What do you all want out of 2014? - The Book-keepers Forum (UK)

Amanda · Expert

What do you all want out of 2014?

StuartAnder · Senior Member

I would like to have at least 3 or 4 clients by the end of the year.. My official launch is 1st march 2014- it's not asking too much surely ;P

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Well, 2013 was awful. 2014 is (so far) much better.

I've already achieved my main goal for the year so as soon as half terms over I plan to take a day with no clients, clear down the white board (got a good big 4 * 3 one) and spend the the whole day (well, from 08:45 to 15:00 anyway) just considering the next five year plan.

One thing on the cards is that I reccon that I'm going to have to spend at least 3 months back in corporate otherwise my extended absence from that world may be effectively closing that window to me.

How about yourself Amanda... What inspired this question? Are you considering your options as well?

kind regards,

Shaun.

Amanda · Expert

Yes I am considering my options, I am trying to plan ahead and take on as much as possible. It has gone mad since back end of last year and there doesn't appear to be any let up. So am having a serious think as to what to do next.

Dare I say it, it's the networking that has done it. I am seriously considering stopping advertising.

Also I am just nosey!!!!

-- Edited by Amanda on Monday 17th of February 2014 04:32:01 PM

Elaine R · Senior Member

Hi All,

I would definitely like some more clients. I've not been to any networking events yet although I keep threatening to go.

I have one locally that is for Women in Business and is run by an old school friend.

If it's been successful for you Amanda then I think I should give it a go and hope it pays off for me too.

I have 2 regular bookkeeping clients, 1 not so regular and a handful of Self Assessment clients.

Definitely would like to at least double that.

Can't say how many I would like as I am restricted through working full time. I do my clients books in the evenings and weekends.

Elaine

David Ballantyne · Senior Member

Get my practice set up and get my first few clients!

Violet2005 · Veteran Member

Mine is to kill and bury ever having a job as I am too old for office politics/ playground tactics. I have set a target of 5 new clients a month from March.

MarkS · Expert

1. Get up to between 150 and 200 clients

2. Take on my first employee

3. Learn about Kashflow, SAGEone, Clearbooks, Freeagent.

4. Learn about VT Transactions + and VT cashbook

5. Read my Tax Notes that I get from ICAS this year.

6. Learn about Twitter, Linkedin and Facebook.

7. Start doing regular blog and newsletter on my new website that will hopefully be live in the next few weeks.

8. Avoid the mad rush that had this January by getting clients records in sooner. Giving them a 10% discount off fixed fee if they get their Ltd accs in within 3 months of year end or in by 31 July if sole trader/partnership. But adding a premium on if Ltd company accounts handed in more than 7 months after year or if sole trader/partnership records handed in after 31 Oct.

9. Get my CA qualification.

Mark

morgwick · Senior Member

So far 2014 has been a lot better than last year.

Looking forward to September as my children will all be in school, so it will give me a lot more time to expand my business.

I would also like to learn Kashflow and would like to find a local accountant to team up with so we can pass work to each other, as I don't do Tax Returns which can put people off.

Never tried a networking meeting... maybe this is the year to try... some reason I find them daunting!

kjmcculloch83 · Expert

I'm with you, Gill. This August both my boys will be at school and things will hopefully get easier. I feel I've got too many balls in the air right now.

From a personal point of view I want to finish my HND. For my business a reasonable growth would be nice, but this year I am focussing on giving my business a social responsibility and will be donating 5% of my turnover to the local neonatal unit. I have been using social media but I plan to have a more strategic approach in the year ahead. Like Mark, I am also going to be better at getting paperwork in sooner for tax returns.

Kris

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

kjmcculloch83 wrote:
both my boys will be at school and things will hopefully get easier.

kjmcculloch83 · Expert

Ok, maybe I should have said I'll have a longer day.

Amanda · Expert

Things are easier as they get older but then you become a permanent taxi driver!! My son informed me the other day that when its his prom in the summer there is an after prom party not far from us that one of his friend's parents are organising and guess what................he wants picking up at 3 in the morning!!!

Back to business................

Mark I like the way you have structured it, I am looking to increase my clients even more, just about to sign another one up next week and looks like there is more for me than I first thought and trying to arrange a meeting with another accountant that I don't know because I am just about to take on his client, whose business is growing rapidly and wants to do more of the managing of his business and growing it and doesn't want to be bogged down with the bookkeeping. He's also asked for monthly management accounts as he has taken advise from one of these business companies that tell you how you should manage your business to make it grow, and then told him in no uncertain terms to get a bookkeeper and get a grip! So that's a new one that I am just about to do some work for. I was recommended to him by a client of mine.

I would also like to learn Xero

Learn about Facebook, I am just about on it personally but really want a business page, I did start one but got no further as I don't know what I am doing!!!

Am on Linkedin but again don't really know what I am doing.

So I suppose really being more aware of social media would be a good start for 2014.

Avoid the mad rush in January, I am going to bug my annuals to get them in early!!!!

Mark- have you now got offices to take on your first employee or will they be working remotely?

Regards,

Unwize Owl · Senior Member

Oh Dear - all the kids in school will make life easier? I don't think so! I'm laughing almost as much as Shaun's little emoticon.

Kids in school means phaffing around with a school run, having to squeeze 2hr jobs into 30 min spaces, working from 9 to mid-night to get the peace you need to think and up again at 5 to have an hour before they get up - and that's just school days! Juggling everything family and household around essential time working while your wage earning partner equates 'working from home' to 'available for any job they want done'. It means fighting all comers to justify your decision to work for yourself rather than have a 'cushy job', and I do mean all comers! Mum's on the school run, friends, family they will all chip in with their thoughts and ideas and blatant disapproval, especially if you are a Mum setting up your own business thought men are not immune - even when they claim to understand, they don't and won't. Only those who have gone the self employed route understand why one goes self employed.

I don't mean to totally burst that little bubble called 'time to think while the kids are out' but it just isn't a realistic dream!

All that aside - my hopes/plans for this year?

Well last year I lost 10 friends and family members between Easter and New Years day, so a year with no funerals would be good!

I need to schedule time for study and get my Lv3 exams and complete an excel training course I have been given.

I want to finish all the ground work associated with getting my nice new 'summer house' where I can hide away from the kids and get a few hours of peace in which to work. (flat packs arrive in about 3 weeks. Eekk!)

I think that with the networking, the new contracts that are coming in a steady stream and who need assessing and adding to the schedule, a husband who has just changed posts at work and will now be disappearing off to points foreign on a regular basis, a stressy teen doing 5 'A2's' and an autistic 10 year old who is something of a handful on occasion, I can't put much more on 'plan' at the moment.

Which is not to say I don't want to - just the rest has to be more flexible smile

Additional targets for the coming year (Year 2 of being my own boss)

Have a minimum of 25 active clients

Build and move into my nice new 'Summer House' (by Easter?)

Build my turnover to the point where I might have to pay tax for the first time in 18 years!

Fit in some regular time for the 'Christians against poverty' office locally as they need a bookkeeper to advice some of the clients.

Oh.... and find time to paint my Bretonian army!

How many goals does a busy person need? biggrin

Cheshire · Master Book-keeper

Amanda wrote:
Things are easier as they get older but then you become a permanent taxi driver!! My son informed me the other day that when its his prom in the summer there is an after prom party not far from us that one of his friend's parents are organising and guess what................he wants picking up at 3 in the morning!!!

haha - kids getting easier. I have to pick my son up between midnight-1am most days. He is a chef and we live in the stix - no buses/trains after 11.30 and he often has to work 10 days straight of double shifts. Roll on him passing his driving test, although then he would have to leave to get to work by 7am!! What is sleep????!!!!!!! He loves it so I cant complain!!

My goals - to network more/get some new business/get rid of two clients who drive me completely insane/learn about and use social media better/go to the Caribbean/get a new fella/decorate my house.

Hope everyone on here gets what they want/plan for - some lists are very long and better thought out than mine, so probably much more achievable!

At least my networking is starting up again - one on Thursday night and then another on Friday morning (got to leave the house by 5.45am, so wish me luck after picking my son up at 1am!!)

Rhianrach · Expert

I really want to do a payroll course this year as it is becoming more and more obvious I don't know anywhere near enough.

kjmcculloch83 · Expert

I can see what you are all saying, but my days right now consist of dropping my eldest off at 8.50 then dropping the younger one off at 9.00 before picking him up at 11.30 giving him lunch and entertaining him and picking the older one up at 3.00.

I try to do work in between and at nights and weekends. Except Tuesday and Wednesday night when I'm at college. At least when they both go to school I have between 9 and 3 to work.

Kris

MarkS · Expert

Amanda wrote:

Mark- have you now got offices to take on your first employee or will they be working remotely?

Regards,

Had my own office since September.

Got two computer, desks etc so everything is ready to go. Someone was in part time in the 3 months to January helping me with bookkeeping work.

Got 6 people coming in for an interview next week but busy with work so might need to postpone them for a few weeks.

Though I thinking of taking on student at Univ studying accounts for say a couple of days a week and try them out for 3 months and if works out take them on longer term (might even take two students on). Works for both of us. I get enthusiastic, knowledgeable cheap labour and they get relevant practical experience that they can put on their CV. Plus if they are any good and if things keep growing I might be able to offer them a training contract a year or two down the line.

Amanda · Expert

That's a good idea with the students, at least they will get experience along the way.

Kris - It's even better when they are older and they can have their own key then at least you don't have to be in for them.

Unwize Owl · Senior Member

Amanda wrote:
Kris - It's even better when they are older and they can have their own key then at least you don't have to be in for them.

No - no better. Then you just worry if they will get home at all, what state they will be in and how many pieces you will need to pick up :(

Cheshire · Master Book-keeper

Unwize Owl wrote:

No - no better. Then you just worry if they will get home at all, what state they will be in and how many pieces you will need to pick up :(

That never changes - I still have sleepless nights when my son goes out and my Mum still worries about me and Im 40 several!!!!!!!!!!

kjmcculloch83 · Expert

My goodness, you lot know how to cheer me up.

Kris

Unwize Owl · Senior Member

Sorry Kris! On the up side once they get older kids can be useful - assuming you can crowbar them out of their pits!

Amanda · Expert

Kris - When they get older if your lucky they will learn where the hoover is and actually use it!!!! My oldest one tidies up when a friend is coming round.

NickCraggs · Guru

Just to Cheer you up Kris, I have a 3 year old and a one year old and i was moaning about the cost of them at work,

However, i was politley informed i had it lucky and it spirals out of all control. It is £400 laptop they want next, then a £2000 car, then £10,000 wedding then £40,000 deposit on a house!

Nick

lainy · Veteran Member

wow Nick

I'd love to be your son or daughter, i'd luv a new laptop, and a new car. I paid for my own wedding and my own house. My wishes for this year, to pass my self assessment exam and my stage three, and to start to make a decent living. Ideally i'd luv to earn what i earned full time in about three days a week so that I can have some me time too.

very best wishes

Lainy

Unwize Owl · Senior Member

I can't remember the source - might be the government stats office - cost of child from birth to age 21 £100k

I'd say my eldest is on target for that! Especially if she goes to Uni. My other half is a higher tax payer - that means we have to fund a large part of her uni costs - regardless of the size of our mortgage and household costs.