynumbers.co.uk
sarahwilson


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Its a tricky time, I'm hoping to find people who are fairly busy and can see the benefit of outlaying a small amount of money each month to potentially save a lot of money.

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Alison


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I am in Bingley.

I started my business in August 2006 and then getting enquiries and gaining clients was really easy.

Would say since the credit crunch started it is that much harder, also I have found that there are so many bookkeepers competing against each other now and less clients wanting bookkeeping that it is a very tricky time.

Do you all work from home or have premises?

I worked at home until December when I then got premises because opened an internet/gaming cafe and IT franchise. Since opening that have opened ebay/amazon shops as well so that keeps me busy when bookkeeping is quiet.

Good luck to you all, good luck to those taking their exams soon.

Alison

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Denise


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Hi Alison,

I will be working from home if I ever get any clients.

You certainly have a lot to keep you occupied. Do you do the bookkeeping from the internet cafe?
Would you say that without all the other things you do, you would struggle to make a decent living from bookkeeping alone?

I would be happy to earn enough to match my part time wage but even that seems a long way off at the moment.

Good luck with all your ventures, you deserve it. It sounds like you've worked really hard.

Denise

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Denise
www.niftynumbers.co.uk
Alison


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Hi Denise

Good luck at getting clients, must be tough starting bookkeeping business at this time. I had an established client base but unfortunately have lost a few clients recently and finding hard to get new clients but still have some of my original clients.

I do the bookkeeping from the internet cafe. I manage the internet cafe/IT franchise (with mother in law kindly covering a few mornings a week, and couple of lunch times to give me a break. But in the long run when the credit crunch is over would hope to have staff and I can hide myself away in an office upstairs with nice views just doing the bookkeeping and the Amazon/Ebay shop.

I would say that you can earn a good wage bookkeeping, it is just very difficult for bookkeepers at the moment, what I found was that some months would be brilliant and earn a lot, and others dismal when you hardly earn anything. I found January, February brilliant, March, April so so, then May, June, July and August found things harder as not near any tax deadlines really and people going on holiday not worrying about their bookkeeping getting done, with September, October, November and December better. It does seem strange that my best bookkeeping month ever was January 2009 prime of the credit crunch when I earnt the same amount as I did for about 3 months previously.

Good luck hope you get your first client soon.

Alison

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Denise


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Thanks Alison,

Its encouraging to know it is possible to earn a decent wage and the credit crunch can't last forever can it?

It sounds like you have a great little business there. Hope it carries on doing well for you.

Denise

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Denise
www.niftynumbers.co.uk
Terri


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Wow Alison, I just wanted to say that you are a superwoman, you must be so busy all the time.

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Terri Homyard AICB CB. Cert PM. Dip

A1 Bookkeeping & Payroll Services

www.a1-bookkeeping.co.uk
Alison


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Thanks Terri

I work 6 days a week (7 days a week as Sundays list items on Amazon and Ebay shop but I don't count ebay and amazon shop as working as always had interest in that used to sell all the books I had read to buy more before I started it as part of the business. Did wish that had more bookkeeping, have a client who gave me work as and when needed and they took ages to pay a bill a couple of months ago and have not given me work since and just lost another client, hopefully things will pick up again. It is hard times for bookkeepers.

Good luck with your exams and getting new clients.

Alison

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