How To Start A Bookkeeping Business

Question: Can you start a bookkeeping business just by getting some MYOB training?
“Can you train me to use MYOB?” – we were asked by a lady phoning from Melbourne, Tullamarine

Photo – Right, Reads:
“For your safety
Please use lifts for strollers, Prams and Trolleys
No Motorised Scooters or Wheelchairs”

Are people that dumb that the shopping centre management had to place this sign at the bottom of the escalators?

Certainly we can train people to use MYOB – but for what purpose?

“I want to help a friend out, so I want to learn MYOB!” she replied. That’s great, but what does she know about bookkeeping?

“Oh, I’m not a bookkeeper, I just want to help my friend with MYOB, I don’t want to do bookkeeping – I just want to use MYOB!”, was her response.

It’s because of people like her that has led the government to introduce legislation to tighten up the bookkeeping profession.

That’s not the first time we’ve had an enquiry like that. Why do people think that by learning to use an accounting software program, they suddenly become bookkeepers?

Are we reaching the stage where MYOB should place a warning on the box that users of the software will not automatically become bookkeepers?

The tradegy of this situation is that the friend now believes that they have a competant bookkeeper doing the bookwork for their business.

Really, that’s like you saying that you can run a restaurant because you ‘ve cooked breakfast for the family at home.

We’ve seen the devastation caused by wanna-be bookkeepers “helping out a mate”and actually causing more harm than good in recording their financial affairs

There’s a whole lot more to being a bookkeeper than using MYOB software. So if you think you can start a bookkeeping business just by getting some MYOB training, then think again.