Introductions - Hello! - The Book-keepers Forum (UK)

x30 · Newbie

Introductions - Hello!

Wella · Expert

Hi x30 and welcome to the forum

You seem well qualified to set up on your own and I wouldn't want to repeat things you are already aware of, plus what you have already gleaned from the forum but....

The compulsory bits are:-
Register with HMRC to comply with Money Laundering Regulations, or become a member in practice of an approved supervisory body (AAT?) before you take on work. There is a cost either way.

Register with HMRC as self employed (within 3 months of starting)

At least that way you will stay on the right side of them.

Thats the easy bit, the hard bit is getting clients and you've probably seen all the methods employed, to try gain them on this forum.

Sorry it's not much of a check list but there isn't that much to it.

Good luck
Bill

Alison · Senior Member

HI

I would say that it is so much harder getting clients then it is to get a job.

I set up my bookkeeping business 3 and 1/2 years ago and due to losing clients to the recession I do not have full time hours with bookkeeping, I decided I might have full time job and just do the clients bookkeeping I have on evening or weekend. I decided to apply for jobs on evening of Saturday 10th October and today have been offered a full time job. I would say it all depends on the area you are, some areas it is so much more difficult to get clients as self employed bookkeeper whereas others easier to get clients as self employed but difficult to get full time employment. I would say if you don't need full time money (ie you have someone supporting you) then if you prefer self employment and getting bookkeeping clients then go for it, if you do need full time money would say have a look at job site - job centre plus, fish4jobs etc and see what full time jobs there are, if very few then maybe see what it is like in your area for gaining clients as self employed bookkeeper. Would say unless you very lucky it will take months to gain clients to full time hours.

Alison

Wella · Expert

Alison

Congratulations on getting a full time job.

Totally agree that getting clients is the most difficult part (getting a full time job isn't easy either, certainly not down in the far South West)

I've been up and running since September last year and although I've only really pushed for clients since April, I've only managed to acquire two in that time (and one of those has gone quiet!!) Even as I type this, I'm waiting for the printer to finish some leaflets I plan to distribute locally. I have also just signed up to Yellow Pages corporate advertising scheme within an ICB insert. It will be in Januarys editions at a cost of £125 (inc) for the two books in my area, although I understand it is different rates for different areas, plus they are giving a freeby basic web site, with a link to your main website.

Bill

Alison · Senior Member

Thanks Bill.

I thought the North was bad for jobs but has been fairly easy, have not accepted job as yet, trouble was had 2 job interviews on Wednesday, had 2nd interview for one of them today the one that I have been offered, and have not heard back about the other. The salary on the one have not heard back about is considerably higher then the one I have been offered and jobs are of similar levels so hopefully will hear back about the other one on Monday as I said I would phone the one I have been offered back on Monday.

Good luck with the advertising, that is not a bad price for yellow pages, when they have contacted me has always been higher price. It is so hard gaining clients. I can't believe until March I was having up to 60 or 70 hours bookkeeping a week that then dropped to between 21 1/2 hours a month to 55 hours a month since beginning of April. That is with 8 clients.

Alison

Denise · Senior Member

Well done on finding a job Alison. I hope you don't mind me asking but I thought you also had an internet cafe have you decided to pack this in?

I have a job also and I have to say I find it quite difficult to arrange to meet potential new clients and also to answer my phone to them while I am supposed to be working. I am worried that for me, it doesn't look proffesional when they want me to go and see them and I have to say I can't come at this time or that time and also the clients I already have seem to always want me to see them while I am working. This is the part I find really difficult - trying to please everyone! and that is with only 3 clients!

That's just me though, good luck in your new job.

Denise

Oh nearly forgot to say welcome x30, its a great forum.

-- Edited by Denise on Friday 30th of October 2009 06:37:40 PM

lor · Guru

Welcome X30

Denise, I too have a job (Full Time) and it is hard when the phone rings but I can't answer because I am working, I have told my boss about my business, so it's not too bad, I normally wait till lunchtime and call them back, this is generally ok, although one person I called bk by the time I had the chance to call them bk they had called the next person in their list and arranged a meeting with them, obviously I've lost that one.

But normally people leave me a message and I get bk to them asap. Also normally I meet new clients after work which works out well for both parties as I live in the North of the city and work near the centre so I am already near most places I have to visit already which is a bonus.

At the moment it is going well....I need to keep my Full Time job as it is income I can rely on getting...with regards to self employed bookkeeping it is a bit up and down every month.

Alison · Senior Member

Hi Denise

Thanks.

Have got the internet cafe but was always only going to be me involved with it on a day to day basis for around a year when we first set up then someone else to do it on a day to day basis, so I can concentrate on the bookkeeping, originally to be in office upstairs of the internet cafe doing bookkeeping but because loss of clients decided to get a full time job instead.

Alison

Alison · Senior Member

Hi Denise and Lor

How do you manage having a full time job and own business? Do you have any free time at all? I was planning not to let any clients go because spent three and half years building up my business and loss clients to the recession so don't want to lose the remaining ones but have around 8 clients ranging from 21 hours a month work to around 55 hours a month work, the full time job I have been offered is 37 1/2 hours a week. Do you mind me asking how many hours you work in your full time job and roughly how many hours for your own business? Was just trying to work out if it is a feasible thing to do or complete madness as I am studying too, and having to do own Limited Company accounts as well first year end tomorrow and I have never done Limited Company accounts and are not paying an accountant so totally new experience that I am not looking forward to, was thinking if other bookkeepers doing similar working full time with several clients then it feasible and not complete madness.

Thanks for any advice.

Alison

-- Edited by Alison on Friday 30th of October 2009 07:37:11 PM

Denise · Senior Member

Hi Alison,

I only work aprox 25 hours a week Tuesday to Friday, so I have Monday off which I now spend the morning at a clients office ( he likes me to go every week for a few hours), and the afternoon I take my elderly, infirm mother to the supermarket.
The other 2 clients I do at home. It doesn't take up too much time, one is regular once a month, the other leaves it so that I have a mad week every quarter to do the bookkeeping and VAT. So I do a few hours evenings and weekends then.

I work a lot less hours than you are planning to and I think if I had 8 clients like you I would probably manage but if I was full time I don't know if I would be able to find time for the other mundane things in life like cooking and cleaning etc, and also I need to find time to spend with my family especially my gorgeous grandson.

Ideally I would like to find enough clients to match my wage so I could give the job up and concentrate on the bookkeeping. But realistically I know that is a long way off.

I think from reading your other posts reference you running a internet cafe, ebay and doing a heck of a lot of bookkeeping before the recession, you will manage fine.

Alison · Senior Member

Hi Denise

Thanks for the reply.

Hope you find enough clients to match your wage, once the recession is over may be possible, it did use to be easier to get new clients but one drawback I found is if taking on several clients in a short space of time all with backlogs have a lot of work to start then all caught up at similar times and normal bookkeeping when up to date not as much time as when doing backlog find that hours much shorter and therefore money less, that happened to me in August 2007 when I had to take job 3 days a week, I hated the company I worked for (3 brothers and at any time one of the brothers horrible to the staff) so left there in July 2008 when things got busy again with the bookkeeping.

It does scare me a little going back to a full time job as it has been 3 and 1/2 years since I had a full time job.

Alison

Terri · Senior Member

Welcome to the forum x30 - there are some very friendly and supportive people here.

Good luck with the job Alison, I hope that it all goes well for you and I know how you feel about being a little scared. I've been a stay at home mum since December 2003 and last Monday was my first day back in an office and I was nervous but excited and I ended up enjoying it and had a really great day and I am sure that you will soon get back into the swing of things.

I am having a tough time myself at the moment trying to balance working, studying, looking after my two boys (3 and 13 months) fulltime plus keeping the house clean, doing the laundry etc, especially now that I am working a full day on Monday. I am super busy at the moment, but I love a challenge (luckily). I think that by the time that I have enough clients to give me 30 hours plus a week, my eldest will be at full time school and my youngest will be at nursery three hours a day, so it should all work out. Luckily for me my husband is very supportive and some days when I am busy and the house doesn't get a thorough clean and I haven't time to cook tea, he will bring home take away and not complain about the state of the house

Terri

lor · Guru

Hi Alison, it is hectic sometimes, but I manage to do it, just, I think sometimes.

I work Full Time 36.5 hrs a week, and at the moment a couple of hours a day self employed. With a day off(meaning just doing my Full Time job, lol) per week. The household chores and cooking are shared between me and my boyfriend. I manage to also fit in a social life, I'm a pretty organised person, if I wasn't I don't think it would work.

I am enjoying it, and never bored which is good, and proud of what I have achieved, it is a good feeling.

I do wonder how people are doing bookkeeping self employed and having to look after children(some even studying as well), I am impressed by this, you are doing a lot, and think that you must find it difficult.

I wish everyone success and happiness...as long as you are happy doing what you are doing then it will work out.....

lor · Guru

I have weekends off as well, so it's not that bad, on weekends I normally do a few hours bookkeeping if I get a spare moment! and see my family and friends...and do things I enjoy!!!!!

-- Edited by lor on Saturday 31st of October 2009 08:57:31 AM

Alison · Senior Member

HI

Thanks for your replies. It is good to hear that people manage full time job and self employed as well as other things.

Luckily for my job offer I told them I could not start until a week on Monday (because a disorganised client brought me 6 months records and needs them doing by 8th November to get reports off including p and l and balance sheet, that is the one thing worrying me that all my clients are disorganised and won't fit nicely around the full time job. In the last year both me and husband have been working up to 80 hours a week but not a very good way of life so hope can reduce down those hours.

Alison

kjmcculloch · Guru

Hi x30, welcome to the forums.

Alison, Well done on the new job. I also work full time, but luckily I work 1330 to 2315 4 days on, 4 days off, so fitting bookkeeping in around work is really easy. I'm sure you'll do fine.

Kris

lor · Guru

Yeah, It's not too difficult finding time, I found it harder to find time when I was working full time doing aat course part time, especially when it was near exam time, it's much easier now!