When you’re looking at a business to start up from home, one of the best you can do is bookkeeping.
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to be an accountant to be a bookkeeper.
Bookkeepers are able to command a high hourly rate and there are minimal startup costs. Perfect if you are looking for a business to start from home!
Entrepreneur named it as one of the best jobs to do because of this (and the $80 hourly rate sure helps!).
If you’re looking for a job that you can do as a stay at home mom, this is perfect for you.
We will go through exactly how to become a bookkeeper right from the comfort of your home.
Table of Contents
What Does a Bookkeeper Do?
Wondering what a bookkeeper actually does? The roles of a bookkeeper and accountant are very different and you won’t need formal training.
What Accountants Do
Accountants are the people that you will go to for your taxes.
It’s not wise to do your taxes yourself in case you are audited and can be fined heavily. Accountants will do your taxes for you and make sure that your financial records are in order.
They will go through your financial records and see where you are able to save money.
What Bookkeepers Do
Bookkeepers will generally do the stuff for your financial records before it gets passed over to your accountant.
Bookkeepers look after the financial records on more of a day-to-day basis.
They will create financial reports, update any financial records and do tasks such as paying invoices, sending invoices, etc.
How Much Do Bookkeepers Earn?
The amount that you can earn as a bookkeeper will, of course, vary as it does within most roles, depending on things such as experience.
According to Salary.com, the average salary is $45,626.
If you are running your own bookkeeping business then you can charge whatever prices you want! You can also take on multiple clients and earn more that way as well.
What Are the Pros vs. Cons of Becoming a Bookkeeper?
As with most jobs, there are pros and cons, and it’s ultimately down to you to decide what you are happy with doing.
Pros
- You get to set your own rates
- You can take on as many clients as you wish
- The hours are flexible
- You can do this around work you have currently, or your children
Cons
- You will have to find your own clients and pitch to them
- Your income may not be consistent from month to month
Can You Become a Bookkeeper Without a Degree?
Yes, you can become a bookkeeper without a degree or bookkeeping certification. There are some skills that will help you in this role, however.
If you are organized and good with numbers this will help you in this role. It is also an advantage if you know your way around various accounting software.
Do You Need Any Previous Experience to Become a Bookkeeper?
You don’t need any previous experience to be a bookkeeper, which is great news if you are just starting out.
When it comes to looking for remote work from home jobs with no experience it can be hard to find roles that are well paid. This could be the perfect start for you.
It is important that you are meticulous and don’t tend to make any errors because it is important that you remember that you are dealing with company finances.
Where Can I Find Remote Bookkeeping Jobs?
You know that you want to be a remote bookkeeper now, but you’re probably wondering where you find bookkeeping jobs!
If you want to look at job boards first for remote bookkeeping jobs then the best places to look at are Indeed.com or FlexJobs.
More and more companies are offering remote jobs for their workers because they know that more people are looking for flexible work.
There are some websites that you can find remote bookkeeping work on such as Accountingdepartment.com or ClickAccounts.
Make Money as a Freelance Bookkeeper
To start looking for your own clients you can pitch to any small business who may need your services.
A good place to start is to get your own website set up so that people can find you and see your services.
You can also set up a LinkedIn profile and social media profiles so that people can find you and hear about your business.
One of the best ways to find work in any business is through word of mouth. Let your family and friends know that you are starting a bookkeeping business so that they can spread the word.
Once you’ve got your site set up and you have figured out how much you want to charge, you can go and get out there to find work.
If you are doing this as a serious business then it’s a good idea to go out and actively look for work. You can attend networking events and hand out business cards.
What is the Best Basic Bookkeeping Course to Take?
There are some great basic bookkeeping courses that you can take to get you started.
Most will walk you step-by-step look at a bookkeeping business from an expert perspective and will show you the tools that you need to get started.
One of the best bookkeeping courses around is Bookkeeper Business Launch.
Free Bookkeeper Training
You can also sign up to do some free bookkeeper training. It consists of 3 classes which will show you how to become a bookkeeper, work from home, earn good money and be your own boss.
This is a good starting point if you are still a bit unsure about whether or not you want to do this as a job.
Starting an Online Bookkeeping Business
There has never been a better time than now to set up your own business and work the hours that you want to.
If you are a stay at home mom looking for some extra cash or wanting to start up a fully-fledged business, this is the perfect job to do.
There are such low start-up fees that it’s a great opportunity for a lot of people. Not only that, but you don’t need to have previous experience or a bookkeeping certification/degree.
