How Do I Become a Bookkeeper? Start Here!
Are you an aspiring bookkeeper who feels overwhelmed by all the resources or content, and you just don’t know where to start?
There are four important steps as you investigate and begin the process of becoming a bookkeeper: doing your research, signing up for QuickBooks Online Accountant, setting up your business, and getting your first client.
Which steps are better to do simultaneously? How do I become a bookkeeper with no experience? Do you need to get certified before you can onboard your first client? How long does it take to become a certified bookkeeper? Today I am answering these questions (and more) ... as well as walking you through your first few steps to becoming a successful bookkeeper.
Watch the video here, or keep reading!
Research
The first step is to continue to do your research about bookkeeping and make sure it’s something you want to pursue. You can do the research simultaneously as you’re getting things set up for your business.
Resources for your research
As you’re doing your research about the pros and cons of bookkeeping, here are a few resources of my own you may find helpful:
Beginner Bookkeeping Masterclass - This FREE masterclass will answer the following questions: What are the benefits to being a bookkeeper? What does a bookkeeper do? What skills are needed? What are the myths about bookkeeping? What are my next steps to getting started?
10 reasons to be a bookkeeper - Why start bookkeeping? These are 10 reasons that outline the advantages to starting a bookkeeping business. Bookkeeping is incredibly flexible, with low start up costs and a high earning potential, and businesses are in need of bookkeepers!
7 skills needed to be a bookkeeper - From "woo," (the ability to convince people of your skills and likability) to grit (the ability to keep going through hardship), this list is a must-have for bookkeepers.
Day in the life of a bookkeeper - Have you asked, “What does a bookkeeper do?” Are you interested in getting an idea of what a bookkeeper’s job description is? In this video I share about my daily work-from-home schedule and go through two of my bookkeeping clients' workloads. I show you how I input checks, categorize expenses, record income, and more. Hopefully this will be helpful if you're a bookkeeper or thinking of starting a bookkeeping business.
Sign up for QuickBooks Online Accountant
The QuickBooks Online Accountant offers a plethora of resources for bookkeepers as well as a free bookkeeper certification, which can add to your business credibility. QuickBooks offers a few different versions of the software (desktop, online, etc).
The QBOA version is free for you to use for your own business bookkeeping, and you won’t start paying for it until you have clients who will pay for their own personal accounts. It’s a great way to get your feet wet and get a feel for bookkeeping without the major commitment and overhead.
Resources to Get Started in QuickBooks
Free bookkeeper certification - This video walks you through the steps to sign up for the QuickBooks Accountant ProAdvisor free certification so you know exactly where to find it and how to get started.
Sample company, hacks to gain experience - Within QBOA there is a sample company you can use to give you ideas for your own bookkeeping. It’s a great place to start getting experience for your business. Continued education and real-world experience go hand-in-hand and are both important focuses.
- If you're new to QuickBooks, you can get 50% off your first six months!
Start Your Bookkeeping Business
In order to start your bookkeeping business, you need to create your LLC and finalize all other processes of having your own business. This can be done in conjunction with getting your certification and learning QuickBooks.
Some of the things to think about when getting your business up and running is opening a bank account, registering your business with the state, creating a website, and working on marketing.
Resources to Launch Your Bookkeeping Business
How to start your bookkeeping business: This resource walks you through how to start a bookkeeping business. Bookkeeping is an AMAZING business to start, as you can charge a lot per hour ($30-80), and you can start with almost no budget.
CHECKLIST: How to start a bookkeeping business - This free checklist will walk you through, step-by-step, how to start your bookkeeping business.
Business Bookkeeper Coach - This course will help you open your bookkeeping firm in just one month. It will give you clear, concise action steps (three each week) on how to start, instruct you on how to gain clients, and teach you to navigate QuickBooks and on-board clients smoothly.
Bookkeeper Launch - If you’re the type of person who wants to learn everything all at once and wants all the support, this is the perfect program. It is an amazing long-form course that provides teaching, support, resources, and community. It is my #1 recommendation for bookkeepers ready to invest time and money into their career.
Get Your First Client
Many business owners want to outsource help with their business finances, so finding clients doesn’t have to be as scary as it seems. Sometimes the business owners just don’t know where to look for that help.
Resources to snag your first client
Get your first client this week (bookkeeper marketing) - I've been a freelance bookkeeper for many years and have tried a variety of things to land bookkeeping clients. Like most job searching, networking is key! You need to be working your current connections and making more--online and in person. This resource contains 10 tips to increase your client base.
One client, start to finish: "Client Onboarding" - If you've been wanting to start a bookkeeping business, this resource will give you an idea about what an initial client meeting would entail, along with the first couple of months with a new client. There is often some catch-up bookkeeping work when you on-board a client. This video gives my tips and tricks for how best to learn their business and get started as a bookkeeper.
Pricing, "Charge more" - This “How much should I charge?” is one of the most frequent questions I get when people are starting their bookkeeping business (and even after they've started). In this video I talk about many different bookkeeper options: hourly, fixed, per bank account, percentage of revenue, number of transactions. Then, I go into detail about how you can make more money if you work as a contractor and how to negotiate your rate when applying for bookkeeper jobs.
Do you want to become a bookkeeper? These are the four most important steps: Do your research, sign up for QuickBooks Online Accountant, set up your business, and get your first client. If you’ve been waiting to start, but bookkeeping seems like a right fit for you, I encourage you to stop waiting and get going. This is one career that has little overhead, and you can learn as you go.
Are you ready to start your own bookkeeping business? Which step are you on in the process?
