Well, my new client bus arrived at the end of last week. I've had nothing for ages, just been plodding along when all of a sudden I got 3 new clients in 2 days.
I actually used 'choose-your-accountant' for one of them. For those of you who don't know it works like this. People looking for bookkeeping and accounting work post their job with rough details. Up to 4 professionals can then buy the right to bid on the work and hopefully the client chooses one of the 4.
I've used it before, and always thought it was a bit flawed in that if the client abandons the transaction and chooses no one you're all out of pocket, unlike peopleperhour who return your credits. Most of the people posting jobs on choose-your-accountant tend to be south of the border, but I managed to bag one just a few miles away from me.
It's always nice when the new client bus is in town! Well done on the new clients.
I signed up to that choose your accountant site at one point, I resent paying £30 for a lead when it might come to nothing though so I've never really got much use from it, but then with PPH each job receives about 100 bids so again your chances of getting picked are quite small. I prefer to wait for the bus to come round!
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Jenny
Responses are my opinion based on the information provided. All information should be thoroughly checked before being relied on.
That was the third bid I've made on Choose your accountant in maybe a year. I agree that their prices can be steep, but with my average client fee of £75, one job is worth £900 to me. It puts that £30 in perspective.
Kris
-- Edited by kjmcculloch83 on Monday 19th of September 2011 10:40:49 AM
Quite a small one really (but it all adds up!). One morning per week but they are expanding so could turn into a bit more. I started a new one a month ago which is a day a week which could turn into 2 days a week. With my other clients I am now nearly full as I too work around the kiddiwinks. So what to do? Turn down work? (which goes totally against the grain!) Employ someone? Subbie it out?
If anyone has any ideas, tips or hints PLEASE let me know.
Well, personally I won't be looking to turn any work down. I know how quickly I can go from full to 'oh my god where is the food coming from this month' (well, perhaps not quite).
I am looking at subbing anything else I get to others.
This is something I have thought about especially in June and July when I was really busy. Do you employ Jenny and if so are you in a office with more space than if you were say working at home?
Whats the point when people say well its time to subbie it out or say NO. I'm like Sue and would hate to say NO to anything, unless off course they are really dodgy then I would tell them I am too busy etc but politely of course!
-- Edited by Amanda on Wednesday 21st of September 2011 08:55:34 PM
Yes I do have someone working for me, and also yes, in an office. I have had someone working for me at home before but I found it a bit odd.
I am genetically engineered to never say no (self employed parents), and as a result have had some nightmare clients over the years, but it's always worth it in the end!
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Jenny
Responses are my opinion based on the information provided. All information should be thoroughly checked before being relied on.
Jenny - did you advertise for somebody or was it somebody you knew? Were they "qualified" (either by experience or qualifications) or did you train them?
It's always a chicken and egg situation, I also don't like to say no and currently am trying to stretch the number of hours in a day/days in a week. I have an ex-neighbour turned friend who I taught who helps and am currently training out of work hubbie, it's a slightly easier step than actually employing someone unknown.
The great thing about being busy is that it's psychologically a lot easier to cut the dead weight. Those clients you spend time chasing for information, never on time, pays late and generally causes you problems.
Hi Sue, this time I didn't advertise, I had been thinking that I needed someone to help, and then out of the blue she emailed me and asked for a job. She's part AAT qualified with some practical experience of bookkeeping, so quite a bit of training has been needed in some regards, but she's getting there, and I would never have hit the awful August deadlines that I had without her help.
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Jenny
Responses are my opinion based on the information provided. All information should be thoroughly checked before being relied on.
