Hi everyone, just signed up today. Like many others I'm working towards setting myself up as self-employed bookkeeper. Going via ICB exam route to get quals for necessary practice licence, sup'n under MLR, prof ind insurance.
Took AAT exams 6 years ago but these don't count for exemption (drat) so am hastily blasting through ICB exams from scratch.
Joined ICB 26 Aug 10, downloaded L1 past paper and did it, then did online L1 exam also that day and passed 99%.
Was already training myself up on Sage 50 Accounts using Sage's Workbooks with "limited" version of s/w they provide, had already sat and passed Sage's Stage 1 certification on 5 Aug 10 so had a look at ICB L2 Computer exam past paper then did the exam at home and posted it off 6 Sep 10, am awaiting result eta 6 Oct. By the way, Sage's Workbook s/w is perfect for the job, I didn't know it would be until I tried it, neither Sage nor ICB could tell me, but now you know.
In meantime I booked ICB L2 Manual exam, went to my nearest Pearson Vue on Monday (13 Sep) and passed, seen on ICB website I scored 100% (blimey).

As done so well, I now want to crack on and get the Level 3 (Diploma) Manual BK exam passed asap, also L3 Comp exam if I can too. Reason for haste: I need to get some business and money coming in (cost is mounting up too), but don't want to have to do series of rapid ICB membership u/grades. So rather than u/g now to ICB Associate and start doing sole trader etc, I'd prefer to get L3 bagged, u/g straight to full ICB Member and do Ltd Cos aswell from outset (so avoid changing advertising/business cards and avoid possible embarrassment having to say no to Ltd Co business this month but probably yes next month).

And so to my question: My Frank Woods "BK & Accounts", while perfect for ICB L1 and L2 Manual exams [I highly recommend], doesn't have enough in-depth material on partnerships etc for L3M exam. I don't need expensive training course, just good text book(s) covering missing stuff so I can refresh previous learning.

I seem to have a choice between well regarded "Frank Woods Bus Accounting Vol1" or "Keplan ICB Advanced Bookkeeping" (and related "kit" with Q+As). Both options are expensive books so want to get it right, anyone used either and can give me an opinion?

ps I think my rationale as above is sound, love to hear from anyone who has been through the same mill as me and has any advice...