I would first advise that if you send your interest through email - type your enquiry within the actual body of the email, as an oppose to attaching a word file. Businesses are wary in regards to opening attachments, through fears of malware / viruses etc.
Within the letter, I'd be detailing my qualifications, together with any experience I have.
Make a mention of your insurance, along with your MLR compliance.
You could make a mention of the software you're accustomed to.
Provide a link to your website if you have one.
Make sure you make it known that you are in business, as an oppose to sounding like you're in training or seeking employment.
I wouldn't make any mention of prices at this stage.
When I first started out, I mailed out, well emailed soooo many emails to accountants hoping to get some bookkeeping work. What would you say your success percentage was?
Luckily I managed to link up with a guy who is a AAT MIP at one of the branch meetings I attended. I have never approached an Accountant, but have been offered work by Chartered's who look after my clients. Pondering trying but am pretty sure with the ones who are complete strangers that if and when we do get down to pricing that I will have priced myself out. I dont come cheap! (My favourite say - 'I wouldnt get out of bed for THAT' might easily offend, lol!)
The sole reason why I wanted to do this was to see how text books and real life differed. Ive said it before, at certain levels, you really only start to learn once you get out there and boy is there so much to learn
I didn't want to stick at trial balance, not after completing AAT. My decision to stick with up to TB was bourne partly out of (1) Im one of these kind of people who if I dont know the COMPLETE ins and outs then I wont do it until I do. Plus (2) in part tax bored me rigid. Although now I have had a taster for dealing with foreign tax authorities I am getting more of a taste for it, but I still would need to deal with HMRC (who just drive me INSANE!). also (3) the add on work I do for a couple of clients (eg footy agent/bit of resourcing) keep me busy and are the most lucrative anyway.
But issue here is how does this also sit with your ACCA status (the subject of the other thread hey!)
Sending emails for employed work is a whole different ball game. I've given up on that one. Now that one might come from a chance contact rather than emails. If you can get to a decision maker of course.
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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
Accountants are immune to them as they get a lot of these sort of generic emails and letters every day and in almost all cases they end up filed in the great round underdesk or virtual filing cabinets.
I used to answer th one's that came to me but after a while you realise that you could end up spending an hour plus per day leting people down gently.
To find work you need to have some nice, easy to read business cards (simple, good quality white card is perfect) and network everywhere that you can think of that accountants might hang out ensuring that you do it as a bookkeeper emphasising that you finish at trial balance. One sniff that you go beyond trial balance and you will find doors closing on using your services.
Once you get some clients and people know that you can do a good job for them then accountant will find you. The key is to get your name out there in the first place.
Good luck with the new venture,
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 sent 30 named emails - 4 didn't have any work available, 2 - kept my details. 24 no responses. So 6.66% at best
The issue of ACCA is a pain. However having looked into CIMA deeply, that has my interest. Although the end of each level, operational - management - strategic, each has a case study -- I hope I can hold enough of the syllabus in my memory bank to get through those.
Face to face is best, this is where I acquired my first lead. I wasn't too fussed on the pay rate at that stage, I just wanted to get my hands dirty.
Lesley, if you're a member of a body, attend some branch meetings.
Which ever way you decide, don't give up.
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Johnny - Owner of an overly-active keyboard.
A man who can read, yet doesn't, is in no way wiser than a man who can't.
