Are clients put off by accountants working from home?

Are clients put off by accountants working from...

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I have recently set up a new practice, only this time, I'm starting from home.  I have a pretty good website and have just had a call from a prospect who insists on coming to see me as opposed to me visiting him!  

My website doesn't state that I work from home explicitly, although it does contain my home address.

I wanted to get other members' opinions and experiences regarding this predicament.  I've given the prospect my address and he is coming to see me on Tuesday but I'm worried he will turn up and say 'oh, I expected you to be in offices'.  

I usually end up visiting clients at their premises but not on this occasion.  

How do other home workers deal with this?  Is it perfectly normal do you think, or should I state on my site that I work from home?  On research, I notice that most other home working accountants websites DO NOT mention that they work from home and presumably, they don't have any problems?

Many thanks in advance

Replies (26)

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By susanreed
05th Jun 2014 06:06

I have an office at home

 Hi

I work from a home office. It has not been a problem at all. When i give directions to new clients, i mention it is a residential area and that i work from home. No issues at all.

I have a brother in law who started his very successful business (a different sector) from home. His house was like a train station with people coming and going.  Again it was not a problem for him. He moved into offices eventually when the business got too big.

What is very important is that you have a dedicated space for your business. So for example, taking clients into the living room is not a good idea.

Hope this helps

 

 

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ghm
By TaxTeddy
05th Jun 2014 08:01

An old worry...

... of mine from when I started in 1995. While I am sure some business clients may have been put off by a home address, personal tax clients weren't - and these were the clients I wanted.

Over time I took a virtual office in the local town - they handle incoming and outgoing post for me and have meeting rooms available. It works very well but for the most part I am sitting at home (like now).

The virtual office is a reasonable cost and also serves to get me out of the house each day to collect and drop off mail.

I would recommend it.

 

 

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By hertsaccountant
05th Jun 2014 08:53

Virtual Office

Ditto the above, I work from home but I have a virtual office which provides me with a business address and the use of meeting rooms. All my post goes there too to I am able to keep my home out of the equation. However my clients know I work from home and for convenience thy occasionally drop thing into me etc. But for new clients I see them at the virtual office. The cost of this is £100 per month plus VAT which I feel is good value for money.

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By pauld
05th Jun 2014 09:04

No problems

I started my business working from home and never had any problems. In fact I stated on my website that 'I worked from home which allows me to keep my fees very competitive as I do not have the overheads of larger firms'. If you're targeting small businesses, they will not care where you work so long as they can drop off their paperwork to you. I do agree that a dedicated space helps so you don't have to shift the family and pets out of the living room when a client turns up.

As my business expanded, I got fed up of with clients turning up at the house without an appointment as you could never switch off and relax. I now work from a serviced office, which suits me and suits the wife as she gets the house to herself ! and rid of all my files, but clients don't care where I work so long as I am contactable.

As your just setting up. IMO its the best option to work from home as you need to keep your costs down.

Good Luck!

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Replying to Cheshire:
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By Ken of Chester le Street
06th Jun 2014 12:27

No travelling

Working from home is fine if you haven't got children. And if you've got teenagers, forget it!

When I downsized, and the kids had grown up and left, i worked from home for 10 years before retiring. My field was specialist, so most of my clients were a long way away.  But some were local, and there was always some lack of privacy.  But as most were friends, or became friends, this didn't matter. One cliemnt took exception to me, and I later found out that when she took her dog outside she had let it crap on the step, but this was the only negative experience. 

 

One advantage was if I couldn't sleep I could work in the nght if I wanted to.  And of course I didn't have any commutiong time..

 

One point to watch- as an accountant you will have worked out the imlications for cgt if you move?

 

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By petersaxton
05th Jun 2014 09:15

I work from home

But I built a dedicated office in an extension and it is better than most dedicated offices.

As long as your office looks businesslike I don't think there's a problem. Some clients like to know that their fees are not being used to pay for business rents.

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Sarah Douglas - HouseTree Business Ltd
By sarah douglas
05th Jun 2014 10:04

View from both sides

Hi 

Sorry for long winded answer.  Just thought I would give my comments because I have done both and Peter raises a good point about Rents. 

Many years ago we noticed the business stopped growing from new clients rather than referrals .  He did not matter to me at the time as other things in life where priority. 

However if your a certain age now you will probably google street Map and it is fairly easy to pick up on a virtual address.  It is in Glasgow anyway. 

I had competition close to me and they mentioned they were a business centre but they were actually a house and the clients came to us in the end.  I think they felt deceived only because they claimed they something they were not as others have said above , if you make it clear I think that is okay. 

For the first 15 years I dedicated a whole floor to our office and 3 of us worked there but I was out about mostly 

I made the decision in Feb 2013 when I was ready to move to bigger offices in a business centre . I have had a 50% increase in Ltd client business since we moved to Dalsetter Business Centre which has 60 other mixed type of businesses in the Business Centre.   The Business Centre is out of town therefore lower rents.   Many other practices who I know and network with in the last year who have made the jump to similiar premises have reported the same.   Many of my current clients mentioned to me that it was so much more professional and they were happier coming to the new offices,   It is interesting that they never said anything before but my current clients refer more to me now.    

Another major point as a women, our male clients rose by about 75% in the first year for tax returns.  My office is 1 mile down the road from our house so I think moving to an office made a difference. It has become clear that men anyway and I am not trying to be sexist here are more comfortable at a business centre.  My current clients said that to me.   I think what you need to consider that not everyone is comfortable going to a house.   I used to use the Mitchell Library Business rooms to get around this and I advertised this on our  website so clients knew. Most new clients were impressed and I always just explained when I met them that we did this to keep the costs down. The Mitchell Library was very professional.

Making that decision in Feb 2013   was one of the best decisions I made even though I was nervous.   Our offices are busy and in a good location and some businesses have seen us by visiting the other business in the premises there is also a Chartered Accountant next door to us which has helped rather than hindered.   We are a bit like chalk and Cheese in a good way and very different areas of expertise but we do pass work to each other without a referral fee. 

I just thought I would give you both sides.   Both have suited me for different stages in life.     Everything is pretty local my office , my sons school and my house which is why it works.  However I definitely think not all by any means that there are clients who would definitely prefer to go to an office. 

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By Jim100
05th Jun 2014 10:32

Doesn't matter too much

Clients buy off people so if they like you then they will engage you not if you have an office or not - though there maybe a minority that would prefer someone with an office especially larger clients as its just perception that they would think a practice with a business centre office maybe large (with more than one partner) than dealing with someone working from home (one person company). 

I work from home too and there are some many advantages as you know.  I could not have the hassle of travelling to an office that is just me.  One advantage of having an office in the city is it increases your profile especially if you have a large sign which should gain you more clients.  I agree a virtual office may be a good idea as ideally you don't want strangers coming to your house and invade your privacy.  I do feel ackward when clients come to my home and better either meet in a virtual offce or maybe in a coffee shop.

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By FCExtraordinaire
05th Jun 2014 10:57

WFH

Working from home not a problem in my experience,  however a dedicated office area is a good idea.

Benefits are (possibly) out of hours appointments and the informality which some clients like.

However,  check your insurances,  you cannot generally hold meetings at home without Public Liability or notifying your insurers. 

 

 

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Sarah Douglas - HouseTree Business Ltd
By sarah douglas
05th Jun 2014 10:58

I think it does matter

HI 

On personal experience I would not say it was the minority not in Glasgow anyway.   We have doubled our one off guys .  Our location is not that different to what is was except it is a business centre. 

That said it all depends the clients you are after but we have had huge increase in bigger and small companies.   

That said there were plenty of older clients before we made the move did not care and still do not. So they would have hired us regardless.   But the Business centre has made a big difference to our sales. 

 

 

 

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By andy.partridge
05th Jun 2014 11:06

Depends

If you have a dedicated area where you can meet clients that looks business-like and professional then it's OK. Without meaning to sound snobbish, what signals would give off if your prospect turned up at your council house?

When I had to conduct business meetings from my living room I found it just didn't work and lost prospects as a result.

You have to consider what type of client you are trying to attract. The local plumber might be fine with it, but the multi-millionaire chief exec might not be.

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Euan's picture
By Euan MacLennan
05th Jun 2014 11:39

Gravitas

I think it is an issue of gravitas.  Accountants tend to have offices at commercial premises for the same reason as clients sometimes register a limited company, rather than be self-employed, or register voluntarily for VAT, because they feel the need to demonstrate that they are a proper business.

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By Manchester_man
05th Jun 2014 13:00

Ok many many thanks to each and every respondant.  Some good food for thought there.  It does seem to be the consensus that it is fine as long as a dedicated space / office / room is available.

 

I'm still very nervous though haha.  I feel in control when visiting prospects, but I fear the opposite when the tables are turned

 

I shall post the result / feedback,

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Jennifer Adams
By Jennifer Adams
05th Jun 2014 13:16

Meeting clients in a hotel lobby....

An accountant friend of mine started his own business but didnt want clients to come to his home. Not really practical anyway as he lived in the sticks. So he went to the Holiday Inn Solstice Park Salisbury on the A303 intending to ask them whether they would mind him meeting clients there.

He didnt have to ask... when he walked in at every table in the 'lounge' area were business people working with their laptops each having meetings.

The hotel said they didnt mind as they were having coffees all day and usually lunch and it made the place look busy.

Each table was separated such that no-one could hear what the other was saying; the clients thought they were being treated.

 

 

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By Liz D
06th Jun 2014 12:04

Hotel lobby is the norm

I agree with JAADAMS.  I often meet prospective clients in hotel lobbies and agree their usually full of people doing the same.   It may be your prospective client also works from home and doesn't want to have people round to them. 

I have had a few round to my house but only those I know from other events / meetings etc.

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By WongR
06th Jun 2014 17:19

Depends on the clientel.  

Depends on the clientel.  For mine working from home would definitely discourage the attraction of new clients.  Sometimes its a matter or perception.

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By coolmanwithbeard
07th Jun 2014 00:43

Horses for courses

I work from home and although I have a dedicated office it is in a bedroom (a large bedroom there are 3 of us working in it some days). I dont tend to take clients to the office room aside from thr fact its upstairs there are too many client papers around.

 

I do have a second lounge downstairs (Its a large victorian terrace) so one or other are regularly free and I can meet clients in a relaxed atmosphere. It works well for me and the clients  I have. If a client wants an accountant in a suit sat behind a large desk in a town office there are plenty near me and I am not going to lose any sleep at their choice. I have plenty of local/distant/large/small and national clients all of whom seem happy to meet me at home or have me go to them and drink their tea.

 

I have run QuickBooks training for individual clients from a laptop plugged into the large TV. This week a client is popping in to have lunch with me and we'll sort out her tax return at the same time.

 

We generally have a very open home with a lively buzz, I have a staff member whose kids love to pop in if she's passing with them in the car. I really think I'd find it dull being in a business centre!

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Sarah Douglas - HouseTree Business Ltd
By sarah douglas
07th Jun 2014 14:36

the question is about the clients perception

Hi 

The above question was about the clients perception not about the advantages working from home which there are many and also many disadvantages.   

 

.    Personally I have worked from office and home I have done both.  All I am saying that whilst it may not matter to some clients it definitely does to others. 

If you do pick a business centre you need to pick the right one.  My rent is not expensive and the place is large and spacious and they are not all the same.  The one I am in is close to my kids school and short walk to my house.   So if I want to go home or do something with my son or go to sports day then it is very easy.   I think you will find that most people have a lively buzz in their house our back garden seems to attract all the neighbours kids.

You are not tied to centre all day again that is up to the accountant. 

 

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By djbrown
07th Jun 2014 14:07

Use a local hotel

I have had about a dozen clients want to come and see me in the 6 years since I started up.  I simply tell them that I don't have an office as such and that I usually use a local hotel.  Everyone thus far has been fine with it.

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By orchardacc
07th Jun 2014 21:13

Both have its advantages

I started off working from home and like others have said, you must have a dedicated office space that looks business like. None of my clients have issues coming to see me at home, although I tends to do most of the visiting. Having said that, since I moved to an office 5 years ago, clients have more than tripled and now have 5 employees. Clients seems a lot happier and confident as some have made such comment. Referrals is continually on the rise.    

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Glenn Martin
By Glenn Martin
07th Jun 2014 23:06

It's a natural progression for me.
I have started working from home over a year ago now and it has not been an issue in getting work. Most new start ups I get are standard service style company jobs and they are not bothered as they all work from home. For bigger jobs I could see it being an issue as they may perceive as being small fry and not able to do the job. But for me bigger jobs are usually busier people so prefer you to go to them as they don't like to take time out of the office etc, alternatively I have a deal with local hotel for use of their lounge area for meetings which people love.

For me if I am honest I don't particularly want clients coming to my home as I would be concerned they they think they could just drop in when passing which I wouldn't like. Another issue I have is after working on an employed basis for 25 years I feel the need to get up and go to work. I am too easily distracted at home, and I find my say gets broken up too much when my daughter comes in from school at 3.00pm as she won't leave my office alone if she knows I am in. And gets great amusement from drawing pictures and changing figures on my white board. I think I will be looking for an office soon for these reasons somewhere in a serviced office style facility, not to raise my profile with clients but simply to separate home and work.
Al

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Sarah Douglas - HouseTree Business Ltd
By sarah douglas
08th Jun 2014 12:47

Glenzy

Hi Glenzy

After 13 years of working from the house and visiting clients I had  enough.  I needed to separate work from the house it was getting me down and lost that feeling of going to work.  I was also fed up constantly cleaning the house and bathroom for when people came. We had a dedicated area but you always get one who goes the wrong way. 

 

 I was exhausted .  The toilets are beside my office and their always really clean .  I have to say that was my first joy not having to constantly tidy and clean up.   

Our clients have over doubled since we moved to an office.

 

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By User deleted
09th Jun 2014 07:15

If YOU are the practice, it doesn't matter where you operate from because it is all about the Clients' relationship with you as the sole practitioner. However, if the focus is on the firm, the brand etc, you wish to grow and expand, and have more partners and staff then you need a proper office.

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By Philip Hoyle
09th Jun 2014 09:04

An office definitely gets "better" clients

I started off working from home and used to go out to see clients, which was fine whilst I was building up the numbers, but the real killer was the out of hours phone calls, faxes and callers.  I had people sending faxes at 3 in the morning, waking the whole house, so I had to start remembering to unplug the phone/fax.  Then some clients thought it was fair game to drop off their books and have a chat whenever they were passing, which included 7am at weekends for one guy.  My client base was mainly tradesmen, subbies, etc.

So, I rented a high street shop front for a few years.  Together with a couple of advertorials in the local paper, I got some very good larger clients, including some guest houses, shops, wholesalers, e-commerce, etc.  I was quite shocked at just how different the new clients were - far more likely to be bricks & mortar "real" businesses.  It seemed that I was viewed as far more legitimate by having a nice shop front.  I had a very high rate of success of signing up - probably close to 95% signing up after the first meeting.  Only problem was the time wasters, mostly OAPs who'd regard us as a drop in centre for someone to check their tax code, but also drunks, charity collectors, sales reps, etc. all taking up valuable time, even just to get them out.

So, I moved to a "hidden" office (down a drive just off a main road) without a street front presence in the hope of getting rid of the time wasters.  Funnily enough, no longer get the new clients B&M/quality businesses signing up either.  Luckily, I've got critical mass, so plenty of new clients being recommended from existing and past clients.  Probably over half my clients are online from all over the country, so they never see my office anyway which is also good.  But it is very noticeable that there's a real fall off of raw local new client enquiries (even fewer tradesmen) and the few that do come in for the first meeting have a much slower conversion rate into clients.  I can only summise that my current office gives a poorer impression because of it's location.

So it's not just a matter of whether you have an office or not, you also have to think about the impression that the office gives.  In my case, clients seemed more impressed by a small shop front (one room) on the High Street than by a more expensive, larger office suite, that was, effectively, down a side alley off a main road.

One thing for certain, though, is that I'll never operate from home again.  Sadly, clients just take advantage when they know where you live.  You DO need a wall between your home and business life in my experience.

 

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Replying to legerman:
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By Ken of Chester le Street
09th Jun 2014 11:57

a wall between your home and business life

Quite!

I've retired now, but as I had a niche market of computer-literate clients I was advised that they could be hundreds of miles away and still serve them. Initial interviews could be a problem, but at that niche market's annual conference was a good opportunity, or  a trip by train (not so much dead time, time to catch up on professional reading).  

A colleague in this small town simply refused to see anyone without an appointment. This worked for him. His office was upstairs and no one could get past his receptionist!

 

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By WongR
09th Jun 2014 11:29

Perception

I can only speak for myself and my own practice.  But I have actually had clients that had expressed they would not want my services if I practised at home.  They basically feel uncomfortable with having meeting at somebody's home.

 

At that point I was in the process of finding my external office anyway.  But again it depends on your clientel.  I cannot speak for everyone and again its sometimes a matter of perception.  Would you use a mechanic that worked from home to service your car ?

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