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Finding new business

  • 1 post
  • # 70346

I am looking to increase my bookkeeping business so that I can leave my present job and go it alone full-time. So far I haven't done any major advertising and when I have looked into a web site the costs seem horrendous. I do have leaflets and business cards already printed. Luckily the business I do have has come from contacts.

I have passed the manual and computerised bookkeeping exams, plus payroll and am about to complete the AAT exams as well (thankfully). I have also studied the CIS scheme and as I live in a rural area am trying to find info on bookkeeping for farms but without success so far.

Can anyone give some advise as how to go about increasing my business.

Cheers
Mad Liz
  • 145 posts
  • # 70351

A website doesn't need to be expensive if you do it yourself.  You can download something like WYSIWYG Web Builder free to build your site (even if you get the license it's not pricey).  There are plenty of free or cheap hosting services (mine - Free Virtual Servers - costs about £30 per year).

Other ideas are to take out the free listings in Yell.com and FreeIndex.  If you set up FreeIndex correctly they will even notify you when someone in your area is looking for a bookkeeper and give you the opportunity to apply.

Vistaprint also can help a lot.  You can get lots of freebies (including a website) from them.  Bits I've got from them include car door magnets (showing my business name and phone number), free business cards and a vinyl banner that I've put in my office window which attracts a lot of customers.

Good luck!


  • BKN Book-keeper of the Year 2013!

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  • 6 posts
  • # 71049

page removed

Edited at 11 Oct 2011 11:38 PM GMT

  • Fiona Richardson AICB CB.Cert
    FMR Bookkeeping


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  • Member PM.Dip
  • Practice Licence
  • 44 posts
  • # 71066

Hi Jon,

I would also suggest setting up a web site with gbbo.  That is who I used for my website - and is is very easy to set up.  The website got me my first client, a business that is currently growing 'Googled' for a local bookkeeper, and my website came up first!

Whoever you use for your website, don't forget to list your site with the search engines (to find out how to do each, ask a search engine (ie Google) and follow the advise that is given).  

Lucy 
David
  • Fellow PM.Dip
  • Practice Licence
  • 424 posts
  • # 71352

Does anyone have any other advice. I got my practice licence back in Sept 2010, I have advertised in local press, free online directories, yell, distributed leaflets, emailed local businesses, sent letters to accountants to offer my services should they get a client that only needs a bookkeeper,  even subscribed to Michrome to get start ups in my area each month.

Now I find I am just spending money. I still have no clients. Had a couple of nibbles last month but they never followed through. I will always try to persuade a client, never bully.

I am in the Southend on Sea area and have found whilst leafleting that almost every other shop / premises within miles seems to either be an accountant or bookkeeping firm.

Any ideas on how to get some clients coming in?????
MrsS
  • Member PM.Dip
  • Practice Licence
  • 115 posts
  • # 71360

Are you networking? I'm lucky that I have 2 free groups I go to, just beginning to get to know people now and there's 2 other groups I go to who meet every quarter and its about £10 or so. 
gigagirl
  • 220 posts
  • # 71364

Hi David

Sorry to hear you are struggling. I'm in a similar situation, but I've been hand delivering my letters to businesses during working hours and - being quite an outgoing person - I generally manage to get them chatting about any old thing really, it relaxes them, then they ask what the letter is about, and that's my in.  I definately think you stand a better chance of not being "binned" if you just say hello, and ask them what they do and how things are going.
I also don't agree with bullying people.  I personally wouldn't want a client that I had bullied as it's bound to end in tears.  It's really about getting your name out there.  Businesses do talk to eachother, but it's an awful lot of legwork.  I've got about a 3% response rate from my letters, and I'm told the usual is about 2% so I must be getting something right.  No-one has signed on the line yet but I have some very useful business contacts building up, and a couple of very promising leads.
It's taken 2 months of hard slog and countless hours for no reward yet but I feel I'm on the verge of a breakthrough. 
One of my letters found it's way from one business to a local accountants who rang me up and basically gave me an interview on the phone.
David
  • Fellow PM.Dip
  • Practice Licence
  • 424 posts
  • # 71433

Thanks gigagirl.

Looks like networking is the way to go at the moment. Problem is lack of funds. The 'practice' is running at a loss at the moment and I am having to work nights to live (which makes doing anything during the day tiring). I do get called occasionally from my local rep of the FSB, but have to keep putting him off due to lack of funds. Maybe I should 'tighten my belt' a bit more (though this is starting to make breathing difficult Laughing) and maybe meet with him for a chat and see what he / they can do for me. It's a little bit more expense but seems like the only option left for me. At least it would mean I could go to several networking meetings.

Undecided
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