I am really hoping for some advice. I have done the bookkeeping for a painting contractor for the last 5 years on a part time basis which has been fine. However, I lost my full time employment last year and I now really need a full time Job to support myself and my family. Rather than stress about getting an interview/job I have decided to offer my own full time bookkeeping service.
I am confident in my ability however I have to be honest just abit nervous setting up my own service. I am meeting with my first client today, he drives his own taxi and is self employed.
My question: and much much appreciated for any advice. What sort of things must i bear in mind to ask at the initial meeting. Obviously I will be trying to ascertain all his income and expendtiure but I think he also got some sick benefit during the year so that must be included in income. Do I need to ask about savings, pensions and investments or should I just rely on him to disclose. Also, should I produce a set off acounts and then ask for payment before I submit to HMRC. I think he is just looking for a self assessment to be done and processed but I would love to hear your thoughts on it. Lastly, do I need him to get me his last set off accounts produced as I think he said he cannopt get in touch with the guy that used to do it for him. I do have his last SA Tax Return as printed off from his hmrc account?
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. For this client it will be just his self assessment however I would like to offer routine bookkeeping to other businesses in the local area.
In regards to this client Kris the potential is that he his part of the black taxi association of which there are several hundred and he said he was paying a guy £250 to do it before and when I mentioned I could do it for around £150 to to £175 he was all for it and said he could maybe even get the golf society to come over at the price. There are 18 of them I think.
This is a good list of the types of taxable income. It might be helpful to check you have information for everything on the list which is applicable to him.
I think it is incumbent on you to ask those questions given in Kris's link although the answers you may get might not be cut and dried. For instance, the sickness benefit may include some of the non-taxable ones listed.
