Bookkeeping Business Adelaide?

[LizB]

Hi.
We are currently in the UK, but are seriously considering applying for a visa to get out to Oz.
I have my own reasonable successful bookkeeping business in the UK - have set up from scratch 5 years ago and now turnover around £25,000 ($50,000) per year, (part time).
My question is - Does anyone know if there is a need for bookkeepers in the Adelaide area? Luckily, where we are in the UK, most Accountants are pretty small businesses themselves, so either out source the bookkeeping side, or recommend clients get freelance bookkeepers to do the regular stuff. Would that be the same in Oz? I'd love to start up again, as opposed to look for employment. (Have enjoyed the freedom that being self employed gives for too long!)
I see that MYOB and Quickbooks seem to be the standard in Oz, as opposed to Sage in the UK, so I'd obviously need to get up to speed with that.
Also, are their any licences, professional requirements needed to set up this kind of business in Australia? I have an (old) AAT qualification, and am looking to join the ICB (Institute of Certified Bookkeepers) in the UK, but currently here, if you are not covered by any of the professional bodies, you can just register with the Tax department, as an Accountancy Service Provider, and away you go!
Any advice anyone can give would be much appreciated, as we will certainly need an income from me to even consider living our dream in Oz.
Thanks.

[SheInspires]

Hey there,

I'm afraid I can't answer many of your questions - I'm a writer and designer rather than an accountant and found MYOB too complicated to use so have a more direct and simple system - but I do know there is a demand for accountants in Australia.

I don't know if a book keeper is a full accountant so the Chartered Accountants Association should be able to help more with your specific questions.

Maybe find an accounting firm in Adelaide to try to build up a relationship so they can explain things and hopefully offer some free-lance contract work to help you get started when you get here?

All the best,
Belinda

[business balance]

Hi Liz

Sounds like an exciting move is impending!

There is definitely a demand for bookkeepers in Oz, in most capital cities including Adelaide. We provided bookkeeping for cients currently in Adelaide.

For most small businesses in Australia that use external bookkeepers, there are 3 accounting software packages that are used: CASHFLOW Manager, Quickbooks and MYOB. Some micro business owners also a free software tool available from the Australian Tax Office (ATO) called e-record.

Here's a link to the ATO business requirements for record keeping http://www.ato.gov.au/businesses/default.asp?menu=43634

There are a few basics you'll need to cover accreditation wise, including aligning with a registered tax accountant to be able to official do tax submission on behalf of clients. We can help walk you through the requirements.

Happy to help give you some further direction. If you contact me through our website www.businessbalance.com.au I can email directly.

Regards
Lisa

[Jeremy]

Hi Liz,

Bookkeepers in Adelaide are sought after quite a lot. From experience and discussions with other bookkeepers here, we are all kept fairly busy!

It's a matter of networking, especially with Accountants and local business groups. The Business Enterprise Centres are an excellent source of networking as is Business SA. The odd local paper advertising can help too.

Wish you well in your endeavours!

[LizB]

Thank you so much for these replies - it has certainly put my mind at rest that I should be able to start out again in Adelaide.
We have just applied for hubby to have his IT skills assessed with the Australian Computer Society. So if that all goes well, we will then apply for the visa. Fingers crossed we will get there!!
This is a great website for small businesses - Shame there's not something similar in the UK!
Thanks again.
Liz

[Sophie Andrews]

Hi Liz

I am from the UK originally too. If you know what you are doing and set up your business well then there will always be work. I recently released a book about setting up a bookkeeping business in Australia, setting your prices, getting customers etc - you can see a preview on www.theideasbook.com.au - it might be useful if you do end up moving out.

Best of luck!

Sophie

[Julia Nitschke]

Hi Liz

It sounds like you are going to have a wonderful adventure. I have my own consulting business in Adelaide and my husband works for a company that has a lot of accounting firm contacts which are often wanting to find good contract bookkeepers to help them out.

If you do end up in Adelaide and you are looking to get started feel free to send me a personal message. I am also just about to publish a book called My Bookkeeping Business, its a guide to help start, run and grow your bookkeeping business and it has Australian content for the Australian market. I can email you an electronic draft copy if you would like just for osme background.

Good luck!

Julia Nitschke

[BookkeepiingPro]

Bookkeeping is and always will be a high demand industry. The reality is that every business needs to do their books - they either do it themselves (which is great if they have time), hire and accountant or hire and internal or external bookkeeper.

The reality is that demand tends to outstrip supply when it comes to bookkeeping and that has led to considerable variability in quality.

One tip - get familiar with MYOB and Australian GST Laws - not particularly difficult to do if you have run a business in this space previously.

Good luck - hope it all goes well for you.

[LizB]

Thanks Julia. We are still in the VERY early stages of our dream. (Hubby is just starting his Skills Assessment in IT), so if we do get to Adelaide I expect it to be another 12-15 months at the very least. Very many thanks though about your husbands contacts in the business - it certainly seems that networking will be the way to win clients!

In the mean time I would be very interested in your new publication - I will PM you my email address. Thanks again for all the feedback - What a great site this is!!

[Renee Barber]

Hi Liz

You're so right about this being a great site. What I particularly love about it is the support you (used generally here) get from 'competitors'.

It's good stuff!