Please help...!!... - The Book-keepers Forum (UK)

3rs3m · Member

Please help...!!...

lor · Guru

Free index, gumtree and other online FREE listings as they help with google ranking also.

Make sure you choose a good domain name for your business, it doesn't have neccessarily be your business name.

ROBH recommends networking for getting business and clients.

I like to charge fixed price as that means you both know where you are with the costs.

For a name for your business how about your initials then bookkeeping services.

I try to choose a name that was easy to say.

Hope this helps!

ProBowlUK · Senior Member

3rs3m wrote:
3 - choose business name : for example XXX Bookkeeping or XXX Bookkeeping Service or XXX Certified Bookkeeping. Which one is the best? [ My business name will not be XXX :)) ]

Your user-/member-name catches attention and comes before the A's in A-Z indexes and Directories.

Wouldn't use the word "Certified" in your heading, just the graphic of wichever body you are registered with).

However, there are a few certifiable bookkeepers around (!)

-- Edited by ProBowlUK on Saturday 3rd of April 2010 08:34:59 PM

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Hi Ersem,

If you use the word Certified then I would use the word Bookkeepers rather than Bookkeeping.

You may need to check with the ICB whether you are allowed to use the word Certified before passing the Level III exams.

To be honest even when you have passed your level 3 I would be adverse to using the word bookkeeper in the actual business name. I would instead go for something like :

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Certified Bookkeepers.

Using a smaller font for the certified bookkeepers than the company name.

When printing stationary remember that your ICB practice number has to come under the ICB crest.

General rules for advertising are :

Be honest

Do not say anything disparaging of other member practices.

Do not make unfounded claims about the superiority of ones own services.

Avoid quoting prices.

Advertise in good taste

Do not say anything that could be detrimental to other practices, the ICB or the profession in general.

So basically, all pretty much common sense type stuff.

Good luck and hope to hear much more from you in the future,

kind regards,

Shaun.

Wella · Expert

Shamus wrote:

You may need to check with the ICB whether you are allowed to use the word Certified before passing the Level III exams.

To be honest even when you have passed your level 3 I would be adverse to using the word bookkeeper in the actual business name. I would instead go for something like :

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Certified Bookkeepers.

Shaun your are correct, you cannot call yourself certified unless you are a member or fellow.

You cannot call yourself fully qualified either.

The only reference I could find to it is on their sample leaflet, in the members area under the example stationary link

Got a bit carried away with all those kisses didn't you, bookkeepings not that good

Bill

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

I thought that was the case. Thanks for doing the leg work on that one Bill.

Another thing that Ersem has to be aware of is that the route that she's taken to AICB (comp) will not be enough to warrant a practicing certificate for much longer so by the time she comes to first renewal she will need to have passed the ICB level II manual.

I know that we've spoken about that a lot but I think that most newbies don't read a lot of our old emails.

Ersem, things have moved on since the original posts and things that the ICB said originally they are now pretending that they didn't. The main thread on this one started out as http://www.activeboard.com/forum.spark?aBID=106474&p=3&topicID=33208103 but my old postings are littered with references to the ICB's stance which is effectively moving the goalposts on many members in practice.

Stardoe · Guru

Err...guys....being picky picky, but "stationary"?

))

Pauline

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Hi Pauline,

Don't look at me, I'm dyslexic. If the spellchecker says it's ok then it's fine by me!

Anyway, what Bill meant was the area of the ICB website that doesn't move around!

Seriously though, the bulk of my messages are riddled with typo's. The most common seems to be a typing stutter where the same word appears twice in rapid succession. I think that when I read it through again the dyslexia just hides it... Strangely though I can always see it after posting.... Actually, just realised, you've got it too "picky, picky". (lol).

Hope that your having a good Easter,

Shaun.

Stardoe · Guru

Ha ha Sean very funny. My family get really fed up with me correcting their spelling and grammar all the time! Having a quiet Easter, hoping my brain doesn't switch off too much as got end of year payroll to cope with when I go back! Hope everyone is having a good one too!
Pauline

Stardoe · Guru

Sorry Shaun, just spelled your name wrong.........lol Doh!

lor · Guru

Stardoe wrote:

Err...guys....being picky picky, but "stationary"? ))

Pauline

so many people spell that word wrong. I think I even noticed it spelt wrong on microsoft accounting program in the profit and loss account in one of the expense headings, I was quite shocked, thought would spell it right!

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

You two are going to hate me but I'm a definite follower of Robs there or there abouts methodology where it comes to spelling... Especially as the spell checker on this site is American (damn thing keeps trying to tell me that S's should be Z's and even I know that's just wrong).

The above said of course I don't think that I would ever answer a post to anyone who spoke in text speak. In fact I did actually tell one person to rewrite their message didn't I in my early days on the site. Even when I do send texts they are in my normal (misspelt) English.

Anyway, think of it this way. Better a correct answer that's misspelt than an incorrect answer with perfect pro's and grammar.

Wella · Expert

Stardoe wrote:

Err...guys....being picky picky, but "stationary"? ))

Pauline

But Pauline it wasn't moving.

You are correct of course and I am the worst for picking people up on spelling. It is a word I have always spelt (or spelled?) wrong and it is more of an (got that right "an" before an "h" word, didn't I?) habit. Mainly coz I wasnt teached very good grammer at skool. All joking apart, it wont be long before those become the common usage ways of spelling and enter the OED.

The main thnig I am awlays haivng to corretc aer lettesr beign reversed when I type. My fingers seem to be in advance of my brain.

Hope you are all having a good weekend

Bill

Stardoe · Guru

I agree Shaun that as long as the answer is correct, but I'm one of those old school people who was taught at a Grammar School and like to see things spelled properly. That being said Bill I know language evolves (thank goodness, or we'd all still be speaking like William Shakespeare) and new words enter our language every day.

I do think it's bad though when things that are supposed to be professional and set an example, e.g. software, and dare I say it, the BBC! get it wrong. I'm one who doesn't use text speak in my texts either (well, the occasional u or ur for quickness sake...lol).

Anyway, I could go on about this for ever and be totally boring, so I'm off to have some Easter Egg!

Have a good day everyone!

Pauline

lor · Guru

I try to type properly most of the time, I know sometimes I did miss out words and do typo's, but I don't check what I have typed till afterwards!

lor · Guru

And I think the reason why I try to type correctly, even in an informal txt or email is that I don't what to forget how to do it properly, lol! But sometimes I don't have much time or can't be bothered then I shortened words and leave the typo's there.

semsley · Guru

Hi all, hope you have had a good Easter, the way to remember stationery/stationary is 'e' for envelopes and 'a' for automobiles.

AngelaWBS · Senior Member

Hi Sheila,

That's is how I always remember to spell stationery 'e' for envelopes, but I didn't know the 'a' for automobiles.