Lack of work!

System
System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
edited June 18 in AAT member discussion
Hi all,

I am getting increasingly frustrated that all my efforts to gain clients for my new business has amounted to one (who is a friend of a friend).

I have done flyers, advertised, written letters to local businesses, etc etc.

I was wondering if anyone else had this trouble starting up? and if so, any more ideas on what I can do. I started up in mid April! how long is TOO long to wait!!!

ANY comments very gratefully appreciated please! :?

Comments

  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Lack of work!

    Where are you based?

    Don't be disappointed by the "friend of a friend" thing. Most of my work comes from networking and word of mouth. It does take a while to build up. I suppose it also depends on the kind of work you are looking for - do you have to fit it in around a day job?

    Look out for some local business networking groups. You could try introducing yourself to local accountants although in my experience they like to keep the work in-house, or want some sort of subcontract arrangement.

    Good luck
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Lack of work!

    Hi Sheelagh,
    I am based in East Sussex. I do have a regular 9-1 job which i was hoping to give up once the business took off!! I cant do much more "trying to get work" than i have already, maybe I just have not given it enough time.
    Thanks for replying! :D
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Lack of work!

    Keep going - can people get hold of you during the day? If not they might find it off-putting. When I first started I advertised in all the local church/ community magazines - relatively cheap and people know that you are local - perhaps one of your selling points could be an "out of hours" service, which most larger accountancy practices dont offer.

    Claudia
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Lack of work!

    Thats a great idea claudia - I think there is too much competition, so offering out of hours may help - although I did put the word "free initial consultation" in ads etc, but that hasnt seemed to attract the vultures!!
    Thanks for the help. :)
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Lack of work!

    Hi

    If i were you, I would just stick at it for now. In business terms, 3 months is no time at all. I would suggest (from what i've seen) that the first year in business (accounting andotherwise) will probably be your slowest. It takes ten times as much effort to get a customer than it does to keep an existing one, so all your hard work should pay off.

    Neil
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Lack of work!

    thanks for that encouraging advice Neil, that has cheered me up and I agree with you, as in most things in life, persistence does seem to eventually pay off! So nice to have others in same "business" to chat to about these things. Cheers again! :D
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Lack of work!

    Hi

    Another usueful resource is the local chamber of commerce. Although I'v not joined one or been to any of its meetings, they are apparently a good way of meeting people in business, networking and getting 'known'. Also, keep an eye on the Thommson Diretory and Yellow Pages websites as new business will probably want to advertise there. Thomson (I belive) actually offer a service where you can pay to be infomred of new businesses in your area.

    Neil
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Lack of work!

    I started up on my own in June and have had exactly the same problems (I'm in Leeds). I have been round all local businesses with advertising cards, given business cards to friends, advertised in local shop windows etc. to no avail.

    I have two clients now - one was a response to a load of letters I sent (with CV) to local accountants offering a sub contract bookkeeping/accounts service.

    The other is the result of my putting my CV on Monster.co.uk - I had about 20 fruitless calls from agencies but one of them was looking for an interim acountant and they don't mind me working part time and freelance cos they are desperate (!) so I have got enough work to put me on for now.

    I have also just received an offer of another interview with another accountany firm because I sent them my CV so it does sometimes pay off!

    I am hoping that the advertising will pay off in a few months when the smaller businesses start to panic about their Self Assessment returns!!

    Everyone keeps telling you to keep your chin up but I understand how frustrated you are. Keep going - it will pay off eventually!! Emma.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Lack of work!

    Thanks Emma - you have given me some more ideas and hope! appreciate all the replies.

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