I am trying to set up a payroll bureau business but not having any success. I have tried a number of techniques contacting Accountants, in the Yellow Pages and Recruitment agencies I have a website and leaflet that I have created. I have called and sent emails and only had 3 company's respond, and could really do with your input, please feel free to be as critical.
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Website link
If you share your website, we can at least offer advice on how that comes across.
How have you been contacting accountants? More importantly, since you are asking this question in February, but indicate you have been trying for a while, when? If you were contacting accountants in January there is an obvious reason why they felt disinclined to talk to you.
Your presentation here is not exactly encouraging, so I hope this is not how you are coming across elsewhere. The multiple explanation marks present an unprofessional look. The plural of company is companies, not "company's" as you have it. Small details to be sure, but you are asking people to put something that requires a lot of attention to detail in your hands.
Finally, why a payroll bureau, and did you not research this beforehand? Payroll bureau is a limited service, which many accountants will offer as part of a whole package. That makes them more attractive than you straight off the bat. You need to offer something more if businesses are not just going to say "Our accountant deals with everything". Also consider that maybe there just isn't a demand for bureaus in your area anyway, smaller businesses handling it in-house.
I'd suggest you start off small - maildropping small business in the local area - that way you can steadily build up - unless of course you are already used to the payroll workload of medium company's
Make sure you're giving them a good reason to respond - you need a unique selling point or cost advantage
Good Luck
It won't happen overnight
You need to be able to communicate why businesses should use you and why that would be better than using another payroll bureau.
To get a short sharp message across have you considered GoogleAds with a link to your website?
Website
If your website is going to be your shop window, then it certainly needs work. It has a number of grammatical and typographical errors which project a less-than-professional image, in an area where prospective customers are looking for a partner with excellent attention to detail. It's also a little vague about exactly which services you offer and to whom. The message seems to be one of 'we'll do payroll for anyone', which is unappealing.
Payroll is a business-critical process and your potential clients will want confidence that you have experience of their particular challenges. If you're initially targeting small employers, then the website needs to be aimed in that direction.
Finally, clicking on 'site map' brings up pages on the company's dealings with lots of things unconnected to payroll, such as facilitating trade with Libya and the Middle East, project management and event management!
Overall, I suggest a small investment with a professional web designer (you will be able to find one locally) would pay dividends.
RTI - Are you ready?
The central heading on your website's home page would have been appropriate a year ago when RTI was about to be introduced, but not now that it has been in force for 11 months. Most accountants will draw the immediate conclusion that you are out of date and will look no further at your services.
Also, Sage is not popular with many accountants. Why do you feel the need to display the logo of the payroll software you are using?
I'm afraid I agree
The website looks very unprofessional in appearance and content. We would certainly not consider working with your company at present based on this.
I think you need to look at who your target market is.
There are some great online payroll options out there, so I guess you need to work out why people would use you. With payroll it's not all about cost.
I also agree that the site map is confusing - it looks like you have fingers in lots of pies
It's All About You!
A quick glance at your home page reveals nothing about what I (as a potential client) might get out of engaging you.
Until you answer this reader's question, along with many others like "Am I one of your ideal clients?" the visitors to your site are not interested at all in you, your experience or any other companies or organisations you may be affiliated with.
I have written a booklet, Accountants Websites That Work - 27 Vital Things You Absolutely Must Know Before You Talk To Your Web Designer!
Let me know if you'd like a copy.
And then there's the rest of your marketing...
Websites That Work
David: Does your website work? I googled Accountants Websites That Work and it didn't come up in the results. I'd certainly like to see it.
Too many
According to psychologists that would be 24 too many for most people.I have written a booklet, Accountants Websites That Work - 27 Vital Things You Absolutely Must Know Before You Talk To Your Web Designer!
website
I appreciate that you consider you offer a nationwide service so your location may be irrelevant, but I would be very wary of approaching anyone when I had no clue about where they are. OK, I could look up your registered office address, but I would want a bit more detail on your website.
This too!
I appreciate that you consider you offer a nationwide service so your location may be irrelevant, but I would be very wary of approaching anyone when I had no clue about where they are. OK, I could look up your registered office address, but I would want a bit more detail on your website.
A colleague and I went on a great Companies House seminar last week and there are certain things that you are legally obliged to show on your website....your registered office address being one of them! The speaker told us that they frequently check that these sorts of requirements are being met and if they receive written correspondence with a website address on it they will check out the website as a matter of course. Again, it's paying attention to the small details that will help promote your business. I doubt every limited company does it right but as I go to great lengths to, I wouldn't refer work to anyone who didn't.
HMRC logo!
I don't think HMRC will take too kindly to you putting their logo on your website. Their logo is subject to copyright and you will need permission to show it - I think you can use it if you can click on it as a link to their website but not otherwise.
People buy from people.
Your website is as unpersonalised as I've ever seen. Throw up a picture, talk about yourself and the experience that you have; rather than that of your faceless ltd. You need to build a sense of trust in order to even give somebody the inclination towards using your services - get a customer testimonial on there instead of the Sage logo. You're selling you, not Sage - which many people happen to detest.
Stop now !!
As a new media Project Manger and qualified marketing professional I will first apologise for the following very direct remarks.
Azzy you do not have a website you have a few pages of content on the web, many of the other people have highlighted some very relevant issues. Basically the website is terrible it has no redeeming features and suggests that you have no idea of running a professional business. Nor have you considered what the market requires or how you might compete with the many existing suppliers.
A quick search shows a range of companies providing this service with better designed and more informative websites. They give an impression of being professional and experienced operators, yours does not.
Being very blunt - your chances of been successful and gaining enough work to make ends meet is minimal, I get the impression you don't have a business plan and no funds to start up the service. Starting a business is very hard work most don't make it.
Just because you have the software and I do hope many years relevant experience does not mean you have the skills to start up a company. Your comment 'still trying to come up with a good enough reason to convince people to use me instead of others', does suggest you should not be doing this!!
If you have a job don't give it up, if you don't have a job look for one fast you will need it.
My comments might sound very harsh but there is no point in you spending time, energy (and money) on a project that is going no where.
Good luck in whatever you end up doing.
Ok, so ...
... you are based in the centre of York, but the contact address is Birmingham.
A look at Companies House shows this is the Registerd Office and also the following SIC code!
46140 - Agents involved in the sale of machinery, industrial equipment, ships and aircraft
Nothing wrong with the above, as mentioned you must show the RO, but not inspiring either!
You are entering a field grossly over-populated and very uninspiring. You might want to spend some time on some CPD and find something you really find interesting and rewarding, something fulfilling. I wish I had.
Whatever, make sure you have some professional indemnity insurance.
As OGA has pointed out - why does your website state that you are in York, but have a Birmingham address?
VAT registration
I guess the answer is the business will aim to be working with businesses that are VAT registered and hence have no problem with the VAT charge. At the same time VAT is deductible on costs.
That is a rather odd question on this forum I have to say.
It is not an odd question
Since the OP does not appear to have any clients yet then registering for VAT seems a bit premature and if he does not have any clients then how does he know if they will be able to recover the VAT or not? He could make the most of being a start up by not charging VAT until he reaches the threshold since this may be a saving for small local clients and therefore a competitive advantage. At the least, why would you voluntarily register for extra compliance and exposure to penalties before you know if you have a viable business model?