Dave Shannon switched career from life on the road as a driving instructor to running a successful bookkeeping business which keeps growing. Within four years of setting up his bookkeeping business, Dave has opened up office premises and employed his wife full time.
Dave's career journey is anything but ordinary. He started off studying to be a primary school teacher but switched to a full-time role at McDonalds. He tried his hand at various sales jobs before, inspired by his dad, Dave became a driving instructor in 2005. This was a game-changer, leading him to start and grow his own driving school, showcasing his knack for running a business.
Transition to Bookkeeping
A conversation with a friend who was a bookkeeper piqued Dave’s interest in the field. He appreciated the flexibility and potential for self-employment that bookkeeping offered. Dave pursued his ICB qualifications through Training Link balancing his studies with his driving school responsibilities. He chose ICB because the end goal was always to have his own business. "I didn't see the appeal of going to work in someone else’s practice. I liked the fact that with ICB I could qualify and then go straight into practice."
Building a Bookkeeping Practice
Dave's transition to bookkeeping coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. And while the lockdown allowed him to focus on his studies, it also meant that it was quite challenging to find new clients. But Dave made the most of his local connections and reputation to gain his first clients including fellow driving instructors and even members of his rugby club.
“A friend from the rugby club introduced me to a guy who’d just set up a new social housing business.” This client has remained with Dave for over three years and has significantly contributed to the growth of his bookkeeping practice. "He's still one of our biggest clients today. He’s been with us almost four years. We are growing together."
Today, Dave’s bookkeeping practice is thriving. He manages a portfolio of 70 clients with a combined turnover of approximately £2.5 million. Dave credits his success to the supportive community within the bookkeeping profession and the network of experienced colleagues who have provided invaluable guidance. And it’s a family business too.
“My wife came on to do a couple of days admin and social media each week. But as we got busier, she started to do a little bit more data entry. By January last year, she became full time. And we now have another full-time staff member and we outsource some work to another ICB bookkeeper.” In September 2024, they'll be joined by a new apprentice.
Dave is feeling positive about the future.
“The profile bookkeeper seems to be getting better. I think they were overlooked quite a lot in the past, whereas now we’re educating people, and clients can see a real need for us.
“We're based in Stoke. 70 clients sounds a lot but it's just scratching the surface. I see the possibility of expanding to new nearby cities, or setting up with more remote workers.
“We’re going to be investing in social media and our website, and will continue to invest time in our local networking group.”
