Bookkeeping advice for dyslexic and dyspraxic clients

Bookkeeping advice for dyslexic and dyspraxic...

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We have a severely dyslexic and dyspraxic client. He is a wonderful builder who finds it increadibly hard to keep records. Does anyone know of simple bookkeeping techniques he would find easy to follow?

Thanks

Victoria
Victoria Iurieva

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By taylorag
05th Jan 2009 16:33

Yes, a spike...
but on the passenger side where any apprentice would have to sit! :-)

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By Veronika VI
05th Jan 2009 15:51

Thanks
to everyone who commented.

We've considered all the suggestions and come up with the following solution:
1. The client will keep business records in two boxes. One to be stored permanently in the van (for purchase and payment receipts and invoices), the other will be kept at home (for bank statements, bills, etc). This way "filing" gets done instantly and nothing will be lost.
2. He will buy a triplicate invoice and receipts book from Staples. One copy will go to the builder's clients, the other - to his accountants, and the third will be kept for his own records.
3. Every month he will bring all his paperwork to us. This will allow us to ask questions about the transactions that are still fresh in the client's head. Also, we'll be able to adjust the record keeping system according to how easy or difficult he will find this exercise.
4. The client will order stamps and stationary with his details. This way he will not have to write his name and contact details every time he gives somebody a quote, invoice or a payment receipt.

Let's just hope he finds it easy enough to do it every day. I will let you know how he gets on in 2 months time.

Once again, many thanks to everyone for your helpful advice.

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By User deleted
18th Dec 2008 16:43

Alistair..........A Spike, Really !!?!?
Are we really as a profession going to advocate people putting a metal spike on their dashboards ????? I would think accurate book keeping would be the least of their worries.......

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By User deleted
18th Dec 2008 12:13

40 years
After 40 years, I've come to the conclusion that virtually all my clients are dyspraxic/dyslexic at some time.

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By taylorag
18th Dec 2008 09:19

There's a lot of good advice here
But you might also try the British Dyslexia Association (0118 966 8271) as they will almost certainly be able to help.

One way of making sure that nothing is forgotten is to have your client to carry a dictaphone. Then they can record all important info on it for later. I have seen this used very successfully by colleagues who are dyslexic.

Another good idea is one I picked up from from a friend who is a painter It is similar to John's box suggestion. What my friend does is put every receipt on a spike on his dashboard. Like the box, they are all there but with the bonus of being in purchase order (to the delight of his bookkeeper).

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Rebecca Benneyworth profile image
By Rebecca Benneyworth
18th Dec 2008 07:35

twelve envelopes
Write EVERYTHING on a bit of paper - provide a tear off pad. Put in envelope for the month. Pay cash in intact and draw cash to pay for bills (if you must pay in cash). Duplicate book for invoices (saves losing the copies).

Separate bank account, separate credit card (no need to get specific business ones, just separate from private). Keep statements in 12 envelopes. Job sorted.

By the way, I had a very severly dyslexic client about 6 years ago who had a bookkeeper paid for by the DSS as it counted as a disability. She was incredibly artistic and hard working and had part time lady running after her for the paperwork. Don't know how she got it set up - she was the type who would have badgered until she got help though.

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By AnonymousUser
17th Dec 2008 17:36

A box
A box in the cab of his van with a hole cut in the top. He puts any piece of paper he gets into the box and gives it to a bookkeeper once a week to sort out.

If he's a builder, let him build. Why try to turn him into a bookkeeper? If he wastes several hours each week to do something (probably incorrectly) which a decent bookkeeper could do in half an hour, he could earn more than enough to pay the bookkeeper by spending more time doing what he knows how to do.

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By alesha soba
17th Dec 2008 16:50

This might work
I find the best way to try and organise clients, if I'm doing the bookkeeping, is to provide one lever arch accounts file divided into the following sections

Bank statements
Card receipt summaries
Credit card statements
Sales invoices unpaid
Sales invoice paid
Supplier invoices unpaid
Supplier invoices paid
VAT returns
Card & Cash receipts in a plastic sleeve
Another sleeve for paying in books & cheque books

All he needs to be able to do is put the paperwork in when it arrives and move stuff from unpaid to paid section

This may not work for everyone but, for me. it's a simple comprehensible starting point.

Alesha

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