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2012 Bookkeepers Survey
The results are in and the Bookkeeping sector reports on its growth and development and professionalism.
Much is changing but much is staying the same. The survey indicates some of the “known” descriptors of the bookkeeping sector: 80% female, 75% over 40, 80% owning the bookkeeping business (45% with more than one person, 40% as sole trader. Also noting that over 70% still did not have any other full time employee). Working hours are consistently over 30 hours per week.
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Attitudes to Continuing Education show that 1 day conference (60+%), newsletters (70%), provide significant appeal while Webinars also received a 70% support rate.
Charge rates average has moved up with a shift from 41% below $50 to now only 33%. Typical turnover of the businesses remain in the range $50k to $75k. 40% have between 1 and 10 clients with 22% over 30 Clients.
MYOB remains the significantly dominant (72% down from 79%) software being used by the respondents with 11% responses from Xero users, up from 4%. The satisfaction rate overall being significantly positive (90% up from 85%). Different software for different clients appears to be increasing with Xero stake being a notable “changer”.
Over 60% use the BAS Agent portal to obtain the integrated client account – a great productivity improvement achieved this year. 28% using SBR software (GovReports 24%) to lodge BAS & EMPDUPE files.
Certificate IV is the standard qualification for bookkeepers 66%.
Only 50% state that being a BAS Agent has improved their business.
Explanations
The majority of graphs are shown with the y axis as a %. This allows a direct proportionate comparison of the results. Not all questions were answered by all participants accordingly the exact population differs between questions.
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| During BAS periods, how many hours per week do you work? |
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During a non-BAS period, how many hours per week do you work? |
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A full copy of the survey, including all the graphs, is available to download here
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