What is life like as a Rosemary Bookkeeping franchisee?

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Nirmal Thakkar, owner of Rosemary Bookkeeping Garden City, shares her experience as a Rosemary Bookkeeping Franchisee.

Rosemary Bookkeeping is one of the UK’s only bookkeeping franchises.

Our business owners work for themselves but not by themselves to deliver personalised and expert bookkeeping services to commercial clients and small business owners nationwide.

Nirmal Thakkar opened her Rosemary Bookkeeping franchise, Rosemary Bookkeeping Garden City, in July 2022 after the brand was recommended by a friend who is a CIMA-qualified accountant.

Upon having a brand intro call with ServiceMaster Brands UK Franchise Sales Manager Emma Chappell, Nirmal was sure she and Rosemary were a perfect match.

“When I met people at Rosemary, I felt that I could be a part of the family, and I will never feel left out.”

“I feel proud to be a part of the Rosemary Franchise,” she says.

Who is Nirmal Thakkar?

With a Master’s in Business Administration and having worked in the financial industry for about 15 years, and as part of a family of accountants, Nirmal supports her clients with years of knowledge and experience.

“My husband is a Financial Director of his property-based company in the UK. He is an accountant. All the men in my family are accountants.”

“Bookkeeping runs in my blood,” she says.

As a mum in a family of four, Nirmal balances her responsibilities as a Rosemary Bookkeeping franchise owner, mother, and committee member of her local Indian Cultural Association, which includes planning events and cultural activities throughout the year like Holi, Diwali and Navratri.

Why Rosemary Bookkeeping?

As a busy, family-oriented businesswoman who is entrenched in her local community, Nirmal chose Rosemary Bookkeeping to “work for [herself] and have control of [her] work-life balance.”

Franchisees like Nirmal also benefit from being part of a trusted brand, a nationwide network of bookkeepers, and a centralised and dedicated franchisor support team that helps with queries, best practices, sales, marketing, and operations.

The tried and tested Rosemary Bookkeeping model ensures they are on track to succeed in all they do – with the unique opportunity to achieve a turnover of £135,000 in just five years, based on an average commercial job value of £2,100 pa.

The Rosemary Bookkeeping Experience

Nirmal says the fundamentals of running a successful Rosemary Bookkeeping franchise have been to take small steps and work to her strengths.

“My people skills have [seen] me achieve success,” she says. Having also received esteem for her interpersonal skills, Nirmal knows that she can use this to her advantage when faced with the things she finds harder – like aspects of marketing.

“Face-to-face marketing helps a lot, as it shows your confidence and commitment in what you do, and the business owners can feel the same,” she says.

Words of advice

She says this commitment is what will enable your success as a franchisee.

“No matter who you are and what you have done, your commitment will make you successful.”

“If you are ready to work for yourselves and are passionate about your business, you will always succeed.”

Need a bookkeeper? 

To contact Nirmal and receive her expert help with your bookkeeping, call 01462 41944.

For those elsewhere in the UK, find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business today to book a free quote from one of our experts.

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The importance of accurate record-keeping for small businesses in the UK

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Why keeping accurate financial records is essential for your small business, and how to do it.

As a small business owner in the UK, you know that managing your finances carefully is crucial for the success of your business.

However, many small business owners overlook the importance of accurate record-keeping.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss why accurate record-keeping is essential for small businesses in the UK and offer tips on how you can improve your record-keeping practices.

Accurate record-keeping means keeping detailed and organised records of your business’s financial transactions.

This includes things like sales, expenses, invoices, and receipts. But why is this so important for small businesses in the UK?

Legal Compliance

Accurate record-keeping is essential for complying with UK tax laws.

As a small business owner, you must keep accurate records of your financial transactions for at least six years.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) may ask to see these records if they audit your business or review your tax returns.

Tax Benefits

Accurate record-keeping can also help you claim all the tax deductions and reliefs you’re entitled to.

By keeping detailed records of your expenses, you can claim tax deductions that can reduce your taxable income and save you money.

However, if you don’t keep accurate records, you may miss out on some deductions or reliefs.

Informed business decisions

Accurate record-keeping can help you make informed business decisions.

By regularly recording your income and expenses, you can accurately track how your business performs over time.

This information can help inform decisions about pricing, marketing, and other essential aspects of business.

How can you improve your record-keeping practices?

  • Use accounting software: Many affordable accounting software options are specifically designed for small businesses in the UK. These software options can help you manage your finances and keep accurate records.
  • Keep receipts organised: Categorise your expenses. (E.g. by office supplies, travel expenses), And keep them in a secure location.
  • Record transactions promptly: Ensure you record your income and expenses as soon as possible to avoid errors and ensure accuracy.
  • Reconcile accounts regularly: Reconciling your bank and credit card statements regularly can help you catch errors and ensure accuracy.

So, what’s the best way to keep accurate records?

Accurate record-keeping is essential for small businesses in the UK.

By keeping detailed and organised records of your financial transactions, you can comply with UK tax laws, claim all the tax deductions and reliefs you’re entitled to, and make informed business decisions.

By following these tips, you can improve your record-keeping practices and ensure the accuracy of your financial records.

However, the best way to ensure you keep up-to-date and accurate records of your accounts and transactions is by enlisting the help of a qualified expert.

At Rosemary Bookkeeping, our local experts are expertly placed to provide professional booking services informed by your local market and community, backed by a national brand.

Whether you need regular support or to outsource your books to the expert, you can liaise with our experts at your discretion to ensure you feel in control of your finances without worrying about doing the work yourself.

To see how we can help you, find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business or call 0345 862 0072 today.

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The benefits of outsourcing your bookkeeping as a small business owner

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Six ways outsourcing your bookkeeping can help your small business to flourish.

Small business owners wear many hats and take on multiple responsibilities.

This often includes doing your own bookkeeping above and beyond any sales, marketing and operational activities you do daily.

This can be time-consuming and complicated, taking away time and resources better spent on growing your business.

Outsourcing your bookkeeping means hiring an external bookkeeper or accounting firm to handle your financial records and transactions.

At Rosemary Bookkeeping, we deliver local bookkeeping services backed by the expertise of a national brand.

You benefit from the support of someone who knows your area and community, bolstered by a UK-wide network of bookkeeping experts.

In this blog post, we’re discussing the benefits of outsourcing bookkeeping for your small business.

  1. Saving you time

Outsourcing bookkeeping frees up your time so you can focus on running your business.

You needn’t worry about managing financial records or performing time-consuming tasks like data entry, reconciling bank statements or generating reports.

  1. Access to expertise

Professional bookkeepers have know-how and experience that are uncommon for the average person.

They are familiar with financial statements, tax laws and regulations like MTD and can offer valuable financial advice from a place of understanding and expertise.

  1. Cost saving

Outsourcing bookkeeping can be more cost-effective than hiring an in-house bookkeeper or accounting team.

You can save money on salaries, benefits, and training costs.

As such, outsourcing generally saves between 30% and 75% of your current costs.

  1. Scalability

Outsourced bookkeeping services can scale to meet the needs of your growing business.

You can adjust the level of service you need as your business expands.

  1. Accuracy

Professional bookkeepers are less likely to make errors compared to non-professional bookkeepers.

This can help you avoid costly mistakes and penalties.

  1. Security

Outsourced bookkeeping services can offer greater security for your financial data.

They use secure online portals to share financial information and have security measures to prevent data breaches.

Outsource your books with Rosemary Bookkeeping

Outsourcing bookkeeping is an excellent option for small business owners who want to save time and money while ensuring accurate financial records.

By hiring an external bookkeeper or accounting firm, you can benefit from their expertise, reduce costs, and scale services as needed.

When outsourcing bookkeeping for your small business, choose a reputable provider with a proven track record of success, like Rosemary Bookkeeping.

Your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping expert can eliminate the stress and hassle of managing your books.

Through meetings scheduled at your discretion, receive 1-to-1 advice from a qualified professional who understands you, your business, and your community.

Take the hassle out of your business and give yourself the time to focus on what matters with Rosemary Bookkeeping.

Call 0345 862 0072 to see how we can help you today.

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Easily-made bookkeeping mistakes and how to avoid them

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How to sidestep common bookkeeping pitfalls.

Bookkeeping is an essential part of running a small business.

It involves keeping accurate records of financial transactions and ensuring that all financial reports are up-to-date.

However, many small business owners make common bookkeeping mistakes that can lead to financial and legal problems.

Bookkeeping may not come naturally for many small business owners. At Rosemary Bookkeeping, it’s what we do.

Our network of experienced industry professionals provides localised and professional bookkeeping services across the UK, backed by the knowledge and support of a nationally recognised brand.

In this blog post, we will discuss some of the most common bookkeeping mistakes small businesses often make and provide tips for avoiding them.

1.   Poor Data Entry

One of the most common bookkeeping mistakes is inaccurate data entry.

This can lead to incorrect financial statements, which can have grave consequences for a business.

To avoid this mistake, take your time entering financial data and double-check all entries for accuracy.

It’s also a good idea to use bookkeeping software that can help with data entry and automatically check for errors.

2.   Failure to Reconcile Accounts

Another common mistake is failing to reconcile accounts regularly.

Reconciliation involves comparing financial records to bank statements to ensure all transactions are recorded correctly.

Failing to reconcile accounts can lead to errors in financial reporting, missed transactions, and fraud.

To avoid this mistake, business owners should reconcile accounts at least once a month and ensure that all transactions are recorded accurately.

3.   Mixing Personal and Business Finances

Many small business owners make the mistake of mixing their personal and business finances.

This can lead to confusion when it comes to record-keeping and tax reporting.

To avoid this mistake, open a new bank account to ensure all business and personal transactions are separated.

This will make tracking business expenses and income easier and ensure accurate tax reporting.

4.   Poor Financial Reporting

Another common mistake is poor financial reporting.

This can include failing to produce financial reports regularly or inaccurate or incomplete fee reports.

Poor financial reporting can make it difficult for business owners to make informed financial decisions.

To avoid this mistake, business owners should ensure that financial reports are produced regularly and are accurate and complete.

Working with a professional bookkeeper or accountant is also a good idea to ensure that financial reporting is done correctly.

5.   Doing it alone

Bookkeeping mistakes can have severe consequences for small businesses, including financial problems and legal issues.

By avoiding these common mistakes, business owners can ensure that their financial records are accurate and up-to-date, making it easier to manage their finances and make informed decisions about their business.

By getting bookkeeping right, small business owners can set themselves up for success and avoid costly mistakes.

Ensure your business is in safe hands by leaving your bookkeeping to your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping expert.

Whether you want a helping hand and advice or to outsource your books, your local professional can help.

To learn more about how we can help you manage your finances and avoid bookkeeping woes, call 0345 862 0072 today.

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How do I budget effectively as a small business?

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Budgeting 101: A simple guide for small businesses.

There are many tools that small businesses need in their arsenal if they’re going to be a success.

One of the most vital is effective budgeting.

But it can also be one of the hardest to get right. At least, without help, that is

In this blog post, the bookkeeping experts at Rosemary Bookkeeping have compiled an essential guide for budgeting as a small business to help you budget like a pro.

Covered in this guide:

  • What is a budget?
  • How to set your budget
  • How to track your expenses
  • Adjusting your budget
  • Helpful budgeting tools

What is a budget?

A budget is a financial plan that helps businesses track expenses and revenue, set goals, and make informed financial decisions.

Having a budget:

  • Helps you set-long term financial goals – allowing for a clearer picture of your business’s future.
  • Keeps your spending in check and stop overspending
  • Stop you from getting into bad spending habits
  • Gives you an overview of your spending

How to set your budget

The first step in effective budgeting is setting a budget.

To do this, you should determine your expected revenue and expenses for the upcoming period, typically a month or a year.

You should then create a budget that allocates their expected revenue to cover your expected expenses.

It’s essential to be realistic when setting a budget and to consider unexpected expenses that may arise.

How to track your expenses

Once a budget is set, ensure you track expenses to stay within it.

As a business owner, you should keep detailed records of all expenses and regularly review them to ensure they stay on track.

This can be done through bookkeeping software or manually, but it’s vital to ensure that all expenses are recorded accurately.

Adjusting your budget

As a business grows and changes, its budget must adjust accordingly.

It’s imperative to review your budget regularly and adjust it as needed.

For example, if expenses are consistently higher than expected, your budget may need to be adjusted to allocate more funds to cover them.

Similarly, if revenue is higher than expected, the budget may need to be changed to allocate more funds to growth initiatives.

Helpful budgeting tools

There are many tools available to small businesses to help with budgeting.

These can include bookkeeping software, spreadsheets, and budgeting apps.

When deciding what to use to help your business, choose a tool that works best for your business.

And, importantly, ensure that all data is backed up regularly.

Need help making informed financial decisions?

By budgeting, you set your small business up for financial success.

Effective budgeting is essential for small businesses to track expenses, revenue, set goals, and make informed financial decisions.

By setting a budget, tracking expenses, and adjusting the budget as needed, business owners can ensure they are on track to achieve their financial goals.

With many budgeting tools available, choose what works for your business.

To set your business up for financial success, contact your local expert.

Whether you need advice from a trusted expert on setting your budget or someone to handle your bookkeeping, your local Rosemary bookkeeper is here to help.

We’ll do the books so you can do business.

For a free, no-obligation quotation on budgeting, software, and more, find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeper today.

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The New Owner of Rosemary Bookkeeping North Dorset and Salisbury tells all

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Tom Page from ServiceMaster Brands UK sits down with ‘paperwork queen’ Karen Mann, the accountancy professional bringing Rosemary Bookkeeping services to North Dorset and Salisbury.

Like many things in recent years, the shadow of the pandemic hangs over my chat with Karen Mann from Rosemary Bookkeeping North Dorset and Salisbury.

Some of these things are merely semiotic: our conversation is conducted virtually, with Karen in her home in Dorset and I, in mine, miles away in Leicester.

And yet, there is still a palpable sense of excitement in the air. Karen, who is backed by a shelving unit filled with family photo frames and dressed smartly in a blazer and orange blouse as a subtle compliment to the branding of her new business, is quietly content.

As we start our discussion of her life and her brand-new fresh start, it becomes abundantly clear as to why.

From a young age, Karen loved figures, paperwork and numbers. She says when she was at school she always thought about being an accountant. But life took her on a different path.

On her work background:

“I’ve been working for a waste management company for the last 17 years.

I started in their customer service department and, within nine months, I was promoted to running their accounts office.

I was what they used to call an Office Manager overseeing everything. Nearly eight years ago now, our financial director retired and I was offered the opportunity to become a company director.

So, for the last seven and a half years, I’ve been the Administrative Director for the company, running the accounts side of the business.”

What did that involve?

“All administration, liaising with the accountant, doing the management accounts and sending it all off to him for him to validate and everything like that.”

On her personal life:

“I like playing golf. But I’m not necessarily very good [laughs].

And I’ve got a boxer dog that I’m absolutely mad about.” Her face softens, “She’s my lil’ baby.”

You’ve got a lot of really valuable professional experience. How do you think that has prepared you to start your own business?

“I’ve got the technical knowledge, which is going to help with the actual day-to-day in the business. But what I’ve also gained over the years is managing my time properly.

I had a team just before COVID, there were 25 people in my team reporting to me, so I’m used to the trials and tribulations of organising other people’s work and making sure that they’re performing to expectations and spotting when people aren’t.

I was able to pick up with them whether they’ve lost confidence in something they’re doing, whether they need further training and all that kind of thing.

I also worked very closely with the chairman and managing director of the company and was involved in conversations about marketing and different avenues to go down to sales.

So, even though I might not have done it myself, I have been around it so by osmosis, it’s gone in.”

What made you decide to make the change and start your own business?

“I had been working for the same company for 17 years and it just felt that now it was my time to do something for myself.

Rather than go and get another job I thought, why not run my bookkeeping company?

I came across the Rosemary franchise and reading through the BFA member profile about yourselves and speaking to Emma [ServiceMaster Brands Franchise Sales Manager], it just instantly felt like it was going to be a really good fit.

It suited my personality and my experience, and having a support network behind you gives you that reassurance that if there is something you haven’t come across before, there’ll always be somebody you can ask what to do in a situation.”

So, you weren’t looking into franchising specifically at that time then?

“No, I had no idea that there was any such thing as a bookkeeping franchise!”

“I’d worked with customers who are owners of franchises: fast food and things like that. But it didn’t even enter my head that there could potentially be a bookkeeping franchise out there!

And when I was thinking about [starting my own business], that was the one thing that had held me back from actually setting up myself, the question of what do I do if I’ve got a client and I’ve never come across that situation before?

Upon finding the Rosemary Bookkeeping franchise I realised that the support of a network behind you covers that worry.

You’re never going to be on your own. There’s never going to be something that you can’t find the answer to, somebody will always be able to either let you know or direct you to where to find it.”

That’s lovely to hear. And now you’re here! How have you found the academy and the sale process?

“I really enjoyed the whole thing.

Hitting the academy and starting to see how everything will work in practice is really good because it is marrying up with everything that and every conversation I’ve had with Emma up to now and Nina [Rosemary Bookkeeping Brand Manager] and I can see everything now slotting into place and how it’s all going to work.”

Now you’ve gotten into the operations side of the business, is there a service in particular that you’re looking forward to providing?

“Just the whole thing. I am a bit of a paperwork queen.

I love paperwork, I love excel, and figures are what I’m about.

When I was at school, I was thinking about being an accountant and life took a step in a different direction. The whole of bookkeeping, I love it.

So, I’m looking forward to getting really stuck into things with customers, solving their issues and getting it all nice and straight for them.”

What do you think sets Rosemary Bookkeeping apart from other franchise opportunities? 

“I think Rosemary was great for me as someone with not much experience in many sectors.

Bookkeeping covers so many different businesses so there will always be a situation, I think, that you won’t have come across before.

If you’re on your own, it could take you hours of Googling so you could end up costing yourself more money in time.

Whereas having the franchisor behind you who can direct you to the right place will save you hours of that trudging.

You still might need to do a bit of research yourself. But you’ll have been guided to the right point or the right person to ask the question of.”

Need a bookkeeper?

Bookkeeping can be complex and time-consuming, but with the right support, it doesn’t have to be.

If you’d benefit from expert bookkeeping support from your local expert, find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business to see how we can help.

Or, if you’re in the North Dorset or Salisbury area, get in touch with Karen today on 01202 094387 / 07590 554797.

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Meet the new owner of Rosemary Bookkeeping North Dorset and Salisbury

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We sat down with ‘paperwork queen’ Karen Mann, the accountancy professional bringing Rosemary Bookkeeping services to North Dorset and Salisbury.

From a young age, Karen Mann has loved figures, paperwork, and numbers. She says when she was at school she always thought about being an accountant.

But, as she tells me, during our sit-down following her completed induction academy to Rosemary Bookkeeping, life took a different path.

Prior Career

Karen has worked for a waste management company for the last 17 years. She began in their customer service department, but within nine months, had been promoted to running their accounts office.

As an office manager, Karen oversaw the operation of accounts and managed a team of 25 other people. So, when the Financial Director retired, she was well-prepared to take up the position of Company Director.

This entailed running all the accounts side of the business, handling all administration, and doing the management accounts to be sent to the company accountant.

This work has given Karen expert technical knowledge and a wealth of experience in management, as well as the ability to work alongside others and help them with things they have found difficult. A skill which she knows stands her in great stead as a bookkeeper.

During her time in this role, Karen also worked very closely with the Chairman and Managing Director of the company and has observed in detail every aspect of running a successful business.

Finding Rosemary Bookkeeping

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Karen decided that after 17 years in the same place, she wanted to do something on her own and start her own business.

“I had been working for the same company for 17 years and it felt like it was time to go and do something for myself.”

With her experience and love of figures, the path was clear to Karen:

“I thought, why not run my own bookkeeping company?”

It was then she found Rosemary Bookkeeping. Karen says that she was drawn to the support we offer and how this impacts our clients.

Our Bookkeeping Support

“It’s not a case that we’re going to charge you by the hour because it could take someone a long time to do something,” Karen says.

“You can pick the elements of it that you like the sound of, or there are certain bits that you want to keep doing yourself and have control over, you can. There is a logical system for you to be able to follow without it costing any time out of your day, compared to sitting down and having to try and process everything.”

All this made Karen feel that Rosemary Bookkeeping was the right choice for her, as she felt our values and services aligned with the bookkeeper she wants to be.

“It just instantly felt like it was going to be a really good fit,” she says.

Karen’s new business

With the support of a renowned nationwide franchisor behind her, Karen has finally been able to realise her dream of working for herself as a bookkeeper as the owner of Rosemary Bookkeeping North Dorset and Salisbury. Now, she says that she is raring to get started helping customers and putting her love of bookkeeping to good use.

“I am a bit of a paperwork queen,” she says.

“I love paperwork, I love Excel, and figures are what I’m about. The whole of bookkeeping, I just love it.”

“I’m really looking forward to doing all of that and getting into the nitty gritty with customers and solving their issues and getting it all nice and straight for them.”

Need a bookkeeper?

Bookkeeping can be complex and time-consuming, but with the right support, it doesn’t have to be.

With a Rosemary Bookkeeper, you receive a transparent and expert service from your local expert, backed by a network of other experienced accountancy professionals.

If you think Rosemary Bookkeeping could be the right fit for you and your business, find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeper today to take the headaches out of your bookkeeping.

And if you are in the North Dorset and Salisbury area, get in touch with Karen by calling 01202 094387 / 07590 554797 to book your free no-obligation consultation now.

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Meet Waqas Chughtai, the new owner of Rosemary Bookkeeping Reading

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Say hello to experienced finance professional, Waqas Chughtai, who is taking the reins at Rosemary Bookkeeping Reading.

Waqas Chughtai has had an extensive career working in accountancy and finance and is now adding another string to his bow by taking over as the owner of Rosemary Bookkeeping Reading.

The business, which was previously run by Mike Wallace, has been placed in the capable hands of Waqas, following a sale earlier this year.

Prior Career

Waqas is no stranger to what it takes to run a small business. With many years of experience behind him in growing companies in the accountancy sector and undertaking multiple roles in his impressive career.

A senior and fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, Waqas started his career at KPMG and has since grown his position and career in many companies including GO-ERP and Avanade, before starting his practice – WAC & Co. in 2012.

These saw him taking on many roles, as he grew to Finance Manager, Financial Controller, CFO, and ultimately a Finance Director position.

Waqas says he “Left [his] permanent role in 2012 because [he] always wanted to be in practice and managing [his] own business.”

During the initial phase of growing his business, Waqas worked part-time, simultaneously working with Evernote, a sister company of Microsoft.

“I contracted with them for a few years,” Waqas says. “[Working on] system implementation on the financial module side of things and consistently growing my practice in the background.”

What’s next?

As such, Waqas is well-prepared to cover all processes required in supporting new and existing clients of Rosemary Bookkeeping Reading and to grow the business even further. It is providing this service to even more clients, particularly in an ever-changing financial landscape that Waqas says will be of high value to him.

“A lot is changing,” he says.

“In regards to, let’s say, MTD. MTD was a very recent phenomenon. Larger companies are prepared for this because they have the forms and the talent to guide them.

But smaller businesses in particular are confused as to how it affects them. So, [we want] to make sure that we are there to help them.”

Why Rosemary?

As a reputable booking franchise of successful bookkeeping businesses across the UK, Rosemary Bookkeeping and our franchise owners like Waqas are trusted and well-established accountancy professionals.

All of whom are here to help guide you through the shifting landscape that is financing as a small business.

Need help with your bookkeeping?

Are you a small business in Reading that would benefit from help in managing your books? Waqas and the team at Rosemary Bookkeeping Reading are here for you.

Whether it’s support and guidance, or someone to take care of your bookkeeping for you, your local Rosemary bookkeeper can give you your time back, so you can focus on your business, not just your books.

To get in touch with Rosemary Bookkeeping Reading, call 0118 324 0322 or find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business today for a helping hand from your friendly, local bookkeeping service.

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Diwali celebrations in the Garden City

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We sat down with Rosemary Bookkeeping business owner Nirmal Thakkar to chat about how she will be celebrating Diwali in her local community this year.  

Today is Dhanteras, marking the beginning of the festive season ahead of Diwali for 2022. Diwali, the festival of light and the new year, takes place on Monday 24th, signalling the end of the 5-day festivities for many in communities across the UK.

We sat down with Nirmal Thakkar of Rosemary Bookkeeping Garden City to talk about how she’s celebrating with her family and community.

Celebrating at home

Due to Diwali being the festival of light, Nirmal and many others hold religious celebrations with their families and decorate their homes and temples with hanging lights and candles.

Then, “on the actual Diwali day, we get together as a family with all my cousins and family and friends, and then we kind of cook lovely dinners. We, make a variety of foods, a sweet dessert and a full-fledged meal with delicacies included in it,” Nirmal says.

Community Diwali Celebrations

Within her local community in Stevenage, Nirmal also participates in an Indian cultural association within her area called ICA (Indian Cultural Association).

This includes a day celebration where the entire community within the Hertfordshire area get together to celebrate together. These normally consist of dinners among the 500 attendees and shows from the children where they act, dance, and show off their artwork.

“And then for the past couple of years we’ve had a DJ,” Nirmal says, “So we’ve had a Bollywood dancing night with everybody. We all dress up in our traditional clothes like either a Sari or something like salwar kameez, which is a traditional outfit as well.”

As someone who did a lot of stage shows when she lived in India, Nirmal is an experienced Bollywood dancer and has recently been enjoying sharing her love of dancing with her daughter.

After a few years in which celebrations like Diwali have been off the cards or hindered by COVID-19 for communities like Nirmal’s, she says she’s looking forward to being able to be with everybody again and celebrate together.

She tells me that her favourite part of Diwali by far is the night setting off fireworks and firecrackers with her family. (Not too late and having warned her neighbours, of course).

“I love it,” she says. “Getting ready, cooking all the different delicacies and doing the fireworks of the day. [Because] everybody takes part in it, and because it’s a festival of light when we light up a rocket or sparkler or something, it just makes you feel that your life is brightened up as well.”

Nirmal also says that it’s been interesting to watch over time how the local and ICA community has developed since she moved to the UK.

“When I came to this country in 2002, of course, I didn’t know about the [ICA], but it has been running for the last 40 years.

Every year more and more students come from India and neighbouring countries come and join us. [And their] English partners come through as well to see the dance and be a part of Diwali, learn how to kind of be a part of our community and learn the culture.”

Nirmal says that this is important to her particularly as it has helped her feel accepted where she lives and in her local area.

She is also excited to bring this openness to her new clients and expand her community to include them and is planning on treating some of them to some traditional sweets for Diwali in the years to come.

Need help with your bookkeeping?

If you would like to receive Nirmal’s help with your bookkeeping, get in touch with Rosemary Bookkeeping Garden City on 01462 419444 for bookkeeping services in the Stevenage area.

Or, nationwide, find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business today to find out how we can help you take the stress out of your bookkeeping.

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New business owner brings Rosemary Bookkeeping services to Stevenage

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Meet Nirmal Thakkar, the new business owner bringing Rosemary Bookkeeping services to Stevenage and surrounding areas.

Back in June, we sat down with Nirmal Thakkar, the brand-new owner of Rosemary Bookkeeping Garden City, at the end of her training academy to talk about her life and new business.

Nirmal tells me she loved taking part in her bookkeeping training and that she feels prepared to carry out the processes required to help her clients with their bookkeeping needs, and is looking forward to building even more skills that will come with practice.

Background

Nirmal came to the UK from India in 2002 and received an MBA from Hertfordshire University before working in sales banking.

She then took a break from the industry whilst on maternity leave and helped a friend build his business from the ground up.

More recently, Nirmal has been working within the NHS as a 111-call handler, which has seen her lead a team with 25 people and work as a trainer and auditor.

Nirmal balances her work life with home life as a Mum to her 10-month-old son and 11-year-old daughter.

When not working, Nirmal loves to travel and is a big fan of Bollywood dancing.

She tells me she has a keen interest in reading self-assessment books to access skills to improve in all areas of her life.

Looking ahead

She says if she had to pick one favourite quote from her reading to apply to her business and personal ethos, she would say: “We rise by lifting others.” from Robert Ingersoll.

It is this that Nirmal says she is most looking forward to about her new work as a Rosemary Bookkeeper.

She will be able to use her experience and expertise to uplift and help her clients to become more confident with their bookkeeping with their help.

The Rosemary Way

At Rosemary, all of our bookkeepers can be more interactive with clients by working through their books with them on a regular monthly business.

Small business owners like Nirmal can be in business for themselves, but not by themselves, as a Rosemary Bookkeeper can eliminate worry about managing their books by becoming a part of their support network.

As Nirmal knows from her own experience:

“It’s the small things that make a lot of difference.”

As part of an established franchise of experienced bookkeepers, Rosemary clients can receive regular and bespoke support from a brand trusted by small business owners across the UK.

Rosemary Bookkeeping Brand Leader Nina Skoczόłek says she is: “Really pleased to welcome Nirmal to the Rosemary Bookkeeping Network.”

“Nirmal is focused on helping local micro and small enterprises to thrive. She brings a great amount of knowledge, experience and ideas on how to coach and help others achieve their business financial goals. I’m looking forward to following and supporting her on her journey,” she adds.

Excited to help her clients and their businesses grow, Nirmal opens her doors to clients in Stevenage and its surrounding areas today.

Need a bookkeeper?

To contact Nirmal and receive her expert help with your bookkeeping, call 01462 419444 or visit her website.

For those elsewhere in the UK, find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business today to book a free quote from one of our experts.

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New business owner Nitin Patel brings Rosemary Bookkeeping services to Harrow

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We sat down with the brand-new owner of Rosemary Bookkeeping Harrow – Nitin Patel – to talk about his career and training, being a scout volunteer, and his new bookkeeping business.

Allow us to introduce the newest member of the Rosemary Bookkeeping network, Nitin Patel, who is joining us as the owner of Rosemary Bookkeeping Harrow, bringing our signature friendly bookkeeping experience to the Harrow area. Having completed his training academy with us in June, allowing him to get acquainted with our brand and processes, Nitin is now poised and ready to begin helping clients in his local area. Joining the Rosemary Bookkeeping network as an ACCA graduate of almost 30 years, Nitin has an extensive career history working in finance for well-known companies like GSK (formerly GlaxoSmithKline), Sainsbury’s and the BBC.

When his previous role became redundant, Nitin knew that he wanted to use his financing experience to make a change. Still, it can be a daunting choice to make a drastic change or new start, but Nitin also knew that any fears that he had about starting afresh or about being on his own in business could be aided by franchising. Now fully trained in both our systems and online software like Xero and QuickBooks, Nitin can immediately go into business without apprehension of what’s to come and hit the ground running.

He says what he is most looking forward to about being a Rosemary Bookkeeper is being able to build more of a relationship with his clients through seeing them regularly. Nitin says the biggest benefit to a bookkeeper is that unlike partnering with an accountant, you’re able to receive regular aid from an expert to help you manage your accounts – even handling them for you completely. Nitin tells us that it is carrying out this “timely managing of accounts for clients,” by seeing clients as regularly as once a month, that he is most looking forward to about being a Rosemary Bookkeeping business owner. Through our extensive network of finance professionals and experts like Nitin, there is no problem that a Rosemary Bookkeeper cannot solve, assuring you guaranteed quality whenever you contact one of our teams. As Nitin says, a bookkeeper can become “a part of [your] business and [they] have the finance experience to talk about the numbers” both as an equal and as someone who knows first-hand the experience of running a small business. With a bookkeeper, as with a franchise, you can be in business for yourself, but not by yourself. There are real people like Nitin, with whom you can grow to count on through monthly meetings and developing a strong working relationship by having them look after your books for you as both an expert and a partner.

When he’s not working, Nitin is a keen car enthusiast and is keen to go back to volunteering at his local Scout group. Due to his strong interest in long-term investing, he also chairs a small yet profitable investment club.

Nitin’s keen interest in personal finance means he is passionate about helping people understand some of the finer details of personal finance and enjoys being able to use his expertise to help friends and family, who are looking for advice in this area.  He says this is “very rewarding as you are not just helping someone manage their personal finances but … also making a difference to their well-being.”

Rosemary Bookkeeping brand leader, Nina Skoczόłek says she is “Excited to welcome Nitin as a Rosemary Bookkeeper. He brings to the network years of financial experience and a passion to help micro and small business owners get a better understanding of their business finances allowing them to make more informed decisions and grow their companies. I’m looking forward to supporting Nitin on his journey.”

If you are in the Harrow area and would like some extra help with your books, get in touch with Nitin today by calling 0208 265 0791.

Written by Tom Page, Digital Content Writer

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Rosemary Bookkeeping Reading wins the PEOPLE Award for Bookkeeper of the Year

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Mike Wallace, owner of Rosemary Bookkeeping in Reading has won the coveted PEOPLE Award for Bookkeeper of the Year.

Rosemary Bookkeeping Reading’s Mike Wallace has been awarded the prestigious PEOPLE Award for Bookkeeper of the Year. A highly desirable achievement for a bookkeeper, this award is based upon the nomination of their colleagues and is given to a bookkeeper who goes out of their way to support not just their clients, but their staff and peers.

Rosemary Bookkeeping Brand Leader Nina Skoczόłek says that Mike was a model candidate for such a distinguished award due to the depth of his support and expertise, describing him as, “A truly invaluable member of the Rosemary network.”

“Mike makes himself available to guide fellow franchisees, sharing a wealth of expertise, showing patience and willingness in doing so,” she says. “A key foundation of Rosemary is of supporting each other and [Mike] goes above and beyond in doing so.”

Rosemary Bookkeeping Marketing Manager Victoria Tayler echoes this, adding, “I was delighted that Mike was nominated for this award by one of his peers, Mike has always been exceptionally helpful to others within the network as well as the wider ServiceMaster brand. Mike is an invaluable member of the Rosemary Bookkeeping Network.”

Mike told us that he was especially humbled to win his award surrounded by the peers that nominated him at ServiceMaster Live. He says “As this was an award voted on by my fellow Rosemary Franchise Partners, I was particularly honoured & grateful to have received it. It was great that we were able to be presented with the awards at ServiceMaster Live, given the events of the last couple of years. To see & meet a number of fellow franchisees from the other ServiceMaster brands as well helped make it a really enjoyable and beneficial event.

We would like to once again extend our congratulations to Mike on his award. People are at the heart of franchising, and to be recognised by your peers for your hard work in such an environment is truly a special thing indeed.

If, you are in Reading and the surrounding areas and would like to receive expert help from a bookkeeper who always goes above and beyond for his peers and clients, give Mike a call on 0118 324 0322.

Written by Tom Page, Digital Content Writer

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Rosemary Bookkeeping Wyre Forest wins INVEST Award for Commitment and Dedication

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Fiona Perks, the owner of Rosemary Bookkeeping in Wyre Forest has won the prestigious INVEST Award for Commitment and Dedication for her devotedness to providing bookkeeping services to those in need.

Fiona Perks from Rosemary Wyre Forest has been awarded the coveted Invest Award for Commitment and Dedication at ServiceMaster Live! A highly prestigious achievement, this award is given to a bookkeeper who is committed to giving back and raising awareness of the need for quality bookkeeping services. This year, Fiona won the award for her commitment and investment in the Rosemary Bookkeeping name through her continuing work on the development of her bookkeeping services. Since starting her business in 2019 Fiona has truly embodied the Rosemary ethos of creating a GREAT PLACE TO INVEST, and always goes above and beyond in the work that she does. To us, bookkeeping is all about people and community, and due to the nature of her work as a franchisee for Rosemary, Fiona can be engaged in more than just their own business. She can truly work at strengthening a whole community of businesses, helping both Rosemary clients and owners invest in a brighter future.

Rosemary Bookkeeping Marketing Manager Victoria Tayler describes Fiona as “A delight to have in the Rosemary Bookkeeping network. She works hard in her own business whilst also sharing contributions and ideas to develop and improve the whole Rosemary Network, it was wonderful for Fiona to recommend Rosemary as a great business opportunity and have a new business owner in our network.”

At ServiceMaster Live! Fiona was recognised for her work amongst the community of bookkeepers from our nationwide Rosemary network that she works so hard to strengthen. Fiona says that “It was amazing to win the award at the ServiceMaster Live, the other franchisees in the network are brilliant so it was a real honour to be chosen.”

She also describes her investment in Rosemary as the result of a lot of hard work and a labour of love. “I have been working hard for the 3 years I have been with Rosemary to build my client base whilst keeping the Rosemary Brand at the front of my mind,” she says. “I absolutely love being a part of the Rosemary and ServiceMaster family and will keep pushing myself to meet my goals!”

We would like to once again thoroughly congratulate Fiona on her award and thank her for all her hard work and investment into Rosemary over the years, and we look forward to working towards her goals with her.

If you are in the Wyre Forest area and would like help from a professional bookkeeper with the strength of an entire bookkeeping community behind her, get in touch with Fiona today by calling 01299 333134.

Written by Tom Page, Digital Content Writer

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Grant Dye of Rosemary Bookkeeping North Kent & Isle of Sheppey wins Franchisee of the Year Award

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The owner of Rosemary Bookkeeping in North Kent & Isle of Sheppey has won the North Star Award for Franchisee of the Year at ServiceMaster Live!

‘ServiceMaster Live!’, which took place this May, was a gathering of franchisees from across the ServiceMaster Ltd. franchise network, during which franchisees from each of our brand family members came together to learn from one another and celebrate each other’s successes over the past few years.

The awards ceremony, held at the close of the event saw many franchisees recognised for their excellent contributions to their respective franchise network, and the work they have done in the last 12 months. This included Rosemary Bookkeeping’s own Grant Dye from Rosemary North Kent & Isle of Sheppey, who was awarded the prestigious North Star Franchisee of the Year Award. The pinnacle of achievement for a franchise partner within the Rosemary network, this award is given to the franchisee that has truly embodied the ServiceMaster ethos of going above and beyond in all aspects of business ownership to deliver a truly first-class experience to both staff and customers.

This year the award goes to a Grant Dye, for his exceptional work in all areas of business management and development. Grant has fully embraced the Rosemary System, and been actively involved in the development of new solutions and services within the network, as well as new technologies. Chiefly, this has included working hard on automating their internal processes to constantly deliver a high level of customer service to their clients – as evidenced by the high volume of glowing reviews for his services.

Nina Skoczόłek, Brand Leader for Rosemary describes Grant as the perfect Rosemary franchisee “Grant is supportive and provides encouragement for growth towards other franchise partners in the network. He is a true Rosemary Bookkeeper – cut him in half – he’ll bleed orange,” she said, before presenting Grant with his award at ServiceMaster Live!

Rosemary Bookkeeping Marketing Manager Victoria Tayler added. “Grant thoroughly deserves this award. Grant truly embraces being part of the Rosemary Bookkeeping network and always is forthcoming with ideas, embraces the brand and the network as a whole and works hard to develop and grow his own business at the same time.”

Upon receiving his award, Grant says he was very particularly thankful to receive an award of such magnitude amongst his peers. “I was greatly humbled by receiving this prestigious award for Rosemary Bookkeeping franchisee of the year, as I was in the presence of great franchisee partners that I look up to,” he says.

He went on to thank his team and clients for all that they have done to aid him on his Rosemary journey. “I attribute my success to the great support and knowledge from the Rosemary franchise team and our family of franchisee partners; my fantastic clients who are a firm part of the current and future culture and a clear 3 years strategic and marketing plan that focuses my energies in the right direction, to achieving my objectives and goals.”

We would once again like to congratulate Grant on his award and look forward to seeing what he does next.

Grant covers the North Kent and Isle of Sheppey area, find out more about how Grant can help you here or give him a call on 07970 696391.

Written by Tom Page, Digital Content Writer

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Mohammad Hossain of Rosemary Bookkeeping Stratford wins Rookie of the Year Award

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The owner of Rosemary Bookkeeping in Stratford is celebrating after winning the award for Rookie of the Year at ServiceMaster Live!

‘ServiceMaster Live!’, which took place this May, was a gathering of franchisees from across the ServiceMaster Ltd. Franchise network that allowed franchisees to network and celebrate each other’s successes over the past few years.

Part of this was an awards ceremony, held at the close of the event which saw many franchisees recognised for their excellent work over the particularly difficult period since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

One of these franchisees was none other than Rosemary Bookkeeping’s own Mohammad Hossain, who began his Rosemary journey at the beginning of 2021 after the early lockdowns caused him to take a step back and reconsider his career. Up until this point, Mohammad had been amassing a plethora of skills and experience within the bookkeeping and accounts sector – but decided that it was finally time to put them to good use in running his own business.

When we interviewed Mohammad in early May he told us of his aspirations at this time to grow his business through franchising:

“I wanted to be independent and be out on my own as I was very confident in the skills, knowledge and expertise I had in accounting and services like payroll, VAT, and CIS. I was fully confident that I can run my own business. But I knew it would be difficult for me to do this on my own without any kind of support to help me strengthen and grow the business. So, I decided not to go alone and to go with a franchise that could give me all the support I needed to grow.”

And grow Mohammad has, as evidenced by his winning Rosemary Rookie of the Year at ServiceMaster Live! This award is given to a franchisee in a new business who has successfully implemented the Rosemary model to substantially grow their business, build their local reputation and constantly improve their skills.

As a shining star of our network and a newer franchisee, Mohammad was the perfect candidate for such an award. “It is no wonder Mohammad has won Rookie of the year,” says Rosemary Bookkeeping Marketing Manager Victoria Taylor. “He has so much energy and enthusiasm for growing his Rosemary Bookkeeping Business and providing a highly valuable service to his clients, I am sure this is just the start of what will be an outstanding journey.

His award has also galvanised Mohammad to keep growing and develop further. “It feels wonderful to win Rookie of the Year 2021,” he says. “I feel grateful and inspired. But I attribute this success to the whole Rosemary Team, who have worked work to help me achieve this honour. Having a great award like this award is now inspiring me to set a new ambitious target for the future, and a business plan to achieve it.”

We would once again like to congratulate Mohammad on his award and look forward to working towards what is sure to be a certain and bright future with him.

If, like Mohammad, you would like to begin a franchising journey with us to grow your very own successful bookkeeping business, give our friendly franchise sales team a call on 0116 275 9005, or fill out a contact form today.

Written by Tom Page, Digital Content Writer

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New business owner brings bookkeeping services to Stratford

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In light of what’s happening in the world, it’s always nice to hear some positive news, and we’ve got some to share for the local businesses of Stratford. A new bookkeeper is in town, Mohammad Hossain has started his own business in the Stratford area and he looks forward to helping businesses to get back on their feet in the coming months through help with their bookkeeping requirements.

“I decided on a Rosemary Bookkeeping business because I wanted to do my part in helping local businesses with their bookkeeping during and after the pandemic”, said Mohammad.

Mohammad has spent most of his professional working time as a Chartered Certified Accountant and also as a Bookkeeper for a number of Accounting and Audit Firms in London covering various small and medium corporations and in 2020 he decided it was time for a change. He decided to look into owning his own Bookkeeping business because this is the aspect of enthusiasm for his previous roles he most enjoyed. That’s why he came across the Rosemary Bookkeeping and thought it would be a great opportunity to join a national network of bookkeepers to have the help needed from the brand and other business owners.

All of the bookkeepers in the Rosemary Bookkeeping network thrive on helping businesses with their bookkeeping in order to give them more time to grow their business, and Mohammad is no different.

“I’m really pleased to welcome Mohammad to our Rosemary Bookkeeping Network. With all the experience, fantastic attitude and strive to develop his business Mohammad is a great addition to our network of bookkeepers and will be a great support and asset for local Stratford companies. I’m very excited to work with Mohammad and follow his journey to thrive.”, said Nina Ostasz, Rosemary Bookkeeping Brand Manager.

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Keeping Positive

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In these unprecedented times, you, like many others around the world may be feeling a little low in spirits. Things may seem a little gloomy but there are rays of positivity shining through.  

I’ve put together a little blog on some of the lovely things which I’ve seen in the last few days in the hope of sharing a little happiness.  

Rainbows Pictures Springing up in Windows 

The trend started online, following the closure of UK schools on Friday 20th March.  

With the view of “spreading hope” the rainbows also provide a lovely bit of positivity for when you are out and about during your daily exercise. If you’re out for a walk / run / cycle, see how many are around in your area.  

Balcony Singing, Italy

You’ve more than likely seen some of the balcony singing taking place throughout Italy recently.  

Here’s one of the best video’s I’ve seen of music bringing people together, boosting morale and staying positive.  

Fortunately for my neighbours, I won’t be recreating this anytime soon! 

 

 

Connecting More  

 Last week I downloaded the “House Party” app. It’s essentially a video call app with function for multiple participants. It’s less formal than other video calling platforms such as Microsoft Teams and really simple to use. My family all enjoyed a drink and a catch up together on Mother’s Day via the app with extended family from further away too. Something which we most likely wouldn’t have done without the social distancing measures in place. Somehow, I think we all feel the need to connect even more with people at the moment.  

Support for our NHS workers 

On Thursday 26th March, Lincoln Cathedral will glow blue as a mark of support to our amazing NHS workers: 

Lincoln Cathedral to glow blue in support of NHS

This will be followed by the Nationwide “Clap for our Carers” campaign at 8pm. Whereby, people across the UK can clap from their gardens, front doors and balconies to show their support and give thanks to doctors, nurses, carers, GPs, pharmacists and other NHS staff, working tirelessly to help those affected by the coronavirus. 

Supermarkets are already showing their gratitude to NHS workers such as in this clip from Tesco in Swansea, where staff applauded and gave flowers during a designated NHS staff shopping hour. 

 

And finally, a brilliant video of staff at Basildon NHS keeping themselves motivated in these challenging times… 

 

 

 

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Running for Alzheimer’s Society

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Here at Rosemary Bookkeeping Newbury & Basingstoke, we are proud to support and share the amazing achievement by our very own April Fost.

April set herself a challenge at the start fo the year to complete 12 running events through the year. The events were varied and included the particularly challenging Snowdonia Marathon in October.

Aprils story…

“So I started the year with a goal to run 12 events, this was my challenge, for those who know me I said I would NEVER run a marathon…..Yet I have decided not only to do a marathon but a wonderfully hilly one as my first. This is in memory of my Nanny Emmie who sadly passed away just over 3 years ago after a battle with Alzheimers and Dementia. I hope she would be looking down proudly, but more likely she would be thinking are you absolutely crazy, but then I definitely got some of my crazy from her :-D”

April’s 12 events were:

1. Rough and Tumble – 10 mile – Trail ✅
2. Burghclere Fun Run – 5k – Trail/Rd ✅
3. Winchester – 10k – Road ✅
4. Windsor/Eton – 13.1 mile – Road ✅
5. Hi-5 Swings & Smiles – 13.1 miles ✅
6. Jurassic Coast – 10k – Trail ✅
7. Hurstbourne Tarrant – 5 mile – Trail✅
8. Farnham Pilgram – 13.1 miles – Trail✅
9. Winchester – 13.1 miles – Road ✅
10. Oxford – 13.1 miles – Road ✅
11. Snowdonia – 26.2 miles – Road ✅
12. Arundelle – 7 hour timed event – Ultra 31.5 miles – Track ✅

And she raised a total of £920.00.

Read Aprils story here: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/april-fost

Alzheimer's Society

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Top 5 Small Business Management Tips

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SMEs (Small and medium-sized enterprises with 0-249 employees) make up 99.9% of UK businesses, meaning they’re the heart of the UK economy, so we’ve put together some small business management tips to help all succeed.

1. Invest in Marketing

The world we live in is a competitive one, with the internet making it easier to build a business.

As a rule of thumb, you should keep 10% of your revenue aside for marketing if you’re a startup SME and want to push your way into the crowded market place. If you’re an established SME then 5% of your revenue is sufficient enough.

Don’t ever think that because you’re established in the market you don’t need to spend any money on marketing, your market share will reduce dramatically.

Always have a marketing plan.

Here are a few marketing channels your company can invest in:

  • Facebook/Instagram Ads
  • PPC ads using Google
  • Online content marketing
  • Renting a stand at an exhibition
  • Network marketing and referrals

Use these channels from day one to build brand attention. loyalty and anticipation.

2. Invest in Employee Training

New employees are going to need to learn the ins and outs of the business quickly yet efficiently and investing in employee training will assist with this.

As well as new employees, make sure your existing ones have exactly the same training, even if they’ve been with you for a good few years.

Put together a training plan for all of your employees, you can find one specific for new employees on inc.com.

Sufficient staff training can benefit your business massively, here are a few benefits:

  • Improved employee performance
  • Improved employee satisfaction and morale
  • Being able to address weaknesses and accommodate these accordingly
  • Increase productivity
  • Reduce employee turnover
  • Gives you the ability to delegate certain tasks

There are many more reasons why employee training is vital to your business and you can find out more here.

3. Separate Personal and Business Finances

If you’re completing all of your bookkeeping yourself and mixing your personal and business expenses together then you’re making things a lot harder.

You would have to sit and sift through hundreds of receipts and separate them into business and personal, we can guarantee you haven’t got time for that.

If you initially keep them separate, then this is something you won’t need to do and will give you time to do other important tasks.

When the tax return deadline comes around, if you’re organised and have split your business and personal expenses, then you’re more likely to pay the right amount of tax for your business.

4. Schedule Meetings With Yourself

This may sound a bit crazy but you should schedule meetings with yourself to set time aside to make important business decisions and plan for future growth.

Remember, you’re the one responsible for the success or failure of your business, you’re the one your employees will come to for guidance, and if you don’t run a tight, well-organised ship, then your business will sink.

So every week book a meeting room for 30 minutes to an hour to take yourself away from your office. A different environment will take you out of your routine, help with creative thinking and productivity.

5. Get Professional Help

Don’t be scared to ask for help with certain tasks like your bookkeeping or maybe even marketing for your business there are always other SMEs out there willing to help.

One of the most time-consuming tasks in business is your bookkeeping and this can take you away from growing your business.

Remember, no one is an expert at everything, therefore, don’t try to be and ask for help with certain tasks.

 

Why do your bookkeeping yourself when you can pass this task on to a professional bookkeeping service like Rosemary Bookkeeping?

For more details on our bookkeeping services for your SMEs, find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business and we’ll be able to assist with any queries.

 

 

 

 

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New bookkeeping business opens in Wyre Forest

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Having worked in finance for 15 years and a CIMA qualified accountant, Fiona Perks decided to take the leap into running her own bookkeeping business, which with the help from Rosemary Bookkeeping, became a reality.

Rosemary Bookkeeping Wyre Forest

“I can’t wait to get started and help local business to get their books organised,” said Fiona.

One of the main reasons that Fiona wanted a Rosemary Bookkeeping franchise was because she wanted a better work-life balance, especially with a young family at home.

Fiona is motivated and very keen to grow her business and hopes to be able to offer flexible working options in the Wyre Forest area.

“I received nothing but positivity when in talks with Rosemary Bookkeeping at the start and everything just naturally fell into place”.

Sujay Patel, Rosemary Bookkeeping Network Support Manager added;

“I’m excited to see Fiona kicking off her Rosemary journey with a potential client already in the pipeline.”

If you’re looking for a bookkeeping specialist in the Wyre Forest area, contact Fiona Perks today at fionaperks@rosemarybooks.co.uk.

Find your local Rosemary bookkeeper here.

ServiceMaster has over 300 franchisees operating in close to 700 licensed areas under its brands, including Merry Maids, ServiceMaster Clean, Rosemary Bookkeeping, TruGreen Professional LawnCare and Furniture Medic.  Rosemary Bookkeeping has been recognised as a leading franchise opportunity in the Elite Franchise Top 100 franchises in the United Kingdom.

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Quickbooks Making Tax Digital Certified

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At Rosemary Bookkeeping Newbury & Basingstoke, we are pleased to say we are Quickbooks Making Tax Digital Certified.

If you need to get ready for Making Tax Digital and don’t know where to start, what it means, or if it applies to you?

Get in touch today and we can arrange a free bookkeeping health check and see how we can help with Making Tax Digital.

MTD advisor

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Over 50’s are the new business start up generation

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Steve Brown, winner of the BFA’s Olderpreneus Award, was featured in an article in the FT Money section on Saturday 17th February.

Read the article here:

https://www.ft.com/content/183a52a6-d9b6-11e6-944b-e7eb37a6aa8e

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Qualified Accountant is won over by being part of a team

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Neeta Patel attended a BFA sponsored  franchise exhibition and was curious when the name Rosemary Bookkeeping kept being mentioned. Being a qualified Management Accountant she was initially researching Accountancy franchises but her curiosity won and she looked the Rosemary Franchise website and booked in for a Discovery Event.

Having worked in industry for all of her working life, Neeta was seeking to find the ideal work/life balance following the birth of her son. She wanted to work – working with numbers was something that always interested her – but she also wanted to spend quality time with her son. A traditional 9-5 role didn’t fit this bill so when she was made redundant in November 2015 this was the ideal opportunity to search for the right position for her, hence her visiting a franchise exhibition.

“In 12 months’ time I want to have established myself as a reputable bookkeeper in my area of Northampton and to have built up a sizeable business whereby I can begin to employ staff and turn my role into a more management position”.

The Rosemary BookkeepingTM franchise responds to the increasing need in the UK for an affordable, professional bookkeeping service that supports both the client and the accountant. Neeta will be working in harmony with her clients’ accountants, providing them with exactly what they need in the format they want saving his clients’ time and money.

The franchise is based on a business concept that has been established and refined since 2002, providing a unique bookkeeping system within a fully supported franchise package. Neeta will be able to obtain great flexibility and the potential for a superb work-life balance, that will allow her to juggle her new business whilst looking after the family home with her husband and child.

The Founding Partners have over 60 years of business and bookkeeping experience between them in the essential business disciplines of accounting, operations, sales and marketing.  As an Associate Member of the bfa, Rosemary Bookkeeping has a proven ability to sustain a franchise network successfully.

Rosemary Bookkeeping has recently opened up more territory opportunities in the Midlands, North of England and South East. For more information please call 0345 8620072 or visit our website www.rosemaryfranchise.co.uk.

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Winner at the bfa franchisee awards for Rosemary Bookkeeping

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A  former IT specialist, who now runs a bookkeeping business in Newbury, was named  Olderpreneur Franchisee Of The Year, at the British  Franchise Association’s 2016 BFA HSBC Franchisee of the Year Awards ceremony, held at Town Hall Birmingham last night (September 29th).

Steve Brown said: “I am proud, delighted and a little shocked – it’s great to be recognised for your success – as well as having a sustainable business which I can pass on to my family in years to come.”

Pip Wilkins, bfa chief executive, said: “Steve’s shown the ability and resilience to overcome many challenges. From leaving a corporate environment and starting his own business, to managing that business while caring for his wife, his calm head and steadfast approach has translated into a fast-growing business – and now a national award as well.”

Andrew Brattesani, UK head of franchising for HSBC, commented: “While running his business and helping his daughter with hers, Steve’s still found time to put new ideas into the wider network for the benefit of his fellow Rosemary Bookkeeping franchisees. He’s a brilliant example of how in franchising, experience is highly valued and no age limit applies.”

Steve took over the Rosemary Bookkeeping franchise six years ago, and since then he has seen turnover increase by 37% per annum; client numbers have almost doubled since 2012 and one client is a company with a turnover of £5m.

“We are so proud of the success Steve and his daughter TJ have achieved and we will continue to support and guide them in growing their business even further” says Lisa Curteis, Recruitment Director Rosemary Bookkeeping Ltd.

Rosemary Bookkeeping has released more territories in the UK so please contact us on 0345 862 0072 to find out more information.

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Are you an experienced bookkeeper seeking a new role?

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Rosemary Bookkeeping has a network of Franchise Partners  across the UK who all have bookkeeping clients.

The Worthing office is looking for a part time, experienced bookkeeper to provide support to one of the Franchise Partners. A small business with big ambitions, this exciting role will suit an experienced bookkeeper looking for a varied role with the flexibility and identity that a small company environment provides.

Role includes but is not limited to – Undertaking bookkeeping for various clients

Job Specification

  • Part time ad hoc hours to suit
  • Work from home (ideally based in the Worthing area)

Experience required

  • Previous proven bookkeeping experience essential and able to work to deadlines
  • Sage experience essential, Quick Books and Xero desirable
  • Must be IT literate and good MS Office knowledge

Needs to have

  • Space in own home to work – preferably a home office
  • Up to date computer and printer (must be protected by an approved anti-virus software and a minimum configuration of Windows 7, MS Office) we will provide the necessary bookkeeping software
  • Clean full driving licence

Personal Attributes

  • Friendly, personable
  • Excellent interpersonal/communications skills
  • Analytical/logical
  • Attention to detail
  • Ability to work on own initiative
  • Ability to work to a deadline
  • Not afraid to ask questions

If you would like to discuss this opportunity in more detail please call Sheila on 01903 680238 or email her sheilamartakies@rosemarybooks.co.uk.

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Age is no barrier

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Steve Brown of Rosemary Bookkeeping Newbury is a finalist in the Olderpreneur of the Year category of the BFA’s Franchisee of the Year Awards.

Steve started his bookkeeping business in 2010 with his daughter, TJ Sutherland, who operates  the Basingstoke territory.

He says: “I was working long hours in IT as a global business support manager in a pressurised environment and my daughter was looking to go back to work after having her daughter. We both wanted to achieve a better work/life balance.

Teamwork

“Since 2010 our business has grown extensively and we now have two full-time and three part-time members of staff. TJ and I work as a team, but each has key roles, with individual responsibility for our own territory and the clients within our territories. “Having grown the business, we now are able to take a back seat in relation to actually doing the processing and focus more on managing and growing the business. “One of my key aims at the start of the franchise was that I wanted to build a sustainable business to pass down to my children and grandchildren and support the local community. Rosemary Bookkeeping has helped me to fulfil this ambition and I hope that in our next term with Rosemary perhaps I can retire. “I am extremely proud to be a finalist in the British Franchise Association awards. It shows that even with age you can achieve great things.”

Affordable

The Rosemary Bookkeeping franchise responds to the increasing need in the UK for an affordable, professional bookkeeping service that supports both the client and the accountant. It’s based on a business concept that has been established and refined since 2002, providing a bookkeeping system within a fully supported franchise package. The franchise is run by two successful business women, Joanna Dennis and Lisa Curteis, who have over 50 years of business and bookkeeping experience between them. As an associate member of the bfa, Rosemary Bookkeeping has a proven ability to grow and sustain a franchise network.

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From Poland to Germany to South Africa to the UK – support and guidance wins over Goska

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Goska Dabrowski, as a child, moved around  the world with her family – from Poland to Germany and finally settling in  South Africa where she married and had her children.

In 2014 the family decided to relocate to the UK. Whilst on a business trip to the UK, Goska’s hsusband, Jan,  saw an article featuring Rosemary Bookkeeping in a franchise magazine. Being a bookkeeper, with 14 years of experience, after reading the article Goska knew that this was the perfect opportunity for her.

Settling in Bournemouth Goska continued with her due diligence on Rosemary Bookkeeping and after speaking to some existing franchise partners and meeting the Head Office team decided to join the franchise.

She hopes that the wealth of experience she has built up with ensure that she effectively support and guide her clients by offering a efficient and professional bookkeeping experience.

Rosemary BookkeepingTM franchise responds to the increasing need in the UK for an affordable, professional bookkeeping service that supports both the client and the accountant. Goska will be working in harmony with her clients’ accountants, providing them with exactly what they need in the format they want saving his clients’ time and money.

The franchise is based on a business concept that has been established and refined since 2002, providing a unique bookkeeping system within a fully supported franchise package. Goska will be able to obtain great flexibility and the potential for a superb work-life balance, that will allow her to juggle her new business whilst looking after the family home with her husband and children.

The franchise is run by 2 successful entrepreneur business women, Joanna Dennis, Lisa Curteis who have over 50 years of business and bookkeeping experience between them. As an Associate Member of the bfa, Rosemary Bookkeeping has a proven ability to grow and sustain a franchise network.

Rosemary Bookkeeping has recently opened up more territory opportunities in the Midlands, North of England and South East. For more information please call 0345 8620072.

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A Lifestyle checklist for 2016

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We’re looking for more Franchise Partners  to join our growing network. Why not take the Rosemary Bookkeeping Franchise Partner quiz to see if you’ve got what it takes.

  • Do you want to choose the hours you work?
  • Are you ambitious?
  • Do you want to be your own boss?
  • Do you have drive and determination?
  • Can you delegate and manage people?
  • Can you follow a proven system?
  • Are you looking for a business with growth potential?

If you answered yes to 5 or more of the above, then Rosemary Bookkeeping could be the franchise opportunity you’ve been looking for.

Rosemary Bookkeeping delivers intelligent bookkeeping services to SMEs, accountants and franchisors ensuring consistency of delivery and high-quality work. We enable clients to make decisions on their businesses and give peace of mind that HMRC will be happy. With a market of over four million businesses in the UK, we know that our services are in demand and valued by business owners who are looking to spend time building their businesses. Our franchise is based on a unique business concept that has been established and refined since 2002 providing a bookkeeping system within a fully supported franchise package.

Shape your future

Not only will we support you in setting up and running your business, we offer three entry levels to reflect the added training and support we provide at the higher entry levels. We know that everyone has different goals and skillsets which is why our entry levels vary depending on your goals, aspirations and experience.

  • Associate Franchise Partner – £8,970
  • Franchise Partner – £16,970
  • Managing Franchise Partner – £21,970

In the progression from Franchise Partner to Managing Franchise Partner you will receive even more training and expert advice on growing your team to help you develop your business even further.

By offering these entry levels, we give you a process of managed progression to allow qualified professionals a lower entry level with vast opportunities to grow at your own pace and when the time is right within our extensive support structure.

Please contact us today if you’re ready to become a Rosemary Bookkeeping franchisee.

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