Introducing a Sydney bookkeeper - with a difference.

TimFairweather · #1 (**Link to this post**) 09-03-09

Hi guys and girls, my name's Tim Fairweather and I'm the principal of Bare Figures Bookkeeping. I run a unique Sydney bookkeeping service across Sydney to help small business owners with the paperwork stopping them from growing their business.

I'd love to hear from anyone with good / bad experiences with using bookkeepers. Maybe i can tell you how to use them the best way and hopefully save yourself some money.

I would also love to hear about small business owners living in the Inner West area of Sydney. It would be great to have a coffee and discuss our businesses in this thriving community.

Cheers, Tim

tildavirtual · #2 (**Link to this post**) 09-03-09

Hi Tim and welcome.

While I do provide Virtual Bookkeeping services, I am primarily a Virtual Assistant. Majority of the horror stories from clients and associates has been caused by people with software knowledge but no bookkeeping knowledge passing themselves off as a qualified bookkeeper. Which of course leaves a huge mess behind for those of us who know what we are doing.

Communication with the client seems to be another issue many have had in the past with prior bookkeepers.

petercrocker · #3 (**Link to this post**) 10-03-09

Hi Tim,
Welcome along and thanks for joining.
There is a Sydney group on the forums who met up recently so you might want to consider joining them:
http://www.flyingsolo.com.au/forums/...etworking.html
Thanks again and see you in the discussions.
Cheers
Peter

Burgo · #4 (**Link to this post**) 10-03-09

G'day Tim,
What an important service you provide for those who are not bookkeeping savvy.
There is a Sydney networking group, one in Manly also which I would love to see all together.
Looking for a quiet venue so that we can all haveachat, so if any one knows of a place we can meet we can get it organised.
Patrick

ps See you are in Balmain, some really cool places there.

TimFairweather · #5 (**Link to this post**) 11-03-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by tildavirtual

Hi Tim and welcome.

While I do provide Virtual Bookkeeping services, I am primarily a Virtual Assistant. Majority of the horror stories from clients and associates has been caused by people with software knowledge but no bookkeeping knowledge passing themselves off as a qualified bookkeeper. Which of course leaves a huge mess behind for those of us who know what we are doing.

Communication with the client seems to be another issue many have had in the past with prior bookkeepers.

Thanks Kylie - it's amazing how many clients tell me how the person that set up their accounting software had no accounting background... personally before i choose a dentist, I look for a degree on the wall, at least!

The bookkeeping industry has a hard time persuading clients that they are an investment. Do you have the same challenges in your industries? Do you have trouble convincing your clients that VA is an investment in their own time?

I also find it had to keep clients happy when you estimate how long it will take to go back and undo 12 months of wrong accounts, half-entries and mistakes.

TimFairweather · #6 (**Link to this post**) 11-03-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burgo

G'day Tim,
What an important service you provide for those who are not bookkeeping savvy.
There is a Sydney networking group, one in Manly also which I would love to see all together.
Looking for a quiet venue so that we can all haveachat, so if any one knows of a place we can meet we can get it organised.
Patrick

ps See you are in Balmain, some really cool places there.

Thanks Pat - important it is, but it's possible to do yourself - IF, and this is a BIG IF - your willing to do the training and committ to consistent training in it - like anything. If i had a business and no accounting knowledge, For $50ph, I would prefer someone came and did it the right way, rather than me wasting my time now, and paying my accountant at tax time to do it again!

Manly - great location, potential networking/coffee/swim group? That could be fun. Balmain has some great cafe's and a great local business community, I'm sure we could get something up and running failrly quickly. Especially considering the recession and so the need for new ways of growing your business.

What challenges do you face with your business Pat?

ray_223 · #7 (**Link to this post**) 11-03-09

Hi Tim,

Just a quick question ...

The title of your post is "Introducing a Sydney bookkeeper - with a difference."

... I'm just wondering what the "with a difference" refers to?

tildavirtual · #8 (**Link to this post**) 11-03-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimFairweather

Thanks Kylie - it's amazing how many clients tell me how the person that set up their accounting software had no accounting background... personally before i choose a dentist, I look for a degree on the wall, at least!

The bookkeeping industry has a hard time persuading clients that they are an investment. Do you have the same challenges in your industries? Do you have trouble convincing your clients that VA is an investment in their own time?

I also find it had to keep clients happy when you estimate how long it will take to go back and undo 12 months of wrong accounts, half-entries and mistakes.

Most of my client's already know what a Virtual Assistant is and how we can benefit them so convincing them that using a VA is an investment is no problem at all. However, one issue many have is managing client boundaries and expectations. Because we work from home (mostly), it doesn't necessarily mean we are available 24/7.

As for undoing someone else's work, I don't usually give a time estimate. I give them my hourly rate and update them at the end of the week as to how much I've used. My clients prepay so when their credit is used up, I process their credit card again for the next block of time. It's just too hard to estimate.

Bookkeeping as an industry is still gaining momentum. As you know up until recently we've only been seen as paraprofessionals and not a profession in our own right. We've just recently had our own qualification ratified through the Australian Qualification Framework and the new legislation changes will do more to cement Bookkeeping in Australia as an industry of it's own. Once the legislation comes in we should see less of the 'cowboys' and it should become easier to convince small business owners that a fantastic bookkeeper isn't just a good investment, it's a great investment.

Burgo · #9 (**Link to this post**) 11-03-09

What challenges do you face with your business Pat?

to be honest NONE, as I retired 18 months ago but do a little bit here and there to get out of the way of " shewhomustbe", and run a small association.
I suppose the associations challenge is how to get more members.

TimFairweather · #10 (**Link to this post**) 11-03-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by ray_223

Hi Tim,

Just a quick question ...

The title of your post is "Introducing a Sydney bookkeeper - with a difference."

... I'm just wondering what the "with a difference" refers to?

Nice one Ray!

The difference is that I see bookkeeping as a way of GIVING information to a business owner. I see bookkeeping as forward-looking and the essentials of your business, your 'bare figures' as being the most important numbers you look at each week and month.

When I help clients, I make sure they're aware of the figures that drive their business so they can make decisions.

There is a great post on Kylie Short's blog [URL="http://www.tildavirtual.com.au/blog/"] about knowing your business' position each week. Cash position, sales in, cash owing, etc. Using your data in this way makes business so much easier.

My background is from audit - so I experienced many businesses that lacked information when it was relevant. Tax time is not the time to find out how your business is going!

Ray you have a difference - what's yours?

Login

Introducing a Sydney bookkeeper - with a difference.