Self Employed Book-Keeping Career Advice Please ??

g4fne

Hi Folks.

Would anyone who works from home as a book-keeper for the smaller business be kind enough to PM me .... I'm after some general career advice if possible please

Many Thanks

eamon

I considered doing this a few years ago, I even got as far as signing up with a distance learning provider. Fortunately I had second thoughts and with more research etc I cancelled my registration and got my money back. A close shave!


If you need this to replace all your current income then don't do it, reasons below.

• Yellow pages is already stuffed full of accountancy firms, freelance accountants, bookkeepers etc. In short it is already a very competitive market.
• If you can't enrol at a local college then from my experience do not use distance learning. Many companies are very vague re their pricing structure .i.e. its very expensive.

If you are really keen on this subject and can afford it, are young enough etc then do it properly and go for a recognised accountancy qualification. Check out the web sites of the various industry bodies for more information. This link may work


http://www.accaglobal.com/links/externallinks/uk_accountancy_bodie

g4fne

Thankyou for your response. I'll certainly bear what you have written mind. I have a college local to me that can offer qualifications & i have made a start by completed some (i'm 36 so hopefully still young enough ) so thankfully i have not needed to entertain the distance learning type courses.

I'm hoping for some "hands on" practical advice if possible, from someone currently running their own little business.

eamon

In that case post your query and questions in this board and it may give you a more useful insight

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.html?f=27

dmg24

I do accounts from home for a local businessman (four businesses). Have done it for three years now. Feel free to post any questions, but I may not have the answers as it is done on rather an informal basis (I am disabled and so work as and when I can).

g4fne

Thanks Eamon & PM dmg24

honeypop

I work from home as a book-keeper for a couple of businesses, PM me too if you like.

Pauper_Princess

I don't know if you've looked into it/already done it, but the AAT is a great place to start at college - most offer it in the evenings. The first year is fantastic for teaching double entry book-keeping - might be old fashioned but it's the soundest basis for doing people's books from home! Have done book-keeping as part of my everyday work in times past but not from home. We tended to use spreadheets but manual cashbooks are just as good. In fact now I'd rather see a good old red Cathedral book as spreadsheets can be a sod if they're not formatted right!

A lot of the book-keeping companies our clients use are struggling a fair bit though, with people going bust on them or cutting back and doing it themselves... just something to bear in mind :undecided

g4fne

Pauper_Princess wrote: »

I don't know if you've looked into it/already done it, but the AAT is a great place to start at college - most offer it in the evenings. The first year is fantastic for teaching double entry book-keeping - might be old fashioned but it's the soundest basis for doing people's books from home! Have done book-keeping as part of my everyday work in times past but not from home. We tended to use spreadheets but manual cashbooks are just as good. In fact now I'd rather see a good old red Cathedral book as spreadsheets can be a sod if they're not formatted right!

A lot of the book-keeping companies our clients use are struggling a fair bit though, with people going bust on them or cutting back and doing it themselves... just something to bear in mind :undecided

Thankyou Pauper Princess .... Yes, i am aware of AAT & have completed the Foundation level a few years back & debating whether to revisit & continue along this line