Passed my Level 3 ICB exams and so is now A Certified Bookkeeper. I will be adding to my Qualifications the Self Assessment module.
My question is... Can anyone tell me step by step how to get my Practice up and running and what services I should be offering?
I know that I have to do the following:
Register as Self Employed
MLR
PII
Also, I have put up a post previously asking how much should be charged per hour or per month for which I've had great feedback from Shaun, Kris and John but now the question I have is.. Does anyone have a pricelist (not necessarily your own) of standard prices per job?
Kindest Regards
Cheryl
-- Edited by ladyceya on Monday 14th of September 2015 01:47:21 PM
Hi Cheryl
The ICB provide guides for such a thing to all members, so i understand from their website. So I would use them as your first port of call. The services you should be offering are the ones which your practice certificate from the ICB restricts you to. You should only be looking to complete the work you are trained to do. It is different for every bookkeeper based on their qualifications, practice certificate and capabilities (the latter in theory anyway).
Your MLR should be covered by the ICB - again check with them.
There is a whole checklist around the HMRC element - have a look at their website because as you start to do this yourself you will then get a handle on doing the same for clients.
There is no such thing as a standard price for a job - which is what the three chaps have alluded to in their other post, where they cover off a variety of how to get to what you will charge your client using different methodologies. There are advantages and disadvantages of each pricing model, depending on what you are pricing for, where, competition, and your experience level. I would advocate a price per hour to start with until you start to get a handle on the sorts of information you need from your clients to progress each job/task that you undertake, then consider new clients on differing models as you become more confident in your role.
You need to undertake some market research in your area.
HTH
__________________
Joanne
Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017
Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
You should check out answers with reference to the legal position
I think , other than pricing, this is the most regularly asked questions on bookkeeprs forums.
There are a few guide out there, all of varying quality. ICB have something pretty basic, the folks who run this site have one called Bookcert. We, at the bookkeepers alliance, are hoping to have one soon too.
Take a look around, you'll get some ideas in the strangest of places.
Kris
Bookkeepers Alliance Kris? (Why is the peoples liberation front of Judea as opposed to the Judea peoples liberation front swimming through my mind, lol).
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.
Aye, I saw that here, but have never seen it referred to elsewhere.
As you ask, Shaun, The Bookkeepers Alliance is a support network for bookkeepers. It is a collaboration between Christopher Wales, Mike Foster, and myself. Unlike the professional bodies, our focus is on CPD. Whether its a bookkeeper in industry, one in practice or a student the emphasis is on support.
We also realised that the professional bodies are happy to get you qualified, but there is very little direction after that. We wanted to provide a hand holding service for those who want to go into practice, but also useful resources for those in employment or still training.
It launches on 1 October and we hope it will be a real help to all bookkeepers.
