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- Member PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 84 posts
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Hi,
I am trying to get clients. I started advertising last week and think that I should write off this month due to approaching christmas.
But I was wondering what percentage of your work is home based?
Or do most of you go to business premises to do their accounts?
And what is your busiest period of the year?
Thanks
Angela
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Hi
I'm in the same situation as you are. My first client I am able to do at home and as this will fit around my other work (not bookkeeping). I think I will prefer to find other similar clients. I am happy working on my own in my own environment but not everyone is. Good luck with the advertising but try websites like Gumtree; not only to advertise but to answer ads as well.
Sandra
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Hi Angela
It depends on the client. I do both; work from home and work at the client's premises. It all depends on what service you are providing, what the client is comfortable with and what system the client is using. At the moment, I'm only taking on local clients so that it cuts the cost of travel and it also means I can get to their offices relatively quickly if needed.
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Hi,
I work from home, but will go to clients to collect and return paperwork.
Regards the busy times, for me I'd say the last month or two have been busy, and it shows little sign of letting up. Having said that I only work part time hours right now as I have young children.
Kris
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Same as others I work at home and client offices depending on what they want. I prefer to work at client premises because I don't have a spare room to use as an office and it does impact on my home life.
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Hi Angela,
Same here with regards to advertising!
I am flexible to work at clients premises.
Working part-time at client premises/home is ideal for me.
All the best,
Nathaliexxx
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- Member PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 4 posts
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Hi,
2.5 years I worked from home. Now I rent small office in local business centre just 10 minutes from home. I am not visiting clients premises any more or just occasionally.
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- Member PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 51 posts
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I do both but the majority of my work is done at my clients premises. Easier if there is a problem or something I need to chase up. I do like to do VAT returns at home though! Much easier to concerntrate when you don't get interupted.
Lol
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- Member PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 195 posts
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I work completely from home as I have clients all over the place! I am lucky enough to have a dedicated office in my house and clients can easily visit if they need to, or I can visit them, but to be honest, once I have met wtih them a few times over the initial setup I very rarely see them in their own place of business.
It can be a llittle lonely at times and when I first started I had to be strict with friends that just because I was at home didn't mean they could just drop in for coffee whenever they liked but now it's great.
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As most of the others have said, it depends very much on the client's needs. Some of mine are small businesses, from one man bands to firms empolying a dozen or so, others are companies with many staff and complicated computer systems. The smaller ones without their own systems, I work from home; the larger on their premises, using their equipment.
As professionals we need to be flexible - and of course reliable.  Good luck and best wishes.
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- Fellow PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 115 posts
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I work exclusively at clients premises using their computers etc, because that is what they want. Sometimes I take some work home, eg working on spreadsheets.
It all depends on where you are and the type of practise you wish to setup. I really enjoy working in different offices around Central London, I have a motorbike so travel time between them is less than 30 mins. But if travel time was more than this I would seriously think about it.
Mike
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Not sure who was at the ICB conference this year but you may have bumped into me. I was on the bookkeepers panel and would like to add my point of view to this post.
3 years in running my own practice and I still work from my home office (seperate entity to house). I have staff and all my clients are extemely happy that I take the paperwork away from them. I have been fortunate to date that the clients I have don't have any systems in house to warrant me working at their premises.(It's probalby because I'm from Wales) This doesn't mean that I have only small clients........they range from 20K to 2M and some have Intrastat VAT. You need to sell your service but do it well.
I have worked at their office in the past but I feel I can multi task more and am more profitable if I take the paperwork away.
I always collect the paperwork, generally monthly and provide regular feedbacks to them as to how their company is doing.
You can't beat that one to one contact.
With regards to busy times, December qtr for Vat I have the most, so look out after christmas break.
Merry Christmas to everyone and I hope that 2012 will bring all your dreams and aspirations to reality.
Sharon
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- Member PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 84 posts
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Thank you to everybody who has replied.
I am hoping 2012 will start successfully for me and that I will get many clients.
Thanks again and Merry Christmas to you all
Angela
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Hi, I work from home as I fit it around my family, I have 4 children, 3 at primary schooland 1 at Nursery and as my husband usually works away from home, it is more convenient for me. It is up to you and your own circumstances. Obviously I go to the clients place of work to collect their books and paperwork, therefore working at my own pace and convenience.
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- Member PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 84 posts
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lynneAsaid:
“Hi, I work from home as I fit it around my family, I have 4 children, 3 at primary schooland 1 at Nursery and as my husband usually works away from home, it is more convenient for me. It is up to you and your own circumstances. Obviously I go to the clients place of work to collect their books and paperwork, therefore working at my own pace and convenience.”
Thanks Lyn
Can I ask how long have you been in practice? And where do you get your clients from?
Many thanks
Angela
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