| If you are staring a bookkeeping business, it will be | | | | own professional development and need to pay for it |
| important to consider the costs of operating which you | | | | too. This might be quite a significant change especially |
| might not have considered such as that of | | | | if you have a history of paid employment and being an |
| membership to a professional bookkeeping body. If | | | | employee who might have received training and |
| you have not been in public practice you might not | | | | development in house at the employer expense. |
| ever have needed to be a member or needed to pay | | | | Networking opportunities also arise as part of your |
| for it yourself. If you a re thinking of cutting out this | | | | membership with annual conferences or development |
| cost, it is important to consider what advantages | | | | days. These can be handy especially of you are |
| membership can bring. | | | | looking to find some part time workers or maybe a |
| Being a member can firstly assist with a sense of | | | | monitor. It might be useful just to be able to chat with |
| belonging. When you are out on your own running your | | | | others in public practice and bounce around ideas. |
| own business, you might feel a little more isolated than | | | | An additional benefit may also be the ability to have a |
| you did as an employee. Being a member can remind | | | | code of ethics or conduct to rely on if you are faced |
| you that there are like minded bookkeepers in their | | | | with a difficult decision or client matter. When you are |
| own practices. | | | | in business for yourself it is sometimes hard to make a |
| Your membership might allow you to use post nominal | | | | decision as the head of your organization. If you have |
| which signify membership level and illustrate your | | | | a code of conduct which you need to adhere to as a |
| professional standing. If this is the case you can use | | | | member of your chosen professional body it may |
| these on your business cards and let your potential | | | | assist with decision making. |
| clients know. You might also have access to crests or | | | | As you can see there are many advantages of being |
| emblems or logos of the professional body which can | | | | a member of a professional body and I have only |
| also be used on letter head and business cards. | | | | listed a few. Choose the right organization for your |
| Membership to an association will also give you | | | | requirements and enjoy the benefits of training, |
| access to professional development. As a small | | | | development, networking and professional recognition |
| business owner you will now be responsible for your | | | | that membership can provide. |