Thanks for everyones help so far. Still looking at my study options and having disregarded the SIAT thanks to some advice from fellow forum members, I'm now looking at a program offered by CheapAccounting.co.uk.
From their website they seem to be offering something like a bookkeeping franchise. Its quite cheap at £299 and costs £60 per month after four months. This seems really cheap compared to other franchises. Looks like they pass work onto you via their website.
I know its new so just wondering if anyone else has come across the firm and what they think of the offering.
I seem to have upset her but such was not my intent and having read through the posts a few times still can't really understand what it was that I said that upset her (it's a forum, we don't agree with each other all of the time!).
Elain is a Chartered Accountant and the advice that she gave on here was pretty sound so the Cheapaccounting brand has a pretty good pedigree. I would not necessarily use price as your yardstick when it comes to things like this.
kind regards,
Shaun.
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
I was surprised that Elaine is offering a bookkeepers franchise. I was once involved with her years ago (signed a confidentiality agreement so I can't say much), but I guess since finding out I'm not qualified through a CCAB body, she didn't continue the association. We still talk as I have a lot of respect for her and I think she has done wonders with her business. She's brilliant at marketing.
The programme you found seems to just be for Payroll. Buying Moneysoft and setting up your own payroll bureau would be cheaper - i suppose you have to decide if you want to run a payroll bureau under her banner.
I guess if you're looking to build your business quickly then going under the cheap banner may help in the short term. I'm not a believer in marketing an accounting service based on cost, in my experience there are a far greater number of factors clients consider when selecting a bookkeeper or accountant.
I agree with Frauke that a cheaper and possibly more flexible option would be to buy the software yourself and trade under your own name. I think you'd find this much more rewarding over time.
Just my opinion though.
Stuart
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Stuart
Birmingham City FC - Blues is my religion St Andrews is my church
I quite like the market position Cheapaccounting.co.uk has taken. Do an online search for a Cheap Accountant or something similar and they appear pretty much all the time. As most of us will know the accounting market is very competitve at the moment so anything that helps to attract clients is a good thing.
Clients are becoming price sensitive (I've lost a few to cheaper bookkeepers), not all clients, but a good number. So I guess franchisees of CheapAccounting should benefit from the marketing carried out on their behalf. Thats what I like about franchises. Theres lots I don't like, but I recommend you do your own research, meet with all the accounting franchises and see if its what you're looking for.
One method to save costs and compete with outsourcing on price is to look at how much time you spend on posting transactions. If you can reduce that time, then you can compete more on price.
Being part of a franchise is great in that you have a community, work in numbers and like you said, have marketing power. Like all things in life; the however part is that the client tends to belong to the franchise rather than the franchisee.
I am more than happy to have a telephone chat about the programme feel free to drop me an email to arrange a time. eliane.clark@cheapaccounting.co.uk
There are of course pros and cons to each approach and what suits one doesnt suit another. Good luck with what you decide and I do hope to speak to you soon. Regards
think that we got off on the wrong foot on the other thread.
As mentioned above, it's a forum and people will not agree with each other all of the time but if you felt that the disagreement was any attack on you personally you are completely wrong. I'm not that sort of person.
This isn't an appology as I don't think that I said anything that was out of turn but it is an olive branch hope that you realise that your first impressions were not quite alligned with my intent.
kindest regards,
Shaun.
__________________
Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
This sounds interesting. I'm currently studying the AAT but also looking at my options to set up by myself. Had a look at the cheapaccounting website but I can't find the offer you mentioned?
This sounds interesting. I'm currently studying the AAT but also looking at my options to set up by myself. Had a look at the cheapaccounting website but I can't find the offer you mentioned?
