Certified Bookkeeper looking to shadow... in around the Luton Area. - The Book-keepers Forum (UK)

ladyceya · Veteran Member

Certified Bookkeeper looking to shadow... in around the Luton Area.

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

You do of course realise that you are asking local practices to train you to set up in competition against them?

Any local practice worth working for will :

a) Excpect you to work for free
b) Expect you to sign a non compete where you are not allowed to work in or attract clients from a 5 to 10 mile radius of their offices
c) Expect you to sign an anti poaching clause (any clients that belong to that practice you cannot touch no matter where that client may be)

If they don't then they were probably not worth working for in the first place!

Its worth noting that courts will no longer uphold exclusion / poaching / restriction of practice clauses of more than 12 months except in exceptional circumstances.

What you should be asking is whether there are any practices in (say) Manchester who you could shadow for a few months.

(this is why the ICB's buddy program will never work)

Haymac · Veteran Member

Hi Cheryl,

I doubt there would be any firm willing to take you on for the reasons Shaun has pointed out.

I would highly recommend just biting the bullet and test the waters yourself. Customers do not bite ! We have all probably been in the same position as yourself starting out and there is really no 'text book' way of gaining experience, take a deep breath and launch into the world of bookkeeping. You will surprise yourself at how quickly you get up to speed and put all that studying into practice.

I took the plunge many years ago and I am still learning ! Nothing faces me now and I think that gives me the confidence my customers appreciate.

Good luck, have faith in your abilities and enjoy the journey.

Julie

ladyceya · Veteran Member

Hi Shaun and Julie,

Thank you for your response, I was under the impression that others would be happy to help and also that there is more thank enough potential clients to go around. I am also not adverse to just helping other practices out.

However, you both make valid points and Julie, I think you are right I need to have a little faith.

Cheryl

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

ladyceya wrote:
I was under the impression that there is more thank enough potential clients to go around.

You've been listening to the people who are attempting to either sell you bookkeeping courses or get you to join their professional bodies haven't you.

Trust me, there are definitely not enough clients for everyone. If there were then people would not still be working for less than minimum wage just in order to get some work.

Training companies will tell you that there are 4.6 million business and only 2 bookkeepers... And one of those is about to retire.

The reality is that those businesses are not all trading, many of the micro businesses will look after their own books, others will want a one stop solution with a chartered / chartered certified accountant (who generally want either full time AAT people, or highly experienced known to them self employed bookkeepers doing their bookkeeping).

To be a successful stable small accountancy practice you would be looking at a stable of around 300+ client.

Thats a lot of the market written off before you even get onto bookkeepers offering accountancy services.

Many new bookkeepers take a long time to find their first client but the good news is that when they find one word of mouth means that others follow.

You will be eternally trying to stop others grabbing your better clients whilst also finding that you can't get rid of the one's where getting money out of them is like getting blood from a stone.

Make no mistake. This isn't an easy business to make money from on a self employed basis.

On the other side of your question, yes, we help each other. Partly because we want bookkeeping to be a better regarded profession so bad advice to a client from anyone calling themselves a bookkeeper (or accountant) reflects a little upon all of us.

Thats not to be confused with helping someone out on your own turf... Its business... Business is warfare and you don't win a war by supplying the enemy with bullets.

ladyceya · Veteran Member

Hey Shaun,

I hear you on all points. I wanted mentoring for exactly the point of not wanting to give Bookkeepers a bad rep on account of giving unqualified or a substandard service.

Cheryl

Cheshire · Master Book-keeper

Hi
I agree with the others on here, you are very unlikely to find someone to do this given the 'competition' angle. I have to say.....the slimmest chance you might have had, might have been scuppered anyway by asking for a 'certified' bookkeeper.....that to me indicates ICB or IAB and dismisses all the other excellent bookkeepers out there. I know you have posted on here before about this and assuming you have had no takers, may I suggest contacting local bookkeepers and seeing if anyone has too much work that they need to offload and will maybe provide a buddy partnership. I honestly don't rate your chances, but it's worth a few calls. The other thing is.....you can get all the practice in the world with clients but you will always be hit by something new from every client so you will soon find what you learnt on your courses will be surpassed very quickly by the learning you get out in the 'real world'.

Haymac · Veteran Member

Hi Cheryl,

One thing I did when I first started out was sending a letter of introduction to all accountancy / bookkeeping firms in my area. Out of the hundred or so letters, I gained two companies that gave me work.

The first company I still carry out on - site support on their behalf. The second company was working with a husband and wife team who eventually retired and I was given the opportunity to buy them out.

I would highly recommend, this approach, but expect that not all companies will reply.

Julie

ladyceya · Veteran Member

Hi Joanne,

Thank you for your advice.

I will look into going the route you mentioned. It has been quite disappointing especially as you are told that people will mentor you.

It is ok though, because all of this is part of the learning process... so all good.

Hope all is well with you.

Cheryl

ladyceya · Veteran Member

Hi Julie,

Thank you, another positive response ...much appreciated.

Cheryl

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

ladyceya wrote:
It has been quite disappointing especially as you are told that people will mentor you.

First rule of business, don't believe the promises of anyone who does not control the thing that they are trying to sell.

First rule of marketing, sell your product whether its right for the customer or not.

First rule of management, deny completely the remit that you gave to marketing

I've thought of a comparable scenario.

Apparently all open top sports cars come with supermodel in the passenger seat. That was one of the main selling points the garage pushed, imagine my disappointment!

ladyceya · Veteran Member

Hey Shaun,

I love that comparison...

This is brilliant, I'm learning so much already..

Cheryl

Cheshire · Master Book-keeper

ladyceya wrote:
It has been quite disappointing especially as you are told that people will mentor you.

Hi

In this business the one thing you have to do on a regular basis is not to believe what you are told - but what is evidenced!

There are very few mentors for any business who will actually tell you what to do on an indepth basis anyway, that is not really the role of a mentor. But what I would like to know is whether the 'people' you mention, which I assume to be the ICB, actually stated that a mentor would be available. Or if in deed it was a buddy or some other phrase. If this was me (and it wouldnt be cos I wouldnt be using the ICB) then I would absolutely be complaining to the highest authority if they have not yet provided you with one if that has been promised. If it IS actually in any of their advertising that made you then decide to take things further with them I would be complaining not only to them but the advertising standards authority and frankly demanding some cold hard compo! But, I am guessing it was just mentioned as a possible option IF they are able to match you. There are people out there who will buddy up and bounce ideas off each other just as much as they do off this forum but they are few and far between.

If you really are lacking in confidence a lot - try taking on a treasurer role for a small local charity or two before you take on any clients.

Shaun - the supermodel was there all the time - you just need to open your eyes. lol. Loving the first rules though - so very true.

Leger · Master Book-keeper

Cheshire wrote:
Shaun - the supermodel was there all the time - you just need to open your eyes. lol. Loving the first rules though - so very true.

Oh, I thought he meant he was disappointed with the supermodel lol.

Cheshire · Master Book-keeper

lol. biggrin