Hi all, i am on a big learning curve at the moment, having been self employed for 6 months.
Things started well and have 3 largish clients so far..(sole traders).
However, 2 clients have been extremely busy throughout December, and have not yet given me November's receipts!
I have chased them.
I know they are busy, and i am starting to feel a nuisance. My worry is that they need to spend a lot of time collecting paperwork up (the one client goes through his bank statements and prints a lot of his invoices off) that they feel it wont take them much more effort to actually to the books themselves.
I have suggested forwarding the emails to me so i can print them, and offered to do more so it relieves pressure (purchase ledger etc..) but heard nothing back.
The other client is up to his eyes and just cant spare the time. I have suggested literally just throwing receipts into a bag. I have also suggested opening business bank accounts too so i can see clearly what is missing and everything is seperate.
In 12 months time i am hoping to have gained enough work to leave my part-time job as my son is autistic and I need to be flexible for him. This is the deadline I have set myself.
Am i doing it all wrong? I am wondering how everyone else does it? I am thinking that from the start I should have been firm and agreed a date every month to collect, before taking on the work, and stating that in order for me to take on the job, I will require this...and that...
Many thanks.
As you have found out, Christmas season is hectic and the last thing on the client's mind is doing the paperwork. If you're reasonably up to date then there isn't really any panic yet. I would give them a week after coming back from the new year then remind again. I think you've done the right thing in offering to help to relieve the pressure, but ultimately it is the client's responsibility and unfortunately they won't see the urgency that you do.
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John
Any advice given is for general guidance and professional advice should be sought applicable to your circumstances.
Thank you. I will wait for the New Year to get started and see how things go. I imagine if I still have November's work and also December's, financially for me, work is scarse, but I guess there will be double to do/bill in January, all being well. Its definitely a good learning curve.
Hi all - I chased the clients, and yes, they have been extremely busy, so we are now back on track. I'm so new to this that my confidence is low - I should have had more faith
Next month or two, once they have calmed down after Christmas, might be an idea to sit with them and suggest some ideas for a system to make things easier for both of you. With some clients this still will not work - you can lead a horse to water and all that. But at least you can say you tried and most I find are receptive to ideas that make their life easier.
-- Edited by Cheshire on Monday 9th of January 2017 07:40:34 PM
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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
