Ultimate Guide to Getting Started as Bookkeeper
Are you considering a career in bookkeeping, but don’t know if it’s the right fit for you or you don’t know where to get started?
I’ve created a flowchart that will walk you through the steps and decisions you need to make if you want to start a bookkeeping business. Some of the tips we will go through today is how to decide if you want to be a bookkeeper, how to set up your bookkeeping business, how to get bookkeeper training, and how to become certified for free in QuickBooks Online.
Watch the video here, or keep reading!
Do I Want to Be a Bookkeeper?
Answering the question, “Am I sure I want to be a bookkeeper?” is the first step as you decide what direction you need to go. Another great question to ask yourself is, “Would my skills, experience, and passions line up for me to transition into a bookkeeping career?”
In the Decision Tree Chart you’ll find my free, half-hour masterclass that goes over the benefits to being a bookkeeper, what a bookkeeper does, what skills you need to be an effective bookkeeper, and your next steps to getting started.
I also have a day in the life of a bookkeeper playlist that you may find interesting as you look into what the role is of a bookkeeper and what your work days could look like.
I Want to Be a Bookkeeper
Once you’ve decided that bookkeeping is the right career for you, you’ll move into the “yes” branch of the flow chart to figure out what kind of training you want and need as you get started.
DIY Bookkeeper Training Approach
The do-it-yourself way is actually how I got started. I didn’t think I had the finances to invest in an all-in-one program, and I wasn’t even 100 percent sure bookkeeping was something I wanted to commit to long-term. This is why I was more comfortable piecing the training together myself.
Looking back, however, I can see the value of having an all-in-one program that would walk me step-by-step through the process of starting a bookkeeping business, marketing for clients, onboarding clients, and training me on the skills I need to hone. This would have cut my getting-started time in half.
If you’re interested in the DIY training, I have added some really helpful resources into the chart and separated them out based on the four different categories to get your business up and running: Set up your business, learn QuickBooks, gain experience, get clients.
Set up your business
If you find the resources helpful in this section, you may want to sign up for my class: Bookkeeper Business Coach because it helps you set up your business in 30 days. Each week I give you three action steps to complete and it really walks you through the process of getting started.
I tried to make it simple, easy, and affordable for you. The training can be done at your own pace, so you can get your business set up as quickly or slowly as you want to and ask me any questions as you work through it.
Learn QuickBooks
The next step is to learn how to use the bookkeeping software of your choice. I recommend QuickBooks if that’s available to you, and you can get certified as a QuickBooks ProAdvisor for free!
The better you know your software system, the better you can serve your clients, and the more you can charge for your services.
[H4] Gain bookkeeping experience
This step will require a bit of ingenuity and grit from you as you start playing around with your bookkeeping skills. The more you learn the more confidence you will have.
I recommend you work on your own books initially by hooking your own business bank account up to your QuickBooks profile. If you don’t yet have a business bank account, you can always practice on a personal account, or QuickBooks Online also provides a sample company account (however, your work is not saved in the practice account).
Another great option is to find a friend who has a small business and volunteer to do her bookkeeping free of charge initially. This will give you helpful information and practice, and it’s what I did when I first started to gain that experience. You’ll be surprised by the number of small business owners who are doing their own bookkeeping now and really don’t prefer it and would love to outsource it to you.
On-the-job experience is another way you can gain experience. I teach about being an independent contractor as a bookkeeper because that will be how you have the most flexibility when it comes to what to charge and the hours you keep. However, being employed by another company initially to gain experience can only help you as you work to build your client base and your own business. I did this when I started--I went in once a week to work at a medical billing office. I gained tons of knowledge and confidence from that experience.
Get clients
Brainstorm different ways you can gain clients by writing out a marketing plan for yourself and sticking to it. In the chart you can download, I included my ideas for how to market yourself to clients and how to perform a client interview.
You want to estimate that it will take you around three to six months to get your business up and running and onboard a few clients.
RELATED: How long does it take to get your bookkeeping business started?
All-in-One Bookkeeper Training
If you are the type of person who would want to invest in the all-inclusive training, with the four main steps laid out for you and the customer support backing you, the program I recommend is Bookkeeper Launch.
Bookkeeper Launch is my favorite all-inclusive program (I’ve used it myself) that starts you at the very beginning as if you know nothing about bookkeeping and teaches you bookkeeping and accounting principles--all the ins and outs of the deep background of bookkeeping.
In addition to bookkeeping knowledge, the program helps you set up your business, learn and practice QuickBooks (including signing up for the QuickBooks ProAdvisor certification), and understand how to onboard and work with clients (including proposals and a contract you can use for clients). You’ll also learn about how to price your services, which is a common question for prospective bookkeepers.
One of the most beneficial things Bookkeeper Launch provides is their support system. They provide a Facebook community for students to interact, ask questions, and share feedback. If you’re feeling extra stuck, they also have an email support line to help you. Once you have a client or two, if you run into questions or issues, you can reach out to them for additional support.
This program is an investment, running around $200 a month for a year if you use the payment plan. However, it is a standard or comparable price for quality education. They do have a free series to get you started you can check out here.
Which step are you currently on in getting your bookkeeping business off the ground?
