Hello from the little bookkeeper,

[littlebookkeeper]

Hi everyone, I am just setting up my bookkeeping business in Dunfermline 'the little bookkeeper'. Nice to meet you all

Up until now I have just been doing books and a few tax returns for friends and family, but with my youngest son starting school next August I am hoping to get my business up and running now.

I have my practising licence, indemnity insurance, registered with the HMRC and have some business cards. What do you think my next step would be to get customers? I do speak to people about it when I meet them and pass on my card but need some advice on other ways of getting clients.

What has worked best for you?


Many Thanks,

Carole

[Indizine]

Hi Carole

welcome to A1

we have a marketing forum so you might want to post some details in there so we can guide you better, as attracting customers means you have to do some marketing.

[AccountingBasics]

Hi welcome to the forums.

I did much the same when my children started school. I got most of my customers from adverts in local papers and on www.gumtree.com

[seanstevens]

Hi Carole, Welcome to the forum, good luck with the business.

[Punched]

Hi Carole

Good Luck with the bookkeeping

I remember years ago i did my ATT, then my ACCA, but one day gave it all up to start in Engineering, Strange

Gerry

[littlebookkeeper]

Thanks everyone for you nice welcomes.

I will look at the marketing section.

I used to be acca before the kids came along but couldn't afford to keep paying the subs so let it slip. Only want a bit of extra income now doing something that fits round the kids so hopefully icb diploma will be adequate enough now for what I need. Don't blame u for ditching accountancy tho!

Carole

[Punched]

. Don't blame u for ditching accountancy tho!

Carole

Hi Carole,

I worked for an accountancy firm in my home town, Did my ATT, then got a job in london for an investment bank whilst doing my ACCA. Then one day i help a mate in his engineering firm and decided that this was the real me

My parents went mad !! Everyone thought i was having a breakdown, Quite funny really. Now i'm earning double what i would of earnt as an accountant or Finanical Director, so whos laughing now!!

Its the way life goes really,

Gerry

[busyB13]

Hi there! Not sure if you'll catch this post, but- i've often thought about doing a bookeeping course as a way of maybe boosting my income, and was wondering- do you have to be a complete maths whiz to do something like that?? I like maths and have always been quite good t it, but am worried i might not be the bookeeping type?? Any advice would be great...Thanks! And good luck if i don't hear from you!

B

[Punched]

Hi there! Not sure if you'll catch this post, but- i've often thought about doing a bookeeping course as a way of maybe boosting my income, and was wondering- do you have to be a complete maths whiz to do something like that?? I like maths and have always been quite good t it, but am worried i might not be the bookeeping type?? Any advice would be great...Thanks! And good luck if i don't hear from you!

B

Hi BusyB13

When i started my ATT, its was about 20 years ago and you did have to have fair bit of savvy and good grades from your school exams.

but thats if you want to start on the road to accountancy, then you could start your accountancy degree, acca or cima, thats if you want to end up as an accountant or Financial director or similar.

For just Basic Bookkeeping, Your local college may be more in a position to help you, you could enrole as a mature student too if your of that age.

But generally i think that the basic bookeeping courses don't expect you to have an A Level maths or English, so it may be the best option for you.

Find out from your Local Business Link or Enterprise Agency if there are any local FREE courses, or you may even be entitle to get the local colleage course for FREE if your claiming certain benefits.

I'm sure there are loads more options, but thats a few i know

Good Luck

[busyB13]

Thanks for that-think my problem might be more of a confidence thing..Yeah was definately leaning more towards bookeeping on the side rather than full blown accounting! I'll look into those free courses-thanks for the advice and for the promprt reply!!