Hi again Mike
In no particular order (sorry Im in a rambling mode today!).....why are you looking at cloudy software when you could surely get mates rates from the provider of one of the best bits of kit out there! I get mates rates and I dont even work there! Oh and by that I mean the Sage 50 suite!  Plus have you seen the shocking state of sage one? (anyway that last comment is one that can be debated another day if you like, sorry Im not a fan).  

Im just linking this to the other post  http://forum.bookkeepers.network/t63929996/starting-out-what-are-the-essentials/?page=last#lastPostAnchor

OK, so with the upmost respect,  you do have a fair bit to get through to get to the end of Level 3 and the AAT suggest that you finish level 3 before becoming an 'accredited' bookkeeper for a reason.  Although some of the modules go past the traditional bookkeeper role which takes you up to TB, so the accounts production one you could leave for now, but I would absolutely stress the need for the Indirect Tax one (whatever its called these days) before you let yourself loose on clients.

A common problem I think is often that new bookkeepers think they can tackle the 'small clients' because by doing so they do not provide any kind of complexity in their business scenario, but the problem is that they can often catch you out and want tax advice on some rather complex matters.   Ive cited an example on this forum a number of times with what started as a small one man band business, was VAT registered (appeared to be the only complication) but within a couple of months developed into the need for knowledge on EC VAT matters, plus dealing with worldwide Withholding Tax issues to name but two issues.   You cannot just take a client on then dump them onto someone else after two months as that is when reputations can be ruined, but on the same hand you cannot just run with it if you have no knowledge of what to do as reputations can be ruined and you can lose your house and children when they sue you!   So its not just a case of you dont know what you dont know, as I mentioned in the other thread, but positioning yourself in the best possible way to deal with the unknowns dumped on you on a daily basis by your client base.

If you are working full time now and doing study, the time you have to fulfil clients needs is going to be very little and believe me they will swallow up your time like you will not believe!!   So I would say, take one step at a time, finish your studies or at least progress them as far as you possibly can before unleashing yourself on clients.  Remember that for your first clients, even with a full knowledge bank, that there will be many many non billable hours where you have to do your research of how to do something so that dead time needs to be factored in and that will be greater the less knowledge you have behind you.

Also, some of the really small clients, a popular one with some bodies are the hairdressers and driving instructor types (for some reason) do not want their bookkeeping doing by one person and the rest by someone else, they want a one stop shop.  That you cannot provide as you have not done your tax exams.

I thought of something else but its gone from my head now (no headspace left for free thought these days ), but hope that helps for now.

Mike Chandler wrote:

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Apologies, I had seen people receive short shrift for not introducing themselves so thought it was better to do two threads rather than one!   lol!     No doubt you have also see my constant moans about the lack of thanks as well!  
I agree about getting as far into my AAT as possible, and that is certainly the plan, however I learn better with practical experience if that makes sense and was thinking that doing bookkeeping for small business (non-VAT/EU imports etc) might be a good way to get the experience but at the same time being completely open to clients about my (in)experience. I do take on board the comments though and it has certainly given me food for thought.
I am leaning more towards Sage One/cloud products due to my AAT experience with them and also from a cost perspective for potential clients as well as making it as easy as possible for them to get onboard with the software as well?


I really do appreciate the comments so far though!

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 So just a few questions for you, no need to answer, just hopefully provide more food for thought:-

 - will someone supervise your work?  Given you dont know what you dont know -sorry I love that phrase - how do you know if you are doing their work correctly?

- how do you attract clients who are non VAT registered ONLY?  What happens if they are close to the VAT threshold, or worse go over that limit without registering?

- how to do you attract clients by telling them you have no/little experience?   Would that not put most folk off?   (Care - not family members - keeping away from family and friends is covered by your Ethics module and taking such on is MAD at the best of times - how to lose friends easily!).  For those who are not put off - are you then having to sell your services at some ridiculously cheap rate to get them to work with you, which then brings in its own problems (clients looking for a bookkeeper/Accountant on the basis of cost are the worst clients to have in so many ways!)  

I am deliberatly not covering the Cloud issue - this has been covered a million and one times on this forum - have a poke about.  Other than to say -being so prescriptive reduces the number of atractive clients, most of the cloud software is sh*te, most of the cloud software means you are paying through the nose monthly for ever, decisions over who pays for the software need to be carefully factored in and you need to consider the Data Protection/Safe Harbour stuff (which most folk seem to be ignoring! Looking forward to a high profile case with that one!)

I dont mean to burst your bubble - just want to make sure you go into this with eyes wide open!