I studied at adult education 3 years ago and got City & Guilds qualifications in Manual Accounts and Sage Line 50. (I have a maths/stats background.) Since then I've had two jobs as a bookkeeper and now decided to go it alone. To get experience I've been working voluntarily for local businesses and one of them has now started paying me. I've also been lucky enough to get another 'client' this week. So getting work isn't the problem, the legalities and procedures with setting up on my own is.
So my questions, if anyone can help, are:
1. As I don't have a professional body, like IAB, AAT etc behind me, where can I get advice re engagement letters, Money Laundering regs etc?
2. What else do I need to do to before I officially start? I'm registered self-employed but don't yet have Professional Indemnity insurance or Data Protection.
I do want to do further study but can't afford it yet.
It's scary going it alone but I know it's right. I don't want to screw up before I even start!
Depending on what qualifications you have you may find they are recognised by IAB and you can join them check it out on their website. If you can join you can get MLR cover and PII insurance from them.
If not you need to 'buy' MLR from HMRC it's an annual fee more expensive the first year. You don't necessarily have to have PII insurance. You don't need to register for Data Protection.
