Will I get work if I retrain as a bookkeeper?

[OverFedStanley]

I am currently trying to get out of teaching and am considering training as a Bookkeeper.

Is there work for bookkeepers? I ideally would like to be self employed but not sure if this is a sensible option.

Depends whether you are any good at networking, marketing and selling your services, and of course whether you are prepared to get out there and do it
Too many competent people see their businesses fail because they assume the work will just turn up, it won’t.

I have a lot of contacts in a specialised field so quite happy to build on that and very happy to network.

I was more wondering if firms still used bookkeeping or if they manage themselves with software and then go straight to accountants.

I think the likes of Xero and QuickBooks and other software like it are so easy to use now that I suspect that you might be correct.

You'd be entering a market with an excess supply of bookkeepers and an ever reducing demand. Even the most inept/ old fashioned of business owners are moving over to software at their accountant's insistence.

So whilst there is still some work there, it's becoming more and more that your clients will be the super stubborn customers that won't move with technology. They're also the types that will still use cheque books and just present you with bags of receipts and paperwork to sort through!

Elfinablender thank you- I guess I need to do more research.........just need to get out of teaching asap