How to Start a Successful Bookkeeping Business: 15 Steps

Most don’t charge you to set up a profile, but will take a small fee once you book a gig and get paid. Once you know who your audience is, you can start on the channel they spend the most time on. For example, if you offer family or individual accounting, Facebook may be your best channel. If you only work with small business owners, LinkedIn may be a better fit.

The last thing you want is to come up with the perfect name only to find that it’s already taken. Get all the top financial news delivered straight to your inbox. I’ve been involved in personal finance and property journalism for the past 20 years, editing websites and writing for national newspapers. My objective has always been to offer no-nonsense information to readers that either saves or earns them cash.

How to Form an LLC in Alabama in 6 Steps

• Collecting this information will help you understand the scope of work and if they are a good fit for your services.
• Your local city or county clerk’s office or state business portal is a good place to check what’s required.
• You are in control when you own your own bookkeeping business and your schedule.
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• One thing to consider is whether you want to work on a desktop or laptop.

In the early days of accounting, we relied on the abacus then PC’s and floppy disks to show our work to clients. Bookkeepers are experts at managing the day-to-day finances of a business. They give small business owners vital information to make better financial investments down the road. Accounting principles change country-by-country, but bookkeeping is a universal language spoken the same no matter where a client is based.

How to Learn Bookkeeping

You can get certified by a reputable organization, like AIPB or NACPB, or take courses through your local community college. Connect with friends and family and ask if they know anyone who can use your services. Join online groups for bookkeepers, where people may be looking to offload clients. You might also join industry associations related to your niche, which can connect you with potential clients in person and online.

Yes, bookkeeping businesses can be very profitable, depending on the size of the business and the services offered. Many bookkeepers charge hourly fees for their services and have the potential to earn a good income. Additionally, some bookkeeping businesses may offer additional services that can generate additional revenue.

There’s no need for a paper trail — you can log in to make sure they make proper entries, reconcile accounts and bank statements, retrieve statements, and more. This helps you keep clients files organized, protected, and backed up on a cloud you can access from anywhere. As a potential client goes through your site, they should find it easy to contact you by email or phone. Most software runs on either PC or Mac — so the type of computer you choose is personal preference. It’s these types of questions your clients will have in and around data security. Your goal is to make them feel secure with leaving their most valuable company information in your hands.

• That means you can work with your clients in real time to go over their bookkeeping and highlight any queries with ease.
• For example, you might build an Instagram presence if you want to specialize in helping solopreneurs and online coaches.
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• Or, they may need a bookkeeper but be too busy to actively search for one.

The cost of doing business is relatively low, mostly related to bookkeeping software, so profit margins are high. It requires no degree or certification, though you can easily get one online from the comfort of your own home. Startup costs are minimal, so there are few barriers to opening up shop. You can work as much or as little as you like, virtually or in person.

In a lot of situations, your web presence can make or break your business, and you may want to create a website. Your website acts as a digital brochure, and it’s an easy way to show prospective clients your offerings and your prices. You can also use your website to detail your experience, list your certifications, and share testimonials from former employers or clients. You can ask your friends, family, and previous clients for referrals. You can also market your services on your own website, as well as through paid ads and email marketing. In fact, ZipRecruiter reports that the national average income for an independent bookkeeper is $56,100, though some report income as high as start bookkeeping business $122,000.

That means having a clear idea of how much money you’ll make and what your expenses will be. Estimating your income for the first few years, along with costs like software, licenses, marketing, and taxes, will help you set realistic financial goals. Also, if you plan to expand or hire additional bookkeepers, mapping out your growth milestones will help guide your long-term business decisions. Your operational framework is the backbone of your business, a critical aspect of how to start a bookkeeping business. This step involves deciding on the structure of your business (like a sole proprietorship or LLC), which will influence legal liabilities and tax obligations.