+44 (0) 1604 420057
   
Alison Mead

The Blog of Silicon Bullet

By Alison Mead, Bookkeeping Mentor ...

Building Your Bookkeeping Business in 2026

Alison Mead

CREATED BY ALISON MEAD

Published: 16/02/2026 @ 09:01AM

#BookkeepingTips #BookkeepingBusiness #BookkeepingExperience #BookkeepingClients #BookkeepingCommunity

The usual question I see asked in bookkeeping groups and forums is, where can I find customers, or how can I get experience now that I have passed my bookkeeping exams and started my bookkeeping business ...

Bookkeeping business in 2026, Numbers tell the story true, Balance in the end

Bookkeeping business in 2026, Numbers tell the story true, Balance in the end

The first port of call, if you have no practical bookkeeping experience at all, is to ask around friends and family. I know plenty of bookkeepers who have cut their teeth on a family business or offered some free support to a charity close to their heart in order to get your first basic bookkeeping experience.

If you have exhausted all those options, then join
bookkeeping forums and groups on Facebook!

Look out for those who are posting about being busy and needing to subcontract work out. It can be a chicken and egg situation with needing experience and being able to help out a busy practice, but they may be able to allow you to do some of the simpler data entry or checking jobs to get familiar with the software until you are ready to take on clients of your own.

The next step is to get out and look for your own clients within the general business community. The best way to meet people is to go networking. I have tried a few groups over time, and with current restrictions, many groups are now available online.

Ask around your peers and see which groups they have found work for them, and get booked on and give them a go. Pre-COVID, in the old face-to-face networking days, I did a post about Business Networking in Milton Keynes with links to local groups, and many of these still exist, but are currently in a virtual format.

My favourite to attend is Business Buzz. You can visit either for around a tenner, and the best way to find the right group for you is to go along and just see which suits you and your character.

There are more formal groups and relaxed groups, groups that only allow one bookkeeper per group and groups (my preference) which allow anyone to go along. Bear in mind that when I grew my business, I found more work by connecting with other bookkeepers, with us passing work between ourselves, than I ever have had from the general business community.

I only half-joked with one of the ladies I support about finding old bookkeepers and making friends with them, as they will want to retire at some point and will need someone they trust to hand over their bookkeeping jobs to.

This is how I found some of my nicest clients!

If you feel you would like more hands-on support and advice with getting started building your own bookkeeping business, or you need help with a bookkeeping issue or with Xero or Sage50c software, then do get in touch.

Sometimes, just talking through a problem is all you need to do to find a solution.

Until next time ...


ALISON MEAD
I'm your Bookkeeping Buddy: Discover more by clicking here!

Would you like to know more?

If anything I've written in this blog post resonates with you and you'd like to discover more about building your bookkeeping business in 2026, or even have an accounting problem you need to talk through, it may be a great idea to give me a call on 01604 420057 and let's see how I can help.

Share the blog love ...

Share this to FacebookBuffer
Share this to FacebookFacebook
Share this to TwitterTwitter
Share this to Linkedin (popup window)Linkedin
Share this to Pinterest (popup window)Pinterest
Share this to WhatsApp (popup window)WhatsApp

#BookkeepingTips #BookkeepingBusiness #BookkeepingExperience #BookkeepingClients #BookkeepingCommunity

About Alison Mead ...

Alison Mead 

Alison loves bookkeeping and supporting bookkeepers. She has been helping clients to be better bookkeepers in Sage 50 for over 24 years and has been Xero Accredited in accounts and payroll for a number of years too.

She specialises in a very unique hand-holding method of training, helping bookkeepers and business owners to use their accounts software as and when they need support in setting up and producing their invoices, reports and financial information.

Alison combines her role at Silicon Bullet with her Forever Living network marketing businesses and is often to be seen at business networking meetings as she likes to keep busy.

You know what they say: if you want something done well ask a busy person!

More blog posts for you to enjoy ...

Click here to view this blog post


Bookkeeping Buddy: Why DIY Bookkeeping Doesn't Mean Doing It Alone

Many small business owners attempt DIY bookkeeping to save costs and maintain control. Yet, this path can be daunting. Learn how you can manage your finances more effectively with my Bookkeeping Buddy subscription, ensuring y...

Click here to view this blog post


Building A Bookkeeping Business: Increasing Your Prices

You may have already done the difficult part of starting your own bookkeeping business; you've found clients, you've decided on your pricing, and now you're getting on with the day-to-day of looking after the clients you've ....

Click here to view this blog post


Coming Soon: smart document capture in Xero for faster bookkeeping

Smart document capture is about to make getting documents into Xero much quicker. Upload, email, or snap a photo, and Xero will read it, prefill the record, and help match it to the bank. It's designed to cut manual entry wit...

Click here to view this blog post


The real costs of starting a bookkeeping business: Part 2

In this week's blog post about the real costs of starting a bookkeeping business, I'm covering the extras it's easy to overlook. You'll get a realistic feel for policies, CPD, branding, and the time cost nobody budgets for. T...

Click here to view this blog post


The real costs of starting a bookkeeping business: Part 1

Here's what you'll actually pay for when you're new. I'll walk through the real costs of starting a bookkeeping business, focusing on the non-negotiables. You'll finish with a clearer budget and fewer surprises ......

Click here to view this blog post


Sage version 33 released: smarter, smoother, and future-ready

Here's more information about the Sage version 33 release. It's about reducing admin and tightening compliance. Expect cleaner email management, better VAT handling across the UK and Ireland, and improved AI document capture....

Click here to view this blog post


Making Tax Digital for the self-employed: thresholds, quarterly updates, and ways to stay calm

Making Tax Digital for the self-employed will change how many sole traders and landlords handle income tax reporting. It's quarterly updates plus a year-end declaration, built from your digital tax records in MTD software. Th...

Click here to view this blog post


Do you need to submit a self-assessment tax return by the end of January 2026?

Wondering if a self-assessment tax return is due by the end of January 2026? This explains who typically needs to file, how the £1,000 trading allowance fits around the 5th of April, and why HMRC may still expect a return if ...

Other bloggers you may like ...

Click here to view this blog post


Learning With My Clients

Posted by Jacky Sherman on https://www.jackysherman.com

I had a lovely email when I first published this blog post from one of my clients, a graphic designer of many years, but new to running his own busin ...

Click here to view this blog post


Exploring the Benefits of Serviced Accommodation: A Superior Choice for Travellers

Posted by Emily Freeman on https://blog.shortstay-mk.co.uk

Compared with a hotel room, our serviced accommodation offers enhanced comfort, privacy, and a lot of guest satisfaction. From the spaciousness of a w ...

Click here to view this blog post


Career research that saves you time, money, and regret

Posted by Dave Cordle on https://blog.davecordle.co.uk

Do your career research like a mini-investigation before you leap. Use AI, web search, LinkedIn, and real conversations to validate day-to-day work, p ...

Click here to view this blog post


What's changing with tax on an overdrawn Director's Loan Account in April?

Posted by Roger Eddowes on https://blog.essendonaccounts.co.uk

Here's the practical change: Section 455 rises from the 6th of April 2026. If there's an overdrawn Director's Loan Account, the timing of the loan sud ...

© 2026 by Alison Mead

All rights reserved



All content on this blog, including but not limited to text, images, videos and audio, is protected by copyright. No part of this blog may be reproduced, copied, distributed, or otherwise used without the prior written consent of the author. Unauthorised use constitutes a breach of intellectual property rights.

Please note that many elements of this blog have been created using Artificial Intelligence (AI). As such, content may not always reflect verified facts or professional advice. The information provided is for general interest only and should not be relied upon as a sole source for making decisions, financial or otherwise. Readers are strongly advised to seek independent advice from qualified professionals appropriate to their country and situation.

The author of this blog, YourPCM Limited, and its directors, employees, and authorised agents accept no liability for any loss, harm, or consequence arising from the use or interpretation of content found on this site.

The sblogit.com platform is provided on an “as is” basis. By continuing to view or interact with this blog, you acknowledge and accept these terms. If you do not agree with any part of this notice, please cease using this site immediately.

YourPCM Limited is a company registered in the UK and operates exclusively under the jurisdiction of the laws of England and Wales.