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I have just been to see a new client who is using Sage. At the moment someone in the office posts the Sales Invoices and Receipts to Sage and they are kept right up to date, but the bookkeeper that posts the purchase invoices and payments is over a year behind and has taken all the invoices home to try and catch up. She has Sage at home and posts the invoices then takes the disk back to the office and restores to Sage a few months at a time.<BR><BR>As I understand it if she were to restore she would lose all the sales invoices and receipts that had been posted between her last back up and restore.<BR><BR>Am I correct or is there a way of restoring the purchases and payments without affecting the sales? The person that posts the Sales did tell me she is always able to find the sales invoice to match her receipt, so it does appear, without my looking into any detail so far, that there are no Sales Invoices missing.
Hi Sue, <BR>It depends on which version of Sage you are using. If it's a fairly up to date version you should be able to put the purchase invoices and payments into a CSV file within the reports module and import the data without it affecting anything. You will probably have to edit an existing CSV file report and save it rather than over write it. Once you have the data you need within your report, go to FILE and IMPORT and away you go!<BR>On another note, I am just starting out as self employed but I'm finding it difficult to get started. I have advertised but don't seem to be getting anywhere. Where do you find clients ?
Thanks. As I am taking over from this bookkeeper I was concerned she was going to wipe all the information off before she left, but from what you say it does seem that what she is doing is possble.<BR><BR>I'm also just starting out, got my licence approval through from the AAT today, which I'm really impressed with because it took just over a week and I'd been told it could take 4 - 8 weeks. It was only Trafalger that held the application up, sorting out the insurance.<BR><BR>Whereabout are you based? I'm based in Dorset. I haven't advertised in the local papers yet because I wanted the approval from the AAT before I got too heavily involved. But, hopefully things are off to a good start just from word of mouth.
Hi Sue, glad I could help. I am based in Warwickshire and have advertised in the local paper and the City paper. It seems to be, like you say, word of mouth that is the key factor. Was your first client a friend ? I think networking could be the next step. Are you a member of your local branch network ?<BR>Andrea.
Hi Andrea<BR><BR>Yes the contact I've had so far has been through friends. All I've done so far is a lot of running around meeting people.<BR><BR>I've tried writing to Accountants asking if they outsource bookkeeping (wording it very carefully so they don't think I'm trying to poach clients), most of whom have said they have nothing at the moment but they will keep my records on file, so I'm hoping as its nearly tax season things might pick up! A couple of Accountants have passed contacts to me, one offered me a full time job, but I want to have a go at being Self Employed first.<BR><BR>I haven't been to any branch meetings so far, I was going to one last week, but I emailed the AAT and never heard back as to whether I was too late to book a place. How about you?<BR><BR>Sue
Hi Sue,<BR><BR>No I haven't been to any branch meetings yet but I do intend to do so soon. I think it will be good to meet other AAT members who will give moral support.<BR><BR>I have thought about mailshooting Accountants but like you I think they may be worried about losing business. I think I will give it a go now though, they can only say No ! So far I have only spoke to one accountant. He seemed quite interested as he has too much work for one but not enough to employ somebody. He works alone and all his clients are from word of mouth, he never advertises.<BR><BR>If you think about it, you only need five clients who require weekly visits to be able to work full time plus a few Annual accounts. This must be easily achievable. What do you think ?<BR><BR>Andrea.
claudialowe
22-09-05, 00:00
I've been s/e for about 3 years now - when i started out i advertised in local (church/community) magazines and got good response. Bizarely people seem to think that people that advertise locally are more trustworthy (maybe they are) - also in Yellow pages or something there are so many people that unless you are Aardvark Accounting, people might never see your name! I have now got more than enough clients and dont bother to advertise - once you have the first few word of mouth is the best advertising that you can have - also be alert in local shops etc - let people know what you do, and get them to spread the word - sorry this is very disjointed - but another good thing about advertising in local mags is that it is cheap.<BR><BR>Hope this helps.
Hi Claudia,<BR><BR>Thanks for your response. I must admit that with what you and Sue have said I feel more optimistic now. I will try what you've suggested straight away. Does your work mainly involve you visiting clients on site or working from home and do you fill 30 + hours per week ?<BR><BR>Andrea.
Hi Andrea<BR><BR>One problem with working at clients premises is the Inland Revenue, I haven't looked into fully yet, but I believe in some situations if you work at a clients premises you are classed as employed not self employed.<BR><BR>Sue
Hi<BR><BR>Hijacking the thread abit...<BR><BR>Can anyone tell me what they do if they get anywork they cant take on themselves? Id like to go self employed soon, but there are a couple of things (final accounts for Ltd co's and corporation tax) that I would want to work with, at least not yet.<BR><BR>going on from working at the clients premises, I have heard of that before about sub-contractors.<BR><BR>Neil
Hi Neil<BR><BR>You need another AAT Self Employed member to act as your professional cover when you register, so perhaps you could come to some agreement with them about producing the final accounts for Ltd Co's and corporation tax in exchange for them passing other work to you.<BR><BR>Sue
claudialowe
26-09-05, 00:00
Sorry not been on the site for a while as poorly (ah poor me!). Answers to the various Q's -<BR><BR>firstly working at the client's premises and employed vs s/employed - Revenue at the moment having a "go" at agency nurses and building subbies, so leaving everyone else alone - i work both at home and at clients premises, and in total have about 45 clients. If they challenged me about any of my clients there are only two that might cause probs - one is the one who's premises i work at - i would argue that it is not a fixed contract ie one day a week etc (in fact it is supposed to be one day a week, but never works out like that - either they are not around or i am busy, so prob only 2 - 3 days per month) ergo i am s/employed and not vital to the running of the company.<BR><BR>The second one is work i do at my home, but represents about 30% of my fee income, and i am the entire accounts and payroll department - that one would be harder to fight, except that i would argue that if i could not do the work it would be my responsibility to find someone else who could. <BR><BR>I would then tell them politely where to go.......<BR><BR>At the end of the day s/employed bookkeepers/accountants are not high on their list of people to hassle, as they might come back and bite them on the bum.<BR><BR>Andrea - see above but mostly working from home - only person who's office i work in and yes i fill 30+ hours per week with no difficulty at all - in fact just worked out the days til 31 Jan and have only 6 days unaccounted for, but on the upside will be all the accounts done that need to be done!<BR><BR>Re work that you can't do/don't feel comfortable about doing - try and get a quid pro quo going with someone else. Someone else has talked about distances and clients - i used to have a client in Bristol and i live in Norfolk - never met them, but post is a wonderful thing - but having said that face to face is much better for building up a real rapport.<BR><BR>Any other queries - please feel free to email me: claudia.lowe@btinternet.com and i will try and help you all.<BR><BR><BR>
I have had the joy of being quizzed by an Officer of the Inldn Revenue during his visit to my client's offices to carry out the PAYE/Inland revenue inspection.<BR>The conversation lasted about half an hour, and ended with him telling me that I had convinced him that I was self employed. He asked (sometimes more than twice) ...<BR>How many hours per week I worked for this client - 7 - 15 - depending on workload<BR>Did I choose my own hours -Yes<BR>Could the client insist that I worked specific hours - No<BR>Did I invoice the client - Yes, here are the invoices, on said client's Purchase Ledger<BR>Did I get paid holidays - no<BR>how many other cleints did I have - 3 at the time, which filled to whole of the 20 hours I wanted to work<BR>Was I registered as self employed with IR - Of Course<BR>Did I file SA self employed tax returns - of course<BR>What is my NI number, home address etc.<BR><BR>So it seems you just have to convince then that you are incontrol of the work you do for the client, and you are not working for cash in hand and avoiding tax.<BR><BR>We have a right to be self employed - thats why many of us trained. So let's go for it.<BR><BR>Any one out there looking for work - I have just had the most constructive piece of advice from a lady who is helping me with my marketing. Quite simply "Be Visible" and let everyone know what you do. Lots of local internet directories offer a free listing, or an inexpensive one with optimisation options. A line in yellow pages is free. Also try your local Business Link or other local enterprise support org. Newspaper advertising has to be long term to be effective, so it can be expensive.<BR>Good luck
Sheelagh<BR><BR>That's good to know. Most people that have contacted me want me to work at their premises and I wasnt sure how I would stand.<BR><BR>You mentioned advertising in the Yellow Pages, have you advertised in the AAT Corporate Advert in the Yellow Pages? I've been told that's free as well.<BR><BR>Sue
Just a quick comment on getting known.<BR>I have found that joining my local Chamber of Commerce has raised my profile in the area<BR>as they not only have reg meetings for networking but a website that has details for each business.<BR> Sharon - East Sussex<BR>
Hi Sharon,<BR>Somebody else has mentioned this to me and I am thinking of looking into it. Is it expensive and does it involve you giving a presentation?<BR>Andrea.
claudialowe
30-09-05, 00:00
I am a member of our local chamber of commerce - costs £10 per annum and meetings once a month in the pub - but it is only a very small town - well actually large village really - but i expect that some of the larger town/city ones might be more expensive - always worth looking into, as lots of other small businesses will also join and always useful for networking - be careful though that you dont end up being the unpaid treasurer - one of the downfalls of being an accountant!<BR>
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