I just wanted to introduce myself and hopefully pick a couple of brains if that's ok. I am AAT qualified and currently work in the Finance Department of a large NHS Trust as a Senior Finance Officer unfortunately due to cut backs in funding etc a lot of our work has been outsourced and within the next couple of months we will be going through another department restructure. For the past 3 years I have been volunteering as a Treasurer for a local branch of a national charity and have discovered that Bookkeeping is were my passion lies. I have lost count of the amount of Bookkeeping jobs that I have applied for in my area over the last couple of years only to not be considered due to my lack of experience and have even written to practically every Accountancy/Bookkeeping Practice in my area in that I can find trying to find a placement to get some experience in my free time of 1 day a week again with no luck.
I am now seriously considering setting up my own bookkeeping and business but to be honest I have no idea were to start. I know that I will need to register for MLR and PI Insurance but not sure what else I should add to my check list. My question is can anyone recommend any books/reading material with regards to setting up a Bookkeeping business that would be useful??
I did look at the BookCert Kit as thought this would be ideal for my requirements but it looks like this is no longer available to order through there website and their email address is no longer in use so a bit of a dead end. I have also researched Franchises but feel that this may not an option due to their high cost and feel that this money could be better sent on a decent website and marketing.
If anybody could give me any advice/tips on setting up, marketing or software it would all be gratefully received.
Hi Charlotte,
I can only suggest what I did when stating up some 10 years ago. Like you I had a regular 9-5 job . I became increasing unfulfilled and decided to take the plunge.
I wrote a letter of intro to all accountants in my area. This gained me two valuable contacts, one of which I still do work for on a sub contract basis. The other sold up and I was able to take over their client base.
Another method I used at first was checking the job adverts, I gained a few who just wanted a bookkeeper on a very part time basis, a couple of hours a week or just one day a month. Talked them into using a self employed bookkeeper and I still have them today.
All my work now is via word of mouth, I do not advertise or network.
Have confidence in the fact that your skills are good enough to enable you to take the plunge.
Julie
I just want to thank you both for your advice I have spent the last week using this forum as a research tool and have a long list of things to look into and sort out. I like the idea of an introduction letter for local accountants which will be one of the first things I do once I have sorted out insurances and software and I am ready to "launch" so to speak this will be one of the first things that I do.
