Hi, I have just started my own business "SAFE Bookkeeper" this year after completing my IAB exams. I am really excited to be looking for clients and see my business grow. I look forward to participating in this forum as so far I have found it very useful.
Any useful tips of what to do - and probably more importantly what NOT to do would be most appreciated,
Welcome to the forum and good luck with your new venture. Advertise locally, Suggestions are good quality leaflets, local doorstep magazine, car stickers and networking.
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John
Any advice given is for general guidance and professional advice should be sought applicable to your circumstances.
I would say use this time, before you have too many clients, wisely in terms of reading up as much as you can from HMRC's website, legislation etc for the services you are planning to provide as (I always say) the real learning starts here as clients have a habit of throwing in lots of curveballs.
Not do - dont spend loads on marketing.
Bombed at mo, silly January, so look forward to chatting once hings are calmer. Good luck with the business.
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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
Welcome to the forum, happy new year and best of luck with your new practice. I have mentioned this before but one of my ex employers students passed her qualification with the ICB very quickly and set up in practice. She sat at home with her local Yellow pages and called business local to where she lived offering her Bookkeeping services. My memory is not as good as it used to be (its an age thing) but she made several appointments to meet with business owners and gained several clients. Then of course word of mouth from the gained clients meant before she knew it her client base went into double figures. So simple and cost nothing but the price of a telephone call and some self confidence.
Good luck and Im sure we all look forward to hear how you progress throughout the course of the year.
Just one word of advice which I have found very useful - Don't be afraid to NOT take on a client. In my excitement to get business in the early days, I would take on anything which was offered. This sometimes resulted in clients which were difficult to work with and I found myself run ragged for little return or taking on work which was beyond my skill level. Don't be afraid to ask lots of questions in the early meetings to establish they are the right clients for you.
Being selective, I now have a lovely set of clients who value the service and recommend me to others.
Best of luck
Valerie
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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.
Even if you are handsomely paid for it and its well within your comfort zone, some are not worth the effort they bring when you end up smacking your head against the wall all day and prefer to be head ache free!!
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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
Hi, I have just started my own business "SAFE Bookkeeper" this year after completing my IAB exams. I am really excited to be looking for clients and see my business grow. I look forward to participating in this forum as so far I have found it very useful.
