Own Business

System
System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
edited June 9 in AAT member discussion
Hi All, I want to start my own business working from home but unsure as to what I need to do. Please can someone help me? I want to provide a full accounting service but don't know where to start.

MTIA

Dee

Comments

  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Own Business

    Hi Dee.

    Are you an AAT student?

    If so, you need to get public indemnity insurance and register as a Member in Practice.

    Scott.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Own Business


    What's to stop a student providing a service without mentioning AAT?

    There are lots of adverts in local papers for 'fully experienced' book-keepers etc.

    As long as the person providing the service works within their scope and doesn't mislead their clients, there shouldn't be a problem.

    Helen
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Own Business

    You can't register as a member in practice until you are a member.

    You can however offer your services without being qualified. I don't think you'll get PII without being a member either. you would be too much of a risk to the insurance company.

    Provided you don't provide any legally binding advice and you point out you are studying for the qualification i don't see a problem.

    I would perhaps limit it to book-keeping, VAT and Payroll with limited Accounts production though. Taking on the work as there Accountant i would suggest being risky but there would be no reason why you couldn't provided you didn't market yourself as something you're not.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Own Business

    If you set up as a bookkeeper outside of AAT you cannot mention the AAT in any way - even that you are a student member.

    Scott.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Own Business


    That's what I suggested - and what I used to do. I had quite a good business just offering book-keeping, payroll and VAT.

    No-one ever queried my qualification status - they were just happy to find someone to do the work for them.

    In fact, some potential clients might perceive qualifications as being more expensive. Just a thought.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Own Business

    Hi, Thank you all. yes i'm a full member and just completed tech level November 2006. I live in Essex and just scared of advertising, but i supposed if i don't its not gone get me anywhere.

    Dee
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Own Business

    Hi

    If you are a full member you do need to become a Member in Practice to start your own practice.

    If you're fully qualified but not a member I think you can say you're AAT qualified.

    When I set up I was told I could advertise before I got my licence but that I would need to get a licence before I could start working.

    Sue

  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Own Business

    Daniel - of course you can get PI without being a member. I did for about 3 years before I qualified - and I don't think that my premium was overly loaded because of it.

    Claudia
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Own Business

    Did they cover you for giving professional advice?

    That would seem strange if you weren't a member of a profesional body.

  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Own Business

    I also set up on my own before I qualified. I didn't have a problem getting PI cover either and it wasn't expensive.

    I have also recently done some tax work for an accountant who is qualified by 30 years experience and isn't a member of a professional body, she has full insurance cover and has never had any problems.

Categories

Privacy Policy