Starting Out - The Book-keepers Forum (UK)

Vicki Newman · Senior Member

Starting Out

Flex Accounting Services · Senior Member

Hi Vicki, haver a look at VT Transaction+. I have used sage for many years but last year started to also use VT Transaction. I now use this for many clients and even do my own accounts using it. It is very simple to use and is quire cheap (I think so anyway) at £233 (incl VAT) and that is for multi companies too. Also linked to excel and does final accounts.
I tend to use 12pay for my payroll, again very easy and straight forward to use and very good value for money.
With regards to the rates, I am in Yorkshire so may differ to your region. I tend to charge between £15 to £25 for bookkeeping/accounting services. Other services such as payroll, self assessments, etc, have separate charges. Some clients like hourly some fixed fee. It all depends on the work and the client (and what you are happy with too !)

There's my opinion anyway. I'm sure there will be a few more on the way from other !!
Bev.

Wella · Expert

Hi Vicki, and welcome

I would agree with Bev's recommendation of VT Final Accounts and 12Pay for payroll (see Tom another VT/ 12Pay user). VT actually gets cheaper in year two.

I am in the SW as well, I try to work on a fixed price, which seems to be more palatable to clients here. If you don't you would be lucky if you can get £12.50/ hr (in Cornwall any way). If you tell someone £45 a month they accept it, tell that it 12.50 an hour they nearly fall over (my experience anyway)

Having researched the site, I guess you are familiar with the legal requirements but I would say don't underestimate how long it can take to get clients.

Although I have never pushed hard for clients, it took about six months to get my first and I am only up to eight, two years on from starting. I would start marketing in advance and be prepared to start working earlier, if you manage to get the clients.

Bill

kjmcculloch · Guru

I have to agree with Bill, I have always quoted fixed fee prices and I think it's definitely the way to go. I have a few clients where the fees are actually working out to over £35 per hour.

cfhdocmail.com, a service I swear by for sending letters have just introduced a service for postcards. You just design and upload your postcard (A5 or A6), and your mailing list. They then merge it, print it and post it for 34p per card. I have just sent my first batch of 200 last week.

Kris

Flex Accounting Services · Senior Member

I've just looked at that website you have mentiond Kris and how good is that !! I've never heard of it before so thanks for sharing it with us. I get a list of 100 local start up businesses every month so I print out 100 standard letters I have, print them all out, stuff envelopes, put stamps on and post. Wow, I'm going to save loads of time. Once again, thanks for mentioning it. I've just signed up with them.
Bev

kjmcculloch · Guru

I did that the first time, never again. they can merge them, print them, stick them in envelopes and post them cheaper than I can buy a stamp. The only slight issue is they print a barcode down the left hand side of the page, but I can live with that.

Kris

Vicki Newman · Senior Member

Thank you everyone very for all of your useful input, it is so nice to speak to real people who have already got successful bookkeeping businesses, it just shows that it is possible. I must say I am rather nervous at the moment as there is so much to plan and prepare before hand and also to make sure that I am legally covered. I will take your advice and start marketing in the new year and hopefully have a few potential clients for the end of the year. Thanks again.

Vicki

Flex Accounting Services · Senior Member

I'm sure you will be absolutely fine Vicki. If you wanted to get a website too have a look at Vistaprint. They do ones for as little as a few quid a month. You have to create the website but they have templates, etc to start you off with. There are a few more companies like Vistaprint out there though that do the same thing.
Bev

ADAS · Guru

Vicki.

I'm sure you're not alone in feeling nervous, I know I certainly was. But just under a year on, unless circumstances changed drastically for the worse, I wouldn't consider going back into employment.

It is hard work and scary at times, but once you get your first client I'm sure you'll find it does wonders for your confidence.

One of the things I really enjoy about the forum is there's plenty of people who've been through the same things. People round here are very willing to offer support and advice.

I wish you lots of look.

ProBowlUK · Senior Member

Flex Accounting Services wrote:
I get a list of 100 local start up businesses every month ...
Bev

Hi Bev,

Where do you get that list from ?

cheers biggrin

Flex Accounting Services · Senior Member

A company called Michrome (I think!!). It costs but not alot.
Bev

ProBowlUK · Senior Member

Taken out a trial run (2 months)

One thing is they don't include contact details.
Isn't it important to follow up mailings ? smile

Are there any lists available for unlimited business startups ? confuse

-- Edited by ProBowlUK on Tuesday 9th of November 2010 05:47:25 AM

Peasie · Expert

ProBowlUK wrote:
Are there any lists available for unlimited business startups ?

I don't think that would be possible. The only people that would know of unlimited businesses would be HMRC and they would not be allowed to give out details. Limited companies are different in that the information is publicly available. Just as their accounts each year are publicly available.

RuthA · Senior Member

Going back to the issue of fixed fee, I'm wondering if it depends on the type of client you are working with. I have found that many of mine prefer an hourly rate (in which case I quote £15 per hour) as they like the flexibility of being able to ask me to do extra things for them. They are the clients who might have several different small businesses, or who have recently started up and are expending quite rapidly, so their requirements are often changing.

ProBowlUK · Senior Member

Peasie wrote:
I don't think that would be possible. The only people that would know of unlimited businesses would be HMRC and they would not be allowed to give out details. Limited companies are different in that the information is publicly available. Just as their accounts each year are publicly available.

Hi, Peasie

That's what I was thinking, but these are the people that I think I should be aiming for.

The ones who set up limited companies seem to do so through accountants or financial advisers, so their bookkeeping and accounting needs are already sorted.

How do I go about finding those recent unlimiteds ? confuse
With the huge volume redundancies expected after Xmas, I'm assuming a lot will invest their money in setting up in business rather than wait for a new job.

Bev, What success have you had with those mailing lists ?

biggrin

-- Edited by ProBowlUK on Tuesday 9th of November 2010 07:39:38 PM

Flex Accounting Services · Senior Member

Hi Bob,

I think the lists I pay for must include a few sole traders (as the comapny names dont have 'limited' otr 'ltd' in them). I send out 100 per month and usually get a couple of enquiries/customers per month.

I wouldnt rule out limited companies Bob as yes they may well haver accountants already but we all know how much money we can still save companies by using a good bookkeeper throughout the year.
Bev

Peasie · Expert

I had a quick look at that list place - although it's not available for Scottish postcodes.
I put in an English postcode to try it out.

I was wondering about it appearing as sole traders (the lack of Limited/Ltd at the end of the name). I looked up the first one via google - that didn't help. I then went to companies house and it WAS a Ltd Co. Maybe the website just chops the Ltd off all the names.

I'll re-visit the website for a more detailed look.

Peasie · Expert

Flex Accounting Services wrote:
I think the lists I pay for must include a few sole traders (as the comapny names dont have 'limited' otr 'ltd' in them). I send out 100 per month and usually get a couple of enquiries/customers per month.

Just had another look at the website - the next two I tried were both Limited - although the website did not include Limited.

EDIT : I hope this doesn't come across as being cheeky, but some folk might not be impressed if they have gone to the bother of setting up a Limited Company but then get letters addressed without the Ltd bit at the end of the name. Something you may want to consider.

EDIT 2 : That was just based on the first three companies I checked. I have come to the conclusion that the website has just chopped the "Ltd" off the end of all the names.

If it were me (if such a list were available in Scotland) when I come to start marketing, then I would spend the time checking each individiual name on the list at companies house.

-- Edited by Peasie on Tuesday 9th of November 2010 10:37:50 PM

ADAS · Guru

I think Michrome use telephone connections as well as companies house.