Considering bookkeeping at 50: realistic career change with caring responsibilities?

[freshstart67]

I’m turning 50 soon, single parent, have two kids under 10, carer for elderly parents(80s). Been doing temping off/on over the years and nursing.

I want something new, want to engage my brain and learn again. But also want to do other things (hobbies I can turn into small income) as well.

I’ve been interested in Book Keeping for a while and now thinking about courses I can do to maybe get a feel if it’s right.

I would love some honest feedback, is book keeping something you do and would you recommend it at my age?

Yes, it is feasible. Do you have someone in mind that you could already do their bookkeeping for? Have you any previous experience or transferable skills?

As well as the actual bookkeeping knowedege/theory, you'll need to also get to grips with software and systems plus Excel also helps. Are you very organised and do you like numbers and data input? And are you prepared to start pretty much at the beginning?

If you're thinking of setting up as a freelancer, it's very competitive and you have to be good at selling yourself too, as well as getting a systems in place to do both the bookkeeping and run a business.

If you are thinking of working for a company as an employee, it's also competitive (in a different way) because the job market is very depressed at the moment and you'll be up against more experienced candidates.

But, where there' a will, there's a way - I know someone who retrained and passed AAT at about 47, so it's definitely possible.

Surely there is going to be an increased demand for bookkeepers from smaller firms with the advent of MTD? You should be able to pick up some frelance work if you keep your prices competetive.