Growing pains

Posted by FirstTab on Mon, 03/10/2011 - 22:51 in Blogs 1168 7 comments | report

Thankfully my practice is expanding at a steady rate without any marketing effort on my part.

One of the downsides of growth is that I am finding it difficult to keep up. There is a fair amount of work involved in the early stages of taking on a client. Not only this, there is also kissing a few frogs (clients) before deciding you are right for each other.

Further my staff good as she is needs support and training. This takes time. In addition, she lacks confidence in her own ability. It will come with time.

All this takes me away from normal day to day work. This includes checking the all-important billing. Implementing some great ideas I have about making the practice far more efficient. Most important of all, keeping up with routine client work.

Today I felt things were just getting too much. If I can be big headed, so many people and areas demanded my time.

Tomorrow another new potential client meeting followed by one more on Wednesday. This is great news.I am so grateful and feel so lucky. Having said this, a part of me says I need some time to myself to think. I wish I did not have these meetings. If I did not have them I would be worrying about growth.

My bike has turned out to be a disappointment. Brakes only on the front wheel and rear brakes are by pushing the pedals backwards! I cannot get used to it. It is a dangerous bike to ride. I will try and return it. I have enough to do!

Tomorrow I hope will be a great day.

Comments

What I do 1 thanks

petersaxton | Tue, 04/10/2011 - 08:08 | Permalink

I know some people will say that it's the thin end of the wedge but what I do is to work long hours for a few days. Once you get on top of work it becomes a lot easier.

new leads source? 1 thanks

Red Leader | Tue, 04/10/2011 - 12:04 | Permalink

Hi FT,

It would be intersting to hear what is the main source(s) of all this new business. Which type of marketing is really starting to work well for you now?

Red Leader

Website? 1 thanks

petersaxton | Tue, 04/10/2011 - 13:33 | Permalink

My guess is the website

Website

FirstTab | Tue, 04/10/2011 - 17:59 | Permalink

As Peter says it is the website Red Leader. It has really surprised me.

Back pedal brakes 1 thanks

HudsonCo | Wed, 05/10/2011 - 12:42 | Permalink

I grew up in Germany and this is the type of bike I learnt to ride. The English ones seem dangerous to me where you have to partly let go of the handlebars to brake or change gear. Each to his own.

On a more serious note I'm at the same stage but family commitments (the whole reason for my own business) rule out working longer hours so I'm looking at outsourcing to a local bookkeeper (AAT who has almost completed ACCA) and virtual PA. This should take up the slack until it is regular enough to recruit.

I'm also looking into Logical Office for the workflow and CRM as I have too many spreadsheets keeping track of everything.

In the meantime yet another engagement letter, 64-8, standing order etc to put together; it's a hard life!

website

SRK Accounting | Wed, 05/10/2011 - 12:46 | Permalink

Do you get direct direct enquiries from your website?

Is that because it appears on google when you search for an accountant in your area?

Thanks

Bike/Website

FirstTab | Wed, 05/10/2011 - 21:35 | Permalink

HudsonCo - I just cannot get used to the bike where the brakes are triggered through the pedals. I will now have force myself to get used to it since the seller will not give me a refund.

Great things are going well.

SRK Accounting - Yes enquires direct from website. As regards to the search that depends on search terms used. On certain search terms I am okay.

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