I am currently offering bookkeeping, VAT returns, payroll and the provision of management reports along with cashflow reports, breakeven analysis etc....
This is ok as far as it goes but i was hoping to take things a bit further in terms of services offered. i am currently doing AAT - have 2 daughters, one a month old so the AAT is taking me a while to do!!! - but was considering doing courses to offer e.g. tax return service etc...
Can anybody recommend a service or range of services i could take a course in that they felt was invaluable to them and the course provider if possible.
This will be interesting to see what replies you get as I also offer very similar services as yourself. I also offer a Limited Company Formation service which will help bring in a little bit extra and can lead to more as you will then have a good chance of keeping the clients with you for your to do their bookkeeping.
I would offer one word of caution being that you don't want to spread yourself too thinly. It is ok at the moment to offer lots of services if you are not that busy and you have the time to carry them all out, but what happens when you start to get busier and you get more clients wanting different things at the same time.
I am not trying to put a dampner on your enthusiasm but also don't want you to take on too much and regret it later on.
Regards
Mark
-- Edited by Marky65 on Friday 24th of July 2009 10:10:49 AM
To be honest I haven't done any yet. I have only been offering it for a couple of months and I have only had one enquiry and after further discussion the business decided to go sole trader, and I am now waiting for them to return the 64-8 and engagement letter to me.
The idea to offer limited company formation service came from Jason at Seahorse, who has just become a member of this forum, as it does have the added opportunity that you do stand a good chance of keeping the client to do other work for them.
Hi, I offer company formation services and I've done about a dozen in the last 12 months. It's not a fantastic amount but it does lead on to doing the annual accounts, vat and bookkeeping. I add the cost to the annual fee and spread it over the rest of the tax year so that the client pays in advance. When it come time to do the accounts, they don't have a big accountants bill, and I have better cashflow. It also helps to retain clients because once the standing order is set up, they often forget about it and it flows on to the next year. I also offer "Offshore Company Formation", but to date have only had 1 enquiry.
To be able to offer company formation services, how would i go about being able to offer this - is there a course available?
In terms of other services, tax returns aRE something i would like to be able to do and again, it may lead onto other work - does anybody have any advice on how to go about this, ICB did offer a course i think but dont anymore.
I use Stanley Davis for company formations. Have a look, they giude you through the formation but you can PM me if you want more info. As for tax returns, it may well be worth your while enquiring if HM Revenue do any courses. It can be a complex area so look around at your local colleges for courses. It is part of the AAT corriculum at Technician level. There is also the ATT(Assoc of Taxation Technicians). To be honest, if you have no experience of completing tax returns, it may be well worth liasing with a local accountant, especially if you are doing outwork for one.
Don't forget that if you are MLR registered with HMRC, to offer company formation services you will additionally need to complete the TCSP fit and proper test form (MLR101) and pay an additional fee.
